West metro arts & leisure: Herrera to headline Rails to Trails festival

Herrera to headline Rails to Trails festivalJazz pianist Nachito Herrera will perform with a 21-piece orchestra to cap off a weekend of musical events during this month's Rails to Trails festival.

Herrera is to be joined by Fred and J.D. Steele and Debbie Duncan in a program at 7:30 p.m. July 22 at the Watertown-Mayer High School Performing Arts Center.

The exhibit "Yesterday's Music 1856 to 2011" is being sponsored by the Watertown Area Historical Society and Fine Arts Council. It will be open during the festival at the Watertown Community Center.

The exhibit features musical artifacts and more than 250 photographs of Watertown musicians.

The festival is July 20 through 22 and will feature live musical performances daily. Each day's program ends with a jazz show.

Reserved-seat tickets for Herrera's concert are $35. For more information, call 952-955-2134 or go to www.startribune.com/a1450, www.railstotrails.ws, or nachitoherrera.com.

Church music leader sets CD release concertSinger/songwriter Wynand Hansen and his band will debut Hansen's new CD, "Jump for Joy," in concert at 7 p.m. July 12 at Messiah United Methodist Church, 17805 County Road 6.

To learn more, go to www.wynandhansen.weebly.com or reach the church at 763-473-6968 or www.messiahchurchmn.org.

Blue Water Theatre sets 'Guys and Dolls'"Guys and Dolls," the popular musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, opens July 26 for a three-day run at Wayzata Central Middle School, 305 Vicksburg Lane in Plymouth.

Tickets for the Blue Water Theatre Company production are $11 for students/seniors and $14 for adults. They will be available at the door and can be purchased in advance at www.bluewatertheatre .com.

Shows are July 26, 27 and 28; showtime is 7 p.m. each evening.

Blue Water's cast includes students from schools through the west metro.