Artifacts 5/28

Chicago musician at house concert

F.M. Smith will be playing an Underberg House Concert at 6:30 p.m. next Thursday. Smith plays acoustic guitar music, which has been described as a mixture of blues, jazz, folk and soul that tends to deal with social issues. He will play music from his latest CD, "Red Guitar," and music that will be featured on his upcoming release. To make reservations, call Jean or Larry Underberg at 334-7692.

Jackson Muny Band starts season

The Jackson Municipal Band opens its new season with a concert at 8 p.m. next Thursday at the band shell in Jackson's city park. Dan Wiethop, a former national autoharp player will be a special guest, and the band will perform marches by Sousa, Knutson and King. The entrance to the band shell parking lot is on Route D, near Pocahontas Lumber.

Changes in Fair St. Louis line-up

The band Smash Mouth will not be performing at Fair St. Louis on July 4 as scheduled. The band's cancellation was announced Tuesday, but no replacement concert has yet been announced. Fair St. Louis is a three-day Fourth of July celebration that begins July 2. The musical acts scheduled to perform July 2 are Charlie Daniels at 4 p.m. and Kenny Rogers at 8 p.m.; on July 3, Issac Hayes will perform at 4 p.m. and Al Green at 8 p.m. With the cancellation of Smash Mouth, the only performer scheduled on the Fourth of July is Saliva at 4 p.m. For more information on Fair St. Louis, go to www.fairstl.org.

The Bard in St. Louis

The 2004 season of the Shakespeare Festival of St. Louis begins today in Forest Park with "As You Like It." This comedy will be performed at 8 p.m. nightly until June 20, except for June 1, June 8 and June 17. For more information, call (314) 361-0101.

Arts from Africa

The St. Louis African Arts Festival at the Worlds Fair Pavillion in Forest Park will feature an African marketplace, children's activities, hands-on activities, performing artists, African and African-American artifacts, ceramics and textiles, guided art tours, cultural demonstrations and educational forums. It will be open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday. For more information call (314) 935-9676

-- From staff reports