The Forte Milers Barbershop Chorus will present “Songs That Lift You Up” at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 14, at the Historic Paramount Theatre.

The program will feature familiar songs with words and melodies that touch the human spirit. This includes spiritual songs like “Oh Happy Day” and “It is Well With My Soul” and secular songs like “What a Wonderful World” and “It’s a Good Day.” After a long winter, the show should have a special appeal.

Sharing the stage with the Forte Milers will be CHORD SMASH!  This quartet is one of the top barbershop quartets in the upper Midwest as they won the Land O’ Lakes District Barbershop Quartet Contest in 2015 and competed at the International Barbershop Quartet Contest in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

While the quartet sings primarily in the barbershop style, they use a wide variety of genres that includes blues, gospel, vocal jazz, musical theatre, country, rock n’ roll and more.  They also bring instrumentation into the mix.

The Forte Milers are part of the Barbershop Harmony Society and it includes singers from across southeast Minnesota and northeast Iowa. The Forte Milers have been presenting their annual show at the Paramount since 2007.

Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 the day of the show. Student tickets are $5 and children age 5 and under are free.  Tickets are available at austinareaarts.org, at the Austin ArtWorks Center or by calling 507-434-0934. The Austin ArtWorks Center hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Six Mile Grove to perform at the Paramount Theatre

Six Mile Grove will be performing at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, at the Historic Paramount Theatre.

Founded by brothers Brandon and Brian Sampson, Six Mile Grove is a five-man group based in Rochester that has spent over 20 years as a self-managed, self-produced and self-recording band. Their music is influenced by Minnesota music icons, such as Bob Dylan and the Jayhawks, and they have toured with legendary Johnny Cash guitarist Bob Wootton.

The band recently released their seventh album, “Million Birds.”

Joining them on stage is special guest Annie Mack. A native of Minneapolis, Mack performs a mix of blues, gospel, Americana, country and soul performed with power and conviction.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the show. Tickets are available at austinareaarts.org, at the Austin ArtWorks Center or by calling 507-434-0934. The Austin ArtWorks Center hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Schedule of Events

Friday

• Easter Meal, noon to 1 p.m. at the Mower County Senior Center. Enjoy a traditional Easter meal of ham or turkey with sides and desserts – members $9 and non-members $10. Sponsored by Primrose Retirement Communities. For more information or to sign up, stop by the Senior Center front desk or call 507-433-2370.

• Chef’s Table, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at Austin Congregational UCC. Enjoy an evening sipping a mango lassi as you watch and engage with chefs Jon and Sky Neussimerer as they cook an authentic India meal for you to partake. Recipes provided. Limited to 8, cost $20 per person. No child care. Registration required at 507-399-1924.

Saturday

• Women’s Morning of Well-Being, 8:30-11:30 a.m. at the Hormel Historic Home. Whatever the role, women frequently put others’ needs before their own. Join us for a morning of energizing and inspiring information for women of all ages on healthy eating, resiliency and taking care of ourselves as we take care of others. Event is free, but space is limited. Call 507-668-2300 to register.

• “The Wizard of Oz,” noon and 6 p.m. at Southland High School. Based on the 1939 film of the same name, with a book adapted by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams. When a tornado rips through Kansas, Dorothy and her dog, Toto, are whisked away in their house to the magical land of Oz. They follow the Yellow Brick Road toward the Emerald City to meet the Wizard, and en route, they meet a Scarecrow that needs a brain, a Tin Man missing a heart, and a Cowardly Lion who wants courage. The wizard asks the group to bring him the broom of the Wicked Witch of the West to earn his help. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for ages 4-17 and seniors. For more information or to reserve tickets, email losmusicalreservations@gmail.com.

• Pinko Bingo, noon to 6 p.m. at the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Part of Paint the Town Pink. For more information, go to www.hi.umn.edu/pttp.

• Rose Creek Fire Department Steak Sandwich Fundraiser, 4:30-7:30 p.m. at the Rose Creek Fire Hall. $10 for a steak sandwich and a meal. Hot dog meals also available for purchase. Proceeds are used to purchase equipment for the Rose Creek Fire Department.

• Sola Fide Observatory Viewing, 9-11 p.m. at Sola Fide Observatory. Come out and discover fascinating facts about the night sky during our free observatory open house hours. For more information, call 507-437-7519 or email info@hormelnaturecenter.org.

Sunday

• Steppin’ Out for Autism Walk, 1 p.m. at the Hormel Historic Home. Annual event to raise funds and awareness for autism programming in Austin. Includes silent auction and raffle. Registration will be available in the coming weeks.  Please consider making a donation and asking friends and family to support our programming. Donate at www.hormelhistorichome.org/autism-programming.html. For more information, contact Holly Johnson at 507-433-4243 or holly@hormelhistorichome.org.

• “The Wizard of Oz,” 3 p.m. at Southland High School.