THURSDAY, Oct. 20

Agricultural Gems of Maine | The Portland Farmer’s Market is taking over the tiny kitchen at the Jewel Box and offering up some wonderfully fresh local fruits, veggies, meats and cheeses. So far here’s what’s been confirmed on this free menu: smoked feta from Balfour Farm, delicious pork from Cornerstone Farm, hearty brussels sprouts from Merrifield Farm, lovely radishes from Two Farmers Farm, flavorful herbs from Dandelion Spring Farm and fat slabs of eggplant from Green Spark Farm. Bring your hip friends, be merry and snack on some healthy, locally sourced food in your favorite, dimly lit hole in the wall. | FREE | 5:30pm | Bearded Lady’s Jewel Box, 644 Congress St., Portland | http://thebeardedladysjewelbox.com/ |

Not Your Mom’s Ballet Show | Philadelphia's explosive BalletX performance is a classical dance show for a modern audience. These world-class dancers preserve the rigorous techniques and choreography of their ancestors, but are also encouraged to experiment with new tricks. Featuring an eclectic and unconventional soundtrack that includes pieces by Ella Fitzgerald and Leonard Cohen, this performance “portrays a world that is comedic, provocative, stylish and powerful.” Experience it for yourself and gain a newfound appreciation for the grace, athleticism, emotion, majesty and synchronization these incredible artists display on stage. | $30 | 7:30pm | Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland | https://tickets.porttix.com/public/ |

Caught Up In A Dream | Do yourself a favor and look up this London indie-pop band’s single “Technicolour Beat,” and slip into the hypnotic trance the song induces. It’s a dreamy escape. The voices of Oh Wonder’s two members Josephine Vander Gucht and Anthony West swirl and meld together like cream and caramelized sugar, leaving listeners in sweet daydream backed by an ambient drone and a melodically dripping keyboard. The other works on their 15 strong, self-titled debut album vary from piano-led ballads to whip-sharp electronica, but all tend to passionately deal with similar themes: loneliness, perseverance, love and the need for human relationships. "They're songs about humans, and about people being there in your life," said Josephine. "People need people. And that's what this album looks at, from all the different angles: it's about being grateful for the people in your life, for relationships of all sorts." Have you found your “Livewire,” yet? Joining this show is the shapeshifting vocalist from Australia, Cleopold. | $25 | 8:30pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com |

FRIDAY, Oct. 21

Back By Popular Demand | What do you thirsty Phish heads want to hear during this groovy show? Jennifer Dances? Spread It Round? The Horse? I hear the members of Portland’s premier Phish tribute band, Pardon Me, Doug, are taking requests for their comeback show at PHOME. They’ve emerged out of that pit of responsibilities where jobs, families and other projects lurk, and are ready unleash a torrent of funkiness from your favorite granola rockers. But take note, you don’t even have to be a Phish fan, to enjoy these talented local musicians. “We've had some people after shows say to us that they have never really been into Phish, but that the energy that we bring to our show was really enjoyable for them and we kind of changed their perspective of what Phish music was all about,” said Kevin Roper, who plays keyboard and sings backup vocals. “The audience is having fun. We're having fun. It's all about having a good time.”  | $10 | 8:00pm | Portland House of Music and Events, 25 Temple St., Portland | http://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com |

One Swooning Brit | This ginger beard-wearing, high-pitched singing, sharp newcomer on the alternative scene is skipping across the pond for a big American fall tour promoting his debut album Phase. Jack Garratt only started producing music in 2015, but people already love his guitar-driven electronica with a starry-eyed fervor. He’s sold out shows in his home country of England, and is doing the same here in America. Even President Obama had good things to say about him. Come see what all the hype's all about, when this hate-eradicating, dynamic and disarming musician swings through our Forest City. | $25 | 8:00pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com |

The David Mallett Band | One of America’s true original troubadours, and probably one of the most beloved Maine musicians to ever exist is David Mallett, a man who’s been soulfully performing carefully written poetic folk and country for over four decades now. You know who can sing the best about the struggles of man and the dreary landscape across America? A man who’s felt it and seen it himself. His songs are about real people, real places, real times and perhaps most impactfully, real emotions. Mallett’s show features music that evokes passion, sparks feelings, stimulates nostalgia and plays vibrant images in the listener's head. This is what music is supposed to do. For this performance, David Mallett will be backed by a full band, which is rare, but certainly welcome! “I like to keep reaching out to touch the past,” Mallett said, “to connect it with what’s going on now. To me music is one of the few things that is timeless … human emotion is one continual chain.” | $30 | 8:00pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com |

SATURDAY, Oct. 22

A Dose of Cosmic Americana | Are you craving a dose of locally sourced, reverby weirdness? The hypnotic/experimental/folk/rock band Afraid was formed in a damp basement on Munjoy Hill, but they’ve since transplanted to the birthplace of psychedelia: California. During that time they released a paranoid, gloomy and hallucinatory album called Sinister Vibes, and are prepared to bring its addictive melancholia back to Maine. This featured act will set the stage for this otherworldly show. Also on the bill are Maine’s “guiding lights of warped psychadelica and outre folk,” Herbcraft and Ada. Push through the cosmic veil during this fascinating showcase of avant-garde sounds. | $8 | 8:00pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org |

David Bromberg | If you’re a folk and blues musician who’s shared the stage or worked with the likes of Bob Dylan, the Beastie Boys, Willie Nelson, Jerry Garcia, George Harrison and Pete Seeger, then you’re probably doing a lot of things right. You can judge the merit of a person by the people he/she hangs out with. David Bromberg, his team of horn players, violinists, multi-instrumentalists, and special guest Sean Mencher have got the chops to keep you entertained all night long, or at least until you can’t handle any more booze and blues. | $35-45 | 8:00pm | Portland House of Music and Events, 25 Temple St., Portland | http://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com  |

Four Bands at Flask | Spend this crisp fall evening with this outrageously interesting lineup of local newbies and veterans: the folk rock outfit Welterweight, who just released Country’d, a collection of 8 original songs that convey themes of borders both isolated and connected (like the heart of any good country), the brand new outfit Cape Cannons, a layer-filled, introspective band that shoots for a slower tempo vibe while retaining a high energy sound (think Mogwai and Thrive with a little '90s emo cheese), the surprisingly funky and dynamic indie-rock band, First in Maths, and the captivating Classy on Occasion, a Portland band that blends the energy of punk, with the spontaneity of blues and jazz. Listeners take note, if you like what you hear from Welterweight’s newest release, head over to Blue on the 27th for a more comprehensive showcase of their sad-mad-glad version of Americana. | $5 | 8:30pm | Flask Lounge, 117 Spring St., Portland | http://flasklounge.com/ |

Rugged and Riffy | The nationally touring act, Wild Adriatic will electrify the space at Empire with their zesty mixture of soul, blues and indie rock. Think of this rugged and riffy power trio as the lovechild between the Black Keys and the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. They’ve played over 150 shows and festivals last year, so I’m sure they’ll easily be able to dominate Empire’s intimate space. Joining these Saratoga soundsmiths are Hancock’s collective of folk storytellers, Chris Ross and the North, a band that performs simple, but powerful, pure and honest music. | $10 | 9:30pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://portlandempire.com/ |

Don’t Get Left In The Gutter | Don’t write them off as just another jam band. Blending a tight composition with adventurous, complex improvisations, is Revibe, a four-piece funk/jazz/electro band from Burlington Vermont. Expect to hear everything from jazz to trance, funk to rock or any fusion from their grab-bag repertoire. One thing’s for sure: they get wallflowers moving. Still fresh off the release of their debut studio album Stitched In Fiction, the band continues to expand their touring territory to provide their eager fan base with new material, and will do so as long as inspiration guides the way. The band always celebrates returning to their home base of Burlington, Vermont, where an ever-expanding following gathers regularly to help battle the Cratch and celebrate the vibe. What’s the Cratch? Go to the show and find out yourself. I don’t want to ruin it. | FREE | 10:00pm | Bayside Bowl, 58 Alder St., Portland | http://www.baysidebowl.com/ |

SUNDAY, Oct. 23

Pumpkins in the Square | Do you want a truly terrifying decoration to sit on your porch or stoop this Halloween? Here’s my suggestion: carve a pumpkin with an obnoxiously large mouth and puffy cheeks, scrape out two beady little eyeholes, and make a fluffy hair-do from pumpkin guts to sit and dry on top of your monstrous creation. Ta da; you’ve made a Donald Trumpkin, a symbol that’s bound to scare the kids and adults alike. But seriously, if you want an reprieve from this ghastly election, come forget all about it, and get in the Halloween spirit at Congress Square Park, with pumpkin carving, apple cider, sweet treats and bluegrass music performed by Northwood. | FREE | 4:00pm | Congress Square Park, Portland | http://congresssquarepark.org/ |

Morphing Mountain Bluegrass | Gear up for some good-natured, rollicking folk and bluegrass courtesy of The Yonder Mountain String Band, a jam band that’s headlined festivals and served as background music for camping and road trips for over 18 years. The band members have tweaked their sound a bit recently, mostly because they fell in love with different instruments. With their latest album, Black Sheep, the band utilizes for the first time all the conventional instruments in a bluegrass arsenal: guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle and a bass. “It’s not just bluegrass — it’s progressive,” said Ben Kaufmann, the bassist. “Everything Yonder has ever tried to do, we’re doing in this record. It’s gonna take some time for fans to get acquainted with the new Yonder. When you make a big change like we did, it’s a huge thing. But the band is a force, and the album is such a perfect example of our new direction.” Yonder plays country music, for people that hate country music. | $30 | 8:00pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com |

MONDAY, Oct. 24

Informed Smokers | Election Day is fast approaching, and before you make a decision on Question 1, an effort to legalize adult-usage of marijuana in Maine, educate yourself on the substance at the Cannabis Policy Conference. Unless you’ve experimented yourself, hearing from actual experts during this all day long symposium will set the record straight about legal pot. If you’re some kind of information zombie that actually agreed with LePage’s latest diatribe against pot, then move along. If you’re not, or are just curious and itching to learn more about the cannabis plant, keep this conference, which features five panels of experts, on your radar. | $25-70 | 9:00am to 6:00pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.statetheatreportland.com |

Speakeasy Scares | Compelling stories don’t sprout up and exist in a vacuum. Instead they’re born and nurtured in creative communities and thriving spaces. I’ll tell you where to find some juicy stories this week. Venture out to Portland’s “secret” bar, and hear from locals during Bare Portland’s storytelling open mic. The theme this month is: Screech, tell us what scares you. Who’s going to be opening up about their fears? The storytellers include Tarra Haskell, Khalil LeSaldo, Nick Schroeder and Catherine Buxton. Nothing’s scarier than the truth! | FREE | 7:30pm | Lincoln’s, 36 Market St., Portland | http://www.bareportland.org/ |

TUESDAY, Oct. 25

Film Screening: Camera Person | What does it mean to film another person? How does it affect that person — and what does it do to the one who films? These are the provocative questions that this “tapestry of footage” attempts to answer. The documentary is called Cameraperson, and it’s more about the journey than the finished product. The cinematographer Kirsten Johnson embarks on a personal journey around the world and uncovers the tensions, dramas and relationships that occur when a camera is pointed at a stranger's (or a friend’s) face. Journey through Brooklyn, Bosnia and Nigeria during this honest, and moving glimpse into a filmmaker’s creative process and struggles with objectivity. | $8 | 7:30pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org |

A Math Rock Experience | An Anderson, an experimental four piece from Portland will showcase their “math rock,” a rhythmically complex, dissonant, irregular, guitar driven version of rock and post-hardcore. Would you expect much else from Geno’s? Stefan Hanson from An Anderson, promises a wistful vibe. “Like being an NFL linebacker, being in An Anderson is a challenging gig to age gracefully in; literally or metaphorically, tube socks on your feet ain't a good look at 50,” said Hanson. “With our second LP, we made a bold attempt to jibe past our party-dog selves with present-day artistic ambitions – not always a perfect fit but a compelling one. Our sound is top-shelf modern-rock splendor: shimmering guitar fractals, flashing string arrangements and artisanal rhythmic flourishes.” Joining them are the noise rock band Cushing (on the heels of a new EP, Curse on Cushing), the white noise purveyors Burr and chung antique a curious post-hardcore and math-metal trio from Seattle. | $8 | 8:00pm | Geno’s Rock Club, 625 Congress St., Portland | https://www.facebook.com/Genos-Rock-Club-106415422773796/ |

Watsky’s Infinity Tour | San Francisco’s George Watsky is a slam poet and rising hip hop star known for being unconventional, quirky, philosophical and prone to spitting tongue twisting lyrics at lightening speed. He’s done the TV thing. He’s killing the Youtube game. And he’s earned many slots at prestigious festivals. Some are calling Watsky’s work the “next big sound.” It’s time to hear what kind of madness is swirling around in this versatile lyricist’s head. Sometimes it’s silly, sometimes it’s serious, but it’s hardly ever boring. Further aiding in your journey down the introspective hip-hop rabbit hole, will be Witt Lowry and Daye Jack. | $18 | 8:00pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com |

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 26

Feel Some Type Of Way | Life’s a struggle. The captain of a sunken ship, and independent recording artist Will Dailey gets it. His music carries universal messages. This Boston pop-rocker known for his vintage vibes, reggae beats and a Southern twang hiding heartbreak in his voice, sings about life’s uncomfortable side effects and the solutions we need to ease the stress. Jump overboard and dive deep into this anti-genre artists’ compelling, unpretentious metaphors. Joining him is Megan Burtt, another artist with anti-pop sensibilities. She’ll be using her distinctive vocals to weave stories about mortality, sorrow, spiritual release, carnal desire and uncertainties. This show definitely doesn’t sound depressing. | $15 | 8:00pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com |

Keep Your Friends Close, Very Close | Expect some ambitious and intricately laid out soundscapes when the female driven, avant-pop band And The Kids take the stage at Empire to perform their latest album, Friends Share Lovers. The uplifting, euphoric, and mesmerizing sounds combined with the existential, bright and creative lyrics these kids (and yes, best friends) pump out makes for nothing short of a charming good time. Their “chiming guitars, oceanic synth textures and sidesteps into classical melodic motifs,” might have you thinking deeply about the friends you keep in your life. Are those bonds part of your life raft? Or should they be severed and thrown overboard? Joining them on the bill are indie rock acts Palm and Mal Devisa. | $10 | 9:30pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://portlandempire.com/ |

THURSDAY, Oct. 27

Pecha Kucha Portland | By now you know the simple, yet compelling format of this storytelling/presentation event: 20 slides of images, 20 seconds each, 6 minutes total. During Pecha Kucha, each presenter will have to keep things interesting within those unique parameters. This week’s theme? Food! Expect the unexpected. | $7 | 6:00pm | Portland House of Music and Events, 25 Temple St., Portland | https://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com/ |

Magnificent and Strange: Pedal Punk | What do you get when you mix acrobatics and mechanical contraptions? Some damn compelling entertainment, that’s what. Odds are, you’ve never seen a circus show this bizarre and, well, steampunk-esque. Cirque Mechanics will let their dazzling troupe of dancers and mischievous acrobats loose during an exciting and unconventional performance. Witness the delightful synergy between man and machine, when these performers attempt to cycle their way out of a technologically-obsessed society. Hey, life imitates art right? Or is it the other way around? | $45-70 | 7:00pm | Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland | http://www.porttix.com/ |

Tribute 2 HalloWEEN | See what the show promoters did there? Not only will this show have all the spooky vibes and costumes of a Halloween party, but the acts are all planning on doing covers of the cult-crazed, lo-fi, psychedelic rock band Ween. Expect members of local acts like Weakened Friends, 6Gig, Tall Horse and Cape Cannons to channel their inner Boognish demon and uncover what the golden eel said. Strap in for a night that’s totally going to be brown. | $8 | 8:00pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://portlandempire.com/ |

THURSDAY, Oct. 27

The OLS Masquerade Jam | What happens when you mix the elegance of a masquerade ball with the rough and tumble, down home, feel good vibes of an old fashioned jam session around the campfire? A party like no other. Liz Pettengill from One Longfellow Square has gathered all the ingredients for an interesting, one-of-a-kind party: costumed guests, an open jam session (seriously, bring an instrument), an auction, delicious local food, and a high energy dance party led by the Tricky Britches and Caroline Cotter. Pettengill shared how she got the idea: “The idea came to me because at my first apartment in Portland we used to sit around our fire pit and play music. One night, while I was providing tap dance percussion for my roommate who was playing guitar, these guys came walking across the street, one carrying an upright bass. It was definitely something to see… this guy walking into a yard on the Portland peninsula carrying an upright bass along with him. He plopped it down and immediately starting playing along without missing a beat. His friend came with a fiddle and seamlessly jumped in too, so we had guitar and vocals from my roommate, tap percussion from me, and bass and fiddle from two guys we had never met before.” Only in Portland, huh?| $50 | 6:00 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com/ |

Film Screening: Equal Means Equal | Grab a kombucha and settle in for a night of heavy material and uncomfortable realities. The film “Equal Means Equal” will be screened, offering viewers an unflinching look at how women are treated in the United States today. Issues discussed in the film include: domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, the foster care system, reproductive health and discriminatory attitudes in the workplace. Bring your neighborhood bigot that doesn’t believe in rape culture or even that friend of yours that doesn’t think gender based income inequality doesn’t exist, so they can get their head checked. After the sobering film, a discussion will be had, led and moderated by Patricia Leavy, an independent sociologist from Stonehill College.

| FREE | 7:00 pm | Urban Farm Fermentory, 200 Anderson St., Portland | http://www.fermentory.com/ |

FRIDAY, Oct. 28

The Anguish Exhibition | Interested to see how an international team of artists has portrayed complex emotions like grief, fear, sorrow, regret and despondency? Of course, you do. This multimedia exhibition, titled Anguish: the Grave Misgivings of Remembrance, is a “visceral portation of isolation desire and remorse.” This strikingly raw collective work beckons viewers inside fearful chasms of darkness and encourages them to find strength, beauty, and clarity, where there’d otherwise be nothing but pain.  

| FREE | 5:00 pm | MECA, 522 Congress St., Portland | https://www.meca.edu/ |

Corum with White Gourd and Legion | “The Beguiling Isles, both enchanting and deceiving, appear as ruins half-hidden amid thick jungle; walls of massive black boulders: stones temples and platforms; stark images of scowling gods; soft volcanic tuff; a cluster of temples and remains of knife-edged pinnacles of black rock and deep sheltered inlets where seabirds soar up cliffs rising sheer from the water's edge next to flows of molten lava.” The psychic soundsmith Corum will take you there, during a concert that melts minds and causes rhythms and melodies to ooze in and out of focus. He’s joined by a fellow member of the experimental ensemble Million Brazilians, White Gourd, a female artist, vocalist and saxophonist that will perform a set using a variety of found objects, gongs, a piano and audio cassette loops. Also on the bill is the strange newcomer, Legion. Settle in for a glistening mirage of a concert.

| $10 | 8:00 pm | Oxbow Blending and Bottling, 49 Washington Ave., Portland | http://oxbowbeer.com/ |

Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band with Armies | Three of New England’s most celebrated, powerful, emotive and versatile vocalists are descending upon familiar territory, the Port City Music Hall, for a show that amplifies excellent writing on top of mesmerizing soul, funk and indie pop-rock grooves. Kat Wright and her Indomitable Soul Band are always welcome here in Maine. Throngs of fans pine after Wright’s voice that can range from silky smooth, to raspy and thunderous. Opening for her are Dave Gutter and Anna Lombard from Armies, conveying the deep complexities of a male and female relationship through charming and sometimes melancholic music.

| $15 | 8:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com/ |

Cinematic Songs with Audrey Harrer | You must welcome this wildly innovative alt-chamber vocalist and harpist with eager ears and wide smiles. When I say she’s unlike anyone you’ve ever heard, I mean it this time. Audrey Harrer is visiting Portland for the first time in her life and is debuting her eccentric blend of nostalgic vocals, cinematic imagery and playful dissonance with her album Alphabet Rain. It’s a shimmering, multi-layered collection that exposes the points of contact between music, drama, language and cinematically epic mental images. The walls around cozy ol’ Blue, might feel a little closer during this day-dreaming inducing show.

| FREE | 8:00 pm | Blue, 650 Congress St., Portland | http://portcityblue.com/ |

SATURDAY, Oct. 29

Silent Film Night | Forget Netflix. Celebrate the creepy season like a true hipster and sample a surprisingly eerie silent film from 1920: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. If the protagonist’s freakishly long fingers and creepy, crooked smile won’t unnerve you, the booming, classic horror vibes of a live organ concert might. Jonathan Ortloff will perform on the mighty Kotzschmar organ while the silent film flickers on the main stage.

| $18 | 7:30 pm | Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland | https://tickets.porttix.com |

A Haunted Booze Cruise | If you’re looking to avoid the crowds of ghoulish yuppies haunting the Old Port on Halloween weekend, step aboard the Black Pearl and sail away on dark waters. Amrit Singh from Deep Sea will drop some spine-tingling techno house and black magic beats for costumed denizens to dance to. Dance until you’re dead because I doubt you’ll want to come Monday night.

| $30 | 8:00 pm | Casco Bay Lines, 56 Commercial St., Portland | https://www.eventbrite.com/e/deep-sea-presents-black-pearl-tickets-28309811408 |

The Great Pumpkin Ball | Oooooh, what’s more fitting than celebrating Halloween within the halls of a secret society? Equality Maine’s annual Halloween party is taking place at Portland’s Masonic Temple this time around and features everything you’d expect: costumes, booze, DJ Jodi, and gender-bending special guests. Expect some flashy, fierce and fabulous people at this party. Get creative with your costume and you could win $500 in prizes in categories like: best duo, best group, fright factor and best political statement.

| $25 | 8:00 pm | Masonic Temple, 415 Congress St., Portland | http://equalitymaine.org/ |

Spirit of Portland’s Halloween Party | Have you ever had the unpleasant/awkward experience of showing up to a dim-spirited, and poorly attended Halloween costume, where you felt like you were the only one that put any effort into your costume? This year, don’t make the same mistake twice. A lot of people are planning on showing up to the Halloween Bash at the Portland Expo. Gritty’s seasonal ale will be flowing as local monsters dance to the music of the 70’s from Motor Booty Affair, and the music of the 90’s thanks to Hello Newman.

| $20 | 8:00 pm | Portland Expo, 239 Park Ave., Portland | http://www.expocenter.org/ |

Halloween Tribute to Prince | Halloween, or All Hallow’s Eve if you want to get technical, has always been a time to do two main things: honor the dead and party your ass off. Oddly enough, you can do both at this Halloween tribute show to the legendary God of pop, Prince. Dean Ford and his core band the Keepsakes will channel the ghost and creative energy of this music icon during a thought-out homage performance. Honor the dead on this night, but also celebrate life. In Prince’s words, “life’s just a party and parties aren’t meant to last.”

| $15 | 8:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com |

Black Metal Halloween | If you’re a true freak, you’ll likely want to spend your Halloween weekend in a dark room with wet floors and ear-piercing screams, hellish growls and thunderous drums reverberating off the walls. Here are the scheduled harbingers of auditory doom: the disastrous Leash, Boston’s death metal demons Coagula, Portland’s crusty thrashers Apollyon, and the loud-n-sludgy Cadaverette. Enter a human, leave a zombie.

| $8 | 9:00 pm | Geno’s Rock Club, 625 Congress St., Portland | https://www.facebook.com/events/339232696417893/ |

Styxx’s Last Halloween Bash | By now you’ve heard the news: Styxx is closing its doors for good. You can partially thank Grindr for that. Before a retail company takes over the space where so many hot, hilarious, and queer parties/performances were had, pack yourselves in there for one last night of revelry. If you’ve ever wanted to step up and dance in that cage and just do you, now’s one of the last chances you’ll get to do it. DJ Ross will keep you bouncing and emotions running high, during this party that’s basically a statement: RIP Styxx, you will be missed. Final call for the club will be on New Year’s Day.

| $8 | 9:30 pm | Styxx, 3 Spring St., Portland | http://www.styxxportland.com/ |

SUNDAY, Oct. 30

Salami and Wine on the Point | The Cellardoor Winery’s location on Thompson’s Point has quickly solidified itself as one of the hippest, classiest, and most accommodating dining atmospheres in town. The space evokes the fancy feeling, but without the pretentious ickiness. Get pampered in their beautiful indoor space, while White Farm dishes out samples of their artisanal salami. The folks at Cellardoor will provide the perfect wine to pair it with.

| FREE | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | Cellardoor Winery, 4 Thompson’s Point, Portland | http://mainewine.com/ |

Jamestown Revival and Jonny Fritz | Believe it or not, good music can crome out of Texas. The restless wanderers of Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance) have tales to sing to you from the dive bars of Wisconsin, the back roads of Utah and the rolling hills of Tennessee. These indie-rockers with a dose Southern heartache and folk swagger know how to hit the road in style, and convey their experiences with a melodic punch. They will be joined by Jonny Fritz, an eccentric dad-country-rocker who’s ready to perform his humorous new album Sweet Creep, which he recorded over three days on a mountaintop east of Los Angeles.

| $20 | 8:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com |

MONDAY, Oct. 31

West End’s Halloween Parade | The West End community has been gathering for a themed Halloween parade for 34 years now! This could be a great way to show off your new costume this year and also a safe way for your children to trick-or-treat. Expect everyone from witches, goblins, ghosts, monsters, zombies, animals, paper mache puppets, dancers, puppeteers, drummers, musicians and wide eyed children to be lurking around the neighborhood on this fright-filled night.

| FREE | 6:00 pm | Reiche Playground, 166 Brackett St., Portland | https://www.facebook.com/WestEndHalloween/ |

Monstah Bash III | This annual creative showcase comes in three waves of music and comedy. The first wave is all about guilty pleasures and has local musicians battling each other with covers of songs they’d typically never admit to enjoying. Following that embarrassing but hilarious debacle, the second wave has your favorite local comics take the stage (dressed as classic horror icons) to share stories and harvest laughter. During the final wave, the local power trio Vince Nez, Aaron Cloutier and Brian Arlet will send you rocking into the wee hours of the night.  

| FREE | 7:00 pm | Blue, 650 Congress St., Portland | http://portcityblue.com/ |

Spooky Psychedelica | Psyche yourself ready for the future of future music: Bogtrotter’s coming to town. This electronic producer will lead a ghost ship into uncharted waters: an ever-changing soundscape pummeled by glitchy drips, alien-like murmurs and psychedelic drones. But he’s not the only eccentric space-case scheduled to perform! Supersillyus, a psy ambient electronic project from Los Angeles will be there, proving that computer generated music can tell epic and poignant stories, as well as the future bass duo of Zoo Logic. Rounding out this spooky hallucination of a concert is Icaro, channeling some ancient demons and shamanistic energy through their otherworldly sounds.

| $15 | 7:00 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portlandempire.com/ |

