Once again it's time to rock and roll with Rios and Roberts, the two guys who keep you up to date on the local music scene.
• The county's newest venue is a rock-solid hit.
The Ephrata Main Theater was sold out Monday night for its premiere musical performance featuring Joan Osborne.
Imagine! All those people in Ephrata on a Monday night. Must have looked like Fair Week without the fair.
So what's next?
This just in: Singer-songwriter Adam Taylor will kick off the Ephrata Main Theater's artist in residency program with a weekend of performances, beginning with an all-ages show on Friday, Sept. 24, and a 21-plus show on Saturday, Sept. 25.
The show also will feature singer-songwriter James Wolpert, while special guest Beggar Folk will open Saturday's show.
And there will be goodies: live recordings of the show for anyone who buys an advance ticket and limited edition Adam Taylor posters to the first 100 fans to make it through the doors on both nights.
Haven't heard Taylor yet? Well, Rich Ruoff is calling him "Johnny Cash reincarnated." See what you think. Go to www.adamtaylormusic.com. How easy is that?
Also coming up: A blues fest featuring The Blue Hornets (formerly Queen Bee & the Blue Hornets), Daryl Davis and blues harmonica player Steve Guyger. Details as they pour out. We promise.
In the meantime, you can always check out the theater's website. Just go to http://ephratamain.com and click on "Showtimes."
• Did someone say Rich Ruoff?
We told you some time ago that he was auditioning musicians for a brand-new band, Funky Fontana. Well, according to Rich, the lineup is 90 percent there, and it's mostly Central Pennsylvania players -- though not always the ones you'd think.
Next up: Rich is headed to Nashville looking for a lead singer.
As always, we'll keep you posted. (As soon as we get back from Nashville, that is.)
• Closer to home, the lineup is set for Moon Dancer Winery's Folk Festival 2010.
The shenanigans will kick off at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 4, with funky-folk foursome Ragtime Willi and wrap up on Labor Day eve, Sunday, Sept. 5, with Voxology.
In between you'll get a chance to see The Robert Bobby Band, Bucky's Brother and Donegal Ridge (formerly Wyndfall and featuring Folk Fest organizers and Reese Project mainstays Tom and Laurie Haines Reese -- on Saturday and The Carmitchell Sisters, Michael Arthur and Ben Arnold on Sunday.
And have we mentioned that there will be award-winning wines and tons of food?
Tickets are $20 a day ($10 a day for those under 21). The winery is at 1282 Klines Run Road, Wrightsville.
Questions? Go to www.moondancerwinery.com or call 252-9463.
• Did somebody say Donegal Ridge?
The somewhat newly formed (or reformed) band will be playing not one but two halfway-to-St.-Patty's-Day shows next month: Sept. 10 at the Black Gryphon in Elizabethtown and Sept. 17 at Geezer's in Jacobus.
Wanna know more? Try www.wyndfallrecords.com. We did.
• And did someone say The Reese Project?
Tom and Laurie will be in Labor Day weekend festival mode again -- this time in Reese Project mode -- at the Chadds Ford Winery Jazz Festival on Monday, Sept. 6.
Joining Tom (flute) and Laurie (cello) will be Beth Trez (piano) and Dave Young (drums).
TRP plays from approximately from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
• Wondering where singer-songwriter Hiram Ring (www.hiramring.com) has been lately?
Try the garage/studio, where he's recently been recording his "Breathe Deep" tracks live with just vocals and acoustic guitar in a single sitting.
You can listen to them and download all 12 tracks for $7.99 (or individually for less) at http://hiramring.bandcamp.com.
Hiram said you'll need a flash-enabled browser for the task.
Prefer to hear him live? That could be a problem. The last we heard, he was getting ready to head out to ... Singapore.
Yes, Hiram e-mailed us to say he's been accepted into a doctoral program in language documentation at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore -- with funding.
He has to be there by Monday, so let's not hold him up.
Way to go, Hiram. No doubt we'll be hearing from you soon. In Malaysian.
• Remember that Barnstormers Battle of the Bands at Clipper Magazine Stadium that we were so excited about? Well, we get to be excited about it all over again.
The Battle of the Bands was postponed until Monday, Sept. 13, because of inclement weather.
Between band performances, the Lancaster Barnstormers will attempt to subdue the Newark Bears.
Game time is 6:30 p.m. Details at http://lancasterbarnstormers.com.
• A lineup change is in the offing for Central Pennsylvania rockers Fuel.
Guitarist Yogi will be leaving the band, to be replaced by Jasin Todd of Shinedown.
Haven't heard them lately?
They'll be coming to the Village, 205 N. Christian St., on Sept. 9.
The show kicks off at 7:30 p.m..
For tickets, go to www.villagenightclub.com.
• River Wheel is busy promoting its recently released album "The Sound We Make." Bassist Charlie Muench said some of the album's tracks are posted at www.myspace.com/riverwheel.
The band, which formed in January, also includes Oliver Craven on mandolin, fiddle and guitar; Nick DiSebastian on mandolin and guitar; and Kyle Tuttle on banjo.
River Wheel will perform on Sept. 17 at Queen and Chestnut streets as part of a Music For Everyone event. And they'll be at Quip's pub, 457 New Holland Ave., at 10 p.m. on Sept. 18.
• Been wondering where Quentin Jones is these days?
Try partying with the Reach Around Rodeo Clowns at the Girls and Corpses end of summer bash at Meltdown Comics on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood.
Seeing is believing. And you can see it at www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2UeJ3FZmWA.
Hopefully, we'll see more soon.
• Finally, The Sleeping World is waking up. After a long absence, you'll be able to hear them again next weekend -- at The Starving Artist in Keene, N.H.! Nothing like playing close to home for your fans, guys.
OK, you can catch TSW at the Lititz Junction Tavern in Lititz on Friday, Sept. 10. Music kicks off at 7:30 p.m.
Now that's more like it.
And have we mentioned that the band has a new Web site? (Guess now we have!) It's at www.jessicasmucker.com.
So check it out, why don't you?