Thursday, June 14, 2018
We're All Mad Here
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Thu, Jun 14, 2018 at 4:00 AM
Dell'Arte International's sprawling Mad River Festival spans over four weeks with original theatrical work by the Dell'Arte Company, robust family fun and larger-than-life performances, plus a week-long folklife festival with foot-tapping tunes from some pretty tight musicians. Now in its 28th year, the festival runs June 14-July 15 and offers audiences groundbreaking experimental theater, shadow plays, an adult cabaret, stories in the tent and more. Also this year, the festival sprawls even further, taking some acts out of Blue Lake and on the road with performances at Synapsis Nova in Eureka and at the Arcata Playhouse.
This year's mainstage show is Ruzzante Comes Home From The War, a Commedia dell'Arte performance about soldiers from a rural place returning from battle, directed by Producing Artistic Director Michael Fields. Ruzzante premieres June 14 at Dell'Arte's Carlo Theatre, with Dell'Arte offering 50 percent off ticket orders to military personnel, veterans and their immediate families.
The festival features the DAI Family Series, MAD LABS, DAI Presents Series, the MRF Offsite Series, 2018 Prize of Hope presentation and dinner, Red Light in Blue Lake adult cabaret, Eli and the Bear, and the Humboldt Folklife Festival strumming along from July 7-14, culminating in a free all-day folk music show.
Festival venues include Dell'Arte's Carlo Theatre (indoors), Dell'Arte's Rooney Amphitheatre (outdoors) and the Pierson Big Hammer Circus Tent. For a complete line-up/ticket information see the special MRF insert in the May 31 issue of the Journal or visit www.dellarte.com.
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Music Tonight: Wednesday, June 13
Posted By Collin Yeo on Wed, Jun 13, 2018 at 4:00 AM
Nicki Bluhm, formerly of The Gramblers, has gone off on her own in her musical and personal life. Breaking from the alt-country jam folk act she fronted for nearly a decade and going through a divorce, she is touring on her new solo album, appropriately called To Rise You Gotta Fall. She will be playing with her band at Humbrews tonight at 9 p.m. so come out if you dig her vibes ($18, $15 advance). l
Tuesday, June 12, 2018
Music Tonight: Tuesday, June 12
Posted By Collin Yeo on Tue, Jun 12, 2018 at 7:00 AM
My memories of the 1980s are fairly ephemeral eight-bit flickers in a wash of cathode-tube TV sunshine but if there is one idea that locks in from my dayglo childhood it is the perfect pairing of skate culture and punk rock. I may not be Rodney Recloose or Bionic Lester from the OG Nintendo game Skate or Die, or a young Sam Rockwell in the first Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie but I can appreciate rebellion and plywood ramps. These go together like early Wu-Tang and Mortal Kombat arcade games so head down to RampArt at 8 p.m. to enjoy Portland's hardcore wonders Long Knife ($6). It's an all-ages show with a bar for those with ID and the full spectrum of local punk bands will provide support, from the straightforward approach of The ChainLinks to the thrashy weirdness of Smooth Weirdos to fantastic poli-sci sounds of The Cissies and SLOP.
Monday, June 11, 2018
Music Tonight: Monday, June 11
Posted By Collin Yeo on Mon, Jun 11, 2018 at 7:00 AM
KEET/KHSU present a Lost Coast Sessions set by Lord Ellis tonight at the Arcata Playhouse at 7:30 p.m. After a long hibernation, The band is back at it again with a new album in hand to help spread the good word of the bucolic riff-rock gospel. This is a free show with only one band on the bill so expect a long and special setlist of tunes by the masters.
Sunday, June 10, 2018
A Councilwoman Proposes at the Derby Bout
Posted By Jennifer Fumiko Cahill on Sun, Jun 10, 2018 at 2:59 PM
Rough as this world is, romance isn't dead. Maybe because it's wearing a helmet. In the final Humboldt Roller Derby bout of the season last night, just before the Saplings skated on, the ladies in pads and helmets burst into Erasure's "Always," complete with synchronized dance moves. Team member Brawn Luc Picard (aka Eureka City Councilperson Natalie Arroyo) held a sign aloft proposing to her beau Jason Lopiccolos.
Arroyo presented her fella with a pendant with her thumbprint on one side and "corazón," Spanish for "heart," on the other. Lopiccolos, a teaching associate in phycology and invertebrate zoology at Humboldt State University, said yes, saving everyone from one of those awkward Jumbotron moments and giving us all the feels. Dab your eyes and enjoy photographer Mark McKenna's shots of this extremely Humboldt proposal (man-bun and everything).
Saturday, June 9, 2018
Music Tonight: Saturday, June 9
Posted By Collin Yeo on Sat, Jun 9, 2018 at 7:00 AM
The Westhaven Center for the Arts has a good one going on tonight at 7:30 p.m. for all of you no depression, alt-country fans in the 707. Local luthier and Georgia transplant Michael Walker plays with his group The Handshakers to deliver a set of rough-hewn beauties. Close your eyes and hear the stories from the big spaces between the cities ($5-$20 sliding scale).
Here are two fine tribute shows for you in Eureka. At 8 p.m. at The Eagle House there is a burlesque birthday tribute to fallen royalty — America's only royalty — The Artist Formerly Known on this Plane of Existence as Prince ($25, $20 advance). DJ Goldylocks, Bada Bling! Burlesque, Rag Doll Revue and many more will help ring in the purple one's second posthumous birthday (plus two days) because fuck it, it's 1999 somewhere.
Meanwhile at Humbrews at 9 p.m. Full Moon Fever celebrates the songbook of the late Tom Petty for those of you who enjoy a more low-key type of pop-rock perfection. Join local six-string slinger Piet Damolen and friends as they free fall through the great wide open. ($10, $7 advance).
Friday, June 8, 2018
Music Tonight: Friday, June 8
Posted By Collin Yeo on Fri, Jun 8, 2018 at 11:00 AM
It's Trap Night at the Miniplex beginning at 8 p.m. For a mere $10, you can get real deep down to that most modern and perfect hip-hop hybrid, trap, with the instructors from Body High Pole Dance.
Blue Lake's hard country balladeers Barnfire play a free set on its home turf tonight at the local honkytonk parlor, aka The Logger Bar. The music kicks off around 9:30 p.m. so bring your best boots and evening bolo tie.
Humboldt Rose Society's 52nd Annual Rose Show
Posted on Fri, Jun 8, 2018 at 7:30 AM
"A Celebration of Roses — America's Official Flower," is Sunday, June 10 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds (free entry). See who wins trophies and ribbons while you stop to smell the many varieties. Rose plants will also be for sale and vendors will be on hand.
Art and Wine in the Park
Posted on Fri, Jun 8, 2018 at 7:00 AM
Make it a lovely day in Fortuna sipping local and Californian wine in the sun, listening to live music and browsing the arts and crafts market at Fortuna Rotary's Art and Wine in the Park, Sunday, June 10 from noon to 4 p.m. at Rohner Park ($25 with tasting glass, $20 advance, free entry).
Thursday, June 7, 2018
Music Tonight: Thursday, June 7
Posted By Collin Yeo on Thu, Jun 7, 2018 at 11:00 AM
The Jam continues its YAMS-curated Thursday Pint Night series at 9:30 p.m. ($5). The evening of half-priced beer pints will feature performances by Los Angeles rockers Kaz Mirblouk, Portland indie groove machine Astro Tan and local spacey, jazzy jammers Foxtrot.
