’Round town Westside ARTS, RISA’s men, Radio Kings, and more BY BOB GULLA

According to many that play there, the Westside ARTS space is one of the friendliest in the city. If you haven’t been there yet, this weekend will be a good time to check it out. They’re throwing something called the Soap Box Festival, with a slew of intriguing performers and lots of sincere pop vibes.

Organizers say that the intention of the Soap Box Fest’s bands should be to play songs that have meaning — "change the world type songs" — at least for this weekend. Of course, that’s a lot to ask. But playing meaningful songs isn’t. This means that meaningful performers will be pulling out all the stops to bring weight and relevance to their performances — yet another good reason to head over to Westside ARTS at 168 Broadway in Providence, where there’s always free admission and the organization is fighting many a good fight.

One participant surmises that the whole thing was really put together to make use of the backyard area at WSA for the first time this season — despite our Scottish Highlands spring climate — while having a great time with a bunch of simpatico musicians.

On the performance slate are Bill Carleton, Kristin Cifelli, Christopher Monti, Barn Burning, Heather Rose, Kendra Flowers, Andrew Mook, Andrea Lafazia, Soul Reflection, the Ren Band, Tiger Saw, and Delphine. There will also be barbecue-style food. The outdoor experience starts on Saturday (the 28th) at 3 p.m. and runs until midnight. If it rains, the date will be pushed to the following Saturday, June 4. Go to www.westsidearts.org for more info.

MEN OF RISA. This Saturday, Stone Soup Coffeehouse presents something of a special evening, and a departure from their norm of hosting national and international folk talent. The show is titled "An Evening of Ocean State Songwriters — The Men" and no, it’s not a gay cabaret. But it does follow its mission of bringing new talent to the Stone Soup stage every week. Joining with the Rhode Island Songwriters Association makes a lot of sense for both the Soup and the organization, largely because it marries a talented cabal of writers with an ambitious performance space. The evening will feature a booty call of the best singer-songwriters the RISA community has to offer. The all-male lineup (an all-women’s RISA show will take place in June) will be headlined by JJ Baron and Ryan Fitzsimmons performing as a duo. Also on the bill are Greg Simon, Paul Pasch, Erik Wohlgemuth, Rick Demers, Jerry Balchunas, and Ray Jorgenson. The concert will occur this Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Arts Center of the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket (210 Main Street). Tickets are $10. This show will close Stone Soup’s 2004-05 season. For more information about this show, contact RISA/ John Fuzek at (401) 949-0757 www.risongwriters.com or hearinri@ids.net or Stone Soup at www.soup.org.

THE LIFE OF A CONN. On Saturday, there will be a great show for an even greater cause, with a plethora of local punk and hardcore talent coming together to celebrate the life of recently deceased local music champ Andy Conn. By all counts Andy was a special kid, a kind-hearted dude who treated everyone he met with respect. As previously reported, Andy lost his life in an early morning fire on Cape Cod in January. The local community still mourns the loss. During his time in Providence, Andy dedicated much of his energy to the local music community — making T-shirts and patches for next to nothing and supporting the scene wholeheartedly. Now, it seems, Andy’s family really needs help. They’ve been beset with staggering medical bills and fire-related expenses, in addition to their tremendous emotional loss. Hence, this benefit. Slated to play is All or Nothing HC, Contempt For Humanity, Neoprophet, All Those Opposed, and others. The doors open at 7:30 p.m. with the show starting at 8 p.m. sharp at the American Legion Hall Roger Williams Post (285 Smith Street, Providence). Anyone looking to make a donation but unable to attend can contact MLKCreeps@aol.com.

THE KINGS OF THE HILL. "Well, the Radio Kings’ reunion tour thru Europe was a success," writes Mike Dinallo in an e-mail. "I was blown away at how well and fondly the band is remembered. We got more offers for dates than we could possibly do this year." Such is the afterlife of a local band that somehow discovered an audience in hard to reach places — on the continent and in Scandinavia. Who’d-a thought? "We stole the show at the Moulin Blues Festival in Ospel, the Netherlands and Nacht de Blues in Wuustwezel, Belgium, as well as at the New Orleans Music Festival in Wendelstein, Germany."

Right now, with a lineup expanded to include lap steel/guitar player Steve Sadler, the Kings are working on new material for a record in the fall. lLast week in Boston they played their last stateside show until September. Bravo for a job well done, boys.

SING SING. The Providence Singers will hold auditions on June 7, 8, and 9. The sessions will include an evaluation of vocal and musical skills, including sight-reading and a brief solo. The Providence Singers is one of New England’s outstanding choruses, acclaimed, according to the ProJo, for its "wonderful vocal blend, and an impeccable sense of voicing." One hundred voices strong, the Singers advance the choral art through concerts, new music commissions, education programs, and collaborations with other performing organizations throughout the region. The Singers’ upcoming season features a special performance with Dave Brubeck at the Lincoln Center, a performance of Verdi’s "Requiem" with the New Haven Symphony, and a guest appearance with the Rhode Island Philharmonic on Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony.

For more information, go to www.ProvidenceSingers.org or call 683-1932.

WANDERING EYE. Psycle plays this Friday (the 27th) at Jarrod’s Place in Attleboro, Massachusetts. The band is scheduled to go on at 8:45. It’s an 18-plus show and there is an $8 cover. Also on Friday, AbSynthe, Side Project, California Smile, World Threat, and Eniled will team up at the Roger Williams American Legion Hall, at 285 Smith Street in Providence. It’s an all-ages show which kicks off at 7 p.m. and costs $6.

The lineup this weekend at Giza picks up steam. On Friday Uncle Everett, Orange Jam Conspiracy, and DJ Blade Mon will entertain ($5, 18-plus), and on Saturday the bill features Torn, RightSideDown, the Special Guests, and the Syphilloids ($7 cover).

On Saturday, old friends Otis Read, Phil Edmonds & the Lucky Band will hold forth at the Nirvana Lounge. It’s located at 520 Main Street in Warren. Get ready for a little soft-shoe, eh? Big World (www.bigworldband.com) will play at Area Venue in Newport on Saturday before setting out for Skatopia (www.skatopia.org) in Ohio next week, a sort of Woodstock for the skate kids. Warped Tour dates will follow on the Volcom stage in August! A’ight, men! And the Rocky Point Pub in Wark features Who’s Your Daddy and Jesus Candy on Friday and Burrn and Sulfer on Saturday.

E-mail me with music news at big.daddy1@cox.net.