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Taming the wild west with bluegrass. Urban Guide Listings to plan your week by Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum Put on the overalls and find a plaid shirt this week because some bluegrass musicians are in town. Making a pit stop is Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum, a Grammy-nominated duo. Their music ranges from decades of traditional bluegrass to contemporary works. Lewis is a Bay Area-bred musician and pioneer of the West Coast bluegrass scene, her counterpart Rozum is best know for his vocals and mandolin playing. The evening also presents Bluegrass Intentions with music from their new album Old as Dirt. These hillbillies have a unique style that is fresher than most and keeps the energy in first gear. If this is all new to you, no worries because Evie Ladin will be kicking the evening off with some clogging lessons on the dance floor to help get folks like you up to speed. So grab the moonshine, hit the dance floor, and get to shaking 'cuz these country folk are fittin' to have a helluva time. Wed/17, 8pm. Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo, Berk. $10. 525.5054. (GS) Ambient Temple of Imagination Psycho tropes? Isolation tanks? Who needs them? Just hit the Dub Beautiful Collective's Ambient Journey Concert at the Parkway. Burrow down in a friendly couch, nurse a pitcher of microbrew with the crew, and take care of that need for hot sauce and cheese. All of this while snug in the masterful hands of new-age mood making giants. On the big screen, Matt Hale of Image 8-Nineteen plays with filmed landscapes, snippets of found film, and computer-generated cosmovisions. Eyes in a trance, immerse yourself in Steve Roach's atmospherics. One track you're in a Jurrassic swamp dodging mutant mosquitos, and the next you're on the moon pulling out electrodes and quitting your mask. His out-of-Tuscon ambiance is the soundtrack of dreams. Seofan opens and readies the crowd for a lush journey with his heady roadtrip sounds. Get tickets quick and show up early; the Parkway always maxes out. Thurs/18, 8-11pm. ParkwayTheatre, 1834 Park, Oakl. $20-$25. www.dub-beautiful.org. (EP) Soundwave Studios Grand Opening When San Francisco's down-town studios closed two years ago amidst the dot-com real estate boom, 500 musicians were displaced. Soundwave Studios, a new West Oakland music complex, is now the largest in the Bay Area with 155 individual studios. It recently opened its doors to local musicians and artists and this weekend is celebrating with a huge bash. Owned and operated by musician, developer, and Oakland native Alan Lucchesi, who's been building and operating music studios in Oakland for 15 years, Soundwave Studios has acoustically engineered walls, sprayed sound insulation on the ceilings, secure doors and hardware, heating and fresh air circulation, ADA-accessibility, and 24-hour security. Soundwave offers on-site recording, CD duplication facilities, Internet access, and music equipment for sale. The all-day party begins with a christening ceremony and performances by Soundwave customers three blocks away at Soundwave's original building on Wood Street. Proceeds from this invitation-only party will benefit the West Oakland Tree Planting Initiative. Sat/20, 1pm. Soundwave Studios, 1255 21st St. (one block south of West Grand), Oakl. Musicians interested in renting studio space can call 268-8622 or email [email protected]. (LH) How much is that gallery in the window? Appalachian Bluegrass ACCI Gallery, an artist co-op no less than 45 years old, provides a stable and prolific home to artists of all flavors. However, it's built on less-than-stable ground to say the least. ACCI is in jeopardy of closing its doors permanently unless the co-op can raise enough money to cover the retrofitting costs. The Gallery has launched a series of events to raise the needed funds, and the good news is -- these events are going to be fabulous! This weekend's theme is Appalachian Bluegrass Night. The local yokels that make up the Meat 'n' Three String Band will thrown down some good ole' fiddle and blue-grass while donations will be accepted at the door with open arms from anyone willing to help out ACCI Gallery as they bear down for the "big one." Sat/20, 8pm. ACCI Gallery, 1652 Shattuck, Berk. 843.2527. (AL) Picks by Lisa Hayle (LH), Aimee Le Duc (AL), Erica Pedersen (EP), and Gabriel Serpa (GS). [ East Bay | Metroactive | Archives ]