NEWS

1. Charlie Wilson

The musical powerhouse, whose career began as founding member and lead singer of the legendary GAP Band, has reached further icon status as a solo artist with 13 No. 1 singles, 13 GRAMMY®  nominations, a New York Times and Washington Post best-selling memoir, “I Am Charlie Wilson” and more. Buy tickets here. 7 p.m. Jan. 16, Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St.

2. School of Rock

“School of Rock – The Musical” is Andrew Lloyd Webber’s newest hit! Based on the hit movie, the production follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star who decides to earn an extra bit of cash by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. There he turns a class of straight-A pupils into a guitar-shredding, bass-slapping, mind-blowing rock band. Jan. 17-19, Charline McCombs Empire Theatre, 226 N. St. Mary’s St.

3. Classics IV: American Voices – A Symphonic Journey

Join the San Antonio Philharmonic for an exhilarating evening conducted by Jeffrey Kahane. Don’t miss this celebration of American composers, featuring two exciting premieres in San Antonio: “Pulse” by Brian Raphael Nabors and “Umoja” by Valerie Coleman. Plus, performances highlighting the brilliance of Florence Price. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 17-18, Majestic Theatre, 224 E. Houston St.

4. Ranky Tanky

Carver season subscribers will remember Ranky Tanky, a jazz ensemble that specializes in a contemporary take on the music of the Gullah culture of South Carolina and Georgia. The band, which played the Jo Long Theatre in 2019, won Grammy Awards for its last two albums, “Good Time” and “Live at the 2022 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.” 8 p.m. Jan. 17, Carver Community Cultural Center

5. Spurs vs. Grizzlies

Celebrate DreamWeek and cheer on the Spurs as they take on the Memphis Grizzlies Friday night at Frost Bank Center. Buy special discounted tickets here and gain access to a pre-game courtside experience! 8:30 p.m. Jan. 17, 1 Frost Bank Center Drive

6. Culinaria Restaurant Weeks

Culinaria kicks off its semiannual Restaurant Weeks this weekend, giving locals the chance to try something new or to revisit an old favorite. Enjoy prix fixe brunch, lunch and dinner menus at dozens of restaurants in San Antonio, Boerne, New Braunfels and for the first time, Fredericksburg. Reservations are recommended. Jan. 18-Feb. 1. Various locations

7. Let’s Rodeo Ball

Trace Adkins is the headliner for the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo’s big fundraiser. With songs such as “You’re Gonna Miss This” and “Ladies Love Country Boys,” the towering singer with the booming baritone and black hat has been a force in country music since the late ’90s. 6:30 p.m. Jan. 18, Freeman Coliseum, 3201 E. Houston St.

8. PUMPERS Grand Opening Party

Chef Stefan Bowers recently opened the doors of PUMPERS, which began as a popular burger pop-up back in 2020. Now that the dust has settled, it’s time to celebrate. Head to the “adult burger shop” this Sunday for build-your-own pumps, a glizzy bar, day drinking, DJ music and more. 1 p.m. Jan. 19, 1101 Broadway

9. MLK March

More than 200,000 people are expected to take part in San Antonio’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. March. A celebration with multicultural performances, food vendors and more will follow at Pittman-Sullivan Park. Read more about King’s legacy in San Antonio here. Lineup begins at 9 a.m. Jan. 20 at Martin Luther King Jr. Academy, 3501 Martin Luther King Drive; the march ends at the park, 1101 Iowa St.

10. DreamWeek

Inspired by the work and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., DreamWeek is a citywide calendar of events intended to foster civic and civil engagement. Highlights include an album-release party for spoken-word poet Chibbi; a concert by R&B and funk legend Charlie Wilson; a performance by the Gullah-inspired jazz ensemble Ranky Tanky; and an awards luncheon. Through Jan. 26, various locations

KENS 5 Reporter Earl Stoudemire explains how the fundraiser benefits everyone involved.

From January 10th to 26th 2025, our city will come together to explore the impact of connections within the community at the DreamWeek San Antonio (DWSA) summit. Now in its 13th year edition, the annual city-wide celebration has grown to become one of the nation’s largest community-curated summit.

