January 18, 2025

Acoustic Eidolon Opens Concert Season in Borrego Springs

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Borrego Springs Community Concert Association Kicks Off the 2025 Season


Thanks to the Borrego Springs Community Concert Association (BSCCA), the 2025 concert season began with a sold-out performance by Acoustic Eidolon at the Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center. Joe Scott and Hannah Alkire, the acclaimed duo behind Acoustic Eidolon, delivered an unforgettable evening filled with their unique blend of original compositions, reimagined classics, and engaging storytelling.


Their performance set the tone for an inspiring year of live music in Borrego Springs, leaving the community buzzing with praise the next day about the incredible show.


Stories and Music Intertwined


Joe and Hannah showcased their talent and humor through memorable pieces like One Old Wreck, where Joe shared funny tales of cars needing passengers to lift off the seat to start or turn signals that made the horn honk. Balancing the humor, 75 North Second Street offered a heartfelt tribute to home, full of nostalgic warmth.


Hannah’s solo, Journey from Water to Sky, written for her son Zach, captured the bittersweet beauty of a mother watching her child step into independence, leaving a lasting impression.


Inspired by the Faroe Islands


Acoustic Eidolon also shared stories from their June 2019 tour in the Faroe Islands, including a humorous tale of a farmer on Kalsoy Island who began charging for tours after his land was featured in a James Bond movie. Kalsoy’s dramatic landscapes served as the backdrop for the movie’s finale in No Time to Die. The duo honored their experience by performing a stunning rendition of Billie Eilish’s theme song from the film, blending their signature sound with the cinematic atmosphere of the piece.


A Blend of Originals and Classics


The program showcased original compositions like Stonehaven, alongside breathtaking renditions of classics such as Sound of Silence, Bohemian Rhapsody, and Hallelujah. Joe’s double-neck guitjo brought a harp-like richness to the arrangements, while Hannah’s cello added emotional depth and versatility, creating a dynamic sound that captivated the audience.


After the Performance

After the performance, Joe and Hannah (Acoustic Eidolon) spent time in the lobby connecting with patrons and selling their merchandise. The evening concluded with a group photo featuring members of the Borrego Springs Community Concert Association board and BSPAC’s Technical Director.


Pictured above, in order: Joe Scott, Hannah Alkire  (Acoustic Eidolon), John Young (BSPAC Technical Director), Virginia Sloan Perrin, Jeff Meagher, Richard Gray, and Joan Kirk. (Some of the Borrego Springs Community Concert Association board of directors)



Borrego Springs Reflections from Acoustic Eidolon

After their unforgettable performance, Acoustic Eidolon shared their heartfelt reflections on their time in Borrego Springs & the Anza Borrego State Park:

"We had a wonderful day in Borrego Springs! At the end of the concert, we'd asked the audience to give us suggestions for things to do and see, and we honestly expected maybe a few people would come tell us things on their way out. But instead, the audience was collectively calling out all KINDS of wonderful ideas and hikes and suggestions! A woman in the front said she'd give us a tour for $500 (like the Faroese farmer in a story we told before singing "No Time to Die"), and another woman called out from further back, "I'll give you a tour for free!" It was just such a playful, fun and memorable moment to share with them all! So....we went to Galleta Meadows and saw the metal sculptures, we took a hike in Slot Canyon (and shot a reel and posted it to our social media, to take them in our pockets on this cool and breathtaking hike), and then we ate lunch at Calico's, headed to the visitor center to shop and get more maps, and then took the hike up to the Borrego Palm Canyon Nature Trail!


We wished we had another week to keep hiking and exploring, but we did run into people from the concert around town, and ate dinner that night at Carmelita's (which was excellent)! The night of the concert, we ate at Carlee's...such a great menu! We also poked into the Center Market, the other Grocery Store, and the Borrego Outfitters, where we gathered various treasures and souvenirs. AND....in the small Anza-Borrego State Park store, Hannah found a sticker for her cello case! So....you all will be coming with us on all of our tours from here.


We honestly just fell in love with the people, the children and the area. You all have such a special corner of the world. The colors as the sun set, hiking our very first slot canyon, the stillness and stars over the desert, the coyotes, and the sound of wind in the palm trees at the oasis....it was an unforgettable set of experiences that we'll carry with us always.


