Tasha Jones

Q Artistry led in terms of quirk factor, and spoken-word poet Tasha Jones continued her striking series of turns.

I’m willing to bet soul-music legend Ray Charles never expected his music to be the backbone of a contemporary modern-dance company. But Nicholas Owens Dance Company has done just that.

Month of May festivities will ramp up to performances by rockers Sammy Hagar and Sublime With Rome, followed by the eardrum-shaking beats of NERVO, Dillon Francis, and Hardwell in the infield during the Indy 500 race itself.

New acts go on every five to 10 minutes at this charity-aiding showcase that also serves as an ADD-addled arts lover’s dream.

Local arts stars collided at Clowes Memorial Hall on May 7. Their universal mission: to entertain, and to raise money for the Indiana AIDS Fund, at Spotlight’s 17th showcase of live performance talent.

Life on the road isn’t glamorous, unless your idea of glamour is waking at 4 a.m. to practice your performance, dressing your kids at 6, writing until lunch, making phone calls all afternoon, then picking the kids up, cooking dinner, and sleeping for five hours.