TUESDAY, Nov. 1

Privilege, Power and Difference | Recover from your Halloween hangover with a sobering thought: racism and white privilege are alive and kickin’ in Maine. The Maine Community Foundation wants white folk to check their privilege with this informative summit. The keynote speaker Allan G. Johnson, will address a mystified audience and dive into this issue by showing how social systems perpetuate privilege based on race and ethnicity. Privilege and the lack of privilege shapes all of our lives, so come find out how. If you believe that everyone in Maine should have the same social-economic opportunities regardless of race or ethnicity, then this lecture would be a great way to further educate yourself and meet like-minded allies.

| $25 | 11:30 am to 2:30 pm | Holiday Inn By The Bay, 88 Spring St., Portland | http://www.mainecf.org/ |

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 2

GRiZ | Grant Kwiecinski, the visionary founder of GriZ has perhaps single handedly got a generation of young people fiercely passionate about funk, jazz and the future of electronic music. He’s proved that young people can boogie down to a tight horn section. He’s shown that soulful vocals and a seductive saxophone make pleasant bedfellows with shimmering synths and heavy dollops of bass. His recent album Good Will Prevail has made one thing clear to fans: the future of funk is in good hands. Catch the buzzed about electronic producer when he visits Portland again and soak up some his infectiously positive energy during this genre-smashing performance. Opening for GRiZ will be Haywyre and the Geek x VRV.

| $25 | 8:00 pm | State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland | http://www.statetheatreportland.com |

After GRiZ: Esseks | If you still can’t shake the groove from your bones after GRiZ ignites the crowd at the State, stumble on over to Empire for a fiery after-party courtesy of Taproot Productions. They’re hosting the synth slayer Esseks from Brooklyn to keep the energy going with a disorienting blend of hip-hop beats, melodic bass, house and a little blues and swing. Sam Eckstein of Esseks, will be joined by Wolf Feral, an electronic duo with a voracious appetite for heavy bass and blood. Their music is reminiscent of college-era dubstep, but has made necessary evolutions to remain palatable, but still danceable and interesting.  

| $10 | 10:00 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portlandempire.com/ |

THURSDAY, Nov. 3

Mipso with Lula Wiles | Jacob Sharp on mandolin, Joseph Terrell on guitar, and Wood Robinson on double bass, make up the bluegrass band Mipso. They’re trying hard to not just be a run-of-the-mill southern roots band, by focusing on three part harmonies, Appalachian influences and lyrics that are beautiful on the surface, but remarkably wise upon closer inspection. Call these adept musicians from North Carolina, “renegade traditionalists.” After those sly songwriters depart, the Lula Wiles band will take the stage. They’re a stylish female trio that uses effervescent vocal harmonies, deep musical chemistry and evocative arrangements to create a highly spirited live show. “The talent and energy they bring to the stage is phenomenal,” said Liz Pettengill from OLS about the Lula Wiles band. “I can’t wait to see how it feels when shared on stage in OLS’s cozy setting. Also, I love any band who can be described as ‘a whiskey slap to the heart’ and Lula Wiles is just that.”

| $20 | 8:00 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State., Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com |

THURSDAY, Nov. 3

Artist Lecture: Saya Woolfak | Fall down the rabbit hole of Saya Woolfalk’s newest exhibition, her “virtual chimeric space.” Gazing into her renditions of the Empathics, a fictional race of women who are able to alter their genetics and fuse with plants, is akin to walking into a psychedelic fairy tale. This New York based artist blends science fiction and fantasy to reimagine the world in multiple dimensions. The effect? A complex and fully realized dream world that activates symbolic and ideological systems. Think of her mixed media and digital video projections as a playful mixture of Alice in Wonderland, Miyazaki and Alex Grey. It will be a delight to learn how the hell she comes up with these infinitely interesting creations.

| FREE | 12:00 pm | Maine College of Art, 522 Congress St., Portland | https://www.meca.edu |

Portland Buy Local Mixer | Are you an indie biz insider? Foster that warm and fuzzy feeling deep inside your soul that tends to emerge when the community gathers together for laughs and good ideas. Local businesses and members of Portland Buy Local are planning an informal get-together and everyone’s invited. Have a drink, a snack and mingle with other movers and shakers in Portland’s close-knit, but welcoming entrepreneurial community.

| FREE | 5:30 pm | Maine Historical Society, 489 Congress St., Portland | https://www.mainehistory.org/ |

A Super Famous Writer Lecture | Portland’s top storytelling organization, the Telling Room is hosting a special evening with its founder and one of the most original and empathic writers around today: Michael Paterniti. Words that have been used to describe his writing include: humane, devastating, beautiful, spellbinding, expansive and joyful. Readers have seen his work in the New York Times Magazine, National Geographic, Harper’s, the Guardian, Rolling Stone, Esquire and GQ. And then he’s got his original books and essays, like Love and Other Ways of Dying, and Driving Mr. Albert. This man’s a writing juggernaut. If you’re an aspiring writer, or just someone that’s eager to learn the ways of someone deeply in tune with their craft, then I suggest you attend this lecture and settle in for a couple of inspiring hours.

| $10 | 7:00 pm | Mechanics Hall, 519 Congress St., Portland | http://www.tellingroom.org/ |

FRIDAY, Nov. 4

The Ocean Literacy Summit | Face it, you know precious little about our oceans. You know it’s a massive murky expanse that attracts seabirds, strange smells and cruise ship-loads of tourists to our streets. DiMillo's floats on it. Peak’s Island is out there somewhere. But did you know that our Gulf of Maine is warming 99% more rapidly than any other body of water in the world? Join scientists, educators, students and others, to learn more about our oceans, and its effect on our climate. Education is the least that we owe to ourselves, considering the ocean will likely rise up and kill or displace us one day. Listen to the words of smart people from the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation, and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, and firmly place yourself on the right side of environmental history.

| FREE | 8:00 am to 5:00 pm | Abromson Center, USM Campus, Portland | https://usm.maine.edu/music/events?month=2016-11 |

Les Sorciers Perdus: Metropolis | Fritz Lang’s 1927 German expressionist science-fiction classic Metropolis is oddly relevant today. It’s a silent film, but trust me, it still holds up. It tells the story of a dystopian future divided by class war, and a heroine determined to restore justice and harmony. Oh, wouldn’t that be nice? We’ve been idealistic for a while. This futuristic, yet retro experience features sexy robots, greedy tycoons, colossal machines, dreary workers, stalwart heroes and a mad scientist! This avant-garde, extremely influential and possibly predictive movie will be backed by the local trumpeter and composer Mark Tipton! Strap in for a phantasmagoric movie night!

| $10 | 7:30 pm | Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland | http://mayostreetarts.org/ |

The Rock Tri-Fecta | Warm up your old bones and start the weekend right, with a hell-of-a-deal roots and rockabilly concert at PHOME. It’s been awhile since the wide-eyed, heartbreaking rock blues rock group Tigerman WOAH performed in Portland, so welcome them eagerly. You’ll want to join the cult of fans these gritty Americana artists have attracted. Also on the bill are the pleasantly raucous Toughcats and the punkish Midwestern Medicine. They like to rock out and it’s easy to tell.

| $10 | 8:00 pm | Portland House of Music and Events, 25 Temple St., Portland | http://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com |

An American Legend In The Making | Prepare for a relaxing yet thoughtfully stimulating concert courtesy of the politically-charged rock-roots veteran Garland Jeffreys. This bi-racial urban poet boasts a keen eye for detail, immense lyrical power and a confident stage presence. He’s been playing for decades, inspiring both young and old fans alike, and he’s not slowing down anytime soon. “I guess I’ve always been longing for brotherhood, harmony, justice, and been discouraged by how rarely that happens in the world," Jeffreys said. "Those obsessions, the imagery, the things I care most about were all captured on the cassettes over these past two years.” His latest album, Truth Serum, is bursting with creative energy and colorful imagery.

| $30 | 8:00 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com |

Jam Out While You Bowl | Trust me, rock-n-roll and a couple rounds of bowling go incredibly well together. On top of that, the Bayside Bowl’s got some great grub. Your night out will be in good hands when Boston’s rock trio The Space Between take the stage, offering sounds that fall into the gap between what came before and what has yet to come. Joining them are Portland’s own experimental rock band Cape Cannons and First in Maths. “If you like 90s bands like Built to Spill and the Pixies, you’ll probably like us; our songs feature a lot of dynamics, intertwined guitar parts, and hooks,” said Chris Hart from First In Maths. “In addition — and this was a surprise to us when we started playing together — many of our tunes are funky and danceable; kind of like Miss You-era Rolling Stones. I remember playing our first show at Slainte and watching half the bar end up on the dance floor by the end of our set. This was totally unexpected, but it still happens a lot. So I guess if I had to list one reason to come see us, it would be to see indie rock you can dance to.”

| FREE | 8:30 pm | Bayside Bowl, 58 Alder St., Portland | http://www.baysidebowl.com/ |

SATURDAY, Nov. 5

Meeting Of Great Minds | I know, it’s quite an expensive ticket, but that’s the price you pay for top-shelf knowledge and insight from some intellectual speakers. Plus, Portland has pined for an official TED event for some time now. This event arrives three days before our national elections, and the speakers won’t attempt to cover up what they’re feeling. This TED talk’s theme of Dissonance is a chance to embrace the ideas we don’t agree with and examine those we hold as truth. In our current state of unrest, conventions are challenged. Does anyone hear you? Is there hope within the noise? Some incredible people from here and away are scheduled to speak up! Meet the speakers: podcast host Megan Tan, Portland Police Chief Michael Sauschuck, performance artist Jess Lauren, electronic musician Kafari, vocalist Sigrid Harmon, activist Dana Fadel, designers Emi Kolawole and Amy Lazarus, museum advocate Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko, art historian Alexandra Lawrence, roots musician Samuel James, the fearless learner Julia Hansen, restaurateur Anne Verrill, working artist Aaron Stephan, activist blogger Shay Stewart-Bouley, business advisor Tae Chong, Air Force veteran Dr. Wayne Maines, geneticist Dr. Vivek Kumar and viral video maker EepyBird.

| $100 | 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm | State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland | https://www.tedxdirigo.com/conference/ |

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Puppet Edition | This isn’t some childhood puppet show. David Worobec, a classically trained opera singer, storyteller and puppeteer puts on a gripping performance that even adults can enjoy. His meticulously detailed tiny theater stage will be graced by whimsical recreations of a brilliant mind gone horribly awry. Embrace the absurdity of Worobec’s creations as they wrestle with the accidental creation of an outrageously evil alternate personality. Things are going to get weird.

| $15 | 7:30 pm | Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland | http://mayostreetarts.org/ |

Remember, Remember | The 5th of November, the gunpowder treason and all that. Let’s not forget right? Dust off your Guy Fawkes mask, but this time, it won’t be for a protest in Monument Square. It will be for a revolution of a dance party. Just leave your fedora at home, okay? But seriously, the election’s right around the corner, and most likely along with it, the end of the world. So why don’t you dance to the positive synthpop vibes of DJ Doomsday and Zimbra and pretend everything will be alright? The hosts of this party are simultaneously collecting non-perishable food items to donate to the much-needed members of the Preble Street community. Do your part and you may win a snazzy (and colorful) Guy Fawkes mask.

| FREE | 8:00 pm | Flask Lounge, 117 Spring St., Portland | http://flasklounge.com/ |

SUNDAY, Nov. 6

Big Gigantic with Illenium and Jaw Gems | Known for their provocative blend of “mind-bending beats, thunderous bass, frenetic melodies and rabid followers,” is Big Gigantic, a band that will plunge the State Theatre into electronic chaos. They’ll whip up a creatively sampled, dub-soaked cyclone of sounds that will turn the audience into dance-crazed zombies. This is the night to dance like crazy, and not care who’s watching. The Denver-based producer Illenium will keep the energy high, while also maintaining a subliminal vibe dependent on beauty, complexity and emotional depth. Rounding out this already awe-inducing bill is Portland’s own Jaw Gems, whose shimmering textures and rich electro-funk soundscapes have been birthing fans all over the country. A couple months ago, Jaw Gems was featured in a Culture Trip article titled "The 50 Musicians You Need To Know From Each State In The U.S.", and you’d do well to listen.

| $26 | 8:00 pm | State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland | http://www.statetheatreportland.com |

The Roast of Donald Trump | As the political climate reaches uncomfortably hot heights, it’s time to cool off with some hilarity and ice-cold insults. It would be nice if the pumpkin colored, inflated garbage bag himself would show up for Portland to sling insults at, but we’ll have to settle for an impersonator. Eric Jackman will channel his inner monster to become Donald Trump for a night, as local comedians and audience members roast him with creative, yet emotionally scarring jokes. After the roast, Ian Stuart will host Empire’s weekly scheduled comedy open night.

| $5 | 8:00 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://portlandempire.com/ |

Patrick Sweany, a Musical Omnivore | If you’ve got that annoying friend that constantly whines that country music sucks, you show them the music of Patrick Sweany. He’s a cut above the ones singing about denim jeans and pickup trucks. He’s got a lot of power, a lot of soul and he’s partnering with Will and Luke Mallett, so fans know Sweany’s concert will be an authentic romp through blues, folk, bluegrass and even some classic 50s rock. Sweany’s going to blend all those genres into his own smooth and intensely creative stew. Slurp it up, country music lovers.

| $13 | 8:00 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com |

MONDAY, Nov. 7

Frankie Cosmos with Big Thief | The bedroom pop queen, Frankie Cosmos is making her Maine debut and will likely be your next YouTube obsession. Where she shines the brightest is in her songwriting; she doesn’t make broad sweeping statements, or dogmatic diatribes, but instead examines situations and relationships with heartbreaking sincerity. Plus she’s got that feathery, breathy voice that can turn any sour mood into something sweeter. This DIY star will capture your heart, and coax you to float into her introspective world and start living. Joining her is Big Thief, a band that paints in vivid tones “the process of harnessing pain, loss and love while simultaneously letting go, looking into your own eyes through someone else’s, and being okay with the inevitability of death.” Woah, that’s some heavy stuff. Blasting you in the future will be the last act, Yairms, an experimental, garage-punk band that utilizes propulsive drumming, snaking guitars and withering vocals to mesmerize the crowd.

| $12 | 8:00 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org |

TUESDAY, Nov. 8

Election Night Party | Oh boy, the day of reckoning has finally arrived. On this night, America will find out if the next 4 years are going to be shitty, or really, really shitty. If you need emotional support during this year’s election, surround yourself with friends and beer at Bayside Bowl. There are plenty of distractions there! Trump supporters, you may want to stay home for this one; the place will be crawling with local Democrats, including Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and Senate Democratic Leader Justin Alfond.

| FREE | 8:00 pm | Bayside Bowl, 58 Alder St., Portland | http://www.baysidebowl.com/ |

Strictly Standards with Viva | If your significant other has been complaining about a lack of attention from you, it’s time to step up your game up and take him/her to Crooners & Cocktails for a supremely classy affair. No more Netflix and takeout. Delicious dinner and robust wine is a given, but arriving for this limited edition series called Strictly Standards, also gets you up-close and personal with Portland’s jazz sweetheart Viva. She’s just getting back from performing in New Orleans, and has some new tricks up her sleeve to guarantee an evening of memories, sauciness and elegance. Viva will be backed by a rotating cast of Portland’s greatest upright bassists and jazz guitarists. Now that’s how you do date night!

| VARIED | 9:00 pm | Crooners & Cocktails, 90 Exchange St., Portland | http://www.croonersandcocktails.com/ |

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 9

Taste the Hops | To be a true beer aficionado, one has to know how to taste and what to look for. With beer, it all starts with the hops. This event, that’s smack in the middle of a plethora of beer tastings and gatherings (search Portland Beer Week for more information) will have guests testing their knowledge and understanding of the flowers that give our beers so much flavor, zest and stability. The Hop Yard will be on hand to answer any questions. The event features beers from SoMe Brewing, Orono Brewing, Marsh Island, Black Hog, Fore River and Foundation.

| VARIED | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | The Thirsty Pig, 37 Exchange St., Portland | http://www.portlandbeerweek.org/ |

Soak Up Some Atmosphere | The underground hip-hop duo Slug & Ant, otherwise known as Atmosphere, are bringing their moody and personal style of rap music to Portland as part of their Freshwater Fly Fishermen Tour. Considering Atmosphere’s ability to craft witty rhymes with emotional depth, it’s safe to say these guys aren’t looking to host a hot bro-fest. The audience won’t be full of ego-driven males bubbling with testosterone. Women from around the country have climbed aboard the Atmosphere party train. Atmosphere’s lyrics aren’t cliche and annoying; in fact, they’re quite quotable! Joining them are Brother Ali, a rapper from Minneapolis tackling subjects like political, socioeconomic and cultural suffering in America, and Dem Atlas, a grunge-influenced indie heavyweight signed with Rhymesayers Entertainment.

| $30 | 7:00 pm | State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland | http://www.statetheatreportland.com |

THURSDAY, Nov. 10

USM’s Husky Harvest | Free food. Did you get that? FREE FOOD. And not just any free food: a veritable feast of expertly prepared dishes from around the world. USM’s annual Husky Harvest is never an event to be missed. They offer tantalizing dishes from all over the world including, Spain, India, Somalia, Egypt, China and Argentina. If you’re curious about multi-cultural traditions, want to infuse some life into your tired taste buds, or are just simply hungry, make sure you join the community for this worldly party.

| FREE | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm | Woodbury Center, USM Campus, Portland | http://usm.maine.edu/ |

All Who Struggle, Salute | I predict this evening of film, performance and dialogue will be quite moving and powerful. Maine Inside Out is returning, more than 40 voices strong, for a heartfelt performance featuring incarcerated teens who have harnessed the healing powers of art. Maine Inside Out is an organization that works with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people to create original theater that sparks a catalyst for social change. The title of their upcoming performance is “Do You See Me? All Who Struggle, Salute.”

| $20 | 7:00 pm | Hannaford Hall, USM Campus, Portland | http://usm.maine.edu/ |

El Ten Eleven | Kristian Dunn and Tim Fogarty make up the rising rock-tronica duo, El Ten Eleven. They conjure sounds both futuristic and anachronistic all by themselves, working on stage with two basses, electronic drums and a myriad of looping pedals and effects. What’s interesting about El Ten Eleven, is that they don’t view the looping technology as improvisational, but rather just another instrument in their arsenal. Their mastery over it lets them focus on songwriting and performance, instead of logistics. “It’s almost like our rig itself is an instrument we’ve had to master,” said Dunn. “I’ll loop Tim’s electronic drums with one of my pedals while looping my own bassline, then switch to my six string bass mid-song while he moves to playing acoustic drums, layering up the sonics and shaping the song as it all grows.” Joining them is the minimalist, hypnotic musician Bayonne.

| $15 | 9:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com |

THURSDAY, Nov. 10

A Jewelry Party With Live Music | Portland’s Metal Collective, a group of metalsmiths, blacksmiths and goldsmiths will combine two art forms that aren’t usually paired together: jewelry and music. Gawk at their fine wares and discover one that resonates with you. Organizers say that guests won’t have a hard time finding the perfect holiday gift for friends or family members both male and female. Each quirky pendant, ring or earring was inspired by a specific musical theme, adding an interesting amount of depth to these accessories. Speaking of music, the experimental electro-folk project Mousa and the local salsa-core group El Malo will be there to set the mood during this unique showcase.  

| FREE | 6:00 pm | Blue, 650 Congress St., Portland | http://portcityblue.com/ |

Ghosts of Jupiter with Formula 5 | The Boston quintet, the Ghosts of Jupiter are ready to unleash their 2nd independently produced full-length album, The Great Bright Horses. Promoters say that it “draws upon the experimental flute-prog of Traffic and King Crimson, the exploratory elements of Meddle-era Pink Floyd, and the modern psychedelia of Tame Impala, Midlake and Dungen.” Over 100 backers on Kickstarter made this album a reality, so it’s your duty as an underground music consumer to see what this progressive, space rock collection is all about. A super tight, American jam, funk-fusion band called Formula 5 will get the party started.

| $10 | 8:00 pm | Portland House of Music and Events, 25 Temple St., Portland | https://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com |

FRIDAY, Nov. 11

| $48-68 | 7:00 pm | Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland | https://tickets.porttix.com/public/show.asp |

Get Face To Face With Yourself | The progressive blues-rock band Highly Suspect has a subconscious mission to make you feel uncomfortable, but in the best way possible. They break down walls with their music and force listeners to come up with ways to deal with all the shitty aspects of their life. These gritty, grimy, underrated musicians might stare past your soul, but you won’t feel alienated. There’s a deeper message to harvest from their strange tunes. Get acquainted with this trio, because they may just be the new face of intellectual-modern rock. Their latest album, Mister Asylum, has been described as inebriating and full of “chemically-soaked nights, hazier mornings, broken relationships and cathartic realizations.” Also firing off some emotional fireworks will be Slothrust, a protean gem in the indie music landscape. This show is basically musical therapy.

| $18 | 8:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com |

Five Garage Rock Heroes | Boston’s garage rockers, Idiot Genes, are returning to Portland for a showcase of their latest album, Oof Bonk, a fast-paced blend of gritty rock and roots punk. Their songs are structured simply but that doesn’t mean they’ll fail to get you fired up. But wait, there’s more! Four other loud-n-proud performers will make sure your ears bleed and leave the concert sweaty, swearing and satisfied. Also on the bill are Portland’s sloppy sludge weirdos Cadaverette, the local riff warriors An Anderson, the grungy dance punks of Hopeless Losers, and the strange, wonderful and Bjork-like sounds of the Asthmatic.

| $8 | 8:00 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org |

SATURDAY, Nov. 12

The Wild and Scenic Film Festival | Get in touch with nature, by staring at a big screen during the Friends of Casco Bay’s 9th annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival. This collection of inspiring short films will transport viewers all over the world, where they’ll meet extraordinary people and see stunning examples of our natural world. That is, if you can get in. The show’s technically sold out, but organizers write that if you show up at the door, you still may be able to buy tickets, depending on the space inside. Worth a shot?

| $32 | 3:00 pm | Abromson Center, USM’s Portland Campus | http://www.cascobay.org/events/film-festival/ |

Good Vibes Abound | Absorb and breathe in the beastly rhythms the guys from Sublime With Rome have to offer, when they send them flying through the air during a performance of their latest album, Sirens. As you might have guessed, these reggae-rock-dub masters are the next evolution of Sublime- they’ve added singer and guitarist Rome Ramirez to their roster. Their songs vary from mellow, slow burning chill beats, to intensified, dance-focused reggae grooves, but one thing’s for sure: they definitely evoke some feel good vibes. Try not to smile when they’re on stage, I dare you. Opening the show will be the Skints, a band that describes their sound as “music from Jamaica in a London style.” I probably don’t have even have to tell you to spark a joint before this show do I?

| $40 | 8:00 pm | State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland | http://www.statetheatreportland.com |

Feel Right At Home | Reviewers of Carbon Leaf’s live show say that their vibe/style/sound feels more like a family get-together, instead of a label sponsored tour. Regardless of the atmosphere, this quintet out of Virginia will envelop you in gorgeously textured sounds, jumping from lyrical themes of life, love, hope and heartbreak. Carbon Leaf performs a blend of folk, Celtic, bluegrass, Americana, rock and pop to create what they call, “electrified porch music.” These introspective rockers have 2 decades of experience under their belt and are well-equipped to send you soaring high above the clouds strapped underneath their rockets of sound. Joining them is a band described as “one of the most groundbreaking music experiences you may have in a lifetime,” The Accidentals. Gotta love hyperbole.

| $20 | 8:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com |

An Evening of Northeastern Rock | Back in the day, Scissorfight was making waves in New England’s heavy rock scene, with a lot of screaming, droning, relentless drumming, havoc-wreaking riffs and all around eardrum rupturing. Then the band went dark, disappearing for six years or so. Today, they’re back with a vengeance, a new line up, a retooled version of the band, and a fresh, yet still murderous attitude. Check out their new single “Tits Up,” on Youtube. It pretty much tells you everything you need to know about this raucous band of troublemakers. They’ll be sticking it to the man alongside Portland’s sludge rock legends Eldemur Krimm and the heavy riffing stoner rockers of Pigboat. If you need a place to get totally f*cked up and not care about tomorrow, you should probably do it here.  

| $8 | 8:30 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://portlandempire.com/ |

Catch the Soul Clap | New York’s best DJ, Jonathan Toubin, will conjure up his own special kind of dance revolution set against the smooth and classy sounds of 1960s soul. Party in style with this vintage-loving, culture soaking and memory making soul and funk aficionado. Joining this vinyl fetishist are the local deep cosmic jam artists, Teal Child and Precious Style. Let the good times roll while you catch something funky.  

| $7 | 9:00 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org |

SUNDAY, Nov. 13

A Plethora of Metalcore | The self-dubbed “voice of the generation,” Asking Alexandria, recently parted ways with their founder and lead vocalist Danny Worsnop. This has divided fans of this emo-ish, British metalcore band, who say they’re burgeoning into a bigger, bolder future. Some love the change. Others hate it. Thankfully it won’t be a deal-breaker for someone like you, because there are a lot more bands to love in this heavy lineup: the creative cultists Born of Osiris, the melodic hardcore band I See Stars, the hellish yet captivating After the Burial, the ground-shaking Upon a Burning Body and the indie heavyweight Bad Omens. Don’t you dare bring ear plugs.

| $28 | 6:00 pm | State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland | http://www.statetheatreportland.com |

Thick Juicy Rhythms | The roots-reggae dub band Stick Figure are a brotherhood of hard-working musicians, that want to help you tap into the cosmic consciousness of the universe through sound. Step into their world and surround yourself with “cavernous grooves, sparkling electronic orchestration and thick rhythms.” The choice is yours, won’t you take it easy? The Movement will also be there, performing their chart-topping reggae album, Golden. Closing out the night will be Boston’s beloved reggae-rock funksters, Spiritual Rez. This concert aims to be goddamn delightful.

| $18 | 8:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com |

MONDAY, Nov. 14

How About A Low-Key Night | There’s quite literally, nothing interesting scheduled -as far as planned events go- on this night in Portland. That means it’s time for you to captain your own ship. Instead of having dinner at Amigo’s for the 100th time, or slamming down drinks at Rosie’s before sneaking a smoke on the street while stink-eyeing rich people, mix up your evening a little bit. Grab a pizza at Slab. Shoot some pinball and arcade games at Arcadia. Rent a movie from the old VideoPort collection that lives on at the Portland Public Library. Take a free tour of the beautiful Press Hotel. Swing by Strange Maine; it’s been a while right? Check out what’s new at art galleries like SPACE, the PhoPa Gallery and the Portland Museum of Art. Or, if you really want people to know how cool and learned you are, go read a book at LFK. I mean, I’m not telling you how to live your life or anything, but just because there’s “nothing going on,” doesn’t mean there’s nothing going on.

| FREE | ANYTIME | EVERYWHERE, Portland | Up To You |

TUESDAY, Nov. 15

Enter the Void | Time (and a life-reaffirming van crash) has allowed the band Balance & Composure to shed their angsty punk rock roots, and mature into something more thoughtful, soothing and harmonic. All emos have to grow up eventually. With their latest album, Light We Made, the band experiments with new tools and weaves dreamy synth chords, melodic guitar riffs, emotive lyrics and atmospheric drum beats for a slightly hallucinatory experience. “This album is the culmination of the last 3 years and how musically the band wanted to be more creative than ever before. We took time off to experience life, pushing ourselves to try things that we previously hadn’t, which in return inspired us to record something that would stand out. This LP is a sonic progression for us, and we’re excited to share it with everyone.” Joining these comfort zone emigrants is the honest and cinematic-sounding band Foxing and the electrified indie-pop supergroup, Mercury Girls. Expect a moody, yet epic and ethereal night out.

