upcoming

events

Mechanical Menagerie

mechanical-menagerie

Tomorrow, 8:30 p.m. Redwood Raks World Dance Studio, 824 L St., Arcata. Whimsical all-ages animal-themed benefit for Nighshade Serenade. Music by Gunsafe, fire show, animal hijinx by Blue Angel Burlesque, bellydancing and silent auction. $10. E-mail megjclarke@hotmail.com. 832-8973.

STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free

44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race

kinetic-grand-championship-2

Saturday, Sunday, Monday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. www.KineticGrandChampionship.com. 889-3024.

art

Jesse Allen Opening

visionary-artist-jesse-allen-opening-at-earth-gallery

Tomorrow, 3-9 p.m. Earth Gallery, 436 maple lane, Garberville. Collection of hand pulled prints from the ‘60s to late ‘90s. www.facebook.com/earthgallery. 923-1121.

theater

The Finals

finals

Today, Tomorrow, Saturday, 8 p.m. Carlo Theater, 131 H St., Blue Lake. Students of the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theatre’s Class of 2011 presents seven 10-minute plays. www.dellarte.com. 668-5663.

Huckleberry Flint

“To be in the presence of Huckleberry Flint is to be in the presence of something special. Something pure and earnest and good. And thats before they start playing.” Jennifer Savage - Arcata Eye. A few years ago, they were just a few friends growing up in the same neighborhood of a small town in northern California. They’d while away many evenings playing old gospel songs and fiddle tunes, filling the house with warm, youthful harmonies. Then one day, they took their songs to an Old Town street corner and in the blink of an eye became one of Humboldt County’s favorite string bands, breathing fresh life into old-time music. From honky-tonk swing to tender mountain ballads, with plenty of selections pulled straight from the hymnal, Huckleberry Flint can’t easily be defined by a particular genre, but rather draws from the whole cannon of traditional American music. Unlike some well-seasoned string bands, their zeal and enthusiasm shake the dust right off these antique melodies, creating a sound and charisma that draws young and old alike to kick up their heels and hoot and holler. Marybeth Taylor (fiddle, vocals), Adam Dick (mandolin, banjo, vocals), Dustin Taylor (guitar, harmonica, vocals), Kevin Porter (dobro, guitar, vocals), and Nick Hoffman (upright bass) are the band’s members, and the interactions between these five form the basis of their live show. Dressed finely in old-time garb, one can hardly imagine them in any more fitting attire. Thus, to at once watch and listen to them is to be truly transported to another time and place. One of the first organizations to take notice of Hucklberry Flint was the Humboldt Folklife Society. They invited the old-timey youngsters to perform in their annual bluegrass festival two years in a row for a sold out audience. They also had the band play for a Valentine’s Day contra dance with over 100 dancers. This same organization brought the up-and-coming Old Crow Medicine Show to a local stage, and invited Huckleberry Flint to provide the opening set. Several local radio stations have also seized on these musicians popularity, playing their recordings daily, thereby linking Huckleberry Flint to an abundance of performance opportunities throughout the surrounding counties. Their shows include festivals, fundraisers, dances, farmer’s markets, weddings, business events, coffee houses, church services, and just about any place that offers an audience.

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mechanical-menagerie

Mechanical Menagerie (Tomorrow)

events / 8:30 p.m. Redwood Raks World Dance Studio, 824 L St., Arcata. Whimsical all-ages animal-themed benefit for Nighshade Serenade. Music by Gunsafe, fire show, animal hijinx by Blue Angel Burlesque, bellydancing and silent auction. $10. E-mail megjclarke@hotmail.com. 832-8973.