Country Music Fans Will Get to See Their Idol

Some aficionados of country music will travel miles and endure hours under a hot sun at annual events such as Nashville’s Fanfest to see country glitterati like Wynonna do their stellar torch ‘n’ twang thing.

But local residents can play it smarter this Sunday. Just park early, grab a bite at a local eatery, then stroll across the street to the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza to hear Wynonna perform at 7 p.m. Dubbed the Female Elvis because of her raw-to-rarefied vocal delivery and stage presence, the Mercury/Curb recording artist has garnered numerous accolades as half of the former mother-daughter duo the Judds and more recently as a solo artist.

Since making that career change in 1991 and releasing her first solo album the next year, the acclaimed performer has sold more than 9 million albums. In 1994 she was named Top Female Artist by the Academy of Country Music.

With her last CD, “The Other Side,” Wynonna hit the top 10 with a compelling ballad, “Come Some Rainy Day.” And in April she will begin recording her next CD, slated for release early next year. Until then, she has generated enough up-tempo hits like her signature song, “Girls With Guitars,” and No. 1 ballads including “To Be Loved by You,” “No One Else on Earth” and “She Is His Only Need” to keep fans happy.

BE THERE

Wynonna Judd in concert at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, 2100 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Sunday, 7 p.m. COST: $56, $46 or $36. CALL: 449-2787.

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St. Patrick’s Day comes a bit early to the county when the Country Lovers Western Dance Club holds a theme dance from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday at 10269 Telephone Road in Ventura. Jammin’ Country will provide deejay music. Dance lessons start at 7 p.m. Admission for nonmembers is $3 per person. For more details, call 647-1893.

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Up the Coast: The Steve McPeters Band will keep your feet moving tonight at Goleta’s Galleon Room starting at 9. On Saturday, Kerri Wilson and the Wheelers entertain the dance crowd at the same time, same place. And on Thursday, Wilson teams up with Steve Woods to perform country favorites, also at 9 p.m. The Galleon Room is at 5925 Calle Real in Goleta. For more details, call 967-0128.

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If you’re strolling around Ventura Harbor Village on Sunday, pull up a bale of hay near the Carousel Stage for a rare appearance by the Rhythm Rangers doing what they do best--performing an entertaining mix of country, metro and classic rock. The guys will play from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the harbor at 1559 Spinnaker Drive. For more details, call 644-0169.

Robyn Loewenthal can be reached by e-mail at drrkl@juno.com.