Country Roundup

Caught Red-Handed, Ventura County’s popular resident country band, takes time off from its gigs for K-HAY country radio to do a “road show” of its own. At 9 p.m. today and Saturday, the guys will entertain the crowd at the Galleon Room.

Just follow the pedal-steel music to 5925 Calle Real in Goleta. For information, call 967-0128.

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“The Triumphant Return of Elvis,” Cal Lutheran University’s annual benefit concert, has become so popular that organizers had to book the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza for this 11th presentation.

The show, featuring the “interpretation” of Raymond Michael, a 24-piece orchestra and backup singers, starts at 8 p.m. Saturday. And chances are that only zealous fans of “The King” who take the show’s title entirely too literally will be disappointed.

Tickets, $10 to $50 per person, are available at the university (493-3170) or the Civic Arts Plaza box office, 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. (449-2787).

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Also on Saturday at the other end of the county, the Country Lovers Western Dance Club will hold a Super Bowl-theme dance from 8 to 11 p.m. in Ventura.

Jammin’ Country will provide deejay music. Admission for nonmembers is $3 per person, ages 12 and under free.

Head for the big dance floor at American Legion Post 339, 83 S. Palm St. For details, call 647-1893.

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Change your calendars, country and swing dancers. Beginning Feb. 2, Country-Western Night at the Yucatan Restaurant Bar & Grill in Santa Barbara will move from Thursday to Tuesday. But “Absolutely Country” deejay-dance instructor Skip Stecker will still host this weekly event.

The $5 cover charge includes dance lessons at 7:30 p.m., followed by open dancing until closing. The Yucatan is at 1117 State St. They answer the phone at 564-1889.

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The folks at Mixer’s in Simi Valley don’t always answer their phone. The band tentatively scheduled to play at 8:30 p.m. Saturday is Kevin Branford and the Bakersfield Boys. But before you warm up the truck, try calling at 520-7787. Or just drive over to 2381 Tapo St. and be surprised.

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Regular patrons of the Borchard Community Center’s monthly country dance are in for a surprise. Open to all ages, the dance will still be held 7 to 11 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month. But beginning Feb. 13, the new format will be swing-dancing featuring a live band and lessons the first hour by West Coast Swing champions Jamie and Gail Arias. Admission remains $5 per person.

Most country dancers are also swing buffs, so the format change just means that women might get more mileage out of those tap pants and short swing skirts that migrate to the back of the closet.

The Borchard Community Center is at 190 Reino Road in Newbury Park. For details, call 381-2791.