Fantasia to sing on 'Idol' tonight

Charlotte's Fantasia Barrino will perform during "American Idol's" live results show tonight on Fox, her first appearance on the show's stage since a scandal last year linked her romantically to a married man.

The Season 3 winner will sing "Collard Greens & Cornbread," the latest release from her 2010 album "Back to Me," following previous singles "Bittersweet" and "I'm Doin' Me."

In "Collard Greens & Cornbread," Fantasia sings about a dysfunctional relationship:

I never put up with b.s. from anyone But I take it from you (Ain't that some love) I never had no one put me through what you do But as long as it's you (That's some real love)

Jamie Foxx and will.i.am of the Black Eyes Peas also will perform on "Idol" tonight, when two finalists will be eliminated.

Discovery Channel star to visit Charlotte

Sean Casey, the large-format filmmaker best known as the star of the Discovery Channel's "Storm Chasers" series, will visit Discovery Place on Thursday to host a screening of his new IMAX film "Tornado Alley."

The IMAX movie follows Casey, his researchers, and their fleet of special vehicles and cutting-edge weather instruments as they travel into the heart of a tornado.

The screening of "Tornado Alley" will take place at 6:45 p.m. Thursday at The Charlotte Observer IMAX Dome Theatre at Discovery Place. Casey, who will introduce the film, will lead a post-show question-and-answer session with audience members. Admission is $10. Details: 704-372-6261, Ext. 300.

Casey's Tornado Intercept Vehicle (TIV) will be parked outside the museum's Sixth Street entrance at 6 p.m. for photo opportunities prior to the screening; doors to the IMAX Dome Theatre will open at 6:15 p.m. In addition, the TIV will be parked in front of the museum on North Tryon Street from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, and from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, April 1.

For more information on "Tornado Alley," click here.

Hey, kids: Selena Gomez is coming

Selena Gomez & The Scene will bring their summer tour to Time Warner Cable Uptown Amphitheatre Charlotte (in the N.C. Music Factory) on Wednesday, Aug. 3.

It'll be a big summer for Gomez: In addition to the tour, she'll release her third album with The Scene in June, and will star in the Nicole Kidman-produced romantic comedy "Monte Carlo," in theaters this July. She also is currently in production of her hit Disney Channel original series "Wizards of Waverly Place."

Allstar Weekend will open for Selena Gomez & The Scene at the Uptown Amphitheatre. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday at LiveNation.com, the Fillmore Charlotte box office, Ticketmaster, or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

Cirque du Soleil returning in August

A day after closing night for the run of its show "Totem" at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Cirque du Soleil has announced that its critically-acclaimed touring production "Alegría" will present eight performances at uptown's Time Warner Cable Arena this summer.

"Alegría" is a Cirque du Soleil classic (created in 1994) that has been seen by more than 10 million people worldwide. It features an international cast of 55 performers and musicians from 17 countries and showcases breathtaking acts including the Synchro Trapeze and the Aerial High Bars, in which aerialists swing more than 40 feet above the stage.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3; 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4; 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5; 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6; and 1 and 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7.

Tickets are $35-$79 for adults and $28-$64 for children 12 and younger. Discounts for military, seniors and students. A limited number of "premium" tickets are also available for all performances.

For show and ticket information, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com/alegria.

Coming: Sade, Kevin Hart, Warped tour

A few recent concert announcements from Live Nation:

Sade ("Smooth Operator," "The Sweetest Taboo") will play Time Warner Cable Arena on Sunday, July 31, as part of the second leg of the English R&B band's first tour in 10 years. John Legend will open the show; in February, he won Grammy Awards for best R&B album ("Wake Up!"), best R&B song ("Shine") and best traditional R&B vocal performance (“Hang On In There”). Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Comedian Kevin Hart -- who has played goofballs in more than a dozen films, including last year's "Little Fockers" and "Death at a Funeral" -- will perform stand-up at Time Warner Cable Arena on Sunday, May 15. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday.

The 2011 Vans Warped Tour will return to Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre in Charlotte on Thursday, July 28. This year's main stage acts will include such varied acts as Gym Class Heroes, Less Than Jake, Relient K, the Ready Set, and the Devil Wears Prada. For a full list of bands playing the Charlotte show, click here. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday.

Tickets can be purchased from LiveNation.com, Ticketmaster, the venue box offices, or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.

Raise your glass: New beer fest on horizon

Our state's craft breweries will be in the spotlight this spring at the inaugural North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival, set for May 14 at Rural Hill in Huntersville.

Brewers will include Highland Brewing Company of Asheville and Carolina Beer & Beverage of Mooresville. Musical acts slated to perform are headliners Chatham County Line and Eric Lindell, along with Charlotte's own New Familiars, Moonshine Racers, Sol Driven Train, The Mantras, and Do It To Julia. The Saturday event will run 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Advance tickets are $45 per person and "Under 21" or Designated Driver tickets are $30 per person. (On May 4, prices increase to the "at the gate rate" of $60 and $40.) To buy or for more details: www.NCBrewsMusic.com. Tickets include an exclusive sampling glass. On-site camping is available by reservation; food and merchandise vendors will be on hand.

Proceeds support the preservation of Historic Rural Hill.

Cirque du Soleil slashes prices on 'Totem'

Cirque du Soleil has been getting rave reviews for its latest production, which is nearing the end of a run at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Between now and Sunday, eight opportunities remain to see "Totem" ... and they'll be far more affordable than previous ones: Cirque is offering a 50 percent discount on most seats. Adult tickets now range from $27.50 to $45 using the promotional rate, while kids get in for $19.25 to $31.50.

Service fees still will add up to $13 per ticket, but this is a great deal and makes the show even more worth the money than it was before. Remember, Cirque du Soleil only visits Charlotte once every few years, and the Grand Chapiteau shows (like "Totem") -- I think -- are superior to the arena productions.

Click here to take advantage of the discount.