Bomba Estereo

Bomba Estereo will perform a Hancher concert Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011, at the Iowa Memorial Union in Iowa City. (Bomba Estereo photo)

Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011

Hancher and SCOPE are teaming up to kick off the school year off with a bombastic party, starring the electro-Colombian beats of Bomba Estereo. The band merges the explosive dance-fusion of electronic dub and hip-hop made popular by artists like M.I.A. and Santigold with traditional Afro-Columbian rhythms. Just back from Spain and New York, the four bandmates have been touring worldwide — rocking ecstatic crowds at festivals including South by Southwest and Denmark’s prestigious Roskilde Festival. And now this eclectic ensemble, formed in Bogota in 2001, is bringing its hip-shaking celebration to Iowa City to launch its Midwest tour. Get ready to crank up some heat to an electro-tropical beat.

Bomba Estereo: 9 p.m. Thursday (9/15), Iowa Memorial Union’s Main Lounge, 125 N. Madison St., Iowa City; $10 to $25, Hancher Box Office, (319) 335-1160, 1-(800) HANCHER or www.hancher.uiowa.edu/tickets.html

Cello Daze: Zuill Bailey

Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 17 and 18, 2011

Occasionally a classically trained musician bridges the gap between the orchestra hall and America’s living rooms. This weekend hear one of the cellist world’s rising stars at The University of Iowa School of Music’s annual Cello Daze. The event includes two free, public performances. Zuill Bailey, who is featured on the cover of the current issue of Strings Magazine and soared to the top of the Billboard Classical charts with his recording of the Bach Cello Suites, will present a solo Bach recital. There will be a cello ensemble followed by a reception on Sunday.

 Cello Daze: Zuill Bailey: 7:30 Saturday (9/17) and 3 p.m. Sunday (9/18), Riverside Hall, University of Iowa, free, Iowacellosociety.org

‘Boeing Boeing’

"Boeing Boeing," onstage Sept. 15 to Oct. 16, 2011, at the Old Creamery Theatre in Amana, stars (back row, from left) Jessica Bradish of Des Moines, Jackie McCall of Marengo, Deborah Kennedy of East Amana and (front) John D. Smitherman of Philadelphia. (Shelley Klimes photo)

Thursday, Sept. 15, to Oct. 16, 2011

Fasten your seat belts and pass the Dramamine. It’s going to be a bumpy ride as Bernard, a successful architect in Paris, juggles three flight attendant girlfriends in “Boeing Boeing,” taking off today on the Old Creamery Theatre’s main stage tarmac. Bernard’s elaborate planning to keep the women apart is no match for the newer, faster Boeing jet that lands all three women in town at the same time.

The wild ride then veers into elaborate measures Bernard, his housekeeper — a sassy and reluctant accomplice — and his innocent friend Robert take to try and keep Bernard’s three little secrets from bumping into one other. The comedy won the 2008 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play. Sounds like just the ticket for high-flying fun.

“Boeing Boeing”: Thursday (9/15) to Oct. 16, 2011, Old Creamery Theatre, 39 38th Ave., Amana; 3 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Sundays and 7:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays; $27 adults, $17.50 students, 1-(800) 35-AMANA or www.oldcreamery.com

BONUS: Uncle Kracker

Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011

From rap-rock to country to Top 40, Matt Shafer has been leading the way since “Follow Me” hit it big in 2001. Kid Rock’s best bud and former DJ stepped in front of the turntables to carve out an eclectic career jumping genres as Uncle Kracker. His spin on “Drift Away” found plenty of fans, as did his “Smile” and “In a Little While.” And in a little while he’ll be spinning his tunes in Dubuque. You’ll probably hear a mix of his earlier downbeat side countered by the upbeat side his young daughter inspired after complaining that she couldn’t dance to his music. He listened and released 2009’s “Happy Hour” CD, an appropriate collection to play at the Mississippi Moon Bar by a guy who’s a little bit country, a little bit rock ’n’ roll.

 Uncle Kracker: 8 p.m. Saturday (9/17), Mississippi Moon Bar, Diamond Jo Casino, 301 Bell St., Dubuque; $30 to $60 ages 21 and over, (563) 690-4758 or http://dubuquetickets.diamondjo.com