| $18 | 8:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com |

The Righteous Babe Herself | The singer, songwriter and activist Ani DiFranco, well known as the “little folk singer,” has exploded far past her acoustic roots. Her melodies and sonic reflections of life in New Orleans run the gamut of different genres. She stirs up jazz, soul and electronica to help her tell big stories in bite sized morsels. Becoming a parent has also yielded profound effects on her music. "It's such a humbling, and grueling, thing to raise children," DiFranco said. "And that makes playing music more precious and makes me more grateful. It's a real balancing act, but it also has a balancing effect." Joining her is Chastity Brown, distilling “Southern blues and plaintive North Country prairie influences into expansive, alluring folk songs."

| $45 | 8:00 pm | State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland | http://www.statetheatreportland.com |

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 16

Jargon Free Science Cafe | You won’t need a degree in the Sciences to understand or be fascinated by this lecture at the Gulf of Maine Research Center. Anybody’s invited to attend and join the conversation during the GMRI’s 2nd Science Cafe of the year, where the research associate Adam Baukus will lead the discussion about using acoustic transducers to track the presence of ocean creatures. You’ll be amazed how much scientists can discern about life in those murky depths just by using sound waves! Life’s short, focus on science Morty.

| FREE | 5:30 pm | GMRI, 350 Commercial St., Portland | http://www.gmri.org/events/ |

Cross the Great Divide | There are so many bands coming out of Nashville nowadays, it can be hard to tell who you should be paying attention to. Let me make it a little easier for you. With rapturous harmonies and precision instrumentation with the mandolin, guitar and bass, the Humming House will evoke the pleasant tension and rousing energy of a melting pot music culture. This quintet embodies the sonic flavor and swagger of 21st century Nashville: honest, superb musicianship and authentic roots. This indie-country-alt-pop group is one of those country bands, that even non-country fans can get down to. The Humming House plays roots music anyone can party to. These infectiously happy harmonizers are joined onstage by the goosebump-inducing, Vermont-bred folk duo, the DuPont Brothers.

| $15 | 8:00 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com |

THURSDAY, Nov. 17

Time Machine Concert | Ask anybody that’s old enough, and has been to a Dark Star show before, and they’ll tell you: “it’s like stepping back in time.” As long as these hard-touring musicians are around, the spirit and energy of the Grateful Dead will never die. You know by now. The Dark Star Orchestra is one of the nation’s biggest and most successful Grateful Dead tribute bands, with 15 years of experience and an army of Dead-head fans. "For us, it's a chance to recreate some of the magic that was created for us over the years," rhythm guitarist and said vocalist Rob Eaton. "We offer a sort of a historical perspective at what it might have been like to go to a show in 1985, 1978 or whenever. Even for Deadheads who can say they've been to a hundred shows in the 90s, we offer something they never got to see live." Relive the magic you ancient stoners.

| $30 | 8:00 pm | State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland | http://www.statetheatreportland.com |

And...the Bass Filled Afterparty | For those that still want to party after Dark Star pays tribute the Grateful Dead’s greatest hits, take the short walk down to Empire for the afterparty. However, be prepared, the vibe’s going to be totally different as you enter drippy, trippy, futuristic bass music territory. Electronic music producer 2nutz will have you dancing to laser sounds and strange frequencies. Then kLL sMTH will unleash his prismatic audio avalanche that will whip through all your preconceived notions of dance music. And just as the night enters darker territories, the atmospheric glitch-hop artist, Atomic Reactor will tickle your brain with his polyrhythmic percussion sounds. You can thank Taproot Productions for unearthing these sonic artifacts and continuously providing Portland with its glitchy, booming wonders.

| $15 | 7:00 pm to 1:00 am | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://portlandempire.com/ |

THURSDAY, Nov. 17

Moby Dick Marathon | Drop in anytime you want during the next 4 days, to hear a spirited reading of Herman Melville's literary masterpiece, Moby Dick. Curators, artists, women, writers, students and business leaders will take the stage to bring this epic tale to life. Think of it like a live audio book. Organizers promise some refreshments, special activities and some surprises along the way. They also encourage you check out the rest of the museum, where a new exhibition titled “Of Whales In Paint,” hangs on the walls and beckons visitors to experience three generations of American artists who’ve beautifully depicted the struggle between man and nature, as well as adventure and catastrophe at sea. Call me Ishmael.

| FREE | 4:00 pm | Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Sq., Portland | http://www.portlandmuseum.org/exhibitions/whales-paint |

The Art of Self Care | After this vitriolic election year, we could all stand to develop some strategies to preserve our mental health. This workshop with kinesiologist and personal trainer Christie L. Orcutt could help us find harmony. She’s going to help guests overcome the barriers in their life and achieve peace, equilibrium and truth. How does one start? By first developing an open mind. Many alternative forms of therapy will be explored during this monthly workshop including: music, dance, herbs, holistic essential oils, meditation and stretching. Bring a yoga mat and slow down the spinning cycles of chaos and negativity in your life.

| $15 | 5:00 pm | Urban Farm Fermentory, 200 Anderson St., Portland | https://www.fermentory.com |

| $8 | 8:00 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com |

FRIDAY, Nov. 18

Assembly of Dust | Displaying some lovely guitar picking skills and evoking the style and swagger of 70s Americana (think The Band, Traffic and Neil Young) is Assembly of Dust, a superior jam band. These bright stars in the alternative country universe aren’t shy to admit where the inspiration for their good-natured music comes from, but they’re also brave to put their own funky, improvisational spin to it. “As a child, I can remember locking myself in my room with a big old set of headphones and listening to The Band's Music From Big Pink album over and over again,” said Reid Genauer, the lead singer and founder of the New York-based quintet Assembly of Dust. “Besides loving the hell out of the music, I was intrigued with the production value in the recordings. As I listened I felt almost like I was there in the room with The Band at a moment of perfection. That intimate listening experience drew me in and is what inspired me to be a musician.” Joining these Grammy winners is the New Hampshire six-piece Todo Bien, a “roots-rock group known for writing upbeat tunes with good vibes, strong messages and lush harmonies.”

| $18 | 8:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com |

Saviours of Soul | Here’s a progressive idea that you can get behind. A new treatment program launched by the Portland Police Department dubbed L.E.A.A.P., aims to rehabilitate, not incarcerate those suffering from addiction issues. You can offer your support for this cause in a blissfully detached sort of way: by immersing yourself in the glory days of soul and disco music. This benefit concert is headlined by The Saviours of Soul, a tribute to The Commitments, a Dublin-based cover band that was immortalized in a 1991 documentary. Sure, this show features a cover band of a cover band, but I’m sure you’ll have a good time; especially if you like Irish-British musical comedies and watch the cult hit beforehand (it’s on Netflix).

| $10 | 8:00 pm | Portland House of Music and Events, 25 Temple St., Portland | http://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com |

Sassquatch Strikes Back | Sassquatch is known for their intimate, small coffee shop/campfire vibe dominated by vocal harmonies and a laid-back improvisational feel. But they get can rowdy too. The band members will undoubtedly showcase their wild and unpredictable side, as they tend to break out into bouts of faster eclectic jams and infectious singalongs. Sassquatch, like most bands nowadays, don’t like to be tied down by labels or restricted by genres. But I’m going to do it anyway. Their styles range from rock, folk, funk and jazz fusion. Their influences include Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, the Grateful Dead, Jack Johnson and Amy Winehouse. Good friends of theirs, Happy Folk, are also on this tasty acoustic lineup, as well as New Noise.

| $7 | 9:30 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://portlandempire.com/ |

SATURDAY, Nov. 19

Season of Light Celebration | Six distinct cultural holidays (EID, Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Diwali and the Winter Solstice) all share the theme of light. The folks over at One Tree Center want to bring kids and adult together to learn and embrace these cultural holidays. This event aims to promote peace, partnership, and pluralism through multiculturalism and education. Bring your little one so they can learn what meaningful social change looks like. “First and foremost, we hope guests will have a fun time with their family,” said organizer Virginia Dearani. “Season of Light has many kid friendly activities including art projects and local storytellers. We also hope that guests will learn something new about the six holidays represented and be moved by the commonalities across cultures. Finally, we would love for guests to be inspired by One Tree Center's mission and to join us in spreading peace and radical love in our community and beyond.”

| FREE | 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Sq., Portland | https://www.portlandlibrary.com/ |

Best Way To Vent | Crack open a PBR and prep your limbs for aggressive moments of swinging and your eardrums for an unstoppable beating. The lineup is strange, brutal and just the sort of thing Portland needs right now: the outrageous sheet metal band Gwell-O (they’re straight out of hell), the street punks from New York, the Shooting Gallery, the heavy ska band Meanmugg and the cryptozoology band Cryptid.

| $5 | 8:00 pm | Matthews Pub, 133 Free St., Portland | https://www.facebook.com/events/198340500605703/?active_tab=about |

Soule Monde | Lose your mind within a deep chasm of funk and soul courtesy of the indestructible duo of Russ Lawton and B3 wizard Ray Paczkowski. Together they’re Soule Monde, and they’ve been jamming hard displaying remarkable synergy for quite a while. I like these words written about them: “Lawton’s beats and fills push melodies along a tightrope. There’s nothing thrown together haphazard or indulgent about this band. They are dressed down impresarios, seeming at times to be of one mind, pushing the limits of the traditional “jazz duo” or “jam band” to include tones of deep improvisational funk and alternative jazz.” And I like their music more. Check them out and get pelted by an onslaught of unpredictable grooviness.

| $10 | 8:00 pm | Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St., Portland | http://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com |

All Natural Adventure | Are there any skiers or snowboards out there that are itching for the snow to arrive so you can hit the slopes? Perhaps some purists that can’t stand the fake stuff? In the meantime, this new Warren Miller documentary titled Here, There and Everywhere, can tame your craving for the sport. You’ll appreciate the breathtaking mountain visuals, action shots of flying powder and footage of the death-defying stunts these adventurers conquer all over the world in a movie that’s high intensity sure, but also slows down enough for audiences to get a feel of the beauty, humor and camaraderie within ski culture. Professional, celebrity skiers (is that a thing?) Rob Kingwell and Seth Wescott will be there to chat for a minute and sign things.  Oh boy.

| $17 | 8:00 pm | State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland | http://www.statetheatreportland.com/ |

SUNDAY, Nov. 20

Symphony and Spirits | Young people! Expose yourself to a different side of music and culture with the Portland Symphony Orchestra’s soul-stirring classical performance of Sibelius’ Fifth. This concert is designed for those between the ages 21-39, so don’t think for a second that it’ll be boring. The PSO are adept at harnessing the emotional power of the orchestra, and let me tell you, it packs a punch. Afterward, take the short walk down from the Merrill Auditorium to the Portland Hunt and Alpine Club to quell those post-concert jitters with some craft cocktails. Now’s the time to become a true art and performance aficionado.

| $25 | 2:30 pm to 6:00 pm | The Hunt and Alpine Club, 75 Market St., Portland | https://portland-symphony-orchestra.ticketleap.com/ |

Film Screening: First Light | Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Attend this eye-opening film screening and discussion with filmmakers and participants that will shed light on the plight of Native Americans in Maine. According to the Maine Wabanaki-State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Native people in Maine continue to be the targets of cultural genocide. The film, First Light, follows the Wabanaki children that were taken from their homes and denied access to their traditions, culture and identity. The brutal and disturbing history of colonialism has deep roots; yes, even here in sleepy ol’ Maine.

| FREE | 7:00 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org |

Jeffrey Foucault | Jeffrey Foucault, a musician described as “high caliber” and “pure,” is bringing his spirited, “impeccably tailored” and international lauded performance to the intimate OLS stage. He plays the blues bold and loosely and crafts intricate narratives around the themes of love, memory, God, desire, wilderness and loss. People are raving about his new album, Salt As Wolves which quickly climbed to the very top of the iTunes blues chart. Joining Foucault is the honest and evocative acoustic storyteller, Chris North. Take this sonic journey through the culture and atmosphere of Midwest Americana as you tread through emotionally draining but familiar sonic terrain.  

| $22 | 8:00 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com |

MONDAY, Nov. 21

Friendsgiving at Fork | Thanksgiving is all about food, drinks, and family. But before you do the family thing, meet up with some locals at the Fork Food Lab’s first annual “friendsgiving,” where you’ll dine like small-town royalty. Make some new pals, as you feast buffet-style on some new and tantalizing food offerings. The menu’s still being kept secret, but expect wine to be flowing like a waterfall and enough food on the table to put you into a coma. Because nothing says, “hey nice to meet you,” then stuffing your face amongst strangers.

| $50 | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Fork Food Lab, 72 Parris St., Portland | http://www.forkfoodlab.com/ |

TUESDAY, Nov. 22

Cassie and Maggie | The dynamic sister duo of Cassie and Maggie MacDonald are described as exciting and innovative; one of those acts that has that uncanny ability to make the traditional seem new and exciting. With a keyboard and fiddle, they give Celtic folk a modern twist and strike the perfect balance between “musical integrity and sheer entertainment.” Gaze on and imagine steep highlands covered in mist as these enchanting sisters from Nova Scotia perform their latest, The Willow Collection.

| $20 | 7:00 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com |

The Story of the Stooges | This film screening is for many types of viewers. Fans of counterculture will get cozy in their seats. Appreciators of aggressive rock-n-roll and free-form jazz will be interested in this film. Or even if you’re just all about the musical history of the 60’s, you’ll find something to love in the film, Gimmie Danger, which documents the adventures, impact and legacy of the iconic band, The Stooges. Why does their music still resonate to this day? Explore that question during a screening of a film that examines the Stooges through musical, cultural, political and historic lenses.

| $8 | 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://space538.org/events/|

 

Ear Splitting Sonic Energy | An LA mag has described Fell Runner, yet another not-your-typical-rock-band as “a wicked thicket of prickly guitars, asymmetrical rhythms and raw, emotive vocals: Post-punk meets world music meets math rock, if you will.” They’ll be leading the thunderous barrage of avant-garde garage rock with some devious local punks in tow: Ossalot, Buddusky and Tall Horse.

| $5 | 9:00 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://portlandempire.com/ |

WEDNESDAY, Nov. 23

Dance, Relax, Dream | Twiddle, a quartet from the granola state is a musical melting pot. Like so many musicians that want to keep expanding their skills and repertoire, these band mates flirt with a number of genres like rock, jazz, bluegrass, reggae and funk. Don’t believe the hype? Stream them yourself (I’d start with the Natural Evolution of Consciousness) and pick apart the handful of distinct influences between the band’s masterful instrumentation and captivating layers of emotive qualities. Joining Twiddle will be the Connecticut-bred, death funk trio of Lespecial, a band that for better, or for worse, will leave lasting memories of dark, foggy dance floors imprinted in your memory. Closing out this concert with an identity crisis is The Jauntee, a Boston band that abandons conventions and performs a refreshingly uncommon set of psychedelic jazz and blue with a touch of Latin reggae. Once you hit the sheets after this genre-shredding party, you’ll be subject to some trippy dreams.

| $25 | 7:00 pm | State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland | http://www.statetheatreportland.com |

Incubus Tribute Night | The local recording and live performance artist Renee Coolbrith has teamed up with her musician friends, Dustin Saucier (Cape Cannons, Pretty Sad), Evan Haines (Nashville session player), Joe Harding (bass guitarist), Cameron Lopez (drummer from Sassquatch), Christopher Gilman (Lorde Earth) and Darrell Foster ( Five of the Eyes) for a cover show they’ve debated about doing for a while now: a tribute to Incubus. Now it’s becoming a reality. They’ll be performing songs from Fungus Amungus, S.C.I.E.N.C.E., Make Yourself, Morning View, A Crow Left of the Murder, Light Grenades and more. “I basically have a group of some fine young gentlemen musicians that will do these songs justice,” said Coolbrith. “...and no, I won’t be dressed in male drag.”

| $8 | 9:30 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://portlandempire.com/ |

THURSDAY, Nov. 24

Run And Help Others | You know would be a great way to justify the inevitable stuffing of your gut with turkey, potatoes, gravy, pie and beer? Running in a 4 mile race through Portland’s Old Port beforehand! Seriously, if you’re going to stuff your face this Thanksgiving, you might as well put in the work and burn some calories before the gluttony begins. Like most races in Portland, this one’s for a good cause. Your participation and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the St. Patrick’s Secondary School in Iten, Kenya, the USM Women’s Track team, the Rafiki Foundation, Portland Trails and Partners for World Health. Worth it? Worth it.

| $25 | 9:00 am | Portland High School, 248 Cumberland Ave., Portland | https://www.athlinks.com/event/portland-thanksgiving-day-4miler-19831 |

Hallowell Does the Last Waltz | On Thanksgiving Day in 1976, the Canadian-American rock group the Band performed “the Last Waltz,” their historic farewell concert experience. Martin Scorsese filmed the entire thing and made it into a documentary, which ended up being hailed as the “greatest rock concert documentary ever made.” Some prominent musicians from Hallowell will celebrate the Last Waltz’s 40th anniversary by covering that momentous set and sending audience members flying in a raucous whirlwind of classic rocks and blues. For those that are older, expect that nostalgic, “end-of-an-era” kind of feeling to bubble up inside your soul.

| $12 | 8:00 pm | Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St., Portland | www.portlandhouseofmusic.com/ |

THURSDAY, Nov. 24

| VARIED | 8:00 am | Hustle and Flow, 155 Brackett St., Portland | http://hustleflowstudio.com/ |

FRIDAY, Nov. 25

| $8 | 2:00 pm | Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Sq., Portland | http://www.portlandmuseum.org |

| $15 | 7:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com/ |

 

| $15 | 8:00 pm | Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St., Portland | www.portlandhouseofmusic.com |

| FREE | 6:00 pm | Monument Square, Portland | https://www.facebook.com/events/803196776485483/ |

| $21-51 | 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm | Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland | https://tickets.porttix.com/public/ |

| $25 | 7:00 pm | St. Lawrence Arts, 76 Congress St., Portland | http://www.stlawrencearts.org/dave-gutter.html |

 

| $8 | 7:30 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://portlandempire.com/ |

| $20 | 8:00 pm | State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland | http://www.statetheatreportland.com/ |

| $23 | 8:30 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org/events |

Rock Bands of Yesteryear | Five Finger Death Punch and Shinedown are touring through Portland, in case you wanted to re-conjure memories of passing headphones on the back of the school bus with the neighborhood “tough kids.” In my opinion, these bands have peaked, but nevertheless, the arena will likely be packed; at least 5FDP has some nostalgic value. But these hard rockers still do have a dedicated fanbase. So it’s up to you loyal readers to determine if these two blasts from the recent past still have some lyrical, emotional and musical substance. Sixx A.M. and As Lions round out this alternative heavy bill.

| $30-60 | 6:00 pm to 11:00 pm | Cross Insurance Arena, 1 Civic Center Sq., Portland | http://www.waterfrontconcerts.com/events/2016/FFDP |

| $4 | 7:00 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://portlandempire.com/ |

| VARIED | 12:00 pm | Portland Public Schools, 353 Cumberland Ave., Portland | http://mlc.portlandschools.org/donate |

TUESDAY, Nov. 29

| FREE | 7:30 am to 8:30 am | Willard Beach, South Portland | http://gmri.org/events |

| $30-65 | 8:00 pm | State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland |http://www.statetheatreportland.com |

Fules Gold | As the festive heads there often do, Flask Lounge is throwing another free, good vibes party featuring the unpretentious reggae rock jam band Fules Gold. Other acts slated for this multi-genre show include: the Side Chick Syndicate, Tim Mercer and Bill Killcolins.

| FREE | 7:00 pm | Flask Lounge, 117 Spring St., Portland | http://flasklounge.com/ |

| $8 | 7:30 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | www.space538.org |

| $12 | 8:00 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com |

| FREE | 9:00 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://portlandempire.com/ |

THURSDAY, Dec. 1

| $8 | 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm | Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Sq., Portland | http://www.portlandmuseum.org/ |

THURSDAY, Dec. 1

| $5 | 7:00 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org/events/ |

Northwood Cheer | Shoutout to Blue for consistently offering a good selection of beer, yummy burgers and a free live show almost every night of the week. It’s a cozy place to kick back and sample some live music you might never have heard before. Enveloping the space in warm, cheery vibes will be Northwood, an acoustic outfit built on strong and playful instrumentation and powerful three-part harmonies. They’ll play a sweet, easy-listening set that ranges from bluegrass, folk, country and Americana.

| FREE | 9:00 pm | Blue, 650 Congress St., Portland | http://portcityblue.com/ |

FRIDAY, Dec. 2

| FREE | 5:00 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org/ |

I’m Comin Over | To be honest, I know next to nothing about country singers, and even less about the big-stadium variety. Some crooning hunk (or so they say) named Chris Young is stopping by Portland as part of an impromptu 25 city tour. Before I’m tempted to slam the vapidness of modern country music, I’ll give this successful (and philanthropic) performer the benefit of the doubt and showcase his resume instead: seven number 1 singles, 14 Gold/Platinum certifications, rousing appearances on Good Morning America and Jimmy Kimmel Live, and a number 1 spot on the Billboard's Top Country Music Chart. Joining him for this night of big-hearted country will be Dustin Lynch and Cassadee Pope.

| $30 | 7:00 pm | Cross Insurance Arena, 1 Civic Center Sq., Portland | http://www.chrisyoungcountry.com/events |

They're Back | Huge crowds came out to see the reunion of the New England jam band phenomenon Percy Hill back in June. The energy was so intense, that these improvisational rockers decided to recapture that and perform two more shows before they slink back into retirement. This spirited band that bloomed brightly in New Hampshire during the 90s are set to dazzle us one more time with a performance of their highly lauded production, Color In Bloom.

| $25 | 8:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com |

Nostalgia Night | To this day, the Charlie Brown Christmas Show tugs on many a heartstring. The timelessly endearing tale of commercialism, scrawny Christmas trees and a round-headed hero will be recreated by local musicians Heather Pierson, Shawn Nadeau and Craig Bryan. With gentle jazz riffs and tickling piano notes, this trio will make you remember that oddly poignant cartoon.

| $22 | 8:00 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland |  https://onelongfellowsquare.com |

Too Many Santas | As they have for eight years, hundreds of festive folks dressed as Santas, Elves and Reindeer, will prance around downtown drinking and spreading holiday cheer. As they hop from bar to bar, their bellies will get rounder and their cheeks redder. Join this quirky crowd if you’re in the mood for some seasonal, jolly-filled fun.

| FREE | 4:00 pm | Downtown Portland | http://www.santaconpwm.com/ |

Back to the Future | Pull up some fishnets and crimp your hair for this concert that’s essentially a blast back to the 80s, a golden-era for live music. The Awesome, an ultimate party band will get the crowd dancing like maniacs and singing classic covers of Hall and Oates, T'pau, Wang Chung, Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Duran Duran, INXS, Mr. Mister, Nu Shooz, Peter Gabriel, Madonna, Human League, Wham, Tears for Fears and Whitney Houston louder than they do! What better way to warm your cold bones than rattling them to some fiery 80s hits?

| $10 | 8:00 pm | Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St., Portland |  http://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com/event/the-awesome-9/ |

| $10 | 8:00 pm | Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland |  https://www.facebook.com/events/302030370180158/|

Stand Up for Standing Rock | Many locals are livid and distraught that the situation at Standing Rock hasn’t been resolved. Don’t believe the fake news; the Dakota Access Pipeline hasn’t been stopped and protestors are still being tortured with water cannons and pepper spray. Join other locals that are furious with the situation and committed to doing something to show solidarity, at this evening of hip-hop that’s aimed to raise money for this fight to defend the environment. Politically conscious and community oriented performers will take the stage and help spread the word against some fire beats. The bill includes Seth On Gray Street, Words Of Phrase, Hannah Harleen, Stay On Mars, aLunarLanding and more.

| $2-10 | 9:00 pm | Flask Lounge 117 Spring St., Portland | http://flasklounge.com/ |

Pastoral Americana | Described as performing “a contemporary sound with ageless qualities” is Tall Heights a band that emerged at the perfect time, right when folk was becoming huge. “Tall Heights is staying true to their harmony, cello and guitar laden souls, while creating something indie, something chic, something new.” This arresting and hard to classify band will perform their latest album, Neptune a curious, lush collection of songs that features “pristine, emotive vocal harmonies, a chugging electric guitar, ethereal synthesizers and brittle splashes of percussion.” A Massachusetts-based, country-folk quintet called The Novel Ideas will open this concert and help listeners elevate their sonic palette.

| $15 | 9:30 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland |  http://www.statetheatreportland.com/event/1295831-tall-heights-portland/ |

| FREE | 1:00 pm | Cellardoor Winery, 10 Thompson’s Point, Portland | http://mainewine.com/ |

| $8 | 7:30 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://space538.org/events |

Unstoppable Funk | The Brooklyn-based power funk outfit Turkuaz has injected some life into Portland’s streets with their epic performances many times now. They’ve only been around for about 4 years, but their rapid rise to relevance and track record of explosive festival appearances shows they’re a musical force to be reckoned with. For the uninitiated, expect “intricately arranged songs built on thick grooves that are driven by a powerhouse rhythm section and interlaced with swirling guitar and synth lines,” from this high=energy concert experience. The gritty, greasy and funky members of The New Mastersounds will also be there to help shake the floorboards.

| $22 | 8:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland |  http://www.portcitymusichall.com |

MONDAY, Dec. 5

| FREE | 5:00 pm | Portland House of Music and Events, 25 Temple St., Portland | https://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com |

| $15 | 8:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com |

| $10 | 9:00 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://portlandempire.com/ |

National Parks Adventure | There’s a little adventurer hiding within us all, waiting in our subconscious and urging us to experience raw natural beauty and embark on majestic journeys through America’s wilderness. Or maybe that's just me. Anyway, I'm sure Robert Redford will coax the little guy out of you as he narrates a documentary titled National Parks Adventure. The travel bug will flare up again during this action packed film screening that takes viewers to untamed forests, red-rock canyons and craggy mountain peaks. Believe me, this film is meant to be viewed on the big screen. After the film, a discussion will be led by Lucas St. Clair, the man that helped convince President Obama to designate the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument.

| FREE | 6:30 pm | Maine College of Art, 522 Congress St., Portland | https://www.meca.edu/ |

| $23 | 8:00 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com |

THURSDAY, Dec. 8

Chasing Ghosts | The wait is over. Johnny Clay Shanks will be out all night offering copies of his new album Chasing Ghosts in between performances. Originally from Texas, this local singer/songwriter has been making splashes in the scene (mostly with the Dapper Gents) showcasing his poetic, southern, “plain ol’ rock n’ roll” style. Although deeply rooted in the blues, Shank’s new work evokes vibes ranging from Hendrix to the Black Keys. Opening this album release party is Driving Charlie Home, a folk rock group from Damariscotta.

