From industrial Liverpool, England, to rural Salamanca, and all points in between, Ringo Starr’s illustrious music career is a very welcome addition to the list of grade A performers to visit our area.

Anybody who knows me knows that I make no secret of my love for all things Beatles. They were my favorite band from the time I could hold a plastic, child-size guitar and recite song lyrics.

Now, this weekend, comes a rare opportunity to see one of the two still living formerly Fab musicians in person not an hour away from where I grew up and currently reside. Starr will perform an outdoor concert at the Seneca Allegany Resort and Casino on Saturday at 8 p.m.

It’s an opportunity I never really expected to come considering the advancing ages of Starr and his counterpart, Sir Paul McCartney. And, given the outrageous prices and general atmosphere one could expect to find at a concert given by the latter, I figure there’s really only one feasible option for a fan such as myself to see an ex-Beatle in his glory.

I see it as a boon to area entertainment; a feather in our cap, as it were. There are a number of legendary musicians to have graced the music industry since the dawn of rock ‘n’ roll, and Starr is certainly among their ranks. For the Seneca Allegany Resort and Casino to have procured a performance by the now 75-year-old drummer-singer is quite an accomplishment as far as I’m concerned.

Though we may not live in the most excitement-filled, opportunity-laden region of the country, we are certainly not among the least of them. We are blessed with entertainment options of all kinds, and activities befitting all four seasons one could hope to experience within a calendar year.

And, as Starr sang on the Beatles’ groundbreaking 1967 album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band,” we just might get by with a little help from our friends. Hats off to you, Mr. Shears, and welcome to Western New York.

And now, here’s some of what you can expect to find in the area this week.

HIGHLIGHTS

Fourth-Graders To Read Poetry At Authors, Books And More Friday: In conjunction with Warren, Pa.’s, “First Friday” downtown event, Authors Books and Music will host members of Mrs. Carrington’s fourth-grade class at Warren Elementary School in a reading of their own original poetry Friday from 6-8 p.m. The reading will be held outside the book store, located at 227 Liberty Street in downtown Warren.

For more information, call 814-688-3009, email authorsbooks@hotmail.com, visit authorsbookstore.com or find “4TH GRADE STUDENTS POETRY READING at Authors Book Shop” on Facebook.

WRFA To Host Annual ‘Great American Picnic’ Fundraiser Sunday: WRFA-LP 107.9 FM will host its fifth annual “Great American Picnic” fundraising event at Southern Tier Brewing Company from noon to 3 p.m., Sunday. The event will feature a number of local bands and solo acts, each of which will perform approximately 20 minutes worth of music. Each year’s Great American Picnic has a different theme, with this year’s being “Songs from the American South.” The lineup for this year’s event represents a disparate, but accomplished collection of local performers. It includes; The Bogarts; The Elektra Kings; John Merino; Bumpy Peterson; Bill Ward; Cindy Love, who will be accompanied by Ken Hardley and the Moose Club; and The Short Bus. Many of the performances will be recorded and broadcast on WRFA at a later date. In addition to music and beverages, the WRFA advisory board will be grilling and selling hot dogs, with proceeds to benefit the station.

Southern Tier Brewing Company is located at 2072 Stoneman Circle in Lakewood. For more information on the Great American Picnic, visit wrfalp.com or find “2016 WRFA Great American Picnic” on Facebook.

Seneca Allegany Resort And Casino To Host Travis Tritt, Ringo Starr This Weekend: The Seneca Allegany Resort and Casino will host Travis Tritt and Ringo Starr in two outdoor concerts this weekend. Tritt will perform Friday at 8 p.m. A member of the famed “Class of ’89” that included stars Garth Brooks, Clint Black and Alan Jackson, Tritt’s career in country music stacks up to the all-time greats. With seven certified platinum albums, more than 40 tracks on the Hot Country Songs chart, 15 Top Ten singles, five number ones and four Country Music Association awards, his brand of country music has left an indelible mark on the genre. Tickets start at $15.

Starr, who will be accompanied by his All Starr Band, will perform Saturday at 8 p.m. Starr catapulted to fame as a member of the Beatles in the early ’60s, launching a successful career that has spanned more than five decades. Comprised of famous and talented musicians from some of rock’s most legendary groups, the band will entertain fans through their performance of several selections from the Beatles, Todd Rundgren, Santana, Toto, Mr. Mister and more. Tickets start at $30.

The Seneca Allegany Resort and Casino is located at 777 Seneca Allegany Blvd. in Salamanca. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call 1-877-873-6322 or visit senecaalleganycasino.com/entertainment.

