Shine up your spurs, dust off your chaps and pick out your best pair of tight Wranglers because Gay West is this weekend.

Festivities for Saturday’s gay pride event at Old Tucson include a drag show by Lipstick and Lashes, live music, dancing, food, stunt shows and Grammy winner Thelma Houston performing “Don’t Leave Me This Way.” Houston is also being awarded the Gay West Humanitarian Award for her involvement with AIDS organizations throughout the nation.

“This is the ninth year we’ve hosted the event, but we didn’t have it for a few years because of negotiations with the county. It was last year when we decided to bring it back,” says Gilbert Laroque, director of sales for Old Tucson.

Despite the potential backlash, Old Tucson continues to support the event.

“It’s not part of our daily park. During the day we are family oriented and friendly,” Laroque says. “And at Gay West, we do support the family no matter who the family is. At night we do get a little more adult- oriented.”

Wingspan, Southern Arizona’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community center, is also co-hosting the event. Programs offered by that nonprofit organization include support services to victims of domestic violence, health information and senior programs. The group also works to erase homophobia and other forms of prejudice and discrimination.

“They offer great programs. We like to support nonprofit organizations,” Laroque says. “It’s also held during national (gay) pride week, so there’s a lot of great stuff at the Loft. There are cool things going on all over the place during the week and we are proud to be part of it.”

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IF YOU GO

What: Gay West

When: 6 p.m.-midnight Saturday

Where: Old Tucson Studios, 201 S. Kinney Road

Price: $16 advance; $19 day of show

Info: 883-0100, www.oldtucson.com, 624-1779, www.wingspan.org

Georgia's Drive by Truckers will perform Southern rock June 19 at the Rialto.

Rockers “Drive-By Truckers” will bring a little of the South to the West when they play at the Rialto Theatre next week.

For those unfamiliar with the Athens, Ga., band’s sound, it has been described as a blend of rock ‘n’ roll, country, bluegrass and even incorporates gothic tones and melodies. Critics have likened the group to Southern rock legend Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Rolling Stones.

DBT consists of Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley, Shonna Tucker, John Neff and Brad Morgan. Adding to the band’s distinctive sound is the fact that Hood, Cooley and Tucker all handle lead vocals in various songs.

In an e-mail interview lead vocalist Hood discusses the group’s latest CD, their secret to success and their special connection to the Ronstadt family.

Q. The band has had a decent shelf life as far as bands go. What is your secret to your longevity and keeping the fire stoked?

A: Being true to ourselves and being true to the songs. No egos and not being afraid to piss people off and say “no” from time to time.

What are the biggest differences, musically speaking, from your first full length album, “Gangsta Billy” to your latest, “Brighter Than Creations Dark”?

Twelve years of changing, growing and playing about 1,200 shows. I’m proud of all of our albums but the new one is by far our favorite.

Lyrics to some of the songs, such as “A World of Hurt” from 2006′s “Blessing and a Curse” and “The Three Great Alabama Icons” from “Southern Rock Opera” are spoken as opposed to sung. Are they performed that way because it feels more powerful or is it done because the song just calls for it?

It’s always an attempt to serve the song. If I could rap, I would have rapped “Three Great Alabama” icons, but I can’t. Or maybe I just rap really slow. The words to those two songs might sound stupid if sung.

What do you guys miss from the early days of the band?

Nothing. This is by far the best the band has ever been and the best time we’ve ever had. I’m proud of the early days as that was what we had to do to get where we are today, but no looking back.

How do you guys feel about the state of the music industry?

I think we’re outliving it as I see it crashing and burning all around us, but we’re having the best year of our lives. The price of diesel is killing us, though.

When you guys come to Tucson, what are your likes and dislikes about the town?

Really great Mexican food, and vibe are on the plus side. I don’t really have any negatives from where we’ve been. Isn’t Calexico based there? I love them. Linda Ronstadt was friends with my mom when I was a little boy and (she) used to come over to our house when she was down South touring. We actually first demoed songs for what became “Decoration Day” on an off-day in Tucson back in early 2002.

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IF YOU GO

What: Drive-By Truckers with Dead Confederate in concert

When: Doors open at 7 p.m. June 19, show slated to begin at 8.

Where: Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St.

Price: general admission $17 in advance, $19 day of show

Info: 740-1000, www.rialtotheatre.com.

Wu-Tang co-founder RZA believes chess is key in helping youth learn how to think before acting.

Most people don’t associate rap music with chess. But Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA is a master of both.

Next week, the rap star will pair with local nonprofit organization 9 Queens to host WuChess Fest at Hotel Congress.

“The event is to help promote chess awareness and change the stereotype that people have about chess and chess players,” says Jean Hoffman, co-founder of 9 Queens. The event will offer free prizes, matches, a speed chess tournament and face painting.

Later that night, RZA will take the stage at the Rialto Theatre as his alter ego, Bobby Digital.

RZA, who learned to play chess at age 11 but only recently just started taking it seriously, says the game is extremely helpful.

“It was about two years ago when I really learned about the analytical power chess has,” he says in a phone interview. “The game of chess is like a swordfight. You must think first, before you move.”

It was after discovering chess as a learning tool that RZA created WuChess, an online community for players to meet and compete.

“I thought it would be a helpful tool for young people and realizing what chess can add to a community; to think before they act spontaneously. I decided it could be a good outlet for all walks, for all minds to get the chance to gather and sharpen their minds.”

Hoffman, too, sees the benefit of having chess introduced to a community.

“Chess is a great educational tool proven to raise test scores and help self-confidence,” she says. “It can also help people learn social life skills and teach kids how to think. It’s cheap, fun and when introduced can really make a difference.”

RZA agrees with Hoffman and says the game is especially important for people in urban communities.

“They find themselves in situations needing to think quick. And they don’t properly think,” he says. “I think chess helps develop people’s thought process. People need to stay out of jail, not commit crime and young ladies not get pregnant. You need to think.”

But don’t expect Hoffman and RZA to do a lot of thinking against each other in a battle of sponsors.

“I don’t want him to beat me, but I’ll play him if he challenges me,” Hoffman says with a laugh.

RZA wants to make sure that people understand that chess is not about winning and losing.

“It’s about the skills you get from it. That’s more important than winning and losing.”

After the tournament, RZA will step away from the chessboard and become Bobby Digital, his bold, genre-blending alter ego, who will perform at the Rialto.

“I think Bobby Digital has more freedom and is more uncontained, and I think you will see that,” he says. “The RZA has a few lyrics, mixed in with the rest of the members of the Wu-Tang Clan here and there but Bobby Digital is the whole thing.”

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IF YOU GO

What: WuChess Fest, a free family chess festival.

When: 4-7 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St.

Price: free

Info: 622-8848, hotelcongress.com

What: RZA in concert as Bobby Digital

When: 8 p.m. Tuesday

Where: The Rialto Theatre, 318 E. Congress St.

Price: $23 advance, $24 day of show

Info: 740-1000, rialtotheatre.com