| $9 | 9:00 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://portlandempire.com/ |

THURSDAY, Dec. 8

Reverb Holiday Bash | The local non-profit Reverb is offering up a fun opportunity to “go green.” They’re making it so “helping the environment” is incredibly easy for you- all you have to do is show up and party! While you gulp down beers, mingle with friends and dance your ass off to live music (courtesy of Pete Kilpatrick, Hannah Dama & the Martelle Sisters), money will be funneled from the event to support the environmental sustainability work done at Reverb. Music. Environment. Action. Let’s get the party started.

| $10 | 5:30 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com/ |

 

Brewery Concert | Craft beer just tastes better when it's complemented by the sounds of a raucous live performance. Biddeford’s metalcore quintet Mill Fire will kick things off and make sure you’re listening to their very loud tune “Ice Catcher.” Worcester’s emo-indie-ambient band Wayfarer will also be there encouraging the audience to dance on the graves of the dead to remind themselves they're still alive. Rounding out this spooky and aggressive bill is Portland’s post-hardcore four-piece, The Restless Atlantic (performing their latest Afterglow) and Sam Ellis, who’ll be debuting some solo material.

| $6 | 7:00 pm | Lone Pine Brewing, 200 Anderson St., Portland | http://lonepinebrewery.com/ |

FRIDAY, Dec. 9

Million Dollar Lounge | You know what would make a trip to Urban Outfitters A LOT more interesting? A punk concert. Local art for sale. And some free Holy Donuts. Thomas Shadis has gone corporate and planned a concert with his garage-punk band The Doug Quaids, that will transform afternoon clothes shopping into an all-out party. He’s also brought South Portland’s indie-psych jazz band, Million Dollar Lounge on board to help fill the store with weird chords and too much chorus. Shop, snack and rock out!

| FREE | 3:00 pm | Urban Outfitters, 188 Middle St., Portland | http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/index.jsp |

The Nightmare Before Christmas | No, Jack Skeleton won’t be found anywhere during this concert, so don’t expect those classic Danny Elfman tunes or Christmas montages. However, what you can expect is the three smile-spreading dudes of the Marshall Nelson Trio. They’ll be emoting some festive vibes while jamming out to covers of Spin Doctors, Sublime, Lorde, Police, the Foo Fighters, the Beatles and BB King. Damn, they’re musical tastes are all over the place. Darker themes will be embraced once Portland’s sludge rock legends Eldemur Krimm take the stage. Special guests include Tim Mercer and Saiyid Brent.  

| $10 | 8:00 pm | Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St., Portland | http://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com |

SATURDAY, Dec. 10

Sandglass Theatre | Internationally touring artists, Jana Zeller and Shoshana Bass will grace the Mayo Street Arts stage and bring an enchanting tradition of imaginative puppetry and entertainment. The family- friendly show “Punschi,” is whimsical, hilarious and just too cute. It features live music, compelling visual imagery and even a miniature circus. Lovers of this ancient and endearing art form can take part in a puppet workshop before the performance at 2:00 pm. This is a show for the perpetually curious and those that constantly daydream.

| $15 | 3:00 pm | Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland | http://mayostreetarts.org/ |

 

The Winter Mystery Tour | Prepare yourself Portlanders, for the arrival of Rubblebucket. Reviewers write that Rubblebucket is many things and nothing at all; it’s a mindset, a legend, a feeling, a mystery; a mischievous, playful, boundary-smashing blast of sound that you can sit still and wonder at, or turn off your mind and move wildly to. One thing’s for sure: you’re going to love this criminally underrated indie-pop-rock band. The band balances splattering synths, tasteful horn blasts and a polyrhythmic percussion with the most delightful instrument in their arsenal: the lead singer, Kalmia Traver’s mesmerizing voice. She’s a vocal acrobat and well worth the price of admission all on her own. Joining this Brooklyn outfit is the magical Mal Devisa, a genre-defying solo artist and the experimental rock-art-garage-something-punk-psychotropic-kind-of band, YAIRMS. You’ll likely lose your mind somewhere within these lush sonic dreamscapes.    

| $18 | 8:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com |

| $25 | 8:00 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com |

BASSLiGHTS | Are you bummed out that the electronic odyssey known as BassLights was canceled this year? Are you looking to re-conjure some memories from your college years with a head-spinning electronic dance rave? You’re in luck; you won’t have to travel farther than Empire. Word on the street is that local DJs Daze Inn and DHost will be spinning special tribute sets, featuring the mind-melting dubstep music of Bassnectar and Pretty Lights. Prepare to ingest this dose of heavy bass, intra-subwooferly.

| $10 | 9:00 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portlandempire.com/ |

 

lespecial

Squids Will Rise | Get up close and personal with Boston’s aggressive death-funk dance trio lespecial, when they explode into an energetic live-set of their latest album Omnisquid. It’s just going to be them, and their dark, heavy, synthy, polyrhythmic grooves all night long; so get ready for repetitive head-bobbing to cinematic soundscapes. Their styles weave all over the place: from jam and prog rock, to melodic metal, glitchy gloom tunes and post-apocalyptic math rock. This is a concert geared for the fierce, the fed-up and the aimless wanderers.

| $15 | 9:00 pm | Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St., Portland | http://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com |

SUNDAY, Dec. 11

 

Magic of Christmas | Bring some friends to this holiday circus show, so they can help you pick your jaw up from the floor. That’s because organizers promise you’ll be stunned once you witness the unexpected, yet dazzling synergy of The Portland Symphony Orchestra and the high-flying, death-defying acrobats of Cirque de la Symphonie. With elegance, grace, precision timing and a little humor, these spectacular performers will usher in the Christmas season against the sonic backdrop of orchestrally performed carols. This is the kind of ear and eye candy that you need to experience at least once in your life.

| $35-50 | 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland | https://tickets.porttix.com |

Raise the Roof | Rock My Soul, a secular, 30-member-strong, roots and blues based secular gospel choir will easily get your hands clapping and your feet shuffling. The full choir and accompanying band (complete with horns) will send your soul skyward, with a number of emotionally charged renditions of Christmas carols and doo-wop tunes. You seriously don’t need to be religious to feel the magic these artists can summon. So come boogie, atheists.

| $25 | 3:00 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com |

MONDAY, Dec. 12

 

The Thievery Corporation

Thievery Corporation | The veteran performance duo of Eric Hilton and Rob Garza (Thievery Corporation) have designed their hyper-inventive sounds around truly diverse musical tastes and cultural influences. Watch and listen thoughtfully as they bounce from Brazilian bossa nova to Jamaican dub reggae and then to vintage film soundtracks and psychedelic space rock, with confidence and a carnival-esque approach. They’ve been performing their politically-conscious world music for two decades now and have shown others that tossing out labels can be creatively liberating. “We’re still chopping up beats, but this time we’re making them sound warm and vintage—which is not at all what’s happening in electronic music right,” said Hilton about their latest album Saudade. “What we’re doing here is pretty traditional and timeless-sounding, and in that it’s completely contrarian.”

| $45 | 7:30 pm | State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland | http://www.statetheatreportland.com |

TUESDAY, Dec. 13

Cocktails and Creatives | Swerve off the cold streets and descend into the atmospheric, warm and welcoming chambers of the Bramhall Pub, Portland’s modern, candle-lit speakeasy. There you’ll be encouraged to order a tantalizing cocktail and sip it with other creatives during AIGA Maine’s final mixer of the year. There are plenty of cocktails at Bramhall that utilize the flavor enhancers of bitters, liqueurs, herbs and tinctures, to inspire the adventurous drinker within you. With enticing names like the Witch Doctor, Satan’s Lawn Chair, Black Flower and the Mad Monk (to name a few), these cocktails are begging to be tried for the first time.

| VARIED | 5:30 pm | Bramhall, 769 Congress St., Portland | http://www.bramhallme.com/ |

Sonita Screening |  Sonita Alizadeh, an 18-year-old Afghan refugee in Iran, dreams of becoming a big-name rapper and looks up to Michael Jackson and Rihanna as her spiritual parents in this deeply personally and joyful film. Titled Sonita, after the protagonist, this film picked up two awards at the Sundance Film Festival and has shown audiences the “intricacies and shifting contrasts of Iranian society,” through a generation-defining young artist. This is the best film you’ll ever see about a female rapper using art to escape from a forced marriage. It’s also an inspiring narrative showcasing the successes and setbacks many women face while forging their own path in life. Come for the timeless themes of “sticking to your guns,” and stay for the feels.

| $8 | 7:30 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org/ |

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 14

Follow the Grain | Ever wonder how exactly Maine-made grains get transformed into Maine-made beer? The brewers over at Oxbow want to reveal the process. Sample their farmhouse-style ales, while you take a “field to glass” tour of the entire process, right alongside the people that grow, malt and brew for a living.

| $5 | 7:00 pm | Oxbow Blending and Bottling, 49 Washington Ave., Portland | https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/event/field-to-glass-at-oxbow/ |

| $18 | 8:00 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com |

THURSDAY, Dec. 15

| $9 | 8:00 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com |

| $5 | 9:00 pm | STYXX, 3 Spring St., Portland |  http://www.styxxportland.com/ |

THURSDAY, Dec. 15

CREAM ME A RIVER | Rarely in human history has there been less of a need for writers to originate new writing. The morass of man-made content is so vast that screenshots, retweets, or memes could suffice, across several infinities surely. And yet some still endeavor to originate, often at their own peril. One of them, a local man named Douglas W. Milliken, has gotten quite good at it — whatever “good” means nowadays. In the eyes of the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, he was good enough to win the 2016 Maine Literary Award. Based on that, you could argue he’s the best writer of English in Maine — that’s meaningless superlative, but why not? In Milliken’s stories, you get characters who seem like regular-ass people until their motivations, which Doug often conceals, collide them. He celebrates a follow-up to last year’s Cream River with a new collection of microfiction, titled One Thousand Owls Beneath Your Chest.

| FREE | 7:00 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland. | http://www.space538.org/ |

RUBBING NICKELS TOGETHER | The Manchester, New Hampshire, the well-traveled comedian Paul Landwehr, a regular guy, is the headline for Laugh Shack, the weekly comedy night at the faux-speakeasy bar Lincolns underneath Pat’s Pizza in the Old Port. Like everything else, admission is $5.

| $5 | 8:30 pm | Lincoln's Bar, Market St., Portland | https://www.facebook.com/LincolnsPortlandMaine/ |

FRIDAY, Dec. 16

THE NOODLE WITHIN | In Tampopo, the 1985 Japanese film about how to eat and appreciate ramen, we learn several things. One is the importance of being affectionate to the meal. Skim the chopsticks along the broth, caressing the noodles. Apologize to the pork. Regard the sinking seaweed. Ramen originated as a cheap and convenient food for on-the-go Japanese laborers. Now, cities like Portland package it as a luxurious and savory meal, rich in cultural capital and weather-resistant fat. Juzo Itami’s 1985 comedy plays with a variety of high and low-status characters to tell the ramen story. It could also arm you with some slick quips for date night. Screening Friday through Sunday at PMA Films.

| $8 | 6:30 pm | Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Sq., Portland | http://www.portlandmuseum.org/ |

PROCESSIONS | The Bayside art post Zero Station has hosted paintings by the Houston-based painter Ricardo Osmondo Francis since November. The complex, surrealistic images on his canvases approach racial identity, masculinity and class structures (see his painting titled “Young Harlequin Spinning the Wheel of Fortune” pictured here). He’ll talk about his work and those themes, some of which also overlap with the work of Portland art-dance group Hi Tiger, led by Derek Jackson, who perform in the space tonight before a larger dance party steered by house DJ Jamie O’Sullivan. The performance is titled “Mythic/Poetic.” 

| FREE | 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Zero Station, 222 Anderson St., Portland |  www.zerostation.com  |

WERK LOCAL | With all the political wreckage and existential panic happening this year, you’d be forgiven if that ephemeral notion folks call the “Christmas spirit” has eluded you. That’s fine: the Nutcracker Burlesque, the annual flagship show by Portland dance collective Vivid Motion, manages to reduce the holiday spirit to its bare, pagan essentials, which is people doing weird things together, mostly naked. Opening tonight and running through the 23rd, see original choreography by Vivid locals Alison Berry, MJ Emerson, Shea Murphy, Brigitte Paulus, Emma Tompkins and Emily Zack. Tickets notoriously sell out extremely fast. 

| $18 | 7:30 pm | St. Lawrence Arts Center, 76 Congress St., Portland | http://www.stlawrencearts.org/ |

LATE DANKNESS | Burlesque can withstand a dose of holiday corniness, but the same can’t often be said of hip-hop. Thankfully, Maine rapper Spose has been peppering his style of hip-hop with Yankee corniness, self-flagellation, and straight-up irony for close to a decade, and his product has been better for it. The dude throws his third annual December concert, titled PDANK XMAS, at Port City Music Hall tonight. Expect many guests. Tickets run $14-16. 504 Congress St., Portland.    

| $14-16 | 8:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com/ |

SATURDAY, Dec. 17

LACE UP | In cities all over the country, membership at self-defense and mixed martial arts classes have skyrocketed. Looks like Portland feels that heat too. The usual yoga and dance fare of West End wellness center Hustle and Flow expands to include a class on “Street Harassment and Bystander Intervention,” hosted by the Portland group Prevention Action Change, part of the Violence Prevention Network that also includes the vital organizations SARSSM, Maine Boys to Men, Speak About It, and more. This workshop may actually be sold out, but the group plans to host monthly workshops on how to de-escalate potential assault. 10 am, $15 at Hustle and Flow, 155 Brackett St. #3, Portland. Down the road at noon, Peace Action Maine hosts a Nonviolent Direct Action Training at the Maine Irish Heritage Center, covering the strategic actions and legal concerns involved in taking part of the resistance movement. That’s at 34 Gray Street in Portland, and free. 

WATER WARS | Since September, the indigenous peoples of the Dakota Sioux tribe have been in protest of the planned construction of the Dakota Access pipeline, an effort that has rallied many thousands of supporters from around the country, and has sparked conflict and aggression from North Dakota police. Surely your personal politics will have already colored your perspective. But the developments have placed the opposing values in stark relief — water protection and civil rights on one side, and the proceedings of corporate capital and big oil on the other. As Pete Seeger sang, which side are you on? While President Obama ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deny a permit to Energy Transfer Partners, the pipeline owner, earlier this month — a victory for the protestors, for sure. But with president-elect Trump literally holding stock in the companies building the pipeline, many expect the fight isn’t over. Tonight’s rock show, headlined by the energetic prog group Five of the Eyes, benefits the protestors, tribes and water protectors in their next chapter. 

| $10 | 8:30 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portlandempire.com/ |

LIFT UP | Dydine Umunyana was four when the Rwandan Genocide tore through her community. Today, she’s a peace ambassador and galvanizing political speaker, whose book Embracing Survival: Genocide and War Through the Eyes of a Child, which was released this fall through Umbrella Press. Hear her tell her story, and remember that history is never over. 

| FREE | 7:30 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org/ |

FATTEN WELL | Been a fine first year for the folks at Fork Food Lab. The Bayside shared kitchen and tasting room throw together a winter market in time for the holiday. If your household has let slip the tradition of stuffing stockings, use this as an opportunity to pack your lover’s booties with some local oatmeal bars or plant-based yogurt. 

| FREE | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm | Fork Food Lab, 72 Parris St., Portland | http://www.forkfoodlab.com/ |

SUNDAY, Dec. 18

LABORS OF LOVE | Last winter, Portland filmmakers Desi Van Til and Sean Mewshaw put the final touches on Tumbledown, a thoughtful Maine-based comedy they’d been working on the past eight years. Thankfully, the film is not only watchable, but really effing charming, a meditation on love and grief and the hard work people buoyed by great performances by Rebecca Hall and Jason Sudeikis. It screens at Frontier from the 13th through today, when it’s up at 3 and 7 pm. Tickets run $6 for the matinee and $8 for the evening show at 14 Maine St. in Brunswick. 207.725.5222.

TENDER ACTS | One of the city’s most vital organizations is Portland Outright, which secures community and builds leadership in LGBTQ Maine youth. Today, they host a program for making holiday cards for prisoners. It’s a novel, tender, simple, and radical idea, and these folks are friendly as hell.

| FREE | 4:00 pm | Portland Outright, 68 Washington Ave., Portland | http://portlandoutright.com/ |

WHAT IS JAZZ? | Colleen Clark, one of young Portland’s best lady-voiced singers, had such a grand time throwing a holiday party last year that she’s done it again, corralling guests the likes of Susanne Gerry, KGFREEZE, Sorcha Cribben-Merrill, Rob Cimitile, Dustin Saucier, Amanda Rae Tubbs and comedian James Spizuoco. If you don’t truly hate the holidays, but think they’re best accessed with some edge, a little alcohol, and a whole lot of friends who are good at getting ridiculous around each other, this party’s for you. 

| FREE | 6:00 pm | Blue, 650 Congress St., Portland | http://portcityblue.com/ |

MONDAY, Dec. 19

THIS IS REAL | I know you’re tired, but the you that pledged on November 9th (well, November 10th — nobody could even get out of bed that Wednesday) wants you to keep pushing. Tonight, there’s a meeting of the Maine Democratic Socialists, a party that Bernie Sanders was trying to yoke into the mainstream before he lost the primary to Democratic primary to Hillary. But now that the U.S. has actual fascists in power, maybe centrists might change their tune about the country not being “ready” for single-payer health care. This growing group meets at the City Hall at 7 pm, where they’ll be nominating candidates for Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.

| FREE | 7:00 pm | City Hall, 389 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portlandmaine.gov/ |

TUESDAY, Dec. 20

WHAT’S THAT SONG? | Tonight, the illustrious jazz singer VIVA revives old world standards at the Exchange St. bar Crooners and Cocktails, which I’ve always thought had a strange mafia vibe to it. Sinatra songs are a thousand times better when they’re sung by someone like this lady. 

| FREE | 9:00 pm | Crooners and Cocktails, 90 Exchange St., Portland | http://www.croonersandcocktails.com/ |

PAST VICTORIES | Loving, a historically inspired film by Jeff Nichols, tells the true tale of a mixed-race couple in 1967 named Richard and Mildred Loving. The Lovings fought for nine years to live in their hometown of Central Point, Virginia, battling the state's laws against miscegenation. Dramatized, the film gets reportedly excellent performances from Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton. Loving screens at the Strand Theatre in Rockland from the 16th through the 29th, and 7 pm tonight. 345 Main St., call 207.594.0070.

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 21

SOFT BOOCH | The fine folks at Urban Farm Fermentory host a nondenominational holiday party — a Solstice celebration — timed with the release of their elderberry kombucha. Salsa group El Malo make this a solid party, no tinsel. 

| FREE | 8:00 pm | Urban Farm Fermentory, 200 Anderson St., Portland | https://www.fermentory.com/ |

JOE STRUMMER | The spirit never leaves Don Campbell, the Maine player who’s been slinging his folky, pop-country crossover songs since 1991. He’s big on Christmas songs, having popped out two discs of the stuff, so he’ll be on his game tonight at the Frog and Turtle, 3 Bridge St. in Westbrook, at 7 pm.

THURSDAY, Dec. 22

SUNG SONGS | Next week, the local emo-punk band Restless Atlantic shore up Empire, Port City Music Hall screens a double-feature of The Nightmare Before Christmas and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Free at 8 pm at 504 Congress St.

THURSDAY 22

TO REST OR NOT TO REST | The rock band the Restless Atlantic, from Portland, play a style of emotive post-hardcore that squashes together several iterations of the experience of the young American male. They’ve got a new, six-song EP out titled Afterglow, over which they index several traits of the genre: tortuous guitar licks, mid-tempo rhythms, soaring male vocals in a sugary tenor, you name it. They’re one of the finest groups in town practicing this stuff right now, and are very likely to put together a satisfying, energetic live show. They play with Tim Mercer, whose debut record is said to consist of heartbreaking, vulnerable songs he wrote in memory of his late wife, who passed in 2011. And Very Reverend, a trio whose influences include Queens of the Stone Age, T. Rex, and the Arctic Monkeys. 10 p.m. | $7 advance, $10 day of show | Empire, 575 Congress St. | portlandempire.com

KEEP THE HEAT ON | If you or someone you know wants a hot meal today, you’ve got four options. Wayside Food Kitchen serves food to seniors (55+) at the Salvation Army at 297 Cumberland Ave at noon, and dinners for all at 5:30 p.m. at Hope.Gate.Way (185 High St.), Deering Center Community Church (4 Brentwood St.), and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church (678 Washington Ave.).

OFF RADAR | In the waning days of 2016 reality, you’re forgiven if you start courting the holiday delirium a little early. If you find yourself south of the city, pop into Alisson’s Restaurant in Kennebunkport for some pre-holiday sogginess. There’ll be blues music courtesy of the group Bread & Circus, some curated beer selections on behalf of the omnipresent Portland brewery Bissell Brothers, and specials on the chef’s homemade Southern barbecue wings from 5 to 9 p.m. | Alisson’s Restaurant, 4 Dock Sq., Kennebunkport | alissons.com

FRIDAY 23

STAY FUNKY | The magical funk band Shut Down Brown has been playing raunchy R&B music for awhile now — 2007 to be exact. Their sound is exactly the sort of Bill Withers-worshipping groove you’ve heard in thousands of rooms since growing up Yankee, so you’ll know what to do. There’ll be dozens of all-stars popping Long Trails and yanking their necks around at this one, and you could be one of them or stare at one all night. SDB play with the top hat-wearing broseph Jon King, whose bluesy soul music has been around New England for a decade now. Fine way to drop your life and lunge into the holiday steam. 9 p.m. | $15 | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | portcitymusichall.com

DARK INTO LIGHT | Making funk fans think about it is this rivaling greasy show down the street. Model Airplane, who come alive at night and understand the power of brass, hold the fortress known as P.H.O.M.E. What you’ll get here isn’t some weak-ass holiday jambalaya, but instead a slow-cooked, reverential tribute to the fallen musicians of 2016 — far more nutritious. To recap the losses: David Bowie, Sharon Jones, Allen Toussaint, Leonard Cohen, Prince, Phife Dawg, Donald Buchla, Leon Russell, George Martin, Bernie Worrell, Maurice White, Blowfly, Otis Clay, Glenn Frey, Jon Bunch, Alan Vega, Dan Hicks, Keith Emerson, John Stabb Schroeder, Merle Haggard, and more. Sadly, Lemmy died on December 28, 2015, so we won’t be hearing the Model Airplane version of “Ace of Spades” — this year at least. Music still has the ability to confuse your brain into thinking it’s in another time-space, so this night could be overwhelming to many. 8 p.m. | $12-15 | Portland House of Music and Events, 25 Temple St., Portland | portlandhouseofmusic.com

BASICALLY BUDDHISM | Tired of everything? Want to weird out a new friend? Believe yourself a mutant of luck? Then let not the seasonal garlands tie you to the bedpost. It’s time instead for the bingo parlor, my dudes! A crisp tenner gets you the regular paper package (aka the normal game) at the South Portland Bingo Hall, where you’ll be in the company of dozens of citizens whose lives you’ll not know a thing about. If that isn’t Christmas, pray tell what is? Winning here is less impossible than you might think, but you could also use this as a non-denominational way of telling how much karmic coal you deserve. Bingo begins at 6:30 p.m. | $10 (or you can not play and hang out by the concession area eating crème horns, in which case, $1.49) | 200 John Roberts Road, South Portland | sopobingo.com

SHINY NIGHT | Up in the twin cities, Sapphire Night Club hosts a sprawler whereupon all ye might get turnt up gladly. With no cover at the door, the DJs Panda Beatz, Rascal, Lupo, and Sognar each devote an hour to spinning the yuletide top, aka the mighty turntable. They call it the Tap House Trap House: Christmas Spectacular — so casual with the drug reference! Hard to know what particular din they fancy here, but we promise the night will be booty-forward as a whole, if anything at all is forward. They also tempt us with a surprise, but on second thought, that’s a classic rouse this time of year, so may be best to forget it. Regardless, oh come all ye. 9 p.m. | Free | Sapphire Nightclub and Event Center, 150 Center St., Auburn | sapphirenightclub207.com

BUTTON UP | For all those who love and know Portland: listen, you don’t. Not unless you remember the Underground, the gay dance club that pre-dated Styxx in the same building. (I also don’t, so I feel you on this.) But I mention it here because the space itself has been LGBT-friendly since long before Brooklyners came here to splurge on small plates, and the last week of Styxx (it closes 12/31) before it gets revamped into something a little more mainstream has the city’s queer population remembering the old days. Be them or join them at a drag show tonight featuring the performer Brita Filter, a truly spectacular NYC performer originally from Phoenix, who makes her Styxx farewell. 9 p.m. | $5 | Styxx Nightclub, 3 Spring St., Portland | styxxportland.com

CRACKED CHESTNUTS | Other housecleaning: The Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine (142 Free St.) hosts a Hannukah Celebration at noon. Hustle and Flow (155 Brackett St.) ensconce us in a guided meditation (for the solstice, you see) at 6 p.m. Allagash is pouring all sorts of beers they make at Rhum (4 Free St.) And The Victorian Nutcracker at the Merrill is sold out for tonight; forever. 

SATURDAY 24

FIZZY FEELINGS | You must be freaking out by now. So many reasons to! Possibly related is your sense of guilt. “Do I belong on this earth if I cannot keep a friendship?” We’ve all thought this, and the truth is that today mainlines protein directly into this particular anxiety. It’s important to remember that it’s a trick question, but if it makes you feel better, gift-giving is still a decent way to maintain friendships (nearly as effective as Instagram likes in some circles). And word of the bird says that gifts are available today at Urban Farm Fermentory, as they host a last-minute Maker’s Market in their tasting room from noon to four p.m., with local art, jewelry, hand-done things, clothes, and other items. Noon | Free | Urban Farm Fermentory, 200 Anderson St., Portland | fermentory.com

STAY SOFT | 10 a.m. on a Saturday in December is one of the fuzziest hours possible. And you can double down fuzz-wise with a trip to Paca Naturals, which has invited all to hang at its Christmas Eve Open House With Alpacas this morning. If you’re getting your kid an iPad/iPhone tomorrow, bring them here first to say farewell to the natural world. 10 a.m. | Paca Naturals, 194 Gray Rd., Cumberland Center   

SUNDAY 25

SNEAK ATTACK | In post-truth America, news and information has been replaced by endless expressive intermedial streams of ego. The selfies, sunsets, cool doggos, top 10 lists, even the #notmypresidents, all amount to a kind of empty virtue signaling for a desperately lonely, thinly connected society. Today, however, presents an opportunity. It’s Christmas Day. And while that’s completely meaningless in a cutthroat, despiritualized, capital-driven planet simultaneously winking at both World War III and total ecological collapse on either ends of the bar, even the most isolated and scabrous among us were once pounded with yuletide lessons of kindness and goodwill. That means that compared to all other days in the year, they’re more inclined today to entertain your idea of a good and just society. What is that? Up to you and yours. Maybe that’s jumping on your friend’s back and co-improvising your way through some original carols in the middle of Monument Square (we need new carols, pls). Maybe it’s inviting the winter-rental folks in the Airbnb-shell apartment down the hall of your quaint Munjoy Hill home to walk the 90 minutes to Thanh Thanh 2 (795 Forest Ave.) for some pho. Maybe it’s getting hopped up on green tea with a small cabal of friends and knocking on various houses asking residents if you could do their dishes.

