Shade Tree Books Singer, Fiddler

The latest series of Saturday night folk and acoustic music concerts at the Shade Tree in Laguna Niguel starts in February, with Cajun fiddler Tracy Schwartz and theater veteran Constance Cairo highlighting the lineup.

The schedule: Feb. 4, guitarist Mark Hanson, editor of Frets magazine; Feb. 11, folk singer Carolyn Hester, accompanied by her husband, David Blume, on keyboards; Feb. 18, Tracy Schwartz, a fiddler and guitarist who has played with the New Lost City Ramblers and with Cajun fiddle master Dewey Balfa; Feb. 25, two concerts of show tunes by singer Constance Cairo, accompanied by pianist Christian Winn; March 4, guitarist Dale Miller, who records for Kicking Mule Records; March 11, a Songwriters’s Showcase, with James Adams, Steve Probst and Ric Taylor; March 18, a St. Patrick’s weekend show with Irish duo Dusty Rose.

For information, call (714) 364-5270.

THE BANDS THAT WENT OUT IN THE COLD: Orange County’s own National People’s Gang is off to see the U.S.A. on a 42-state tour that began Wednesday night with a show at the Palomino in North Hollywood. The band’s shows now include a wry cover of Simon & Garfunkel’s “59th St. Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy).”

By the time they return from braving the elements out on the road, the band members may feel as if they have been living out the title of a less sprightly song: Gil Scott-Heron’s “Winter in America.”

Blues guitarist Walter Trout is another Orange County resident who would rather play than stay warm. The Walter Trout Band is headed off next week on a tour of Scandinavia.