Best Bets/Hot Tickets

Best Bets/Hot Tickets
TONIGHT
* Rock band Jefferson Starship will play twice, at 7:45 and 9:30, at opening night of Rib America Festival at Chevrolet Amphitheatre, Station Square, Pittsburgh. Admission is $5. By the time the festival ends Sunday, patrons will have heard from Eddie Money, Donnie Iris, a Pink Floyd tribute band called The Machine and The Badlees, among others.
FRIDAY
* Call it hog heaven for motorcyclists. The first Harley Biker BBQ at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland will be from 5:30-9 p.m. Bikers may park on Key Plaza, outside the museum, and enjoy a free performance by Burnt River Band. Beer and food will be served. Museum admission is $5 on Harley Biker BBQ nights. The next one will be July 11.
* It's ticket acquisition time for three upcoming shows at Odeon Concert Club, 1295 Old River Road, Cleveland. Eve 6, the pop-rock band with a new CD that'll be released July 22, will play at 8 p.m. June 25; a "Rumble in the Ring," featuring Cleveland bands Dirt, Heeere's Johnny, The Bedroom Allstars, Jaded Era and Prism Theory, will duke it out at 8 p.m. June 28; and songwriter-guitarist Richard Thompson will strum at 8 p.m. July 16. Call Ticketmaster.
SATURDAY
* For a barrel of fun, go to the Polish Polka Festival from noon to 10 at Conneaut Lake Park in Conneaut Lake, Pa. Dance in Dreamland Ballroom to the music of John Gora, Frank Liszla & amp; TBC and Toledo Polka Motion. The fun continues from noon to 8 Sunday, with Ray Jay & amp; the Carousels sharing the stage with Gora and the Toledo ensemble. Polish food and drink will be available. Tickets are $13 at the door for adults, free for ages under 16. Call (724) 658-4132 or (412) 488-3454 for details.
* The Trumbull African American Achievers Festival parade will step off at noon around Courthouse Square in Warren. There will be performances by local talent, including R & amp;B and hip-hop singer ShiMarcc (Marc Tipton of Niles) at 6 p.m. The festival will be from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday.
* Get in on the action at Tower City Amphitheatre in downtown Cleveland, which will sell tickets as of 10 a.m. for these concerts: The reggae-hip hop rock band 311 with G Love and Special Sauce and Something Corporate, 7 p.m. Aug. 1; The red-hot White Stripes with Whirlwind Heat, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4; moody, poetic songstress Tori Amos with Ben Folds Five, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 16; the "Sprite Liquid Mix Tour," featuring Talib Kweli, N.E.R.D., Robert Randolph & amp; The Family Band and The Roots, 4 p.m. Sept. 10; and alt-rock's 3 Doors Down, Our Lady Peace and Seether, 7 p.m. Aug. 9. Ticketmaster will have tickets, too.
* Another opportunity to hear The White Stripes will be at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1 at A.J. Palumbo Theatre, Pittsburgh. Those tickets will go on sale at noon through Ticketmaster.
SUNDAY
* Here's the first chance for the young'uns to explore the new "Port Polymer" funhouse outside Great Lakes Science Center, 601 Erieside Ave., Cleveland. Port Polymer will open at 11 a.m., and the celebration will include face painting, storytelling, crafts and demonstrations. Port Polymer's features include a bubble maze; water wheel; fog gong; water turbines; air cannon; and balancing buckets. It's for children ages 7 and under.
NEXT WEEK
* "Station Square Street Jam," a free, weekly acoustic concert series featuring Pittsburgh-area bands, begins from 5-9 p.m. Wednesday in front of Hard Rock Cafe at Station Square. First up will be singer Shari Richards, who also performs at Hot Rod Cafe in Sharon, Pa. The series will conclude July 30.
AHEAD
* Get in the rhythm of "Back Beat," a swing, jazz and Big Band production by Ohio Dance Theatre from July 18-20 at Cleveland Play House, 8500 Euclid Ave. The dance works have been set to music from the 1940s. It'll be performed by dancers, a jazz and blues singer and a live orchestra. Tickets are from $14 to $33. Call (216) 795-7000, Ext. 4, for details.
* Make some noise at "Ohio Thunder Valley Jam," a two-day celebration of motorcycles, hot rods and music at Yankee Lake, state Route 7 near Brookfield. Gates will open at 4 p.m. June 27, and music will be by two tribute bands -- Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd) and Dirty Deeds (AC/DC) -- and Rick Magee and the Roadhouse Rockers. The music will continue June 28 with Dickey Betts & amp; Great Southern, Mountain featuring Leslie West and Corky Laing, The Fabulous Thunderbirds and Molly Hatchet. Call (330) 518-5186 for tickets or visit a Ticketmaster outlet.
* Rick Springfield's Pittsburgh concert date has been changed, from Aug. 8 as previously announced to July 30. It'll still be at Chevrolet Amphitheatre at Station Square.