We cannot wait until our path can return to Borrego Springs to play again for you all. Thank you for warming our hearts!"


Joe and Hannah 
www.acousticeidolon.com



Learn More About Borrego Springs

Meet Betelgeuse: A True Superstar

March 6, 2026
By Dennis Mammana Week of March 8-14, 2026 If you hear the word "superstar," what immediately comes to mind? Perhaps names like Tom Hanks, Taylor Swift or LeBron James? That's certainly understandable; they are all undisputed superstars who attract the attention of paparazzi and fans alike. If you're an astronomer, however, you may answer this question differently. For example, when I hear the word "superstar," I think of UY Scuti, WOH G64 or RSGC1-F01. Yes, these are superstars, but not quite how people may think. These are some of the largest stars known in our galaxy and, for that reason, are quite intriguing to us celestial paparazzi. Regular readers of this column know that our sun is also a star. It appears big and bright in our daytime sky because not only is it rather close (about 93 million miles away), it's also pretty large (nearly a million miles across). It sounds huge, but our star is rather small on a cosmic scale, and believe it or not, there are stars out there that would dwarf our sun and make it look tiny. These are the true superstars! Until recently, the largest star known was given the hopelessly poetic name of UY Scuti. At a distance of some 9,500 lightyears from Earth, UY Scuti is what is known as a red hypergiant star, with a diameter some 1,700 times that of the sun! All that changed recently, however, when astronomers found a gargantuan star some 2,150 times larger than our sun! It's named Stephenson 2-18, and if you'd like to get a peek at this stellar behemoth, you'll need more than your eyes. At a distance of some 18,900 lightyears, it appears 5,100 times fainter than we can see without a telescope. If you have no telescope but would still like to see a celestial superstar, you're in luck. There's one shining in our night sky right now; it's one of the brightest up there and is named Betelgeuse. Betelgeuse sparkles brightly in the northeastern corner of Orion, the hunter, and you can see its orange light midway up in the southern sky after dark this week. With about 15-20 times more mass than our sun, Betelgeuse is known as a red supergiant star for good reason. While we could align 109 Earths across the face of our sun, we would need at least 700 suns to cross the face of Betelgeuse! Indeed, this star is so immense that if it replaced our sun at the center of our planetary system, Betelgeuse would engulf the orbits of Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, and stretch part of the way to Jupiter! Yet it appears as a simple point of light in our night sky because of its tremendous distance from us — some 3,100 trillion miles, or about 520 lightyears. Betelgeuse is easily one of the largest known stars, though its size fluctuates by as much as 60% as the star shudders and pulsates on its way to an eventual supernova explosion, thousands or millions of years from now. Or tonight. We just don't know.  I hope you'll step out under the night sky soon to meet this remarkable superstar for yourself! Visit Dennis Mammana at dennismammana.com. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. Learn More About Borrego Springs

CANCELED: Planned power outages in Borrego Springs March 18 and 24

March 5, 2026
SDG&E Planned outage has been canceled. As part of SDG&E’s reliability initiatives in Borrego Springs, two planned outages have been planned. The first outage will occur Wednesday, March 18, 2026, from 7:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Thursday, and the second outage will occur on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, from 7:30 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Wednesday for infrastructure maintenance and to make improvements to our system. “We understand these outages can be disruptive and appreciate your patience while we conduct this important work to build a more resilient electric system,” SDG&E states. Learn More About Borrego Springs

Karla Diaz Unity Project

March 5, 2026
Karla Diaz’s Unity Project returns for a 2026 festival in Borrego Springs with public portrait banners at The Mall, a Unity Walk, and a Community Unity Festival. Karla Diaz’s Unity Project returns to Borrego Springs in 2026 for its third community-responsive activation, continuing a unity-focused effort she launched in 2024. The project combines a community run/walk, public programming, and painting with the goal of creating safe spaces for healing, art, and collective storytelling. After a year-long residency, research, and a series of community-led workshops, the Unity Project culminates in three core components: a community run/walk event, two public portrait banners inspired by Diaz’s interactions and workshops, and an exhibition of her watercolor works on paper. Diaz’s work centers narrative, identity, and memory as a way to generate collaboration and dialogue among diverse communities. 

