Pam Tillis Brings Gutsy Style to Civic Arts Stage : The award-winning vocalist is known for heart-wrenching ballads and rollicking hits.

Country music aficionados can celebrate Cinco de Mayo at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza with Pam Tillis, the 1994 Country Music Assn. female vocalist of the year.

Since the debut of her first all-out country album four years ago, Tillis and her gutsy, piercing soprano pipes have created a string of hits. She’s equally well-known for heart-wrenching ballads (“Spilled Perfume,” “Let That Pony Run,” “Maybe It Was Memphis”) and witty, rollicking rollers like “Cleopatra, Queen of Denial” and more recently, “Mi Vida Loca,” and “I Was Blown Away.”

Her current album, “Sweetheart’s Dance,” was co-produced by Steve Fishell, a Hueneme High School alum who toured with Emmy Lou Harris before becoming a Nashville mover and shaker.

Pam, daughter of country celebrity Mel Tillis, has been nominated for top female vocalist by the Academy of Country Music. Her competition includes Mary Chapin Carpenter, Patty Loveless, Reba McEntire and newcomer Faith Hill. The winner will be announced Wednesday night during the three-hour TV broadcast of the awards show at Universal Amphitheatre.

*

Hot country star Tim McGraw will perform at the Santa Barbara Bowl on Sunday. McGraw burst onto the scene in 1993 with “Indian Outlaw.”

After a string of hits, McGraw is a nominee for the Academy of Country Music single of the year, song of the year and album of the year, as well as top new male vocalist.

*

Galleon Room crooner Art Green has gone to try his luck in Nashville, and Caught Red Handed’s Rob Wilson just moved to Idaho. Mike Mormanis, formerly with Shiloh, recently joined Caught Red Handed as the new lead guitarist.

*

With Shiloh founder and keyboardist Gary Weatherman out following shoulder surgery, and drummer Jon Cowsill recovering from a serious car accident, the band’s original lineup is down to Jim Green. But Shiloh continues to perform.

Details

* WHO: Pam Tillis with Bryan White.

* WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday.

* WHERE: Civic Arts Plaza Auditorium, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks.

* HOW MUCH: $37, $32, $29.50.

* CALL: 449-2787.