HAN PRIMO | The people are freaking out about Rogue One, the new stand-alone Star Wars film (think of it as Episode 3.5). I can’t say anything about it one way or another, but can admit the FOMO is building. It plays everywhere, of course. But the Nickelodeon is right there (1 Temple St.).

MONDAY 26

WEEKDAY WARRIORS | It’s a drag that Christmas Day falls on a Sunday. It robs workers everywhere of the extended off days. We hope your employer recognizes that no one does any work in the dark week between Christmas and New Year’s, and that they should pay you regular rates to explore the city’s daytime mistakes, like dollar drafts at Rosie’s, or snowstorm brunches at Ruski’s.

TRIBUTES ARE FOREVER | By now, the young generation has been so beaten into submission by baby boomers’ need to be respected and appreciated that the creative reflex lends itself more to mimicry than originality. So there are tribute nights and cover nights all over the place; it can’t be helped. The undisputed best thing about this week is the reliability of Kenya Hall’s Stevie Wonder Tribute Night, which is done with true love and genuine creativity, and is appreciated appropriately widely. 8 p.m. | $15 | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | portcitymusichall.com

TUESDAY 27

THANK A SISTER | If you read, you may approach the comedy set by David Heti by way of his sister, Sheila Heti, who wrote a quite-good book several years ago called How Should a Person Be? that became a minor literary sensation. I include that not to slight David, but I can’t not see the dude in that light. Siblings have that effect, no matter where they are on the color spectrum, the info is valuable. The comedian Heti, also from Toronto, has degrees in Law and Philosophy and has still chosen the dark life that is stand-up comedy. And what does that tell you? Sheila’s question is truly still on the table. With Colby Bradshaw and Sam Pelletier. Smart booking. 7:30 p.m. | $5 | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | portlandempire.com

WEDNESDAY 28

ETHICS QUESTION | Entrenched Portlanders caught wind of the cultural appropriative kerfuffle regarding last week’s proposed “Tribute to the Ladies of Hip Hop” cover show (called out for having no women of color on the bill, admittedly not a great look, and is reportedly being rebooted for a later date). Will be interesting to see how this night is spun, as two DJs play songs by Janet Jackson and Beyoncé in the playfully competitive schema of modern cover nights. (Competition is crucial, you understand.) VERSUS: Janet Jackson vs. Beyoncé tips off at 9 p.m. | $6-8 | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St. | portcitymusichall.com

THURSDAY 29

STAY BAD | Next week, the ghost of Sublime still refuses to go into the grave, as Badfish! A Tribute to Sublime swing back through the State Theatre. And the fantastic local goblins the Video Nasties unshackle their new LP at SPACE Gallery, halberds flying through the air, cacophony tasteless and odorous.

THURSDAY 29

YEAH BUB | The Maine comedian Bob Marley is a big fan of indefatigability. The dude presently holds the Guinness World Record for longest consecutive hours performing stand-up comedy (40 hours; the first 18 of them without repeating a joke), and takes the stage again for his 17th annual holiday series of shows at the Merrill Auditorium, tonight through Saturday at 7 p.m. This man does not quit. And he's synonymous with Maine humor as it lives today. | $52.50 | Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St. | porttix.com

FOR THE MIGNONETTES | The concept of ladies night needs a little unpacking. Whenever an arbitrary evening is passionately dedicated to a such a broad, heterogeneous coalition of people, merely for being alive, it's worth checking to see where the motives lie. Perhaps it's a thinly veiled admission that you've created a product or programming that appeals solely to one gender type and thus face social pressure, possibly from that very gender type, to fix or balance that, for reasons of social equilibrium or integration. Maybe it's a nonpolitical way of addressing that American women make 78 cents for every dollar their male counterparts make. Perhaps it's an attempt at a safe space, an environment where women are prioritized above men. Or, I suppose, it's something to do. We'll never know for sure the motives of seafood tiki bar Rhum, but regardless, they throw a ladies night every Thursday, where such folks can get $3 shots of Tito's vodka, $3 cans of Truly spiked seltzer, half-off cocktails and $1 oysters. 4 to 7 p.m. | Rhum Food + Grog, 4 Free St., Portland | rhumportland.com

TRUE HORRORS | One massive part of musicians' jobs is to create a world that looks and feels different from the one we presently live in, with different truths, logics and systems. (The music itself is but a beaded curtain between this realm and ours.) The Portland group Video Nasties accept this role, having the last five or so years created some of the most fucked-yet-enjoyable music to come out of the North East, and performing it capably. Tonight they celebrate the release of their first LP, a self-titled affair, which presses all the songs found on their four out-of-print, cassette-only releases. They play with the songwriter Caethua (aka Clare Hubbard from Belfast, Maine), the oudsman Tom K, and Colby Nathan — in some mesmerizing combination TBA. 8:30 p.m. | $8 | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | space538.org

FRIDAY 30

BAND BACK TOGETHER | In what should be a fairly heartfelt, touching affair, the late pop-punk group Sophomore Beat, whose members have gone on to play in Worried Well among other melody-forward units, reunite for Erica Lohmeyer, the wife of SB frontman Daniel James Lohmeyer, in a medical benefit. They're aided by local acolytes Lannen and Cape Cannons. 8 p.m. | $8 advance, $10 day of | Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St., Portland | portlandhouseofmusic.com

YOUR UNIVERSE | Even if we knew the inner language of the Phish universe, it'd be an untoward act of pandering for us to reprint any of it here. If you're in, you know who you are (and you know who your fellow phans and haters of Wilson are). Congregate amongst ye'selves tonight at Port City Music Hall for a Phish Webcast. Proceeds benefit the Mockingbird Foundation, a philanthropic foundation backed by the band that endeavors to promote music education. 7 p.m. | $5 | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | portcitymusichall.com

SEND A POSTCARD TO YOURSELF | Tonight, the Maine archivist and musician Sumner McKane presents Northeast by Eastern, a majestic film comprised of photographs collected by Eastern Illustrating and Publishing Company, a Waldo County postcard company launched in 1909. McKane has built a knack for making these gorgeous and serene Maine folklore films while scoring them himself with lovely, neo-Americana music, and this latest is an even deeper dive, exploring the impact of technologies and modernization on Down East Maine. McKane, in attendance, plays alongside musician Josh Robbins. 7:30 p.m. | $14 adv, $16 at the door | St. Lawrence Arts Center, 76 Congress St., Portland | stlawrencearts.org

THERE'S GONNA BE A FIGHT | Some people grow up to be politicians, some grow up to be theater kids, and some grow up to be wrestling fans, but they're essentially all strands of the same DNA. Some kind of pro wrestling cabal invades Geno's Rock Club tonight, featuring names like "Flash" Nick McKenna and Aiden Aggro. We originally thought this was pure showmanship (because Geno's is cold and its floor is unforgiving), but apparently there's going to be actual wrestling matches. If you think of it as a fringe theater show, it might make more sense, possibly less. Produced by the North Atlantic Wrestling Camp, based out of Skip's Pool and Lounge in Buxton. 9 p.m. | $8 | Geno's Rock Club, 625 Congress St., Portland 

FUNK THIS LIFE | If you're the type to blitz it on the 30th (and the 1st?) and spend New Year's Eve proper reading Ferrante on your couch, you've got a clear path tonight at the State Theatre, where Boston funk act Lettuce play with their Portland homeslices Jaw Gems, whose praises have been sung again and again. Also with TAUK, a "dirty funk" quartet from New York. 8 p.m. | $25 | State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland | statetheatreportland.com

SATURDAY 31

LIBRARY SWEAT | You'll find plenty of offbeat ideas for spending your New Year's in our feature, but here's another one for you: In the Portland Public Library today, you're invited to 'treat your bod' to a contra dance. 11 a.m. | Free | Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Sq., Portland | portlandlibrary.com

DON'T TRIP | Are we in agreement that dubstep's moment is behind us? Probably not. Nonetheless, that's kind of the domain of the live instrumentalists Moon Hooch, former conservatory students and busker Wenzi McGowan and Mike Wilbur (saxophone) and drummer James Muschler, who some argue are forging a new path for the break-heavy rhythm. They credit yoga and meditation as practical inspirations for their new album, Red Sky, and their work is definitely a lot more satisfying to watch than some 17-year-old kid press some buttons on stage. 8 p.m. | $20-25 | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | portcitymusichall.com   

FLANNEL UP | Besides the Rustics (and maybe Motor Booty Affair), it's hard to point to a Maine band more institutionalized than the Mallett Brothers Band. Read Tim Gillis's do-up on the group and their new members (including ex-North of Nashville fiddler Andrew Martelle and former thrash-metal drummer and Maine legend Adam Cogswell) on page 19. The boys plan for a new album of reinterpreted 19th-century Maine folk songs titled The Falling of the Pine: Songs from the Maine Woods, this winter, and play batches of those songs alongside their signature staples as the world turns on its axis. 8 p.m. | $20-25 | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | portcitymusichall.com   

SUNDAY 1

DO LITERALLY NOTHING | As you emerge from the wreckage that was 2016, surely there's a resolution or two you've considered from the vast index of "wellness" initiatives the Western world has to offer. Yoga, we'd reckon, is among them. And why not? — yoga has numerous benefits, including offering one arena where it's verboten to play with your phone. I personally get down with Maine Hatha Yoga (having read in a book by Jerzy Grotowski long ago that hatha is ideal for theater people, which, I don't know, stuck), but you shouldn't care about me. January 1 is classically a day to care about yourself above all, but you'd do well to resist that too. Who should you care about, then? The whole of humanity, because it's in trouble. At Maine Hatha Yoga, the "Silent Meditation for Peace and Unity" could be a stepping stone along your path to spiritual and social engagement. No joke, you forget how powerful it is to sit silently in a room with a bunch of people. 4 to 5 p.m. | Maine Hatha Yoga, 49 Dartmouth St. Portland | mainehathayoga.com

MONDAY 2

FOR FANS OF STARFISH | The 2015 film Evolution, by French director Lucile Hadzihalilovic, is a lyrical and entrancing meditation that also manages to be a sci-fi thriller. Hadzihalilovic is the wife of famed director Gaspar Noe, who also works in this inventive and confrontational genre of filmmaking. A superb January 2-sorta thing to do. 8:30 p.m. | $8 | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St. | space538.org

TUESDAY 3

THANK A SISTER | The songwriter Clara Junken, whom you may remember from the roots-folk act Marion Grace, plays a solo set at Blue tonight, a small jewel for the dark weeks ahead. 8 p.m. | one-drink-minimum | Blue, 650A Congress St., Portland | portcityblue.com

WEDNESDAY 4

CARE ABOUT NUTRITION | The great January nothing is here, and you might do well to counter it by gathering some special ones close and cooking a hearty, kale-based soup. But if they're in a bad mood tonight, you could instead sneak off to a brewery in Biddeford. Banded Horn has a comedy night every Wednesday, and tonight they've got sketch team Boxed Wine and Boston's Brett Johnson, who says he grew up in New York City and East Africa. 8 p.m. | $5 | Banded Horn, 13-W in the Pepperell Mill, 32 Main St. in Biddeford | bandedhorn.com

YELLING PRACTICE | The Crowbait Club, the upstart theater group that keeps on ticking, rouses its troupes for a "Deathmatch," where local playwrights script plays on the theme of "dissonance" and workshop their pieces in front of (and starring) a live audience. 8 p.m | Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland | mayostreetarts.org

THURSDAY 5

POST-9/11 COMEDIES | Today, the Nickelodeon plays some old-world throwback films from 2002. Frida, the biopic of pathbreaking Chilean artist Frida Kahlo starring Selma Hayek, screens at 1:15 and 6:50. Analyze That, the square peg/round hole buddy comedy starring Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal, screens at 9:20. Michael Moore's Bowling For Columbine gets three rounds (at 4:10, 7, and 9:35), and Nicole Kidman in Far From Heaven goes up at 4 p.m. The Oscar-considered films are soon to follow at Nickelodeon, 25 Temple St. | patriotcinemas.com

THURSDAY 5

ARM YOURSELF WITH KNOWLEDGE | In 1962, the civil rights leader Robert F. Williams was a prominent civil rights leader, advocating for armed black self-defense in a movement that helped build the Black Panther Party. His book, Negroes With Guns, was a vital cog in the black liberation movement, still showing up in college classrooms today. A 2004 film, titled Negroes With Guns: Rob Williams and Black Power, expounds on the text, framing the movement in a historical arc. Of course today, on the eve of one of the most divisive world leaders in Western history coming to power, the film has additional weight. This is the first of a series of civil rights films shown Thursday evenings in January at 6:30 p.m. | Free | Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Sq., Portland | portlandlibrary.com

SOFT LIGHTS | If you're up for a little drive, three fantastic lo-fi songwriters, all of them women, play a show at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth, New Hampshire tonight. One of them is Portland's Lisa/Liza, the moniker of Liza Miller, who makes haunting and ethereal folk songs. Her new album, Deserts of Youth, Pitchfork has called "a daring new work of strange, intimate beauty that already feels like an old favorite." She plays with the Boston-raised Ella Williams, a/k/a Squirrel Flower, and Lina Tullgren, whose heartreading songs were a highlight of last fall's Waking Windows festival. 8 p.m. | $10 | 3S Artspace, 319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth, NH | 3sarts.org

FRIDAY 6

DUDE, THE WORLD | Winged Migration, right? A true holy moment in cinema. If this 2003 joint about the world's flighty subjects lit a fire inside you long ago, then you're going to love the new one by filmmaking team Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud. They call it Seasons, and it's about the green forests and megafauna that populated Europe since the Ice Age. Might not be as immediately fetching or herb-ready as their earlier work, but it's still quite an experience. Screening January 3 through 8 at Frontier, and at 2, 6, and 8 p.m. today | $8 | Frontier, 14 Maine St., Brunswick | explorefrontier.com

LOVE IN THE DARK | It's the first week of January. We all need a dance-heavy regimen of evening activities, and this one tonight is a hot ticket. DJ Jamie O'Sullivan has been hosting his party, Love, every first Friday of the month at Flask for years now, featuring wonderful house and techno DJs from Portland, the Northeast, and beyond. Tonight he plays alongside longtime city DJ Jack MF, a/k/a Jack Master Flash, spinning deep house and techno in a positive, supportive space. 2017 should not be a year of alienation and atomization, and we should all make efforts to be around each other, being vulnerable, physical, and kind. 9 p.m. | Free | Flask Lounge, 117 Spring St., Portland | flasklounge.com

WATER WARS | Since September, the indigenous peoples of the Dakota Sioux tribe have been in protest of the planned construction of the Dakota Access pipeline, an effort that has rallied many thousands of supporters from around the country, and has sparked conflict and aggression from North Dakota police. Surely your personal politics will have already colored your perspective. But the developments have placed the opposing values in stark relief — water protection and civil rights on one side, and the proceedings of corporate capital and big oil on the other. As Pete Seeger sang, which side are you on? While President Obama ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deny a permit to Energy Transfer Partners, the pipeline owner, earlier this month — a victory for the protestors, for sure. But with president-elect Trump literally holding stock in the companies building the pipeline, many expect the fight isn’t over. Tonight’s rock show, headlined by the energetic prog group Five of the Eyes, benefits the protestors, tribes and water protectors in their next chapter. With scads of free OTTO pizza. A rescheduled show from December.

| $10 | 8:30 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portlandempire.com/ |

WALKING STICKS | It's the first Friday of the year, which means an art walk is literally unavoidable. Highlights include some thought-provoking work about the veracity of the image in our post-truth times in the form of a photography show by Raymond E. Hulse at Inked Wing Massage and Bodywork (Suite 626 in the State Theatre building, 142 High St.); a dizzying live performance by experimental sound collagist/national treasure i dm theft able at Mayo Street Arts (10 Mayo St.); and a dance party by the Maine Marimba Ensemble, who play music inspired by Zimbabwean Shona culture. That's at 7 p.m. | $7 | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | onelongfellowsquare.com 

SATURDAY 7

LESSONS OF SKIN | The sex-positive performance group M.E.S.H. (Maine Educationalists for Sexual Harmony), who did valuable work in Portland for the last two-plus years, are technically no longer. But several among that scene have morphed into the new collective Consensual Daydreams, who endeavor to bring us steady and sexxxed-up Rocky Horror shows (just like M.E.S.H. did) as well as intermittent dialogues about sexuality, slut-shaming, accountability, and consent. Their annual Rocky Horror performance, with two showings tonight, is becoming the stuff of local legend. In case you're wondering, they'll be super good about making this a safer space. Shows at 8 and 11 p.m. | $10 in advance, $12 at the door | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | onelongfellowsquare.com

PROCESSIONS | With the surfeit of popstar deaths in 2016, one of the most popular musical genres in America was grief-core. Paired with the practicality of cover and tribute nights, it also became a safe book for producers, backed with tons of measurable social media data (literally how did people die before Facebook?). Tonight, the Portland musician Mat Zaro, formerly of Bass Box, heads up a tribute to the mighty David Bowie, playing both Station to Station (1976) and Blackstar, the duke's last platter. 8 p.m. | $10 in advance, $12 at the door | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | portcitymusichall.com

THE REIS, THE FALL | The indie-rapper Shane Reis headlines a raw and raucous affair tonight at PHOME. The dude's been at it several years now, and his funk and soul nods are drawn out tonight with appearances by local diva Renee Coolbrith, the Maine Youth Rock Orchestra, DJ Rew, and Essence (formerly Lady Essence). It's a party. | $10 in advance, $12 at the door | Portland House of Music and Events, 25 Temple St., Portland | portlandhouseofmusic.com

SUNDAY 8

FIGURATION | This evening, throw your drawing hand a bit of a curveball at Bright Star World Dance, a Portland dance studio that teaches classes in belly dance, zumba, ballet 4 to 5 p.m. They host a figure-drawing session with one of their dancers as a model, wearing various costumes and appropriate dress. 5 p.m. | $10 | Bright Star World Dance, 108 High St. Portland | brightstarworlddance.com

MONDAY 9

FOR WORSE OR WORST | In 2017, local comedy scenes are as much about building and sustaining friendships as they are some hoary notion of making it. Not that any of the Worst Day of the Week crew couldn't break through at any moment, but the trick is you've got to act like you don't want it, otherwise those elites in the Illuminati won't feel comfortable sharing the wealth. These folks act like they don't want it, like they just want to gather together in a dark room on a trash night and support each other in saying brazen shit to strangers. It's a good front! 8 p.m. | one-drink-minimum | Blue, 650A Congress St. | portcityblue.com

TAKING STEPS | If you're the type to make resolutions, it's usually around the 9th that your relationship with them has hardened into a mutual respect. You know each other now. The gym visits no longer seem excruciating. Your face looks slightly less like a strawberry waffle and the sobriety actually feels possible. Someone somewhere considers forgiving you. By the 9th, you should know if you're a person who wants to be a person who wants to learn to swing dance, and if so, you should at least ironically text your crush if they want to join you in Biddeford tonight (where few if any of your Portland frenemies will see you), when Engine hosts a workshop on how to do the lindy-hop, a jazz step originating to 1930s Harlem. Tonight launches an eight-week class hosted by Lindy Maine (it's their specialty!). $80 for the whole course. 6 p.m. | Engine, 128 Main St., Biddeford | feedtheengine.org or lindymaine.weebly.com

TUESDAY 10

HOMEMADE MUFFINS | This one very interesting documentary, One Big Home, explores gentrification as it plays out in a unique area: Martha's Vineyard. A rarefied community, sure, but one not immune to the same unchecked market forces that play out and muck things up everywhere, so feel free to tune in even if you're not huge on Yankee nostalgia. The basic premise in this doc by carpenter-turned-filmmaker Thomas Bena is that wealthy people love Martha's Vineyard — love it! — so they move there and build enormous trophy houses that have, over time, threatened the island's character. Bena, a resident on the front lines of the action, compiled this living history on film over the course of 10 years. On a smaller scale, this is happening with our own Peaks Island, except with slick-looking condos. One Big Home screens from January 10 through 15, and at 2, 6, and 8 p.m. today. | $8 | Frontier, 14 Maine St., Brunswick | explorefrontier.com

TIME TO THRASH | A real steal of a good-time, Empire trots out some slick new framework for a rock show: Three for 3, where a trio of Portland bands play for a $3 cover, with $3 shots and $3 Geary's IPAs (which do the trick). Tonight's offering is the sensorily overwhelming hardcore punk group Cadaverette, the astoundingly good math-rock quartet An Anderson, and power-pop band Wedding Camp. 8 p.m. | $3 | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | portlandempire.com

WEDNESDAY 11

YOUR EDGE | Listen! Sometimes people get older and forget the songs they used to love. They forget the names of the songs and the lyrics. They realize they haven't attended campfire and been invited to sing drunkenly with others in a dog's age. And they haven't made a mix tape for a colleague, let alone a lover, in years. All this can happen to you if you're not careful. One way to nudge yourself back is by taking the karaoke plunge with a cluster of weird ones. Longtime selector DJ Johnny Red has what you need at Empire tonight. 9 p.m. | Free | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | portlandempire.com 

THURSDAY 12

NEW DAY RISING | Next week! The newly launched Civil Rights Film Series continues its every Thursday run of films throughout January. This one, also at the Portland Library's Rines Auditorium, is the 1989 film The Road to Brown, a documentary about the late Charles Hamilton Houston, a black U.S. veteran who became a civil rights attorney after WWII and fought Jim Crow segregation laws until his death. 6:30 p.m. | Free | Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Sq., Portland | portlandlibrary.com

THURSDAY, 12

CANDID CONVERSATION | How do you feel about the contentious designation of a big chunk of Maine’s northern wood region as the North Woods National Monument? You’re living in Portland, and Obama approved it, so I’m guessing you’re all about it. But the determination was still not without controversy. Regardless of how you feel, a conversation with the man behind the monument, Lucas St. Clair, can only be enlightening. Learn more about what the future of that vast swath of land will look like at the Maine Historical Society, and gain some truth based-ammo for future arguments on the subject.

| $10 | 6:00 pm | Maine Historical Society, 489 Congress St., Portland | www.mainehistory.org |

POOR YOUR SOUL | That’s not my clever teaser phrase; it’s the name of a new memoir from Mira Ptacin, a fantastic writer living out on Peak’s Island. The new work, Poor Your Soul, is described as a “short and muscular memoir about survival and preservation, immigration and one’s relationship with grief and recovery, and the confounding layover between youth and adulthood.” No matter who you are, or where you’re at on life’s journey, you could benefit from exploring those themes and finding strength through this creative work. Let the gracious and erudite Ptacin unpack those concepts through her personal experience with an unplanned pregnancy. She’ll be reading from her memoir at Portland’s newest bookstore, while you sip on wine, nibble on cheese, and contemplate your purpose on this spinning rock.

| FREE | 7:00 pm | Print: A Bookstore, 273 Congress St., Portland | http://www.printbookstore.com/ |

PAPER LIONS N CHILL | An indie pop-rock band from our gloomy neighbor to the North, Prince Edward Island, is desperately trying what all bands are trying: luring you from the unchallenged comfort of Netflix on the couch to experience a live music performance. I know right? What a crazy idea. But the four dudes that make up Paper Lions might actually be worth shaking off the winter-hibernation dust. Their goal on the current tour of their new album Full Colour (see they really are Canadian) is simply to chase away the doldrums with sunny melodies and remind listeners that when we focus our thoughts on the moment, life is good.

| $18 | 8:00 pm | Portland House of Music and Events, 25 Temple St., Portland | www.portlandhouseofmusic.com/ |

HYPER-CHARGED AND HYPNOTIC | It’s cold outside. Go warm up to the spicy sounds of the roots rock band Bronze Radio Return. They’ve self-described themselves as a big ol’ bowl of chili, so you should probably go get yourselves a scoop. Each member comes with a different musical flavor and once they’re stirred up together on stage, they create a brand new taste. And it’s quite good. That is, if you like swirling electronics, striking falsettos and cinematic soundscapes. These rabble rousers are joined onstage by the bright and edgy musicians of Air Traffic Controller.

| $15 | 8:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com/ |

SHADOWING ROCK LEGENDS | If a band’s going to make a career channeling another’s talent, they might as well take some notes from the hugely successful Satisfaction. They’re an internationally touring group with over 2,500 Rolling Stone cover shows under their belt. Rock geeks swear their cover performances are spot on. With close attention paid to costuming, stage effects and, most importantly, musical authenticity, these guys are the closest thing to seeing the Stones on stage in your lifetime. Well, the real Stones are technically still touring, but since you probably won’t be flying out to Paris this summer, my statement still stands.  

| $20 | 10:00 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://portlandempire.com/ |

FRIDAY, 13

SHARE YOUR SPACE | If you’re a longtime local you’ve no doubt witnessed the changing demographics here in Maine. If you’re also a kind person with a working moral compass, then this isn’t bothersome; you do what you can to make Portland a welcoming place for everyone, including people that don’t share your same beliefs, values, and culture. You also realize, that being different is okay, and every single person on Earth has some new perspective to offer, some new wisdom to absorb. The folks at Global Shapers Portland Hub get it. They’ve hosted a dinner and storytelling event called “Hi Neighbor,” which aims to “strengthen relationships, support happier, better-connected communities, and overcome bias and segregation. Go introduce yourself to other people that call Portland home and examine the connection between identity and geography.

| DONATION BASED | 5:30 pm | Babylon Restaurant, 1192 Forest Ave., Portland | https://www.globalshapers.org/hubs/portland |

THE DUDE FEST | Okay, here’s a disclaimer that would easily make many of my friends shake their head in dismay: I’ve never seen The Big Lebowski and I’m not drawn to the film in any way. I am, however, aware of the huge cult following this random comedy has had after all these years. Maybe you’re one of the cult members that quotes this movie all the time, orders White Russians ironically, and doesn’t bowl without attempting a Jeff Bridges’ impression. If so, assemble with your brethren during this costume party, trivia challenge and film screening of this “cultural phenomenon.” This event’s poised to have a fun and quirky atmosphere: something you can’t download on PirateBay.

| $5 | 8:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com/ |

PHISHY FUN | Are you one of those poor souls that hasn’t found a local act worth leaving the house for? Do they all just seem too loud, weird and specific? Do their lyrics confuse or even slightly annoy you? Well, if you’re a newbie to the local music scene, or are just looking for a laid back performance of a grab-bag of genres, head out to PHOME for the Skosh show. Their name literally means “a little bit of everything,” and that’s what you can expect from these eclectic rockers from Buckfield. Don’t gamble on a band and settle for one type of sound. Funk up your life with Skosh instead.

| $7 | 8:00 pm | Portland House of Music and Events, 25 Temple St., Portland | www.portlandhouseofmusic.com/ |