Lucky Tongue live at the Dreamweaver Amphitheater

March 5, 2026
Lucky Tongue at the Dreamweaver Amphitheater at The Springs Lucky Tongue is scheduled to perform live at the Dreamweaver Amphitheater at The Springs in Borrego Springs. Below are the confirmed event details plus a few on-site logistics so people know what to expect when they arrive. Event facts Event: Lucky Tongue (live music) Date: Thursday, March 12, 2026 Time: 5:00–7:00 PM Location: Dreamweaver Amphitheater at The Springs (The Springs at Borrego RV Resort and Golf Course), Borrego Springs, California Cost: Free show Amphitheater setup Seating is informal: sit on the grass, sit in chairs set-up for the event or bring your own chairs Guests may arrive by golf cart The setting is relaxing and outdoor Food and drinks The Springs Wine & Beer Bar will be open El Dorado Tacos will be selling food

COMING SOON: Armand Frederick Vallée: Native American Indian Drawings

By Elizabeth Rodriquez • March 4, 2026
COMING SOON: The Gallery at the Palms

BAI Plein Air Quick Draw at Rams Hill

March 4, 2026
Artists painted live during the Plein Air Quick Draw at Rams Hill in Borrego Springs.

Wendy Warren Quinn Memorial Service

March 4, 2026
March 7 • 11:00 AM

Auditions Announced for Crazy Quilt Club

March 4, 2026
Auditions Announced for Crazy Quilt Club at Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center The Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center is inviting community members to audition for the comedy mystery Crazy Quilt Club, a staged theatrical production planned for March 2027. Auditions will be held March 9 and March 10, 2026, at 10:00 AM at the Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center. The production will be directed by Jennifer Looney and staged at the theater in March 2027 , giving performers ample time to learn lines and develop their roles. This production will be a fully staged play , not readers theatre. Crazy Quilt Club is a fast-paced comedic whodunit set in a retirement home for passionate knitters, where mysterious events seem to follow one particular resident wherever she goes. The production calls for seven women and two men , primarily portraying characters of retirement age. About the Play The story centers on Veronica Blather , a sweet but curious elderly woman who spends much of her time knitting and solving murders—many of which occur whenever she happens to be nearby. After struggling to find a place to live because of her unusual reputation, Veronica accepts an invitation from her brother, Dr. Joe Lydecker , to stay at a retirement home for knitters. The arrangement seems perfect—until a member of the group dies after drinking suspicious punch. Was it an accident, or was the drink poisoned? Suspicion spreads quickly among the residents of the Crazy Quilt Club . Could the culprit be Matilda , the club’s formidable president? Or Clara , known for stretching the truth? Perhaps Sarafina , who trusts no one and carries a rifle to prove it? As clues pile up and bodies appear, Lieutenant Jack McCoy arrives to investigate, though his presence only deepens the confusion. Along the way, a black widow spider, a mysterious cave, a gold nugget, and a late-night phone call add to the chaos. A storm eventually plunges the scene into darkness just as Veronica begins to piece together the truth. The rapid-fire dialogue and eccentric characters keep audiences guessing until the final moments of this lively mystery comedy. Available Roles The production features roles for seven women and two men : Matilda Thibedeaux – President of the Crazy Quilt Club Myrtle Ipswitch – A curious snoop Clara Quinten – A compulsive liar Sarafina Litton – Proudly crabby and suspicious of everyone Viola Underwood – A resident with a telltale allergy Lydia Thornedyke – A character with unusual habits Veronica Blather – Amateur sleuth and knitting enthusiast Dr. Joe Lydecker – Physician for the residents and Veronica’s brother Lt. Jack McCoy – The determined police officer investigating the case Audition Details Dates: March 9 and March 10, 2026 Time: 10:00 AM Location: Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center Actors interested in auditioning can review the full synopsis and role descriptions at BSPAC.org . This upcoming production offers community performers the chance to take part in a full theatrical staging at one of Borrego Springs’ central arts venues, with a full year of preparation before opening in March 2027. Contact Gary at info@bspac.org if you have questions.  Learn More About Borrego Springs
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