With over 200+ events, DreamWeek San Antonio 2025 will feature a diverse array of events, ensuring that there is something for everyone. From thought-provoking discussions and lectures to inspiring artistic performances and cultural exhibitions, the summit will offer a wide range of opportunities for engagement and learning.

The 2025 theme “We Are Neighbor” encapsulates the universal truth of our interconnectedness and shared humanity. Regardless of our differences, we are bound together by the common thread of our existence. By embracing the principles of empathy, solidarity, and mutual support, we can foster a culture of neighborliness that transcends borders and transforms lives. “We Are Neighbor,” emphasizes the importance of building strong, supportive communities through collective action. DWSA seeks to bridge divides and create a sense of belonging for everyone.

Experience DWSA2025

DreamWeek San Antonio is a truly unique and transformative experience. It’s a time to connect with people from all walks of life, to learn from different perspectives, and to be inspired by the power of community. Whether you’re a long-time resident of San Antonio or a visitor from out of town, you’re sure to find something that resonates with you.

Visit dreamweek.org/events to view the full schedule of events and create your DreamList of your favorite events.

DreamWeek San Antonio

Jan. 10-26

dreamweek.org

Similar to the MLK Commission, Dream Voice is an organization dedicated to advancing the teachings of Martin Luther King Jr. Founded in 2011 by Shokare Nakpodia, Dream Voice is the nonprofit behind DreamWeek San Antonio, a 16-day summit held in January since 2013.

The goal of DreamWeek is to foster dialogue around the issues central to King’s life and work. It serves as an open forum for participants and organizers to voice their perspectives, discuss real-world issues, exchange ideas and inspire change through events, including award ceremonies, panel discussions, art exhibits, musical performances and open debates.

There are more than 100 events each year. One highlight is the DWSA Dream Ball, also known as the Mayor’s Dream Ball. This official fundraiser for DreamWeek features performances by top San Antonio artists in music, theater, comedy and dance.

SAN ANTONIO – With DreamWeek San Antonio now underway, a special film was presented at the Jack Guenther Pavilion at the Briscoe.

‘Indian Relay’ is a film about a trio of teams from American-Indian communities competing in horse racing and takes a closer look at modern-day American-Indian life.

The event, which took place Sunday afternoon, was all part of a free Native American film series.

Organizers say all the films being presented in this series are written, directed, and star Native Americans.

January

Melissa Villaseñor: On six seasons with “Saturday Night Live” starting in 2016, Villaseñor showed off her skill as an impressionist with takes on Dolly Parton and Owen Wilson, among others, and gave us “A Peek at Pico.” Since then, she’s returned to the stand-up stage, done voice-over work, and made and sold drawings that are both funny and affirmative. Jan. 9-11, Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club, 618 NW Loop 410, No. 312, improvtx.com.

DreamWeek: Inspired by the work and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., DreamWeek is a citywide calendar of events intended to foster civic and civil engagement. Highlights include an album-release party for spoken-word poet Chibbi; a concert by R&B and funk legend Charlie Wilson; a performance by the Gullah-inspired jazz ensemble Ranky Tanky; and an awards luncheon. Jan. 10-26, various locations, full schedule at dreamweek.org.

It’s the nation’s largest summit.

San Fernando Cathedral will reverberate with diverse and soulful sounds this Sunday during a concert based on the award-winning documentary The Quilt: A Living History of African American Music.

Part of the annual DreamWeek San Antonio summit, the performance embraces the film’s goal of exploring the history of African American musical culture from slavery times to the present.

Jazz pianist and composer Aaron Prado — who served as music director and composer of original music for the film’s soundtrack — will perform at San Fernando along with Dallas-based jazz pianist Arlington Jones, Nicole Cherry on violin, Brandon Rivas on double bass and Georgie Padilla on percussion.

The San Antonio Gospel Heritage Choir, formed by the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum in 2023, will kick off the concert, which is presented by Musical Bridges Around the World.

Musical Bridges, a San Antonio nonprofit, initially developed and produced The Quiltfilm in response to school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since its 2023 debut, the documentary has won awards, including Best Full-Length Music Documentary at the Queens Underground Film Festival and the Gold Medal at the Atlanta Children’s Festival.

Free tickets are available through Musical Bridges’ website.

Free, 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12, San Fernando Cathedral, 115 Main Plaza, (210) 464-1534, musicalbridges.org.