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Weekend picks: Bluesman Robert Cray plays St. Charles

Tax Day blues

Grammy Award-winning bluesman Robert Cray performs a special Tax Day concert on Friday at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $39-$69. (630) 962-7000 or oshows.com. 8 p.m. Friday, April 15

Dark comedy

Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe (“The Naughty Show”) explores some very bleak material this week at two Zanies locations: MB Financial Park, 5437 Park Place, Rosemont, (847) 813-0484, then at 1548 N. Wells St., Chicago, (312) 337-4027. $25 plus a two-item purchase or zanies.com. 8 p.m. Thursday, April 14, and 8 and 10:30 p.m. Friday, April 15, in Rosemont; and 7, 9 and 11:15 p.m. Saturday, April 16, in Chicago

Cold hard cash

Coin collectors won't want to miss the American Numismatic Association's Chicago International Coin Show starting Thursday at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. $50 Thursday professional preview; $5 daily pass (free on Sunday, April 17). (847) 692-2220 or numismaster.com. 2 to 6 p.m. professional preview Thursday, April 14; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, April 17

Classic style

Get home decorating and landscaping ideas at the returning Antiques Garden & Design Show starting this week at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. $20-$22 plus $25-$30 parking per car or van; $250 preview and three-day pass. (847) 835-5440 or chicagobotanic.org/antiques. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, April 15-17; special exclusive preview from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, April 14

Specialized sound

Stock up on the latest sound equipment for your home and car at the Audio Expo North America (AXPONA) this weekend at the Westin O'Hare, 6100 N. River Road, Rosemont. $25 one-day pass; $45 two-day pass; $55 three-day pass; $125 VIP pass. (203) 371-6322 or axpona.com. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 17

Exhibit fun

Bring the kids to a special Night at the Museum Children's Party with a museum-wide flashlight scavenger hunt, crafts, face painting, treats and a screening of the movie “Night at the Museum” tonight at the DuPage County Historical Museum, 102 E. Wesley St., Wheaton. $10 per person. (630) 510-4941 or dupagemuseum.org. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, April 15

Pop superstar

Get ready for lots of pop and R&B stage spectacle when Grammy Award-winner Rihanna performs in “The Anti World Tour” tonight at the United Center, 1901 Madison St., Chicago. $29.50-$150. (800) 745-3000 or unitedcenter.com. 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 15

Take flight

Let's go fly a kite when Cantigny hosts its Family Night Fly a Kite! program. Representatives from Chicago Kite will be on hand, giving kite-flying demonstrations. Guests can make their own kites and, weather permitting, fly kites on Cantigny's parade field. Kites will be available for purchase. Cantigny is at 1S151 Winfield Road, Wheaton. Free, but parking is $5 per car. (630) 668-5161 or cantigny.org. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 15

Mike Merryfield plays the Comedy Shrine in Aurora on Friday and Saturday, April 15 and 16. Courtesy of Cook Photography

Dad laughs

Get a dad's take on raising two boisterous boys when comedian Mike Merryfield performs this weekend at the Comedy Shrine, 4034 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora. $20 plus a two-drink minimum. (630) 585-0300 or comedyshrine.com. 8 p.m. Friday, April 15; 8 and 10 p.m. Saturday, April 16

Rock on

Get ready to rock when The Band Sundance performs classic and modern rock and pop music at Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. $4. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com. 9 p.m. Friday, April 15

Color splash dash

Runners are showered along a race route with vibrant dyes made from safe, food-grade, biodegradable cornstarch at the Wheaton Fun Run in Color 5K. See racers bloom in unique, brilliant color palettes by the time they cross the finish line. With wave starts, four color stations and a final color toss at the after-party, they're guaranteed to go home wearing new colors. The un-timed 5K run/walk is for all ages and abilities, presented by the Wheaton Park District and the Rotary Club of Wheaton on Saturday at Main Street and Seminary Ave., with a finish line at Memorial Park, 208 W. Union Ave., Wheaton. $40. (630) 510-5135 or wheatonparkdistrict.com/funrun. 9 a.m. Saturday, April 16

Touch-A-Truck

Children and their families can explore police cruisers, fire trucks, dump trucks, a school bus and a variety of other vehicles during the Glen Ellyn Park District's Touch-A-Truck event in Maryknoll Park, 845 Pershing Ave., Glen Ellyn. Guests can bring an empty aluminum can and watch it get crushed during a steamroller demonstration. New this year is a kiddie trackless train. Rides are $1 per person. Other highlights include raffles, bounce houses and refreshments. Free admission. gepark.org. 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 16

