Cheryl's Art And Music Guide

Alice Cooper, Collective Soul, Judas Priest, James Taylor , and Daughtry are some of the performers who have signed guitars for an auction which will benefit other musicians. Julien's Gibson Gives online auction kicks off at 10 a.m. PT on the fifth of March. Proceeds also will aid the FirstBank Amphitheater Music Education Program . This supports music education for students in Williamson County Schools in Tennessee.  You can r egister to bid at  JuliensAuctions.com . Gibson , by the way, is celebrating 100-years-of-flat-tops-with- the-return-of-three-classic- acoustics , available at authorized dealers worldwide, at Gibson Garage locations, and through the company's website . 

What's the most anticipated book of 2026? According to the   New York Times , it's  The Rolling Stones-The Biography  by   Bob Spitz . Bob discusses the rise of  Mick Jagger  and  Keith Richards , as well as the decline of founder  Brian Jones . He also delves into the real story behind the group's first encounter with  Muddy Waters . And no, the bluesman wasn't mopping floors at  Chess Records  when the Stones showed up.     The author told the  Art and Music Guide  that he interviewed about 250 people. This included colleagues, relatives, and band members.  Bob, who has previously written about the  Beatles  and  Led Zeppelin , used to be a manager for  Elton John  (''from  Goodbye   Yellow Brick Road  and  Caribou  through  Rock of the Westies '') and  Bruce Springsteen , with whom he occasionally played music.  Bob's new book will be o...

The Appalachian Trail was established over a century ago. One admirer is   Mills Kelly , author of  A Hikers History of the Appalachian-Trail .  His new book is full of photos, starting in 1900, before the idea even came about. A group of men in women pose on the summit of Blackrock Summit in Virginia. With straw hats, neckties and long dresses, they look like they are attending a garden party. Another early photograph--circa 1940--depicts square dancing. This was a popular activity at trail shelters, and pre-planned by local trail clubs. Their newsletters even listed the songs to be played. While the music was often recorded, it wasn't unusual for someone to bring along a fiddle. One of the best pictures has a bird on top of a hiker's boot: both creatures are not fazed.  It was probably more uncomfortable to be walking in the street, even if traffic was light (as in an image from 1977). Yet for decades, much of the trail was on a road . . . a far cry ...

''Detroit Rock City'' will soon be more than a hit song.  Two members of  Kiss, Paul Stanley  and  Gene Simmons , are bringing their  Rock and Brews Restaurant and Concert Bar   to Royal Oak, Michigan, next month. There are quite a few other  Rock and Brews , mainly in California and Florida.  The new spot will offer Michigan tap beer, along with a scratch-made menu of American classics like pizza, burgers. wings, and giant pretzels. Other attractions include a live music stage on the second floor with regular performances; a rooftop lounge with DJs; and big screens for game days and other events.  For particulars, you can become a ''roadie'' and sign up for a  newsletter.

The   World Food Photography Awards   feature  over 25 categories . So images can range from food growing in its natural setting to edibles styled for magazines.  There's even a separate listing for cakes. Cheesecakes and cupcakes are eligible; tarts, pastries, and biscuits are not.  Another is the 'World of Drinks,' which can include coffee, cocktails, and smoothies. Both amateurs and professionals are welcome to enter the competition, which runs through the eighth of February.  The Overall Winner gets 5,000 pounds and the opportunity to be seen at the  Mall Galleries  in London, England. 

Those intrigued by unexplained phenomena will appreciate two new books. Both also contain interesting pictures. First Contact: The Story of Our Obsession With Aliens by  Becky Ferreira  includes the construction of the ELT . This stands for Extremely Large Telescope , which is set to begin observations in 2028.  A date has yet to be announced for the Mars Sample Return . There's an illustration, though, of the MSR spacecraft leaving Mars. The moon, of course, is not forgotten. According to a Japanese folk tale and 1891 woodblock print, a princess considered it to be her real home.  Other art--by adults and children who witnessed ''something''--appears in  Atlas of Unidentified-Flying-Objects , written by Andy McGrillen . The most memorable focuses on a pointy eared alien outside a sombrero-shaped craft.  For some reason, the book contains a lot of landscape photos. A welcome exception showcases UFOs from 1977. The lights resemble fireworks, cylin...