CHEAP INK | Friday the 13th’s not all about bad luck. Especially when Lucky’s Tattoo Company is offering $13 dollar tattoos all day long. This doesn’t apply to custom pieces though — you have to choose from their big ol’ binder of small(ish) symbols. But hey, symbols are powerful and I’m sure there’s something there that resonates with you. Maybe it’s finally time to get that pair of red cherries tattooed on your lower back. At such a low price, it’s only fitting.

| $13 | ALL DAY | Lucky’s Tattoo Company, 102 Exchange St., Portland | 207.874.1313 |

SATURDAY, 14

HOW TO RESIST | Taking not just the outcome of last year’s election into consideration, but also the myriad of social injustices that have long been gestating in this country, and one realizes that now is truly the time to organize and defend our democracy. But first, we all need training to become effective allies, advocates for equality and impactful activists for peace. A series of educational seminars hosted by Peace Action Maine aims to do that by exploring the definition and appropriate use of nonviolent direct action. Attending this first training will arm you with the necessary knowledge needed to proceed along the dark road ahead. Godspeed.

| FREE | 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm | Maine Irish Heritage Center, 34 Gray St., Portland | https://www.warresisters.org/trainings-nonviolent-action |

SING FOR A CAUSE | Do you love cheap thrills? Or maybe just need a morale boost? Plenty of both are being offered this night, during a karaoke contest designed to raise money for the important work done at the Southern Maine Workers’ Center. If you’ve got a friend that needs to venture outside of their comfort zone, bring them along and make a pledge so they’ll be peer-pressured to sing any song of your choice. I know I’d throw down some money to see my friends attempt an Ariana Grande verse.  

| $10 | 7:00 pm | Southern Maine Worker’s Center, 68 Washington Ave., Portland | http://www.maineworkers.org/ |

THE POINTS MATTER | If you were a fan of the show Whose Line Is It Anyway, you’ll probably let a chuckle or two loose during this silly smackdown of a performance. Two improv troupes will take the stage and try to one-up each other during a witty battle for the audience's laughter. Will someone embarrass themselves dreadfully? Is Portland hiding the next Wayne Brady or Colin Mochrie? Only one way to find out.

| $12 | 7:30 pm | Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland | http://mayostreetarts.org/ |

PARTY PEOPLE WANTED | A soulful experience is planned for this night, but it needs some more wiggling bodies to make it a real good time. A talented, six-strong band called Color Blind promises to bring a non-stop party to the PHOME stage, complete with class, professionalism, and funky grooves.

| $10 | 8:00 pm | Portland House of Music and Events, 25 Temple St., Portland | http://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com/ |

SPELL STRUCK | The Boston-based, musical magicians of Strange Machines are kicking off their year of high-energy performances by headlining in Portland! They’ll be blowing the doors off of Empire, with their dizzying cyclone of rock, funk, livetronica, reggae, pop, metal and jazz tunes. Wondering how they’re going to melt those seemingly disparate genres together? Me too. That’s why I jumped to the conclusion that they are indeed magicians. Fellow funk homies, Harsh Armadillo and Quad are also cashing in on the madness.

| $8 | 8:00 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://portlandempire.com/ |

SUNDAY, 15

POWERFUL SELF-CARE | Does life seem scarier nowadays? Have you ever just wanted to learn how to kick some ass? Or at the very least, protect your own? A fantastic series of classes at Hustle and Flow Studios has been quietly (but intensely) teaching locals a new way to take up space in the world: through the empowering skills of self-defense. Who knows what kind of weirdos might try to accost you during the thousands of interactions with strangers you’ll have in a lifetime. With this class via Prevention Action Change on body language, conditioning and strike and grab defenses, the streets will feel just a little bit safer.

| $35 | 12:30 pm | Hustle and Flow, 155 Brackett St., Portland | https://pacmainecom.wordpress.com/ |

PRIVACY PARTY | Snowden’s still laying low in Russia, but the bombshell he dropped years ago is still pertinent: we’re being watched online. Whether it be from scammers, identity thieves, trolls, hackers, South African princes with a fortune waiting for you, or even members of our own government, no corner of the Internet is safe from potential monitoring and exploitation. You can, however, protect yourself. Don’t click and type away in the vast cyberspace without using HTTPS and encryption softwares. If you’re out there hoarding illegally downloaded movies without at least using a Tor browser, you’re at risk. And you need to come to this CryptoParty to learn how to scan for threats and ensure your privacy online. And in the meantime, you need to run a system restore on your computer. Like now.

| FREE | 1:00 pm | Urban Farm Fermentory, 200 Anderson St., Portland | https://www.fermentory.com/#home |

BURIED HEART | Deviate from the ordinary date-night experience and take your loved one to a soul-stirring classical performance of Chopin’s Second Piano Concerto. Your date will marvel at your creativity and newfound sense of class and culture. No more Slab pizzas and night’s at the Nickelodeon for you; you’re the kind of person that goes out to romantic piano concerts! No longer are they reserved for wealthy church-goers looking to feel fancy in the afternoon! All jokes aside, shows from the Portland Symphony Orchestra never fail to impress. How can they when they’re channeling the emotions from the profound works of master Frederick Chopin?

| $40-80 | 2:30 pm | Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland | https://tickets.porttix.com/

MONDAY, 16

REVOLUTION OF VALUES | If you’re one of those that tends to misquote Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Facebook, or use him as a tool to further a backward/biased argument, it’s high time you learn full-scope of his message and subsequent movement. MLK was a revolutionary. He knew that America was in need of a focused radical revolution to break systems of oppression that didn’t just permeate through policy and law, but also shared values and culture. On MLK Day, the best thing you can do is learn about the man and the dream he shared with the world. Because the fight to actualize that dream is still raging on.

| $60 | ALL DAY | Maine NAACP, 510 Cumberland Ave., Portland | http://www.mlkportlandmaine.eventbrite.com/ |

HONOR HIM | David Bowie would have turned 70 this year, had cancer not took his life. Although his consciousness has passed on, his music and legacy will never die. Longtime fans of his genre-defining tunes and inspiring messages will converge on Flask Lounge for their 2nd Annual Bowie Tribute Night. Organizers encourage you show up in costume as your favorite Bowie incarnation.

| FREE | 8:00 pm | Flask Lounge, 117 Spring St., Portland | http://flasklounge.com/ |

BRAIN FLEX | Here’s a chance to test out if you’re really an endless reservoir of random bits of wisdom (and if you’ve got a low bar on what constitutes as wisdom). It’s an all out trivia night at Empire, but the folks there have pulled a couple stops to make it really feel like a game show. Participants will even get a buzzer! After gulping down a couple beers I’m sure you’ll enjoy having it in front of you. You may even feel important. If you miss the chance to compete or spectate, swing back around next Monday. It’s a weekly series.

| FREE | 9:00 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://portlandempire.com/ |

TUESDAY, 17

HISTORY BUZZ | Is there anything more random (in a good way) than drinking a beer in the place Longfellow once called home, and poring over old Portland maps and manuscripts? Join other learned fellows at this “Beer in the Garden” event, where libations and snacks are combined with special artifacts and historical atlases.

| $5 | 4:30 pm | Maine Historical Society, 489 Congress St., Portland | https://www.mainehistory.org/ |

THIS IS NUTS | The squirrels are onto something; acorns are actually nutritious and delicious. At least that what the folks at the Urban Farm Fermentory are trying to convince the general public. They’re so confident that you’ll think twice about eating acorns, that they’re hosting an event where you’ll sip cider, process the little oaky nuts into a flour and try them in a muffin form. Don’t they already seem much more palatable? Gather with the curious and check out this nutty affair.

| $15 | 5:00 pm | Urban Farm Fermentory, 200 Anderson St., Portland | https://www.fermentory.com/#home |

WEDNESDAY, 18

STRAP IN | Spend the evening with a sobering documentary. It’s an intense exploration of a historical tragedy you probably have never heard of: America’s first school shooting. Titled Tower, it’s combination of archival footage and rotoscope animation has earned it the accolade of “best documentary of the year,” in some circles. Tapping into the visceral fear the families felt on that day might be difficult; I advise you bring a friend.

| $8 | 7:00 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org/ |

THURSDAY, 19

#NOTMYPRESIDENT | The day of reckoning has come; Cheeto Jesus is about to assume the throne. Local activists who believe that Trump is anti-women, anti-equality and anti-science are combining forces for an all-day showcase of solidarity right underneath Lady Victory. Some will be quietly mourning the death of morality in America. Others will be chanting, marching and proudly displaying their resistance and anger. And others still will be singing and dancing reminding everyone that the “fight’s not over.” If you’re reading this and are fuming at the thought that millions don’t want to welcome an incompetent demagogue, and yet another loser of the popular vote into the Oval Office, than I gotta ask, “who are you dude?” Seriously, email me.

| FREE | ALL DAY | Monument Square, Portland |

LAUGH IT OFF | Sometimes comedy can be a great form of therapy. I imagine many of you Portlanders will be either shouting your cords raw on the streets, or hiding in your home during the hours before Inauguration Day. But if you need to a form of escapism, some local comics have you got covered. They’re joining 23 cities across the country to host “What A Joke,” a show designed to make you laugh, and forget. Proceeds for this show will be donated to the Maine ACLU, to further their work protecting civil liberties. Comics include: Jordan Handren-Seavey, Connor McGrath, Jed Bloom, Ali Simpson, Jamie Roux, Krystal Kamenides, Sam Pelletier, and host Aharon Willows.

| $5 | 8:00 pm | Laugh Shack at Lincoln's, Market St., Portland |  http://www.whatajokefest.com/ |

THURSDAY 19

SEE OR DON'T SEE | Set to tour her debut album — aptly titled Have you SEEN This Woman? — the jazz-cabaret singer VIVA plays a sayonara set at Sonny's tonight. A beam of light on the Portland music scene the last few years, her energy and performance depth are not to be missed, and it's about time she gets captured on record. 6 pm | $15 adv, $20 door | Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St., Portland | portlandhouseofmusic.com

CUT UP YOUR MAGAZINES | I probably write about him too much, but there's a strong chance Portland's id m theft able is the city's "best" artist — if that were anywhere near a conceivable category. Normally an experimental, Fluxus-influenced "musician" of sound collage and noise events, the dude's visual work has thusly gone underrated. A smattering of his collages have been tacked up on the walls of Mayo Street Arts, and I could think of a thousand worse things you could look at tonight. The show stays up through March 10, but it opens with a reception from 6-8 tonight. | Free | Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland | mayostreetarts.org

FRIDAY 20

MORNING BELL | If this morning you wake an hour earlier in the dead, cold night, forgive yourself. Should you spend twice as long plunged in dread and idly scrolling through your social feeds before stepping out of bed, you're not alone. We're trying not to be hyperbolic here, but screw it: Today is the first day of what will almost assuredly be the most seismic political shift in your lives. Join a throng of people in the resistance movement in a symbolic-yet-powerful reading of the Constitution (is that an instrument of the left again?) at the Maine State House. 11 am | Free | Maine State House, 210 State St., Augusta

FLESHED OUT | It was likely coincidental that tonight's edition of Naked People Reading, a positivist, community-building event if there ever was one, occurs on the same day as the day a misogynist sex offender is sworn into office. But the synchronicity reminds us that protest isn't the only way forward — we all need radical models of a good society, too. A collection of Portland artists host a public, safe-space literary event where people read assorted radical texts in various states of undress. Obviously, no photos or video allowed. Proof that simple, fun, bare-bones ideas can be part of the resistance. 7:30 p.m. | $5 | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | space538.org

SATURDAY 21

RISK SOMETHING | Officials from the Trump administration have said they expect the first week in office will be active. They mean, of course, taking steps to defund Planned Parenthood and repeal the Affordable Care Act, which will leave millions without insurance and literally kill people. But regardless of the efficacy of those actions, their actual first order of business will be colored by the tens of millions of folks attending the Women's March on Washingon (and its satellite marches, occurring in 53 countries and all 50 states, with at least six official ones here in Maine). If you're in Portland, the "Women's Walk" begins at the top of Congress Street on Munjoy Hill at 10:30 am. Expect attendance in the hundreds. Eastern Promenade Obelisk, 11 Congress St., Portland | https://www.facebook.com/events/1778266389086894/

SOUND BATH | Sooner or later, you'll need to get out of the political mindset and bathe in an art form that restores you. Is that rock music? Hard tellin'. It is 2017, after all — not the finest era for the form. But take it from us, that's not the fault of Portland's rock scene! Hell no it ain't, m'dudes! Exhibit that realness tonight, as four of them clamber onto the Empire stage to uncork some scorchers. The group Forget, Forget have been around about a half-decade now, and I personally have come around to their synth-infused chamber-rock sound. Tall Horse have received high marks for their drowsy, melodic indie-country, which envelops listeners with their own frayed nostalgia. Cape Cannons, the new group by local staple Dustin Saucier, is characteristically fleshed out and rich emotional rock music. And The Empty, another new outfit, is riotgirl dance-pop. All ages and free at Bayside Bowl. 8 p.m. | Free | Bayside Bowl, 58 Alder St., Portland | baysidebowl.com

FIND YOUR PEEPS | If you can't get the political world out of your mind, you're set too. "The Other Inaugural Ball" is the sort of spirited counter-protest you'll feel right at home in, where performances by the venerable Theater Ensemble of Color (fresh off their fantastic debut performance of THE OTHERS last weekend) perform, along with the invigorating electronic-pop group Hi Tiger and the phenomenal Portland dance troupe Sudo Girls, comprised of young women dancers originally from Sudan. With an address by featured speaker Fatuma Hussein (of United Somali Women of Maine), while DJ 32french keeps everyone in a dancing mood. Proceeds for this POC-led event go toward the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project (ILAP). Recommended. 7 pm | $10 | Mechanics Hall, 519 Congress St., Portland | https://www.artful.ly/store/events/10850

SUNDAY 22

ENORMOUS SPIRIT | The classically trained violinist and songwriter Gaelynn Lea is a dynamo. You may remember her as the winner of NPR's Tiny Desk Concert Series last year, beating out 6,100 entries with her set of fiddle music steeped in Irish melodies. Equally meditative and ebullient, Lea's live performance belies her distinctive method — reliant on loops and effects and self-taught as a condition of a congenital disability called Osteogenesis Imperfecta. For the past ten years, Lea has been collaborating with Alan Sparhawk of the indie-rock band Low (to give you an idea of where we are genre-wise), and plays here tonight with Jerusha Robinson of the slow-core group South China. The concert will be followed by a Q&A session moderated by Disability Rights Maine director Kim Moody. Recommended. | $10 adv, $12 day of | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | space538.org

BARBED TONGUES | Join local comedians as they do their part to mock and ridicule the new leader of the country (though we hear straight-up contempt is effective too). A local effort of the national WHAT A JOKE Comedy Festival takes place in over 30 cities across the country, all proceeds benefiting the vital American Civil Liberties Union. This one takes place at the new Bunker Brewing facility, and features local comedians Connor McGrath, Jordan Handren-Seavey (formerly of Portland, now of Boston), Aharon Willows-Hebert, and more. 6:30 pm | $10 suggested donation | Bunker Brewing Co., 17 Westfield St., Portland | bunkerbrewingco.com

WOKE UP LIKE DIS | When was the last time you publicly celebrated your hair? Or others' hair? Thought so! Tonight at One Longfellow Square, the unique hair-themed event "Beauty in Colors" is a showcase of the works of stylist Dathan Hunter, and sheds some light on the many unique cuts and colors adorning this city's heads. With a performance by the Pihcintu Multicultural Chorus, DJ'd by Bubba's party selector DJ Jon, and hosted by the inimitable Nicole Antonette — who by our calculations, appears or performs in at least three events on this weekend calendar alone. 6 pm | $10 adv, $12 day of | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | onelongfellowsquare.com

MONDAY 23

SELF-CARE IS IMPORTANT | We suggest taking this evening to read a book.

TUESDAY 24

DOWNLOAD SIGNAL | Have these times prompted you to re-evaluate your relationship to art? How about to your fellow citizens, any movement there? What about to social media ... any hot takes you got brewin' about that topic? (Social media is trending, we hear.) 'Cuz if so, maybe that coaxed an insight or two into the practice of physical exercise, spontaneous movement, that sort of thing. No? 'Cuz the two sure seem correlated. You can't consume, gripe about, or contribute to fake news, for example, while you're playing theater games in a space with other actors. And isn't that interesting? For the last several months, an inventive and big-hearted group of Portland theater artists have hosted "The Playground," a drop-in situation room of physical activity and theater sports. We don't know what they'll be up to tonight, but showing up is another way to exercise your resolutions, be they of the New Year's or anti-Trump variety. 7 pm | by donation | Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland | mayostreetarts.org

SHE MADE HIM HAPPY | They say the way the Maryland-raised folk artist Maggie Rogers broke through was by cracking Pharrell Williams's chill facade as he was filmed listening to her song "Alaska" at a masterclass at NYU. "I've never heard anything that sounds like that," he said. "That's a drug for me." Crazy! With three albums under her belt (the last in 2014), she's coasting on the unique and rollicking folk-pop forms of her new tracks "Alaska" and "Dog Years." A new album is likely around the corner; in the meantime, see if you feel what Pharrell feels tonight at the Port City Music Hall, when Ms. Rogers rolls through. 8 pm | $10 adv, $12 day of | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | portcitymusichall.com

WEDNESDAY 25

PICK YR BATTLES | Previously known mostly to Portland street artists and prolific morning walkers, the city-sanctioned graffiti wall near the East End Wastewater Treatment Plant became a thing of larger civic notoriety when a mural appeared depicting Governor Paul LePage in a KKK robe last summer. Citing that political speech (which, sure, is bold — but then again, so is cutting off refugees' General Assistance), some vocal civilians allege these artists have gone too far, and have put the continued use of the municipal wall up before City Council. (Our take on the issue? It's clearly a promo spot by Banksy.) A public hearing on the issue goes down tonight in the Portland Water District building. Seriously, though, now's not the time to be cracking down on free speech. 7 p.m. | Free | Portland Water District, Nixon Room, 225 Douglass St., Portland 

THURSDAY 26

LONG ROAD AHEAD | Next week's highlights include a "heroes and villains" masquerade at P.H.O.M.E. A night of resilience storytelling the USM Glickman Library (brought by the terrific Women and Gender Studies program), and The Love Witch, Anna Biller's modern-day gothic fantasy, at SPACE Gallery. 

THURSDAY 26

HISTORY LESSON | The Portland Public Library doesn’t want you to forget history. Like other educational organizations in the city, the folks there have been hosting some important discussions and events around racial justice through a historical lens. Tonight, as part of their Civil Rights Film Series, they’re screening the 1994 Academy Award Nominee for Best Documentary, Freedom On My Mind. It follows a group of young activists in Mississippi as they fight for basic human rights in the '60s. Witness how far we’ve come, and how far we still have to go when it comes to achieving equality.

| FREE | 6:30 pm | Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Sq., Portland | https://www.portlandlibrary.com/ |

BATTLE OF THE SEXES | If you’re still fired up from the events of last week’s “Women’s March,” than you might love this upcoming film screening at the SPACE Gallery. Simply put, The Love Witch, is a badass feminist film, that defies genre tropes, understands the nuances of gender relations, and offers a impressive visual homage to the bygone era of '60s technicolor thrillers. Many could use a viewing of this thought-provoking (and critically acclaimed) exploration of female fantasies, pathological narcissism, and victim-fueled witchcraft.

| $8 | 7:00 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org/ |

GOODIES AND BADDIES | This world is essentially a battleground between good people, evil people and those that dance along the troubling lines of neutrality. From Shrek and Gandalf, to Darth Vader and Donald Trump, our fictional (and real life) world is littered with heroes and villains. Dress up as the one that resonates with you the most and wiggle to some dance jams courtesy of DJ Corbin from Atlantic Event Design. Awards will be given to the best, worst, punniest, and most obscure costumes.

| $6 | 8:00 pm | Portland House of Music and Events, 25 Temple St., Portland | http://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com/ |

PANIC ATTACK | The Charleston alternative country-rock band SUSTO is rolling through town to unleash their sophomore album & I’m Fine Today. They’re anti-Trump rockers who named their band after a Latin-American medical condition, and are committed to performing jams about “punching through life’s difficulties and learning to be comfortable with who you are as a person.” If a rock show’s capable of making you feel “one with the universe,” this might be it. They’re joined onstage by the indie-rock and dance jam blenders of Blue Healer.

| $12 | 8:00 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com/ |

FRIDAY 27

BREAK THE CHAINS | Slavery is alive and well here in America. It has just taken on a new, insidious, and perfectly legal form.  Don’t believe me? Watch Ava DuVernay’s highly lauded documentary, 13TH, which is screening for free at USM. The film has served as a wake-up call for many that were once unaware of the racist agendas at play in America’s prison systems. Stay woke readers.

| FREE | 6:30 pm | Hannaford Hall, USM, Portland | http://usm.maine.edu/ |

SHARP SETS | Promising a master performance in jazz-fusion improvisation, Umphrey’s McGee’s From the Hip set has got people talking. Most aren’t sure what to expect from this concert, but are still confident they’ll be awestruck. These veteran musicians have been mixing bizarre but palpable musical concoctions (classical mixed with '70s reggae?) for almost 20 decades, so it’s safe to say they thrive outside of the comfort zone. They’re joined onstage by the jazz artist Joshua Redman, and the electro-funk “therapy band” SPAFFORD.

| $30 | 8:00 pm | State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland | http://www.statetheatreportland.com/ |

CHASING FIREFLIES | Looking for a definitive answer on what contemporary American reggae sounds like? Look no further than John Brown’s Body, a band that’s been exploring lyrical themes beyond just religion and marijuana, for over two decades. They use the vocabulary of reggae to relate to their own personal experiences and are hailed as “future roots, reggae, and dub with an intricately balanced weaving of vocals, percussion, keyboard, bass, guitar, and stunning three-piece horn section that ties it all together.” The local outfit Raging Brass will take the stage first and fill the space with '60s Jamaican instrumentals.

| $15 | 8:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com/ |

BUILD BRIDGES NOT WALLS | If there was ever a truly unifying force in the world, it’s music. Bask in that solace tonight, as you hear the great Zapion perform works from Egyptian and Lebanese composers. Immerse yourself in classical Arabic music and remind others that learning about other cultures is exciting, enlightening, and necessary.

| $15 | 8:00 pm | Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland | http://mayostreetarts.org/ |

EMO NIGHT | If your personal life, or just the general state of world affairs makes you feel like crying, maybe it’s time to deal with it the way you might have in highschool: by donning some black clothes, cranking up My Chemical Romance and calling yourself emo. You’ll get the chance to do just that at PHOME, where your favorite emo, pop-punk and post-hardcore hits will be blaring all night long. But maybe you should leave your real tears and fits of sadness at home; this night is about having fun.

| $10 | 8:00 pm | Portland House of Music, 25 Temple St., Portland | http://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com |

SATURDAY 28

SPIRIT GUIDE | The local healer/spiritual guru Pia Louise Capaldi has planned something delightfully new-agey for this night: a guided shamanic journey of meditation and movement to discover your own creative energy and the personal process of working with it. Now I’m not sure what this event’s actually going to be like — I imagine drum circles, candles, and spirit animals will be involved — but isn’t that part of the fun? The uncertainty of entering a strange, yet harmonious space, and emerging lighter, empowered and more focused. But first, pay up; enlightenment doesn't come cheap.

| $35 | 5:30 pm | Hustle and Flow, 155 Brackett St., Portland | http://hustleflowstudio.com/ |

OUT ON ICE | Gay locals and their allies are throwing a party on Thompson’s Point complete with: an ice rink, a live DJ, food trucks, a cash bar, and a fire pit. Proceeds from this winter party will go to support EqualityMaine and GLSEN-Southern Maine’s programs to create safer schools for LGBT youth.

| $8 | 6:30 pm | Thompson’s Point, 10 Thompson’s Pt., Portland | https://www.therinkatthompsonspoint.com/

2ND ANNUAL, COLD COLD NIGHT | Dark times and cold nights are ahead of us. Stories can serve as an antidote to nastiness, a bright, warm flame in the night. Over 10 of Portland’s finest performers, songsmiths and all around brilliant minds will converge on the SPACE Gallery to fearlessly share what’s in their heart. What makes this city great, are the artistic and intellectual forces driving it; some things that will be on full display this night.

| $10 | 8:30 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org/events |

TRIPLE THREAT | Organizers at Empire have cooked up a hot show of “gritty, sassy, feely, schmaltzy rock,” by booking Bangor’s jukebox heroes, Marathon Man. They’ll be joined by local rabble rousers Mechanical Banshees and the Very Reverend. It’s time to get schwifty.

| $10 | 9:30 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | http://portlandempire.com/ |

SUNDAY 29

ALL THE FEELS | The performers at Maine Music & Health believe that our voices, and our community are stronger when they come together. Step into the peaceful space of Grace and lend your voice to a collective choir that aims to celebrate the values of love, resilience, diversity, compassion, equality. Stay vocal, and let love rule. This performance is also a call to action. After the concert you’ll be handed some resources to stay engaged, which might activate the inner-protester inside you. Join the resistance?  

| FREE | 2:00 pm | Grace, 15 Chestnut St., Portland | http://www.mainemusicandhealth.com/ |

MONDAY 30

FOOD POLITICS | A new city initiative has launched and it’s called The Portland Food Council. Its members aim to foster a healthy community by shaping policy that will create resiliency, sustainability and vibrancy in the food system. But first, they need to hear community voices. Join them at the Fork Food Lab, alongside Mayor Ethan Strimling, Justin Alfond and Congresswoman Chellie Pingree, and make your input matter.

| FREE | 4:00 pm | Fork Food Lab, 72 Parris St., Portland | http://www.forkfoodlab.com/ |

TUESDAY 31

OUR PARKS, OUR FUTURE | Most Mainers value the natural world as both a driver of economic growth, and an immensely beautiful force to be appreciated. USM invites you today to hear from David Evans Shaw, the founder of Idexx Labs and Shawn Gorman, L.L. Bean’s board chairman, about why national parks are essential.

| FREE | 5:00 pm | Hannaford Hall, USM, Portland | http://www.alumniusm.org/ |

SHORT FORM NONFICTION | Tonight you’ll learn that brevity can be powerful. Featuring individual films, episodic series, deep dive investigations, and plenty of juicy interviews is the provocative documentary Field of Vision. Well actually, it’s a stretch to categorize it as a documentary, so I’ll settle for “cinematic project.” Either way, it tells engaging stories from multiple corners of the world, and should definitely be on your radar. The screening is followed by a live video chat with the co-creator and filmmaker AJ Schnack.

| $8 | 7:00 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org/ |

WEDNESDAY 1

I AM GRUIT | I don’t care how much of a beer geek you think you are; the old gruit style is likely one you’re unfamiliar with. Get acquainted with its intense hop flavor and unique blend of local herbs and spices. The best ones will be on tap all day! Later in the evening, the head brewer of Gruit Brewing will host a workshop on the intricacies of this unique brew.

| FREE | 6:00 pm | Urban Farm Fermentory, 200 Anderson St., Portland | https://www.fermentory.com/#home |

SOMBER BUT HOPEFUL | The acoustic, pop-rock band from the “other Portland,” Blind Pilot will showcase their new album And Then Like Lions to an eager crowd. It’s being hailed as an extremely visual, emotive and uplifting work. Postpone suffering by riding out its gorgeous arrangements and majestic climaxes. Their melodies are solid tools to feel stable in an ever-changing territory of loss. Think Mumford and Sons, but with an intelligent writer.

| $25 | 7:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com/ |

LOVE IS LOVE | The performers at Cast Aside Productions aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel with this show. They know the cliche, yet amorphous and mysterious concept of LOVE has been torn up and sewn together a million times in every art from. But they’ll still explore the complex emotion, with all of its ups and downs, through booze-fueled musical theater. It will likely be a compelling way to chase away the mid-week doldrums.

| FREE | 8:00 pm | Flask Lounge, 117 Spring St., Portland | http://flasklounge.com/ |

THURSDAY 2

PUSHING BOUNDARIES | What do you get when you mix hip-hop beats, multi-syllabic rhyming, lyrics that explore the struggle of the American black experience, and a full brass band? A powerful experience. Embark on the grand adventure that the PitchBlak Brass Band evokes when they explode on stage with their culturally significant, and sonically epic live show.

| $10 | 9:00 pm | Portland House of Music and Events, 25 Temple St., Portland | http://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com/ |

THURSDAY 2

BITTER SILVER | There's a silver lining to this moment in history, albeit thin, and it's this. If you're a person who's feeling stressed, unsafe, or in despair, conditions are actually better than ever that you could talk to someone about it. A friend, acquaintance, bartender, stranger — whoever — they're probably feeling similarly. (I wouldn't bother the bartender too much if they're working. On the other hand, what is work, really?) Not all people find comfort commiserating this way, but many do. It reminds me, in a distant and emotionally neutral way, of the summer of 2009, when Maine received record-setting rain through June and July. Life was miserable! And for me, the only thing that made it better was the feeling among Mainers, the majority of whom are ideologically geared to appreciate the summer months, of being able to tap into a shared acknowledgement of near-universal commiseration. People were pissed! And they were pissed together. And that was kind of nice. After weeks of gray, damp weather, it no longer felt appropriate think of glumness or frustration as some personal failing, or internalized injunction to work harder. That feeling wasn't yours! It was all of ours. Even the most despairing among us realized this, and paradoxically, that revelation was joyful. The misery belonged to us all! Sharing it was the only thing that made us feel better, and through those shared expressions — eye-rolls at the coffee counter, naked declarations of f-this-s on the street — we eventually came up with new ways to support each other. I suppose if you were someone who liked the rain, it was different. That was your prerogative. But past a certain point, being a person who enjoyed the rain must have collided uncomfortably with the feeling of enjoyment of, or even complicity in, the misery of the majority of people who, quite reasonably, felt oppressed by incessantly grey, soggy weather. Some people are just like that! Nothing to be done there. But the rest of us, the majority, can and should take solace in the fact that we don't like feeling oppressed, or seeing our neighbors oppressed. And we should talk about it. Because if the clouds won't clear, we'll have to figure out a way out ourselves.

