BEST BETS
Our picks for this weekend and the week ahead
THURSDAY-SATURDAY: THEATER
It's Aitkin musical time
The annual Aitkin High School musical - the 39th and last helmed by outgoing choir director Bryan Johnson - will showcase students' singing and dancing talents with the classic "Guys and Dolls." Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday at the AHS auditorium. Tickets are $8.
FRIDAY: MUSIC
Straight from the heart of Texas
Austin, Texas, acoustic quartet The Hudsons will perform a Grassroots concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Nisswa Community Center. Admission is $15.
SATURDAY: MUSIC
Grab your fiddle and play
Fiddlers can compete and fiddle fans can watch at the 23rd annual Pillager Fiddle Contest at 7 p.m. Saturday in Pillager High School's north gym. Admission is $4 for spectators and free for competitors. A performance by an area bluegrass duo will precede the contest at 5 p.m.
SATURDAY: MUSIC
Lil' Angie goes big-time
Denver's Angie Stevens (right) has been racking up accolades and attention since her last Brainerd appearance in the fall; a Stevens music video even popped up on CMT. But she promises she'll never be so big she can't pay a visit to her friends at the Eclectic Cafe. Stevens will perform at 9 p.m. Saturday at the downtown Brainerd venue, with Seth Doud and the Antmen opening. Admission is $7.