Rialto Theatre News

New shows on sale this weekend!

8.15 - Mountain Fridays feat. Joshua James ON SALE NOW
9.18 - Children of Bodom ON SALE FRIDAY
9.29 - Gogol Bordello ON SALE SATURDAY
10.5 - Mindless Self Indulgence ON SALE NOW
10.17 - Dave Attell ON SALE SATURDAY

Pinback performs in September, on sale this Saturday!

The month of September has declared itself "indie", which sort of upset October, thought to be the hippest of Fall months. Rialto's calendar provides the proof in the declaration, citing events featuring bands such as Hot Chip, Vampire Weekend, Mogwai, and Michael Franti & Spearhead. Adding to that list today is Pinback, making their first live appearance in Tucson in almost 4 years at The Rialto Theatre on Tuesday, September 16. The San Diego-based indie-rockers craft melodious textures that insistently and sweetly pet your inner-ear, which as pleasing as that may or may not sound to you is a highly recommended experience.

Tickets for this event goes on sale Saturday, July 5 at 10am right here at rialtotheatre.com.

Great Big Sea on sale FRIDAY

"Our songs come from the sea and the cliffs and the rocks and all the other natural beauties our country provides. Without her we simply couldn't exist."

The natural beauty of Great Big Sea exudes prominently in their live performances. Fortunately for Tucson, they will be performing at The Rialto Theatre live on October 7.

Newfoundland natives Great Big Sea aim to marry traditional music of Newfoundland with their own pop explorations, and have a reputation for raucous and moving live shows.

Tickets go on sale TOMORROW--that's Friday, June 27 at 10am online, by phone at 520.740.1000, and at the box office (12-6pm).

RZA, Rialto, Chess and Congress

Perhaps you saw the coverage of Wu-Tang leader and chess aficionado RZA in the New York Times this past week? If not, through the wondrous powers of the internet, you can read all about it by clicking here. Check out the video interview by clicking here. Also, here's how the match between RZA and the Times' chess editor Dylan McClain went down. NY Times seal of approval!

So from the Grey Lady direct to you: in conjunction with next Tuesday's RZA as Bobby Digital performance at the Rialto, The RZA will be appearing at The Hotel Congress before the Rialto show as part of the 9 Queens/Wu Chess Chess Fest (say it fast five times and you'll see a purple cow). 9 Queens, a locally based non-profit chess education and outreach organization, has put together quite the chess event to complement the concert. Aside from a chance to play against RZA, there'll be a tournament, prizes, chess lessons, and lots more. To find out more about the event click here and to learn more about the 9 Queens organization click here.

So there you have it -- the perfect night of entertainment and intellectual stimulation courtesy of The Rialto, 9 Queens, Hotel Congress, and of course, The RZA. Tickets available by clicking here.

Rialto Presents: The Temptations at the Fox Tucson Theatre

We are pleased to announce another exciting booking over at sister venue The Fox Tucson Theatre. This time it's the Grammy-winning exemplars of the Motown Sound, THE TEMPTATIONS. That's right, the authors of such hits as "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," "My Girl," "Ain't Too Proud To Beg," and literally several thousand more hits (okay, not literally, but you get the idea) will take the Fox stage for a night of the very best in rhythm and blues.

It all goes down on Friday, August 8th, giving you plenty of time to arrange babysitters, limousine service, and dinner reservations.

Tickets go onsale this Sunday, June 8th, at 10 a.m. Get yours (hurry!) by clicking here.

Inaugural Mountain Fridays with Brendan James, This Friday!

92.9 The Mountain and The Rialto Theatre are joining forces to bring you Mountain Fridays at Rialto, beginning this Friday with the singer/songwriter Brendan James. The concert series will showcase wonderful emerging artists on Rialto's stage with The Mountain's quality seal of approval, and we're very pleased that the first of the series will see the earthy, elegant songs float from Brendan and his emotive piano.
This event will have a low ticket price of only $5. With the full recommendation of The Mountain deejays and Rialto management at such a low price with outstanding up-and-comers, Mountain Fridays at Rialto is a series for YOU, Tucson.

Hot Chip, Vampire Weekend converge on Rialto, Sept 23

Hot Chip is headed to Tucson.
Vampire Weekend is headed to Tucson.
Rather than risk a Jets v Sharks-style street battle in front of the Rialto between Hot Chip fans and Vampire Weekend fans, we decided to form a super co-headline show with the two hip acts. On Tuesday, September 23, indie-preps Vampire Weekend and dance-vets Hot Chip will be performing at The Rialto Theatre, and all musical-based street violence will come to an end.

Buy your tickets now online, at our box office (12pm - 6pm), by phone (520-740-1000), or at any Bookmans Bookstore.

This fall will be a "Swell Season" at Rialto

Few new artists around right now have the momentum of the acoustic duo Swell Season. From Ireland and the Czech Republic (respectively) come guitarist/songwriter Glen Hansard and vocalist/pianist Marketa Irglova, crafting such an intimate, affectionate concert experience that we truly wish we had couches and a fireplace with which to enjoy it. They appear here at The Rialto Theatre on Thursday, October 2.

Compounding our cozy excitement is the special guest support for this lovely concert, lullaby-extraordinaire Iron & Wine!

Tickets for this performance go on sale Saturday, May 10. The floor will be general admission/standing room only, while the balcony will be reserved seating.

Stay tuned next Saturday at 10am to purchase your tickets!

Ottmar Liebert at The Fox Theatre

Once again, downtown Tucson's historic theatres join together to bring you another great concert.

Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra will perform at the Fox Tucson Theatre on June 26 at 8pm. Reserved Seating tickets are ON SALE NOW and can be purchased online here, by phone at (520) 624-1515, or in person at 15 W Congress in downtown Tucson.

Ottmar Liebert has said that "flamenco is a music both romantic and dangerous; it is an attitude as much as it is a musical genre." Therein lies the philosophy that catapulted him to fame at the end of the '80s with an engaging mix of subdued flamenco guitar and South American percussion, rock, jazz, and pop influences. Liebert's "attitude" actually suppresses the more challenging and "dangerous" aspects of flamenco in favor of the romantic -- and the stylish. He's not a technical wizard on the guitar, but he has a feel for the music's innate sensuality and a gift for creating memorable melodies.

Brandi Carlile added to Indigo Girls on 6/18!

We have some exciting news:

Our favorite songstress Brandi Carlile has been added to the Indigo Girls show on June 18 here at Rialto. We can only attribute her last minute addition to her undying love and appreciation for Tucson, and our modest stage, as shown by staying late and graciously meeting absolutely everyone that stuck around after her previous performances. Also for further reference, see the three framed concert posters adorning Rialto's lobby with her signature dotted with a heart, and a sweet note to Tucson. Maybe we should come right out and say it: Rialto has a crush on Brandi... And to be coupled with the Indigo Girls... the only other thing we should say with great urgency, is get your tickets NOW.

General Admission Floor (standing room only)
Reserved Seating Balcony

Pink Martini just added!

'Pink Martini is like a romantic Hollywood musical of the 1940s or 50s – but with a global perspective which is modern,' says founder and artistic director Thomas M. Lauderdale. 'We bring melodies and rhythms from different parts of the world together to create something which is new and beautiful.'

The mini-orchestra will perform at The Rialto Theatre on May 14, 2008, and reserved seating tickets are on sale now.

A few more press snippets about this incredible band:
This is rich, hugely approachable music, utterly cosmopolitan yet utterly unpretentious. And it seems to speak to just about everybody.
-Stephen Brookes, WASHINGTON POST

From a serendipitous start, Pink Martini’s eclectic repertoire, alluring performances, and top-notch orchestrations have proven an irresistible mix.
-James McQuillen, SYMPHONY Magazine

Led by Harvard graduate and classically trained pianist Thomas M. Lauderdale, the band moves gracefully between such genres as Cuban rumbas and French café tunes.
-THE NEW YORKER

Calexico to play Benefit

Hometown heroes Calexico will be performing a benefit concert for Mariachi Aztlan, students of Pueblo High School. Mariachi Aztlan hopes to raise money for a trip to Washington DC on July 4, 2008 to represent Arizona in the Independence Day Parade. On Friday, May 23, Calexico will be joined by Salvador Duran, Mariachi Luz de Luna, and Mariachi Aztlan.

Tickets are on sale NOW. The balcony is reserved seating, while the floor is general admission/standing room only. Click here for tickets!

Calexico's dusty rock blends mariachi, country and folk influences to create a flavor that well represents Tucson. Said of their latest release, "Garden Ruin is where Calexico fill those dusty, empty landscapes they've long documented with a big, big sound. Taking full advantage of the rockin' Calexico live band, the record distils its multicultural roots, the input of a producer, new domestic arrangements, international affairs, broadening horizons, developing ambitions and changing scenery."

Indigo Girls at Rialto, on sale Saturday 4/5

Our favorite female acoustic duo, THE INDIGO GIRLS, will return to The Rialto Theatre on June 18. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, April 5 at 10am. That is, unless you are a 92.9 The Mountain VIP Member; you can buy them now during a special VIP Presale.

Please note that this event will have a general admission floor--that means standing room only--and reserved seated balcony. So get your tickets now if you want a seat!

Keep an eye on this space, www.rialtotheatre.com, for tickets Saturday. We will also have them available at Tucson Bookmans and Zia locations.

Paul Thorn, Minus The Bear, Jamie Lidell, Cowboy Junkies, Collie Buddz...

Last Saturday, quite a few shows hit the books and are beginning to shape the late spring calendar. Before you hit the road to escape our oven-like summers, you can't miss these shows:

4/3 - Paul Thorn's Southern-fried roots-infused gospel rock will forcibly take your hand, raise it high in the air, and shake it silly. With your musical demons expelled, a glorified boogie is in order.

4/21 - Collie Buddz and The Grouch bring the unique genre of dancehall to our humble desert. With a buoyant mix of rap, dance, and reggae, your booty will damn-near shake itself.

4/24 - Minus The Bear puts on a live rock show like hardcore nerds to hardcore calculus: with precision and grace, leaving any spectators speechless and chin-scratchingly impressed.

5/30 - Cowboy Junkies have it good. Take an easygoing beat, tangy guitars, and a velvet voice, and you've got the country Junkie rock we can't wait to witness again at Rialto.

5/31 - Jamie Lidell is Jim. Well, at least that's the bad ass funkified persona he adopts on his new record. Think Amy Winehouse, but a dude. Okay, that's a scary thing to imagine, but musically you get the idea.

The Black Key's New Record Produced By Danger Mouse

The blues-rock duo The Black Keys, due to play at Rialto on March 27 just released some fantabulous news. Their new record, Attack & Release, is produced by super-producer Danger Mouse. According to Pitchfork, the record will also feature guitarist Marc Ribot, multi-instrumentalist Ralph Carney, guitarist Dan Auerbach, and bluegrass singer Jessica Lea Mayfield (who incidently will be opening for The Avett Brothers the night after, March 28).

We feel special to be treated to a pre-release performance by The Black Keys featuring their newest material. Don't miss out, buy tickets now!