St. Charles native Sondra Radvanovsky stars as Queen Elizabeth I opposite Evanston native Matthew Polenzani as the Earl of Essexs in Donizetti's tragedy "Roberto Devereux," which is screened throughout the world to select movie theaters as part of the Metropolitan Opera's Live in HD series on Saturday, April 16. An encore screening is Wednesday, April 20. Courtesy of Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera

A royal scandal

St. Charles native Sondra Radvanovsky sings the difficult soprano role of Queen Elizabeth I opposite tenor and Evanston native Matthew Polenzani as the Earl of Essex in Sir David McVicar's new production of “Roberto Devereux.” Donizetti's historically inspired opera is screened Saturday and Wednesday as part of the Metropolitan Opera's Live in HD series at select cinemas in Addison, South Barrington, Batavia, Bloomingdale, Chicago, Crystal Lake, Deer Park, Evanston, Gurnee, Lincolnshire, Mount Prospect, Naperville, Niles, Rosemont, Vernon Hills and Woodridge. Ticket prices vary by venue, but largely $24; $22 seniors; $18 kids. Visit fathomevents.com for exact locations. 11:55 a.m. Saturday, April 16

Happy Record Store Day!

Barrington psych rockers Wild Belle will perform songs from their new album “Dreamland” at a special Record Store Day appearance and album-signing at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 16, at Reckless Records, 1379 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. And Purple Dog Records hosts a free Record Store Day showcase of local music - featuring Red Light Compliance, Max Nishida, Stellar and JDR and The Broadcast - from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday at Orazio Pub, 333 N. Center St., Naperville. For more information on Record Store Day and a list of participating locations, visit recordstoreday.com.

Wild Belle, featuring Barrington natives Natalie and Elliot Bergman, celebrates Record Store Day with a performance at Reckless Records Saturday, April 16. Photo courtesy of Tom Oxley

176 keys

Virtuoso pianists Marta Aznavoorian and Winston Choi are the special guests for the New Philharmonic Dueling Pianos concert this weekend at College of DuPage's McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. $49. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 16; 3 p.m. Sunday, April 17

Gospel Choir

The Wheaton College Gospel Choir presents its Spring Concert in Wheaton College's Beamer Center, 421 N. Chase St., Wheaton. $7. Tickets will be sold at the door. Discounts available for students, seniors and groups of 10 or more. (630) 752-5251 or wheaton.edu. 7 p.m. Saturday, April 16

Rock and roots

The rock band America shares the bill with The Grass Roots for a special Saturday concert at the Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. $39-$85. (847) 782-2366 or geneseetheatre.com. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 16

  Gerry Beckley, right, and Dewey Bunnell sing as the band America, which performs at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan on Saturday, April 16. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com

Kansas by way of NCC

“Carry On Wayward Son” may have experienced a recent resurgence among a new generation of music fans thanks to the “Rock Band” and “Guitar Hero” games, but Kansas has been going strong since way before the days of digital music. Catch the classic progressive rockers when they play at Naperville's North Central College's Pfeiffer Hall, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville. $50-$75. (630) 637-7469 or northcentralcollege.edu. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 16

All's fair

Collectors and dealers can buy, sell and trade items relating to World's Fairs from 1876 to the present at the 22nd Annual World's Fair Memorabilia Show at the Holiday Inn, 1000 Busse Road, Elk Grove Village. The show will focus on the 1933-34 Chicago World's Fair, with continuous showings of newsreel footage and home movies. Vendors will feature items for purchase at more than 20 tables. $6. worldsfairshow.com. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 17

Big Bavarian band

Conductor Mariss Jansons leads the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra on tour with a performance of Shostakovich's Symphony No. 7 (known as the “Leningrad”) this afternoon at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago. $41-$155. (312) 294-3000 or cso.org. 4 p.m. Sunday, April 17

Cheryl Niemo and the Down Home Boys trio performs in a Lake County Folk Club-sponsored concert. Courtesy of the Lake County Folk Club

Down-home diddies

Cheryl Niemo and the Down Home Boys - featuring vocalist Cheryl Niemo, Marty Brunkalla on mandolin and fiddle and guitarist Pete Jonsson - perform bluegrass, country, folk and more in a Lake County Folk Club-sponsored concert at Fatman Bowl, 13860 Rockland Road, Green Oaks. $10-$15. Call (847) 602-8882 for reservations. thelakecountyfolkclub.org. 7 p.m. Sunday, April 17

Latina sensation

Die-hard fans of Latin pop won't want to miss seeing Mexican singer Ana Gabriel in concert this weekend at the Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont. $50-$126; $15-$20 parking. (800) 745-3000 or rosemonttheatre.com. 8 p.m. Sunday, April 17

Upcoming concerts

Chamber orchestra Les Violons du Roy with French pianist Alexandre Tharaud: 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 15, Wheaton College's Edman Memorial Chapel, Washington and Franklin streets, Wheaton. $10-$45. Call (630) 752-5010 or visit wheaton.edu or artistseries.org.

