Cheap Thrills

BLUES BARGAIN. Rocker Eric Sardinas is one bad motorscooter and he's riding into Tucson for a show you can catch for a mere 10 bucks.

His latest CD, Devil's Train, is a collection of blistering blues numbers. If you're into blues, this guy will just blow you away, because his music is unique to the point that even Sardinas seems to have a hard time describing it.

"I play slide. I play blues, but it's rock and roll blues I play my own way," said Sardinas, who will be playing Saturday night at Nimbus Brewing and Tap Room.

Sardinas, who made the comments in one of a number of gushing articles that accompanied his press packet, added, "I grew up listening to R&B and Motown and I started playing when I was about 6. I just gravitated toward that, you know."

As far as Devil's Train goes, Sardinas defends its razor-sharp edge.

"It's an aggressive record, but it's from the heart," he said. "I have utmost respect for the traditional blues, and no matter how hard the music gets you can always hear the key ingredients of blues in these tracks."

Eric Sardinas, presented by Terry O' Productions, starts at 8 p.m. Saturday at Nimbus, 3850 E. 44th St. (Go south on the Palo Verde Overpass, take your first left on to 44th Street and follow the signs.) For more information, call 745-9175.

OLD PUEBLO POET. Make a date this weekend with one of the best known poets in Tucson.

Richard Shelton is recognized nationally and internationally and has published numerous books of poetry, and is the recipient of a number of prizes and awards, including the Western States Book Award for Creative Non-Fiction in 1992 for Going Back to Bisbee.

Shelton, whose poetry has been translated into Spanish, French, Swedish, Polish and Japanese, was one of the driving forces behind the UA Poetry Center, instrumental in helping to create a place that is uniquely designed around poetry.

He has taught at the UA since 1960, most recently as a Regents Professor in the Department of English. His students include many from his 20-plus years as a poetry workshop teacher in the Arizona prisons.

His poetry and prose cover a wide range of life, bringing into focus the details of an elaborate canvas.

An open reading follows Shelton's reading from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sunday in the basement of Sharky's Urban Sports Grill at the corner of University and Euclid. For more information, call 360-5269.

ARTS FOR ALL (EYE) OPENER. Afi-Tiombe Kambon is an actress, writer, storyteller and historian.

Combining her 20 years of research in slave history with her acting skills, she presents two original plays, An Extra Cup of Molasses and Black Diamond.

The plays--which kick off Arts for All's winter-spring schedule--are set in the era of slavery but their overall themes are translated into many contemporary social issues.

As Kambon presents her theatrical experience, the audience gains a better understanding of the barriers experienced with a disability in a multicultural environment. Afi-Tiombe will also perform at a student matinee The Dream Flower, a story geared to young audiences to encourage better racial harmony and a better understanding between boys and girls.

Performance begin at 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Speedway Blvd. Arts for All events offer wheelchair accessibility, audio description, tactile tours and ASL interpretation. For reservations, or to make arrangements for special needs, phone 622-4100, ext. 204, or e-mail artsmanager@artsforallinc.org.