A post on Flyleaf’s MySpace page tells us that the alt-metal band will visit the Valley on March 21. Flyleaf will headline a show at Dodge Arena after it ends a long tour through Europe supporting Korn.

The Belton, Texas band has toured with Breaking Benjamin, 3 Doors Down, Disturbed , Stonesour and they played the main stage at the 2006 Family Values Tour. Their music has appeared in the recent movies “Live Free or Die Hard” and “Resident Evil: Extinction.” The band members, who say they are all of Christian faith, donated proceeds from sales of their “Music as a Weapon” EP to the international Christian relief organization World Vision.

Click here for Dodge Arena ticket info and check out Flyleaf’s video for “I’m So Sick” below.

Mission’s Border Theatre is screening holiday classics like “Prancer” and “The Polar Express” for free this holiday season. The “12 Movies of Christmas” series is designed to, of course, spread holiday cheer, but the theater also hopes to collect donations at screenings to help local families and to raise funds to keep its doors open.

The Border is taking donations from residents who want to help keep the struggling movie and performing arts venue running. The theater is also accepting unwrapped toy donations for needy local families. Movie screenings go on through Christmas and continue tonight with the double bill of “Mr. Magoo

Valley artists and art lovers take note. I just got a message in my inbox about a new art space in McAllen. It’s called Manichaus (pronounced “manic house”), and there will be a Christmas art sale happening there Saturday Dec. 22 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The space is located at 1301-B N. Main Street in McAllen. The local artists who sent me the message say the space is “completely devoted to promoting and representing fine arts in a variety of forms.” Manichaus also has a shop that sells books and comics as well as locally-produced art. I might make it out there on Saturday while I’m doing some last-minute Christmas shopping. You should too. Support local art.

Christmas is nearing, but there are still a few good concerts to catch this week in the Rio Grande Valley. Check out this quick list of some of the concerts showing up on my radar. Make sure to check out our events calendar to find out about more local events.

- There will be a benefit show for the RGV Food Bank at the Border Theater in Mission on Dec. 20 (that’s the flyer posted to the right) featuring some great acts, including The Apple in the Tree, They Mean Us, Melissa Carver and The Final Stretch.

- Amarillo country singer Kevin Fowler returns to the Valley on Dec. 20 at Graham Central Station.

- Graham Central Station also has Los Palominos performing on Dec. 21.

- Brownsville’s Chapa’s Bar hosts an indie dance night with Houston’s The Factory Party, Cosmogirl, The Citys and a new band from Austin called Trains to Holland on Dec. 21.

Everyone else was feeling kind of camera shy this week, so I went in front of the camera with reporter Daisy Martinez to host the Weekend Edition. Daisy and I talked about a few events happening this week in the Rio Grande Valley. Check out the short video here and click the links below to find out more about the events we mention. Don’t forget to sift through our events calendar to find out about more local events.

Check out our interview with Ramon Ayala about his annual Christmas Posada, which happens Dec. 19 in Hidalgo, here.

Click here to find out which local bands are playing at the Toys for Tots Metal Show on Dec. 19 in Harlingen.

Check out a video and read a story about the ongoing “La Fe” art exhibit at Galeria 409 in Brownsville (that’s a pic of 409 owner Mark Clark installing part of the exhibit up there).

Learn more about the “Digital Love” photo exhibit here. It’s happening tonight at the McAllen Creative Incubator.

And finally, we posted a review of the new WIll Smith flick “I Am Legend.” Click here for showtimes for all movies screening in the RGV this week, including “Alvin and the Chipmunks.”

Watch The V Cast: Weekend Edition next Thursday on TheV247.com.

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Photo by Liza Longoria

Tonight, McAllen’s Cine EL Rey will hold a celebration “in honor of the Virgin Mary” starting at 7 p.m. featuring local acts GoLightly Project, Brandon Garcia plus Brandy Bee Serrata, he daughter of tejano legend Jessy Serrata, and more.

The event will also feature dramatic plays and dancing. It’s only $10. Get more info on the event here.

The hugely popular Mexican pop band that has inspired more bad hairdos than good ones returns to the Rio Grande Valley on Feb. 15, 2008, according to the Dodge Arena Web site.

That’s right, RDB is coming back and you can catch ‘em for as little as … $62 bucks? Yikes! You think that’s high? The most expensive RBD tickets on TicketMaster are going for twice that amount. Still, I’m sure fans will pay up. I know some people who say these kids are bigger than the Beatles.

Get your tickets soon RBD fans. They’re on sale now and I’m sure they’ll sell out fast.

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Photo courtesy rbdus.com.

Dolores O’Riordan broke the rock ‘n’ roll rules Saturday night in McAllen.

Most singers who leave hugely popular bands to go solo usually distance themselves from their old material, but O’Riordan had no problem playing her former band’s hits for about 300 fans at Club Metropolis.

The former lead singer of The Cranberries performed a spirited set for local fans. The show was part of Hot Kiss 106.3’s Listener Lounge series. O’RiorDan was in town to promote her new solo album “Are You Listening,” but the exuberant Irish waif mostly stuck to the Cranberries canon on Saturday, mesmerizing close to 300 fans with acoustic versions of hits like “Linger” “Ode to My Family” and “Zombie.”

The singer-songwriter captivated the crowd with great songs, an endless smile and a generous spirit. I half expected her to come off as jaded or a bit worn out, but she was the exact opposite. She bounced her stringy body all over the stage and gave fans an amazing and intimate night of great pop they won’t soon forget. I know I won’t, especially since she ended the set with “Dreams,” one of my favorite Cranberries’ songs.

Links:
McAllen Concert Photo Gallery
O’Riordan’s official Web site
Get O’Riordan’s new album

Crystal Olvera and Melissa McEver were nice enough to host this week’s Weekend Edition (while I barked orders from behind the camera) outside the VMS offices in Harlingen. Check out the links and info below to find out more about this week’s art and entertainment events mentioned in the video, and don’t forget to watch the video right here.

Music:
- Read a story about the South Texas Chorale’s “Let Heaven and Nature Sing” concert, which happens tonight at 8 p.m. in Harlingen.

- Cafe Tacuba hits McAllen on Friday. Check out our interview with guitarist Joselo Rangel.

- Get more details on Phillip Walker’s Friday show at Cine El Rey.

- Radio rockers Miser headline a show at Cine el Rey on Saturday. get more info here.

Art/Theater Events:
- The Harlingen Jaycees will hold its annual Christmas Parade on Friday. Click here for more.

- HPAT presents ‘A Christmas Story’ this weekend. Click for ticket info.

Movies:
Get showtimes for “The Golden Compass” and all the flicks playing in the RGV here.

No, not the Raymondville Historical Center board member