DON'T FORGET YR ART | One last political point: engaging in the arts is a vital part of keeping yourself healthy. Do it without reservation. Tonight, you can exercise that by reveling in the incredible artistic capacities of Clint Fulkerson, the Portland mixed media artist whose "Fluid Geometry" exhibition — a mural and 15 paintings — opens within the Area Gallery at USM. If you haven't realized it, Fulkerson is incredible! Likely you've sold him coffee or passed him on the street countless times — he looks just like any other dude. But his intricate, some-might-say obsessive designs recall both Renaissance perspective drawings and computer-generated imagery. I didn't make that up! It's a comment provided by Mark Wethli, Midcoast painter and art professor at Bowdoin College. Even if you're someone who doesn't "understand" or have time for art, surely you can relate to the meditative practices and careful, generative expression. Yours can be whatever. Fulkerson has mastered his! And he lives among us. Fulkerson delivers an artist talk at a reception from 5–7 pm, and his exhibit is up through March 31. | Free | University of Southern Maine, AREA Gallery, Bedford St., Portland | usm.maine.edu

FRIDAY 3

STAY ALIVE | Yes! There are a ton of protests right now, on top of all of the other very real things you have to do in your life — from earning an income, exercising, feeding your kids, having sex, buying groceries, phoning old college friends, playing cribbage, all of that. It's hard! We know, and we believe in you. After work today, consider the "Say No To Racism" rally in Monument Square. You don't even have to stand with them; just consider them. And recall that one of the tactics of fascist regimes is to steer the public toward protest exhaustion. 5:30 pm | Free | Monument Square, Portland

DRINK THE WINE | It's First Friday! A time to observe the Portland art world in its breadth and depth. Start that search at the Portland Museum of Art, when they unveil their "Lights Across Congress" exhibit, a 130-foot cinematic projection of their façade, in concordance with their grand re-opening. A big deal art event! | Free | 7 Congress Sq., Portland | portlandmuseum.org

BEYOND PRETTY | Or, head to the ICA at MECA for the "Collective Actions II" exhibition, a union of three printed matter shows modeling the social fabric and community engagement forms that bind us. The first, "The Unity of Opposites," is a visual play on the game of telephone (from Portland's Peregrine Press and Zea Mays Printmaking). The second, "Print Lab," connects collaborators Colleen Kinsella and Elizabeth Jabar with student artists from MECA's zine club. And the third, "Mobile Print Power," is a public printmaking and design showcase from artists out of Queens, New York. Memorable, even useful stuff. | Free | 522 Congress St., Portland | meca.edu

VISIONING WORK | Are you a therapist, medical worker, bodyworker, or other service professional in consistent interaction with the public, and also are interested in supporting a Trump resistance? Poke into a workshop tonight titled "Creating Safer Spaces — A Workshop for Helping Professionals," hosted by veteran social workers Sage Hayes and Lisa Newell. It's a little pricier than events we typically list in this space — $80 to $170 sliding scale — but worth it to those asking questions about how to leverage privilege. The workshop is spread over two sessions — Friday from 6-8:30 p.m., and Saturday from 9 to 5. | $80-170 | One Tree Center, 72E MacArthur Circle, South Portland | http://embodiedliberation.com/creatingsaferspaces/

ACTORS ARE BOLD-ASS HUMANS | In the return of Naked Shakespeare, an ensemble of actors explore the often tenuous relationships between fathers and daughters in the Bard's texts. Directed by the esteemed Carmen-maria Mandley, the production's cast of local performers includes Megan Tripaldi, Ella Mock, Khalil LeSaldo, Noah Bragg, Bob Petee, Christopher Hoffman, Sarah Barlow, David Handwerker, Rocco Tripaldi, Julianne Shea, and Beth Somerville. Watch them work through these themes tonight in the first of two performances at the Mechanics Hall, tonight and Saturday at 7 pm. | By donation Friday; $10 Saturday | Mechanics Hall, 519 Congress St., Portland | acornproductions.com

SWEAT SAVES | You need to dance it out, my fine dudes. Agree or no, two hot options exist tonight for just that — one is Oxbow's weird and kinda ironic dance party, hosted by DJs Hi-Duke and Fava Le Chic spinning ’80s dance-jams, boogie shakedowns, and funk blasts. It's called "On the One," and it's at 9 until the end of time. | Free | Oxbow Blending and Bottling, 49 Washington Ave., Portland | oxbowbeer.com

BODIES ARE MAGIC | ...meanwhile, the other is across town at Flask Lounge, where DJ Jamie O'Sullivan hosts his very respected "LOVE" night of house and techno. With DJ Nocturnal, and out-of-towners Mike Huge and Dan Desumthin. | Free | Flask Lounge, 117 Spring St., Portland | flasklounge.com

BACK TO PASTURE | One of Maine's finest exports is Aly Spaltro, the singer-songwriter who goes by Lady Lamb. Raised in Brunswick, she famously wrote the songs from her first album in the basement of the video rental store she worked at. Now, she's an indie-rock darling living in New York City. That happens sometimes! She's touring in support of her new seven-song EP, Tender Warriors Club, an experiment in radical vulnerability which some fans might find a maturation. | $15-18 | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | space538.org

KEEP ROUGH | But if you're in the mood for something heavier and more propulsive, join the large Maine following celebrating the return of Rough Francis, the Detroit-based punk rock group undeniable energy. With local louds Covered in Bees, a storied death-punk group with some incredible wit, and the stripped-down melodic trash-punk group The Worst. 9 pm | $7-10 | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | portlandempire.com

SATURDAY 4

FUZZY HUMOR | The Kittery-raised comedian Juston McKinney returns to Maine to hit the City Theater in Biddeford tonight. Besides that rogue 'o' in his name, McKinney's likely best known for being an ex-cop! What a hoot! 8 p.m. | $20 | City Theater, 205 Main St., Biddeford | citytheater.com

WARLOCKS AMONG US | Does anybody remember laughter? (Or does anybody remember who I'm quoting there?) Anyway, the question stands. The answer, still, is stuff like what you'll find at "SpinS: A Contemporary Circus Show," which collects jugglers, comedians, puppetry masters, unicyclists, wizards and witches, and so on. Might be the antidote to whatever you've got going on. 7 pm | $12-18 | Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland | mayostreetarts.org

GET OUT OF YR WORLD | The Israeli composer and oud player Yuval Ron brings his eclectic and musically adventurous ensemble to Portland tonight, performing at USM's Hannaford Hall with Dervish Aziz, the dance artist. The production draws from numerous Middle Eastern traditions, and should offer a sensorial delight for those weary of the cold season. 8 pm | $42-45 | 8 pm | $42-45 | USM’s Hannaford Hall

SUNDAY 5

THEATER IS THE LIFE OF YOU | Check in with Portland Stage's production of the classic play Arsenic and Old Lace, a dark, farcical comedy by Joseph Kesselring written in 1939. The original Broadway production starred Boris Karloff; this one's got fantastic local actors Maureen Butler, Will Rhys, and James Patefield, among many others. A serious romp, guided by the trusty directorial hand of Paul Mullins. Through February 19; see it today at 2 p.m. | $38-43 | Portland Stage, 25A Forest Ave., Portland | portlandstage.org

MONDAY 6

FILM BREAK | Park Chan-wook's crime drama The Handmaiden explores the political and social dynamics between a landed Japanese woman on her secluded estate, and her Korean woman servant, who plots to con her out of an inheritance. Visually stunning, the film has received high praise for its atypical love story and cinematic beauty. 7:30 pm | $8 | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | space538.org 

TUESDAY 7

SPIRITUALS | Nova Scotians Scott MacMillan and Colin Grant, a fiddler and guitarist, play their improvisationally enlivened folk songs in the Celtic tradition, tonight at One Longfellow Square. Lively, well-studied, and playful. 7 pm | $15 | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | onelongfellowsquare.com

WEDNESDAY 8

VOTE LOVE | Frontier in Brunswick packs a fine doubleheader of entertainment today, from a 2 p.m. screening of The Loving Story, a drama inspired by a couple — Mildred and Richard Loving — who were persecuted for violating anti-miscegenation laws in 1950s Virginia. And at 7:30 pm, hang in their lounge with the string group Los Galactacos. | $8 film; free music| Frontier, 522 Maine St., Brunswick | explorefrontier.com 

THURSDAY 9

DRUGS ARE COZY? | Among the highlights of next week, join writer Ayelet Waldman talk about microdosing, how her decision to take small amounts of LSD per day helped treat her mood disorder. She discusses the issue — maybe it's controversial? — at the new and excellent bookstore PRINT at the foot of Munjoy Hill as she discusses her book, A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life. 7 pm | Print, 273 Congress St., Portland | printbookstore.com

THURSDAY 9

MADCAP THEATER | The actor and writer Brent Askari has spent the last several years carving out a status as one of the best character actors in Portland — truly, if only there were awards for such a thing. One wonders, however, that the distinction might overshadow his considerable talents as a playwright. His original comedy Digby’s Home drew strong praise in its production last year, and his award-winning madcap play Cocktails and Travails is featured this weekend at the Theatre Project in Brunswick. Thursday at 7:30 pm; Friday and Saturday at 8 pm; and Sunday at 2. | $20 (or pay-what-you-want)| Theatre Project, 14 School St., Brunswick | theatreproject.com

DRUG TEST | In modern American societies, stress and pain are consistently taboo subjects. Everyone surely has a complex personal experience of them, yet discussions are hard to embark upon. Maybe this is how you should approach this evening’s talk by Ayelet Waldman, the Israeli-American author whose books take unique, accessible approaches to the subjects of mood disorder, harm reduction, and alternative therapy. Her new one, titled A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life, describes her experiences using microdoses of LSD to combat psychic pain, drawing upon literary and cultural histories of the drug from Lewis Carroll to the utopian 60s. Wild fact: Waldman is married to the novelist Michael Chabon. Don’t expect a dry science lecture. 7 pm | Print: A Bookstore, 273 Congress St., Portland | printbookstore.com

FAKE YOUR OWN NEWS | According to a New York Times story published last weekend, President Trump spends most of his time sitting around in a bathrobe watching cable news reports about the ineptitudes of his administration, cloistered and muttering. Don’t be that guy! Protests against the regime are sustained and social phenomenon, in Portland and everywhere. Tonight, the University of Southern Maine’s Women and Gender Studies offer a follow-up for those who attended the Women’s March. Titled “We Won’t Go Back,” it collects reports from that day among other protests since Inauguration Day. 7 pm | University of Southern Maine, Wishcamper Center Room 102, Bedford St., Portland

FRIDAY 10

DANCE CLOSE | It’s occasionally worth not forgetting that beneath the contortions and disfigurations of Valentine’s Day in late capitalism, there’s an underlying idea worth affirming. Winter’s harsh glare can turn even the supplest love to bone, and mid-February’s a fine checkpoint for couples to melt it down again. Do whatever Tuesday you want; but for our money, tonight’s show by El Malo in the dark and stormy jazz club Blue gets at the intimacy of physicality and play more than a nifty New American dinner. 10 p.m. | one-drink-minimum | Blue, 650A Congress St., Portland | portcityblue.com

SHORT BURSTS | The New England winters are often best used to catch up on the cultural events and phenomena from the past year that we might have missed. Though we’re certain you’ve not fully digested the Top 50 album lists from Tiny Mix Tapes and Stereogum or whatever you’re into, we imagine you’ve fooled around with the feature-length Oscar-noms by now. Moonlight, La La Land, etc. Well, here are the shorts, a tidy assembly of both live-action and animated films from around the country. Both Oscar-Nominated Live Action and Animated Shorts are collected as separate, full-length visual stews. Plan, and you’ll have plenty of chances to see both, as they screen at Portland’s SPACE Gallery and Brunswick’s Frontier all week. 8 p.m. | $8 | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | space538.org | Frontier Café, 14 Maine St., Portland | explorefrontier.com

DOWNWARD GROG | We’ve heard tales of yoga sessions in expansive warehouse breweries, but not yet so in restaurant tasting rooms. Until now. The still-new Foulmouthed Brewery in South Portland is a straight-up rad spot, with chill vibes, solid design, and interesting lighting. They offer their spot for a yoga session tonight and every Friday, where afterward you can mingle and drink beer along with your electrolytes. 5:30 p.m. | $15 | Foulmouthed Brewery, 15 Ocean Street, South Portland | foulmouthedbrewing.com

EVERYTHING IS POLITICAL, BRO | After four students of color were the victims of a hate crime in Portland two weeks ago, threatened on the side of the road by a man using racial slurs and brandishing a screwdriver, Casco Bay High School Superintendent Xavier Botana wrote a powerful open letter in their defense. He’s now being attacked by the Maine Republican Party, whose head, Jason Savage, claims Botana has “politicized” the event on the taxpayer’s dime. Tonight at City Hall, a group “Stands in Solidarity with Our Superintendent” — if nothing else, it’s a lesson on the shifting definitions of “political” and “free speech.” 4:30 pm | City Hall, 389 Congress St., Portland

SING OUT | “Are you opera curious?” ask a group of Portlanders who newly stumbled upon the lovely idea of pairing beer with opera singing. The baritone Robert Mellon performs a series of arias at the Bissell Brothers tasting room. Free; donations support PORTopera. 5:30 pm | Bissell Brothers, 4 Thompson’s Point, Portland | bissellbrothers.com

SATURDAY 11

MAKE YOURSELF LAUGH | A modern, lightly political comedy, Molly Smith Metzler’s play The May Queen follows a high school darling through her mysterious and adventurous adulthood, fending off questions and concerns from authoritative figures — often male — throughout. Directed by Brian Allen and starring Rob Cameron, Thomas Campbell, Laura Houck, Abbie Killeen, and Hannah Elizabeth Perry. A Maine premiere running through February 26, see it today at 3 or 7:30 pm | $22-30 | St. Lawrence Arts Center, 76 Congress St., Portland | goodtheater.com

INVITE YOURSELF | Once considered pure novelty, the Portland dance troupe Vivid Motion have hung around long enough to achieve institutional status. If you’re among the many who have seen their Nutcracker Burlesque and thought, damn, that looks fun, spend some hours this morning wrestling with the possibility of auditioning for their next production, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. They’re body-positive, so don’t try to pull any weird self-flagellation excuses. 10 a.m. | Dana Warp Mill, 90 Bridge St., Westbrook | vividmotion.org

LAWS OF THE BODY | How do you feel about a world where rallies and protests make up a sizable chunk of the city’s social events? Because that’s the one we’re in. A massive rally in support of Planned Parenthood, whose fight is about to get quite real, goes down today at noon. Organizers for this have taken steps to present this as an intersectional feminist event, with positions of solidarity for those fighting for racial and LGBTQ civil rights along with women’s reproductive rights. Noon | City Hall, 389 Congress St., Portland

KEEP UP WITH ART | Portland is running out of its outskirts galleries, the ones that show great contemporary art on the peripheries of the city, and of the fashion. The political reasons for that we won’t go into, but it’s more vital than ever that contemporary artists get support. If the last month has been too much a mess of distractions for you to check in, make an effort tonight to observe the “7 Maine Abstract Painters,” a collection of artists curated by the MECA professor and fantastic painter Michel Droge through the art school’s continuing studies program. With works by Emily Blaschke, Jenny Campbell, Alicia Ines Etheridge, Celeste June Henriquez, Doreen Nardone, Brenda Overstrom, and Donald M. Peterson, it closes tonight with a reception and discussion with the artists. 5-8 pm | Zero Station, 222 Anderson St., Portland   

DANCE YR VALUES | Speak About It, a vital organization teaching consent, health, and inclusive sex-education for young people, help cut the tensions of the week with a massive ’90s dance party at Oxbow tonight, with proceeds directly supporting Planned Parenthood. 8 pm | Oxbow Blending and Bottling, 49 Washington Ave., Portland | speakaboutitonline.com

SUNDAY 12

GOD IS AN IDIOT | Movie day, my dudes. Portland Museum of Art’s fine film series screens The Brand New Testament, a tongue-in-cheek feminist comedy that takes as its premise the existence of God: a scruffy white guy who lives in a high-rise apartment in Brussels, never taking off his pajamas. Fed up with the torment of living with his bored and insipid cruelty, his daughter Ea hacks onto his computer and releases sensitive information to his vast and unsuspecting subjects. Screening Friday at 2 and 6:30 pm; and Saturday and Sunday at 2 pm. | $8 | Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Sq., Portland | portlandmuseum.org

LOVE IS COMPLICATED | You know what? A spirited production of Romeo and Juliet is fitting for the season, and might just be the thing to stuff your heart with love. Obvious reasons! This one’s got the work of solid theater people all over it, including the smart directorial eye of Stacey Koloski. The quintessential impossible love story is in its final weekend at the proscenium stage of Portland Players in South Portland. Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday at 2. | $20 | Portland Players, 420 Cottage Rd., South Portland | portlandplayers.org

MONDAY 13

POP LIFE | The dance-pop band Strfkr — say it with me now — play Port City Music Hall tonight, on tour from Portland, Oregon on the strength of their new album, Being No One, Going Nowhere, released last fall on Polyvinyl Records, which once brought the groups American Football and Braid into your life. Be apprised that bandleader Joshua Hodges, back in 2007, named his project what he did as a joke, and it stuck. Perhaps the whole world is a joke that stuck. They play at 9 p.m. | $17 | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | portcitymusichall.com

TUESDAY 14

GET EPISTOLARY | The nascent group Get Ready Weekly hosts a Valentine’s Day letter-writing party, that also doubles as a write-your-Senator party, at Oxbow (49 Washington Ave.) tonight. Meanwhile, the local content production firm Knack Factory stands up for the ACLU, hosting a “Libations for Liberty” cocktail party and donating its proceeds to the vital civic institution. 7-10 pm | 24 Free St., Portland | knackfactory.com

WEDNESDAY 15

YOUR WORLD | If you keep up with modern music, you may already be familiar with the degree to which the London artist Sinkane, the performing alias of Ahmed Gallab, has owned Portland crowds before. With his band’s infectious blend of jazz, afro-pop, krautrock, funk, and Sudanese pop, Sinkane is on tour in support of the new album Life & Livin’ It — inspired, he says, by Funkadelic’s America Eats Its Young. All in all, it’s a pretty surefire bet for a transcendent show — particularly when paired with the captivating Providence-based songwriter Mal Devisa and local DJ Mosart212. Go. | $12 adv, $15 day of | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St. | space538.org

THURSDAY 16

FOCUS | Next week’s highlights include an inclusive variety show at SPACE Gallery, the Boston-based songwriter Will Dailey at the Music Hall in Portsmouth, and the funk group Shut Down Brown return to Portland to play P.H.O.M.E. Stay healthy.

THURSDAY, 16

SPICE OF LIFE | Take my advice and unplug from current events. Turn your phone off (heck, why not leave it at home for once?). Link up with your favorite human, and attend this variety show brought on by the Art Department and Bomb Diggity Arts. Hilarity will likely ensue, and you could use a dose of that. If you’re craving something a little out of this world, stick around for Tim Coombs’s directorial debut — he’ll be screening a short film that features samurai in space. Very cool.

| $8 | 7 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | www.space538.org

FREE HATE SPEECH | The University of Southern Maine is truly committed to making their campus welcoming to all peoples: including those that think homosexuality is a sin, abortion is worse than rape, and that immigrants are usually criminals. USM officials have green-lit a discussion called “Alien Invasion: Fixing the Immigration Crisis,” led by state legislator Larry Lockman, who has a history of spouting hateful remarks. The Portland Racial Justice Congress is cooking up a protest, which will likely be three times the size of Lockman’s audience. Attend, question, and counter bigotry with reason; but don’t turn the situation into a mini U.C. Berkeley, with violence and silencing, because that plays right into the opposition’s hands.

| FREE | 7 pm | USM, 96 Falmouth Street | http://usm.maine.edu/

SNIFF A WINNER | What’s that smell? Is it stale beer drying on the floor? Is it the sweaty pits of some hard-edged rockers? Is it the smoke from the burning remains of this country’s moral and ethical fabric? Or did the bathrooms at Geno’s just take their regular beating? Figure out the source of the miasma, at this intense rock concert that features the sad bastards of Alcoa, the raw dawgs of Cold Collective, the metalcore mavericks of Mill Fire, and the thunderous gentlemen of Battery Steele. Scream, smell, rock out, repeat.

| $5 | 9 pm | Geno’s Rock Club, 625 Congress St., Portland | 21 +

FRIDAY, 17

UP YOUR GAME | With smartphones and selfie culture, everyone fancies themselves a photographer. But few people really get it: the unwritten (and written) rules that make photography a learned craft, and ensure that only the best photographers get the Instagram likes, exposure, and praise. Learn some tips and tricks from seasoned Portland Press Herald photojournalists, who know not just how to take (and edit) a good photo on a technical level, but how to tell a story and convey emotion through the medium.

| FREE | 7 pm | Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Sq., Portland | https://www.portlandlibrary.com/

The Shut Down Brown band can infuse some energy into your Friday night. 

BIG TIME, GOOD TIME | Shake off the winter blahs, the political yucks, the post V-Day awws, or whatever’s bringing you down with the reliably raucous, Shut Down Brown band. Raised in the hills of Oxford county, this rhythm quartet brings down a hammer of funk, rock, and soul, with style and a sense of professional raunchiness. Chances are you know this already. Skosh will open with some sweet sax-driven tunes.

| $10 | 8 pm | Portland House of Music and Events, 25 Temple St., Portland | http://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com/

Dinner and a movie is so overrated. Take your SO to the Circus Cabaret instead. 

CUPID’S NIGHT | If you’re taking your loved one out to dinner and a movie for Valentine’s, don’t expect to win any points for creativity. However, if you take them to the Circus Cabaret for a night of high-flying performances, then you’ll be praised for your imagination! It’s really a unique event. While the acrobats at Circus Maine spin and tumble overhead, embrace your partner and relish the absurdity of it all. If you miss this first show, don’t fret; there are performances scheduled all weekend.

| $16 | 7 pm | Circus Maine, 4 Thompson’s Pt., Portland | http://circusmaine.org/

The East Pointers skillfully blend old and new styles. Photo By: Mark Maryanovich

OLD, YET NEW | “Traditional music,” is an ambiguous sounding genre isn’t it? Every continent has its version of folk music, and one band, The East Pointers are rolling through town to showcase Australia's version of it, with their new album Secret Victory. This trio is making old sounds hip again. Oddly enough, they still exude some Celtic vibes, but still provide an “adrenalized, roof-rattling, and infectiously danceable,” music experience.

| $12 | 8 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com

SATURDAY, 18

FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT | Another day, another protest in Monument Square. For those that aren’t yet exhausted at standing up for truth, justice and basic human rights, a rally is scheduled for this afternoon to imagine, create and demand a future where everyone has access to affordable health care. Folks will be holding the dangerously moderate Senator Susan Collins accountable by urging her to attend a People’s Forum on the Human Right to Health Care, where she can learn from voters on the front lines of this issue why her ACA replacement proposal stinks bigtime. Gather with other Portland activists to demand that policies center themselves around human rights. (We’re still protesting this shit?)

| FREE | Noon | Monument Square, Portland | http://www.maineworkers.org/

Not many people can explain what's going on inside Alan Cumming's head. 

WIT AND CHARM | I don’t know much about the Tony-award winning actor, singer and author Alan Cumming, but I do know what people have said about him. The naughty performer has secured numerous favorable reviews and has been described as “raucous, wildly entertaining, and a shape-shifting trickster.” If you’re into BIG personalities on stage, head to Merrill for a performance of sappy songs, and intimate stories from the provocateur himself.

| $45 | 8 pm | Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland | http://portlandovations.org/

Do you like pop songs with intelligent lyrics worth pondering? Check out Wrabel performing at One Longfellow Square.

