The first-time gala is a fun and sophisticated way to raise money, lacking the formalwear and without any government funding and staffed by volunteers. Entertainment for the evening will include live music by the 12M Case Band and DJ Nick Peluso Productions, a 50/50 raffle and the Pawsitively Pawbulous Silent Auction.

Described as 'what begins as a simple meeting behind closed doors leads to misinterpretations, accusations and a high-stakes struggle for power."

Millennium Center; 101 W. 5th St., Winston-Salem; 336.707.9188; www.redelvises. com; 8 p.m.; $10 Coming straight outta Russia via Santa Monica Blvd, this rockabilly group bills itself as Siberian surf rock. Headed up by Igor Yuzov and supported by an eclectic collection of musicians from around the world with a sense of humor, the tunes are top notch.

Solaris; 125 Summit Ave., Greensboro; 336.542.5737; www.monkeywhale.com; 9 p.m.; $7 The monkeywhale is neither a hirsute sea animal nor a giant primate. It is, according to their website, a new media experiment with a dedicated staff of videographers, audio-engineers, photographers and bloggers whose singular motive is to save the Monkeywhale

DGI ANNUAL REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY The Carolina Theatre; 310 S Greene St., Greensboro; 336;333;2600; www. carolinatheatre.com; 336.379.0060 x.21; 8 a.m.; FREE

Award-winning performance space Triad Stage opens its season with Picnic, the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama by William Inge that concerns a handsome drifter in small-town Kansas and a fateful Labor Day picnic. The show runs through Sept. 27, but tonight is as good a night as any to catch the action.

Take a wine tour of Italy without even leaving state lines. Vias Imports will provide almost 25 Italian imported wines for your tasting pleasure. Doug Donovan, general manager of Vias Imports, will be on site to answer questions about the wines. Your $10 admission includes a tasting glass and no reservations are required to attend.

It's time to drag out that box of electronic instruments and get your band together. Tonight is the night to show the world how you can rock. All bands have to have at least three members including a vocalist and will perform two songs of their choice plus one song of the judges choice.

The night will be filled with rock and beer at Rodie's tonight. From This Day will be playing for your entertainment throughout the night with heavy rock and the slightest hint of metal. Jones For Juliet will stop by for a set as well, playing their signature rock and pop blend.

Do you have a case of the work-week blues? Then go out and enjoy some live blues music tonight at the Millennium Center. There will also be Southern cuisine, North Carolina wine and beer and a presentation of the Tony Award-winning play Ain't Nothing But the Blues.