Sun. Sept. 30

 Have we had a change of hearts about tribute acts? Maybe we're turning that train around. We always thought tribute acts were bottom-of-the-barrel entertainment, ersatz close-up fun for people who yearn for the real thing but will settle for second (or third, or fourth, or fifth) best. But the recent double Elvis tribute at the Regent Theatre knocked us out and the Regent is continuing its tribute program with a tribute to Tina Turner, as done by Cookie Watkins. Now, Watkins has some cred: She's sung originals with her own band, and recorded or performed with the J. Geils Band, Nona Hendryx, Kitaro, Deborah Harry and Lou Gramm of Foreigner. She got her career off to a good start with encouragement from Duke Ellington when she was but 14. She was in the original cast of "Beehive" in the 1980s, with the New York Times saying "she repeated (raised) the roof." And she was in the finals of ABC's "The Next Big Thing: Who is the Greatest Celebrity Impersonator?" All these signs point to checking her - and from it looks like in the photo, her Ike-equettes - out at the Regent Sunday Sept. 30 at 2.

7 Medford St., Arlington, 781-646-4849 www.regenttheatre.com