YES YOU CAN | Specializing in music that telescopes small moments into songs with big impact is Wrabel, a pop singer/songwriter with a valuable perspective on life. He inspires new listeners, and reminds his longtime fans, that whatever difficult thing they might be going through, they’re not alone. Witness the healing power of music, when this intellectual tour-de-force takes the stage for a night of powerful self-expression. He’s joined by the Brooklyn singer/songwriter Jesse Ruben, who’s been spreading similar messages across the country.

| $15 | 8 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com/

LOW-KEY PARTY | The fusion band Sassquatch is emerging from the woods of central Maine, alongside the sassy funk fiends of Miss Fairchild, and the 10-piece indie-pop band Monarck Lisa, for a night of good intentions. Go out there and ask a pretty girl to dance.

| $8 | 8 pm | Portland House of Music and Events, 25 Temple St., Portland | http://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com/

SUNDAY, 19

APPROVED APPROPRIATION | The only kinds of cultural appropriation we approve of are the ones that don’t delegitimize (or take advantage of) a culture, and actually provide tangible benefits. In this case, we’re talking about yoga, the most popular activity we borrowed from the East behind eating massive bowls of pho. If you’ve ever been curious about the health benefits of yoga, or want to learn what’s behind the hubbub of massage, reiki, polarity, sacred sexuality, or cosmic consciousness, this event’s your best chance of doing so. The Arcana Yoga Studio is offering FREE courses all day, to those that really want their third eye opened, and don’t want to dish out some cash in the process.

| FREE | 9 am to 6 pm | Arcana, 81 Market St., Portland |http://arcanamaine.com/

The Maine-via-Malwaukee rapper milo will perform at the SPACE Gallery this Sunday.  

QUIP-SMART | The Maine-via-Milwaukee rapper milo (born Rory Ferreira) is a dynamo. His last album, the fantastic So the Flies Don't Come, was lauded as a lyrical feast by hip-hop critics throughout the country. He's one of the most dynamic, versatile, and wisecracking young rappers in the game — and he's only 25. Milo returns to Maine (he grew up in Saco) to play a show at SPACE Gallery (and possibly visit his mother, Shay Stewart-Bouley, who writes for this paper). The dude's on tour with the Brooklyn rapper Elucid, and play with local supporter Lyokha, the synth-wave project of Portland's Jimmy Cooper.  

| $8 adv, $10 day of | 8:30 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org/

MONDAY, 20

DANCE IT OFF | Tilt your head downward right now. Is there a little bit more belly pudge sitting in your lap than you’d like? Have you been stocking up on hearty foods, took an extended break from exercise, and feel sluggish as a result? Might I suggest dancing to break the habit of seasonal laziness? The nationally renowned dancer Louis Marin is visiting the Casco Bay Movers studio today to teach Portlanders some fun, powerful, and graceful ways to decorate space with their bodies. Join them; you’ll feel better.

| $17 | 8:30 pm | Casco Bay Movers, 517 Forest Ave., Portland | http://www.cascobaymovers.com/

TUESDAY, 21

THE FUTURE IS BLACK | I suspect that with all the rage and frustrations floating around the community nowadays that metal will be making a cultural comeback. We need a new artistic form of resistance, a new way to say “life sucks” without floating too close to the mainstream. We need sludge rock. Let’s make nihilism great again. The Body can help. The duo has been described as the most brutal band on the planet, with “ravishing grimness and impenetrable walls of noise.” Those demons are joined by the pitch-black spectral sounds of Muslin, and the shape-shifting collective Cuse Me. Abandon all hope, ye who enter the SPACE Gallery this night.

| $12 | 8 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org/

SEA DEAL | For something that tastes like salty snot with sand sprinkled on it, oysters sure can be expensive. But if you’ve got a craving for slimy delicacies, ride the elevator up to the Top of the East, where their oysters are only $1. Slurp their innards, and gaze out across that all familiar, but still beautiful, view of downtown Portland.

| VARIED | 5 pm | Top of the East, 157 High St., Portland | http://www.thetopoftheeast.com/

Isn't this little self-sustaining world just adorable? Why not make your own?

MINI ECOSYSTEM | The world kinda sucks right now, so why not create your own? Head over to Oxbow Brewing, sip on a tall, creamy stout, and take part in this oddly relaxing terrarium workshop. With stones, shells, plants, soil and succulents, you’ll craft the parameters needed for your own glass-encased, sustainable, and 100 percent alive little world.

| $30 | 8:30 pm | Oxbow Brewing, 49 Washington Ave., Portland | http://oxbowbeer.com/

WEDNESDAY, 22

GET SCHWIFTY | You look like you could use a margarita, or three. Might as well indulge on National Margarita Day! Head over to Tortilla Flat on outer Forest Ave., for mad deals, free giveaways and some spicy/salty libations. Salud!

| VARIED | 5 pm | Tortilla Flat, 1871 Forest Ave., Portland | http://www.tortillaflatmexican.com/

WILD MEDICINE | Portland’s holistic healers might be onto something big: carrots. That’s right carrots. What about 'em? Some claim that their juices can be used to aid in both fertility and contraception. Mischa from Wild Carrot Herbs will be hosting a workshop at Urban Farm that delves into the extraordinarily varied uses of carrot tinctures.

| $12 | 5:30 pm | Urban Farm Fermentory, 200 Anderson St., Portland | https://www.fermentory.com/

FUNNY ATROCITIES | Promising you’ll never think of Stalinist Russia, Shakespeare, and Yiddish culture the same way again (and why would you?) is Paul Goldberg, an author hellbent on proving that the Jews do not use blood for religious rituals. He’ll be leading a discussion on historical fiction at Portland’s newest bookstore, right after he presents his daring debut novel, The Yid. If you like violence, philosophy, dark humor and learning about The Motherland, I recommend you pick this one up.

| FREE | 7 pm | PRINT Bookstore, 273 Congress St., Portland | http://www.printbookstore.com/

THURSDAY, 23

A SLOW WINTER | Looking ahead to the best local events of next week offers much to break up this slow, and dreadful winter. SPACE Gallery is hosting another no-holds-barred metal show, Empire’s cooking up another Tribute night, the Maine Historical Society is planning an interesting lecture on the importance of color in World War I, and one of the best new foreign films of last year is screening at the PMA. Stay tuned, kiddos.

THURSDAY, 23

EASILY AMUSED | Janoah Bailin’s not a clown, but he’s got the skill set of one. Dip into the library for a surefire way to make your afternoon a little less dull, as Janoah will be putting on a 40 minute performance jam-packed with juggling, unicycle tricks, and puppetry. Libraries aren’t just places for knowledge; they’re also cultural centers and sometimes double as markets for absurdity and laughter, which is much appreciated in these dark times. Bring any little humans you know and show them that boredom is entirely self-inflicted.

| FREE | 3:00 pm | Portland Public Library, 5 Monument Sq., Portland | https://www.portlandlibrary.com/ |

EXTREME DISSONANCE | If you’re looking to get caught up in a maelstrom of raw, furious energy, then catch RUIN as they make their no-holds-barred SPACE debut. They’ll be headlining an evening of heavy black death metal alongside Atlanta’s Withered, Chicago’s Immortal Bird, and Portland’s Shabti. Let’s get weird.

| $10 | 8:00 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org |

FRIDAY, 24

FREEDOM AND CULTURE | Let’s look at the debate over preserving traditional collective culture in the face of increasing demands over individual freedom through a radically different lens. Let’s explore how those themes play out through inter-tribal warfare between the peoples of the South Pacific. Yeah, you can find identity politics playing out even in the most remotest of locations. And over there, it truly matters. The 2017 Oscar nominee for best foreign language film, Tanna, will unpack these issues through an emotionally stirring, and partially true story. Screenings for this picturesque (and thought-provoking) film are running all weekend at the PMA.

| $8 | 2:30 pm and 6:30 pm | All Weekend | Portland Museum of Art, 7 Congress Sq., Portland | https://www.portlandmuseum.org/ |

GEOGRAPHY | For musicians, making sense of where you’ve been and what you’ve experienced is half of the creative process. No matter the genre, songs transport listeners somewhere, and if written smartly, can teach them culture and historical/political context. Ponder this while Drifter, a band rooted in the sounds of upstate New York (folk old-time, country, and rock), croons into the night. Portland’s very own Max Garcia Conover will open; a hardworking, talented singer/songwriter who pumps out a new poignant song every week on his website. His latest one, “Endless Skyway,” features a staggeringly powerful quote from a Syrian poet, and has helped benefit the International Rescue Committee. Neat.  

| $15 | 8:00 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St.,

Portland | https://onelongfellowsquare.com/ |

WHAT’S FUNNY ANYMORE | Stop by this popular brewery to let off some steam among other Bayside Brew Ha Ha guests. When you laugh at something (or for that matter, get upset at something) it’s often because there’s a core truth lurking at the heart of the matter. Test that logic against the material of these comics: Boston's Zenobia Del Mar, and locals Casey Crawford, Aharon Willows-Hebert, and Connor McGrath. Alright, who’s going to get political?

| $10 | 8:00 pm | Rising Tide Brewery, 103 Fox St., Portland | http://www.risingtidebrewing.com/ |

LEGEND SHADOWS | For those that aren’t quite sick of Pink Floyd yet, a hugely successful cover (and original) band, The Machine, will channel some of their power with as much musical authenticity and necessary improvisation they can muster. They’ll be just fine filling that role; they’ve been keeping the legacy of Pink Floyd alive for over 25 years.

| $23 | 8:00 pm | State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland | http://www.statetheatreportland.com/ |

SATURDAY, 25

BIGGER THAN JESUS | How will conductor Jeffrey Reed and a full orchestra recreate the sounds of one the Beatles most adored albums, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band? Well they’ve also got the help of 6 virtuoso vocalists, and an entire rock band. That’s right an orchestra, and a rock band; that’s how you plan a nostalgic trip back in time that keeps things fresh and interesting (apparently there was a time when pop music didn’t suck).

| $30-80 | 7:30 pm | Merrill Auditorium, 20 Myrtle St., Portland | http://www.portlandsymphony.org/ |

TRAP BEATS | Excitement’s building for TroyBoi’s Mantra Tour to arrive in Portland, as it’s arguably the biggest party going down this weekend. TroyBoi comes from East London, and he’s prepared to take us on a pulse-pounding, psychedelically lit, EDM ride — if, that is, you’re into that sort of thing. Why not get wild like you used to?

| $18 | 8:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com/ |

FESTIVAL READY | The Ghosts of Paul Revere, the foot-stomping, three-part-harmonizing bluegrass band from around here, hardly need an introduction. Upon their return to Maine, they needed to book TWO shows to accommodate their hungry fans. Are you one of them? Get re-acquainted with this mood-boosting holler folk quartet. See them live; it’s the best way to experience their music.

| $20 | 9:00 pm | The Portland House of Music and Events, 25 Temple St., Portland | http://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com/ |

SUNDAY, 26

SWEET MOVE | Sometimes political action means eating cookies and cupcakes. This gathering offers a variety of locally sourced baked goods and Oxbow beer for your mouth’s pleasure and it helps benefit Planned Parenthood. Count me in.

| $10 | 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm | Oxbow Blending and Bottling, 49 Washington Ave., Portland | http://oxbowbeer.com/ |

EDIBLE EDUCATION | Imagine dropping a Ben Franklin on a butcher workshop that teaches you the history, culture and, practice of meat eating, processing, and serving. Some people just really want to know where their meat is coming from. If the price isn’t a deterrent, perhaps you could attend, awaken the curious butcher within you, and address the disconnect we have with our food and the animal that gave its life for us to have it. The fabulous lady butcher Lily Joslin will take you nose to tail.

| up to $100 | 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm | Fork Food Lab, 72 Parris St., Portland | http://www.forkfoodlab.com/ |

CRAZY = GENIUS | Get the cathartic satisfaction your former emo/punk self never got by attending the big Panic! At The Disco concert. Remember them? Wouldn’t your high school self be squealing right now? Kidding. Like us, the band’s thankfully matured and now swims in more standard rock waters. They’ll be performing their new album Death of a Bachelor, which has been met with favorable reviews and a Grammy nomination! They’re still kicking! Who said getting married puts an end to your musical dreams? Just write an album about it!

| $90 | 7:00 pm | Cross Insurance Arena, 1 Civic Center Sq., Portland | http://www.crossarenaportland.com/ |

MONDAY, 27

VERSES VS. VERSES | In a very interesting display of the impact of words and their subtle meanings during interactions, the indie pop band Chris Robley & the Fear of Heights hosts a happy hour series around the theme of war. Once various poets, artists, musicians and writers start expressing the theme through a variety of written mediums, who knows what interesting kinks will arise once approached from several angles. Any lover of words and their effects should converge on Blue this night.

| FREE | 5:30 pm | Blue, 650 Congress St., Portland | http://portcityblue.com/ |

TUESDAY, 28

MARDI GRAS FILL UP | Fat Tuesday’s here again, and the local radio heroes at WMPG invite the community to dine on some soul nourishing food at USM. Several respected restaurants will cook up the best Cajun and Creole dishes, and serve it up like they do every year as live music from the Hello Josephines echoes around the campus center. This will be a multicultural party filled with good vibes, spicy food, friendly peeps, and New Orleans style musical shenanigans.

| $3 | 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm | USM, Woodbury Campus Center, 96 Falmouth St., Portland | http://www.wmpg.org/ |

BEHIND THE BADGE | In light of last week’s police shooting of a 22-year-old Portland man who was armed with a pellet gun, this event comes at us with a sense of urgency and gravitas. It’s an event that asks “Who is a criminal?” How does society determine who’s a criminal and how does race factor into that? A panel of legal experts, sociologists, attorneys and informed citizens will unpack this highly relevant issue.

| FREE | 6:30 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org/ |

WEDNESDAY, 1

WAKE UP | Need a concrete way to join the progressive movement? Consider learning about the Maine People’s Alliance. They’re always looking for more members and volunteers to help with their causes (of which there are many). Today, the members are holding an open-to-the-public chapter meeting at one of the most spacious coffee shops in town, where they’ll discuss our local, state and national political future, as well as the role of oppression and privilege in our daily lives.

| FREE | 6:00 pm | Arabica Coffee, 9 Commercial St., Portland | https://www.mainepeoplesalliance.org/ |

GO NUTS | Perhaps the squirrels are onto something; acorns are actually nutritious and delicious. Don’t believe me? Head to the Urban Farm Fermentory. Folks there are so confident that you’ll consider eating acorns, that they’re hosting an event where you’ll sip cider, process the little oaky nuts into a flour and try them in a muffin form. Don’t they already seem much more palatable? Gather with the curious and check out this nutty affair.

| $15 | 5:00 pm | Urban Farm Fermentory, 200 Anderson St., Portland | https://www.fermentory.com/#home |

MORPHLINGS | Touring with no less than six impressive musicians, Mike Doughty knows how to put on a show. Experience this unique act live remix his elegant new album The Heart Watches While The Brain Burns (clever title huh?) as it swerves from lonesome country to aggressive trap beats. The controversial, but still lovable band Wheatus will open.

| $25 | 8:00 pm | Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St., Portland | http://www.portcitymusichall.com/ |

THURSDAY, 2

JUST GETTING STARTED | You’re in for a treat, social butterflies, knowledge fiends, and performance addicts. If you thought this weekend was jam-packed with notable cultural offerings wait until we drop details on these special night outs: MAMM’S Girl Rock show, Snaex’s album release party, the medium John Edward’s mystical contact with “the other side,” a storytelling concert with Tim Mercer, country star Brooke Eden’s show, a spirit of the ocean lecture, Jeff Beam’s brewery performance, and high-grade bass music at Empire. See you in 8 days.

THURSDAY 2

WATER WARS | While the winter air here in Maine begins to thicken, the contested site of Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota remains at a stark chill. Protesters were cleared out this month as production surged on the 1,172-mile Dakota Access pipeline after an executive order by you-know-who, and the site is reportedly a ghost village of left-behind belongings and stray animals. Last week, White House press secretary Sean Spicer told the press that the Trump administration is "constantly in touch with" the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, a comment which Tribe leaders quickly refuted. Time, cruel and beautiful as ever, takes us now into March. Opposition to DAPL — in principle if not in practice — is still widespread, and Mainers looking for clarity on the issue are still in motion. Two of them, Shawn and Molly Mercer, run a farm called Swallowtail up in Orland, Maine. Tonight, they host a benefit production off-peninsula called "A Line in the Sand," where they've prepped a multimedia presentation sharing experiences, inspirations, and resources anchored in their own travel to the reservation.

| By donation | 6 pm | Milk & Honey of Swallowtail Farm | http://www.swallowtailfarmandcreamery.com

SIPPERS DELIGHT | One of Portland's richest pageants the past few years have been parties at the Bayside version of Bunker Brewing Co., a fine brewhut where folks made music that spilled out into a terrace of picnic tables wobbling with butts from all over the city. The times were good. How grateful we should be that Bunker still hosts shows and parties at their new location. Tonight, the dude Jeff Beam, a local and a good one, plays with Rick Rude, a true music band from New Hampshire, and Carinae, a psyched effort from Hadley, Massachusetts, home of other bands and farms.

| $5 | 8 pm | Bunker Brewing Co., 17 Westfield St., Portland | http://bunkerbrewingco.com

FRIDAY 3

DUDE ASKS QUESTIONS | The comedian Marc Maron, after a long stint laying low, started his comedy/interview podcast WTF in 2009, and has since become one of the most influential and referenced practitioners of the form, becoming an interviewer so trusted that he's gotten folks like Lorne Michaels (a white whale he'd been chasing for awhile), Robin Williams, and Barack Obama from the garage of his Los Angeles apartment. He rolls through New England, a rarity, this weekend for an appearance at the Music Hall in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he'll perform stand-up.

| $33 – 38 | 8 pm | The Music Hall, 131 Congress St., Portsmouth, NH | http://www.themusichall.org

STAY HARD | When you spend your twenties, as Chriss Sutherland did, committed to one of the most vividly experimental and transformative musical projects in modern Maine history — talking here of course about the legendary Cerberus Shoal — then anything seems tame by comparison. But the measured, controlled battles he fights nowadays with Chris Teret, the other half of the folk duo Snaex, are no less powerful. The two have readied an EP of their distilled and deceptively simple songs called Holy Times — a kind of woke dad-folk, perhaps — and release it tonight at a party at Mayo Street Arts, with support from the excellent Maine songwriter Micah Blue Smaldone. I've written about the album further on page 23.

| $12 | 8 pm | Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland | http://www.mayostreetarts.org

Yonatan Gat photographed by Bryan Parker.

POST-EVERYTHING | By all accounts, the experience of watching Yonatan Gat's live show is face-melting, devastating, utterly crucial, possibly one of the last sublime experiences remaining in modern rock music. Style-wise, the ex-Monotonix guitarist plays melodic and astral jazz-guitar action delivered with punk heat. I've never seen the dude, but I'm expecting something like the Boredoms minus Yamantaka Eye. I'm maybe half right. Yonatan and his band, a trio, play with Friend Roulette in Brooklyn, and the skronk-ass trio Diva Cup.

| $10 | 8 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland | http://www.space538.org

EVERY LITTLE COUNTS | Last year's "Go Big For Hunger" benefit, an annual effort raising money to fight food insecurity in Maine, ended in some sort of dispute between producer Greg Martens and performer John Popper of Blues Traveler. We hope that got ironed out! So this year, there's no Popper, but the Portland-based entrepreneur and Deadhead Greg Martens ramps up another show for his cause, bringing Armies' Anna Lombard and Dave Gutter, members of Boston's Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, and the Working Dead, an undead tribute band.

| $22 adv, $27 day of | 8:30 pm | Portland House of Music and Events, 25 Temple St., Portland | https://www.portlandhouseofmusic.com

SATURDAY 4

REVISIT YRSELF | If you're having goal problems, I feel bad for you, son. But some out there want to help. The women's leadership group Hear Her Roar ropes together a couple of life coaches — Christina Stathopolous and Robyn Wiley — to help re-ground you in any 2017 resolutions that might have floated off into the distant ether.

| $50 | 10 am – 2 pm | Think Tank Coworking., 533 Congress St., Portland | http://hearherroar.net

MACKERS AND RYE | Five summers ago, a small crew of theaterpeople converged to launch PortFringe, a weeklong festival of original and arcane dramatic works in the middle of the summer. It was a slam hit! Last year, they dressed up the festival with an offseason performance of Hamlet, 'cept the catch was that the play was performed by around 20 different companies in a manic, patchwork style. That was also a hit, a big slam. This year, they give the same treatment to Macbeth, arguably the most accursed play in existence, tasking 14 troupes with piecing the Shakespeare play together in their own style. One other plus is that this goes down at Oxbow Blending and Bottling, which folks should totally use more for theater. All proceeds benefit putting on PortFringe 2017.

| $15 | 2 & 7 pm | Oxbow Blending and Bottling, 49 Washington Ave., Portland | http://portfringe.com

WINTER BECOMES YOU | A colleague of mine is fond of saying "the streets are littered with people who've tried to start a music festival in Maine." He was being hyperbolic, of course — the streets of Portland are littered with floss picks, poor producers those — but regardless, that was before Sunaana Winter Festival. The first annual all-day "sensory experience" at Thompson's Point has a dozen bands to boast, and nearly twice as many brewers of beer. One of the headliners is ROZES, a Philadelphia-based singer with an EP to her name who debuted as a vocalist on bro-pop production team the Chainsmokers' song "Roses" in 2015. She'll be here! So will Armies, the beautiful balladeers blurbed above. So will Scott Sorry, who played bass for a stint ten years ago in the English band the Wildhearts, sort of a hard rock/punk cover band thing. So will Very Reverend, a swaggering local trio who I know for a fact listen to Queens of the Stone Age and T. Rex. So will Mammút, a beloved rock band in Iceland on a label started by Bjork's band the Sugarcubes. If you're ready to hear some names of beers, here they are: Allagash! Austin Street! Banded Horn! Barrelled Souls! Bissell Brothers! Bunker! Foundation! Gneiss! Maine Beer Co.! Mast Landing! Oxbow! Orono! Rising Tide! Sebago! You can't have made it this far without forming, or hearing, opinions about these breweries, so I'll leave you to ruminate on them now. Experimental, sure, but what venture isn't in its first year? Weather looks fair, albeit cold, for Saturday (although of course, the thing is indoors). March is sneakily the worst month of the year, so this could be part of your defense.

| $25-75 | 1 pm | Brick South, Thompson's Point, Portland | https://www.sunaana.com

LABOR-READY | If you're in a chance-seeking mood, head to Portsmouth tonight to see Big Work: A Documentary Play for 17 actors exploring their relationship to labor, employment, starting over, the search for meaning, etc. (Don't say you don't think about that shit! Don't you say it!) Playwrights Melissa Bergstrom and Kate Marple penned this together after, you know, stewing on it for a bit in their early 30s (typical millennial laziness, obv), and came up with this pretty inventive and well-regarded script, after which recent performances around Massachusetts the two women, also founders of Perpetual Visitors Theatre Company, host spirited talkbacks, as they plan to do here.

| $18 | 2 & 8 pm | 3S Artspace, 319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth, NH | http://www.3sarts.org

GLAM UP | International Women's Day may have a certain extra echo of gravity this year. Maybe that's enough to impel you toward the 8th Annual Women's Day Fashion Show, hosted by the organization Women United Around the World (WUAW). This gala celebrates the styles and fashions of New Mainers migrating here from around the globe, with a focus on local designers' collections. Ticket proceeds benefit WUAW's efforts. Yes!

| $40 | 6 pm | Italian Heritage Center, 40 Westland St., Portland | http://www.womenunitedaroundtheworld.org

SUNDAY 5

ANTI-PROGRESS | The president rolled back transgender bathroom rules this week, in an effort led by Jeff Sessions and Betsy DeVos and anchored in this administration's sweeping assault on the rights of everyone who isn't a straight cis white man. Portland voices its disgust with a Rally for Trans Rights today in Monument Square.

| $10 | 3 pm | Monument Sq., Portland

ANTI-PROGRESS | It's plenty possible you can attend the trans rally above and still get some time in at the Maine Resistance Summit, a catch-all resistance rally convened by the progressive organization Maine People's Alliance. With workshops and skillshares on media basics, canvassing, fundraising, lobbying your legislature, and many others, this should be a vital resource for anyone in the good fight. Inquire about tickets for the summit, titled "From Mobilization to Movement Building," at the MPA website.

| 8 am – 6 pm | Civic Center, 76 Community Dr., Augusta | https://www.mainepeoplesalliance.org

MONDAY 6

NONPROFESSORS | With federal domestic spending set to decrease, nonprofit and big philanthropic efforts might see a heavier workload in trying to effect social change. Just spitballin'! Hard to say what'll happen in this world. But if you're interested in nonprofit or social work, pop in on this forum tonight at One Longfellow Square, where directors from Maine nonprofits Preble Street, Maine People's Alliance, Kids First Center, and the Portland Symphony Orchestra field questions about how it's done.

| $5 | 5 pm | One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland | http://www.ynpnmaine.org

TUESDAY 7

OPEN CITY | The architects and designers behind the long-rumored Fox Field Food Forest, a community-minded edible forest garden in Bayside's Fox Field, are looking for volunteers, and to spread information, tonight at Urban Farm Fermentory, just a skip away from the action. Learn more about this exciting urban landscaping project produced by the Resilience Hub and the East Bayside Neighborhood Organization.

| FREE | 6 pm | Urban Farm Fermentory, 200 Anderson St., Portland | https://resiliencehub.org/fox-field-food-forest/

GOOD IDEA | We wrote a couple weeks back about new resistance efforts that have cropped up around the city since the election. One of them is GET READY WEEKLY, a visual art and resistance project that has hosted sign-painting and letter-writing parties. That group teams up with art magazine The Chart for a series of "Resistance Readings," collective discussions of political art texts over dinner. The first is tonight at Babylon Restaurant on outer Forest, where the group (which could include you, my dude!) will read an essay by Taylor Renee Aldridge about the "savior complex" of Detroit's rebuild. Dinner's on you!

| FREE | 6 – 8 pm | Babylon Restaurant, 1192 Forest Ave., Portland | https://www.facebook.com/getreadyweekly/

WEDNESDAY 8

NO BACKLASH | It's like we always say here at The Phoenix: if it works, you mustn't fix it. Thus, Clash of the Titans has returned to Empire, the weekly thematic tribute night between two like or loosely related cover bands comprised of hot-shit local musicians. Tonight's affair is a stand-off between Death Cab for Cutie and Bright Eyes. Those bands!

| $6 | 10 pm | Empire, 575 Congress St., Portland | www.portlandempire.com

Every Time I Die is poised to set the world free through a metal concert at the State Theatre. 

CATLIKE DUDES | Formed in 1998, the metalcore band Every Time I Die have risen to be one of the foremost bands in the genre. (It must be amazing to be in any band, let alone a leave-it-all-on-stage metal band, all catharsis and performed rage, for literally 20 years.) If you're a fan, you already know they're coming; odds are you're not getting converted otherwise. With their just-released new album, Low Teens, in tow, ETID play with Knocked Loose, Harm's Way, and Eternal Sleep.

| $18 adv, $20 day of | 7 p.m. | State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland | http://www.statetheatreportland.com

THURSDAY 9

Regina Spektor photographed by Shervin Lainez.

BE TICKLED | Next week, the dreamboat and songwriting genius Regina Spektor shows up at the State Theatre, reminding you of things you might have wanted to forget about relationships you were in 10 years ago.

| $40 adv, $42 day of | 7 p.m. | State Theatre, 609 Congress St., Portland | http://www.statetheatreportland.com