Chicago Master Singers: 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 15, and 7 p.m. Saturday, April 16, Techny Towers, 2001 Waukegan Road, Northbrook. Classical, with works by Schubert, Liszt, Barber, Paulus, Gjeilo and others. $15-$48. (800) 595-4849 or chicagomastersingers.org.

Rihanna: 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 15, United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. Rock. $29.50-$280. Visit ticketmaster.com.

Atom Meets Bomb, This Obsession, Filthy Animals, The New York Rock, Johnny Automatic, Andrew Palmer, Chris Addison: 8 p.m. Friday, April 15, Elbo Room, 2871 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago. Indie pop. $9. (773) 549-5549 or elboroomlive.com.

America with The Grass Roots: 8 p.m. Saturday, April 16, Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Rock. $39-$85. (800) 982-2787 or ticketmaster.com. Visit geneseetheatre.com.

Special Consensus, Henhouse Prowlers: 9 p.m. Friday, April 15, FitzGerald's, 6615 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $20. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

Sundance: 9 p.m. Friday, April 15, Peggy Kinnane's 8 N. Vail St., Arlington Heights. $4. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.

Aaron Williams Band, North of Eight, Davenport Ed, Hatter's Riddle: 9 p.m. Friday, April 15, Brauerhouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. Rock. $7-$10. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Fletcher Rockwell: 9 p.m. Friday, April 15, Quigley's Irish Pub, 43 E. Jefferson St., Naperville. American rock. No cover. (630) 428-IRSH or quigleysirishpub.com.

Old Shoe, Horseshoes And Hand Grenades, Miles Over Mountains: 9 p.m. Friday, April 15, Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. Roots rock. $12. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

Elephant Gun, The Howl: 9 p.m. Friday, April 15, Sideouts, 4108 Roberts Road, Island Lake. No cover. Psych rock, punk. (847) 526-7174 or sideouts.com.

Replay: 9 p.m. Saturday, April 16, Peggy Kinnane's 8 N. Vail St., Arlington Heights. $4. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.

Spiritual Rez, Concrete Roots: 9 p.m. Friday, April 15, Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Reggae funk. $10-$12. (773) 281-4444 or beatkitchen.com.

Pistol Pete Band: 9:30 p.m. Friday, April 15, Harlem Avenue Lounge, 3701 S. Harlem Ave., Berwyn. Blues. $6. (708) 484-3610 or harlemavenuelounge.com.

Low Spark, Pocket Radio, Nasty Snacks: 10 p.m. Friday, April 15, Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave., Chicago. Funk rock. $10. (773) 525-2508 or lh-st.com.

New Philharmonic with Dueling Pianos: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 16, and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 17, McAninch Arts Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn. Award-winning pianists Marta Aznavoorian and Winston Choi join New Philharmonic, under the baton of Maestro Kirk Muspratt, for a Dueling Pianos concert. $10-$49. (630) 942-4000 or atthemac.org.

Cobalt & The Hired Guns, Od Jo, Captain Coopersmith: 8 p.m. Saturday, April 16, Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. Rock, funk. $7-$10. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.

Tommy Castro & the Painkillers, Jordan Harman: 8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 16, Fitzgerald's, 6615 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. Soul, blues. $20. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

Inphinity, Dustin Sheridan, Bentley Dean: 10 p.m. Saturday, April 16, SpyBar, 646 N. Franklin, Chicago. House. RSVP for comp admission before midnight. (312) 337-2191 or spybarchicago.com.

Elgin Master Chorale with “Spring Stirrings” concert: 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 17, Elgin Community College's Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, Classical. $20-$25. (847) 622-0300.

The Tillers, Glass Mountain: 9 p.m. Thursday, April 21, The Hideout, 1354 W. Wabansia, Chicago. Folk. $8. (773) 227-4433 or hideoutchicago.com.

Great Deceivers, Lady Bones, Longface, Nouveau: 9 p.m. Thursday, April 21, Quenchers Saloon, 2401 N. Western Ave., Chicago. Alternative rock. $5. (773) 276-9730 or quenchers.com.

Information is provided by entertainment venues. Check with venue before purchasing tickets. For more concert listings, visit dailyherald.com/calendar.

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