Little Theatre Announces ‘Jekyll And Hyde’ Auditions Next Week: The Lucille Ball Little Theatre will hold auditions for its October production of “Jekyll and Hyde: The Musical” on Wednesday, June 8, and Thursday, June 9, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Those auditioning should be prepared to sing a selection from the show. An accompanist will be provided. Everyone will also be asked to learn a short dance routine. Those auditioning are asked to wear something that they can move comfortably in, including proper foot attire. The show’s characters include: Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde; Emma Carew; Lucy Harris; Gabriel John Utterson; Sir Danvers Carew; Simon Stride; Lady Beaconsfield; the Bishop of Basingstoke; Lord Savage; General Lord Glossop; Sir Proops; Spider; Nellie; Guinevere; and Poole. The cast is rounded out with the need for a strong ensemble of aristocrats, street people, servants, policemen, an inmate, an orderly, prostitutes and people of London, who tell much of the story throughout the show.

Anyone with questions, or who would like to audition but cannot make the above dates and times, can contact Helen Merrill, artistic director, at 665-5750. For additional information, visit lucilleballlittletheatre.org/auditions or the theater’s Facebook page.

HAPPENINGS

To include an upcoming show or event in this column, email gpaterniti@post-journal.com or call 487-1111, ext. 243 by Monday.

Tonight

Charity Nuse: noon, Downtown Jamestown Farmers Market, Cherry Street in Jamestown

Claire Stuczynski and Addison Moon: 6 p.m., Southern Tier Brewing Company, 2072 Stoneman Circle in Lakewood

Pulse Poetry open mic: 6 p.m., Infinity Visual and Performing Arts, 301 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Bluegrass Jam: 7 p.m., Lakewood Legion, 174 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood

Steve Strickland Duo: 7 p.m., Yesterday’s, 103 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood

Jules-R-Us Karaoke: 8 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

Karaoke with DJ Xcite: 9 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Karaoke with Felony Entertainment: 10 p.m., Forte, 114 E. Third St. in Jamestown

Friday

Amanda Barton and Charity Nuse: 6 p.m., The Wine Cellar, 309 N. Main St. in Jamestown

Chris Vogt: 6 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Rustic Ramblers: 7 p.m., Lakewood Legion, 174 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood

Derek Davis Duo: 9 p.m., Yesterday’s, 103 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood

DTO: 10 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

The Probables: 10 p.m., Mojo’s Music Bar, 104 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Screamin’ Lou: 10 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Two For Flinching: 10 p.m., Village Casino, 1 Lakeside Drive in Bemus Point

DJ Fish: 10 p.m., Shawbucks, 212 W. Second St. in Jamestown

Saturday

Crossbone Otis: 2 p.m., The Pad, 1064 Route 394 in Kennedy

Greg Ford: 6 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

“Hello, My Name Is Doris” screening: 8 p.m., Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, 116 E. Third St. in Jamestown

Rock Star Karaoke with DJ Felony: 9 p.m., Yesterday’s, 103 Chautauqua Ave. in Lakewood

Jules-R-Us Karaoke featuring Tami T: 9 p.m., Good Time Saloon, 590 Fairmount Ave. in Jamestown

DJ Goodrich: 10 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

The Audience with Porno Tongue: 10 p.m., Mojo’s Music Bar, 104 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Radioactive: 10 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 1414 E. Second St. in Jamestown

60 For Broke: 10 p.m., Village Casino, 1 Lakeside Drive in Bemus Point

DJ Fish: 10 p.m., Shawbucks, 212 W. Second St. in Jamestown

Sunday

Last Chance Trio: 2 p.m., The Pad, 1064 Route 394 in Kennedy

Bob Campbell: 2 p.m., Lakeview Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Liam Jones Duo: 3 p.m., The Cooler, 114 W. Main St. in Sherman

Amanda Barton and Bill Ward: 4 p.m., Hadley House, 3328 Hadley Bay Road in Stow

Just 1 More: 9 p.m., Hartfield Bay Cafe, 6050 E. Lake Rd. in Hartfield

Open Jam: 9 p.m., Bullfrog Hotel, 13 Water St. in Mayville

Monday

Open Jam: 10 p.m., Mojo’s Music Bar, 104 E. Second St. in Jamestown

Wednesday

“Raiders of the Lost Ark” screening: 7 p.m., Reg Lenna Center for the Arts, 116 E. Third St. in Jamestown