MUSIC
Hillstomp, Cooper McBean
Friday, 10 p.m., $5
Sophia’s Thai Kitchen
You won’t want to miss “junkbox blues” duo Hillstomp’s performance at Sophia’s on Friday. Henry Christian plays slide guitar while John Johnson supplies percussion in the form of buckets, cans and barbeque lids to create an Appalachian sound that is authentic and totally unique. Hillstomp will share the stage with Cooper McBean of banjo-laden The Devil Makes Three.
13th Annual Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh! Band-uh-Thon!
Saturday, 8 a.m., prices vary
Central Park, 401 C St.
The marching band-uh holds its annual carnival-style fundraiser this Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. As the band plays, there will be an hourly raffle, food, games and more. Have fun and help ensure that the band-uh!’s infectious spirit and musicality will continue to entertain Davis for years to come.
UNITY
Saturday, 8 p.m., $20
Freeborn Hall
Dance the night away at spring’s largest electronic dance event, sponsored by Electronic Music for Change and the ASUCD Entertainment Council. The event will feature a 15,000-watt sound system, lighting effects, giveaways, dancers and more. Be sure to get your tickets at the Freeborn box office early, as none will be sold the day of the show.
Taarka
Saturday, 10 p.m., $3
Sophia’s Thai Kitchen
Taarka incorporates diverse musical elements, such as violin, mandolin, vocals, bass and guitar, to create toe-tapping and mesmerizing bluegrass music. Make no mistake, these four musicians are freakin’ talented and definitely worthy of your Saturday night.
Shearing Pinx, Nu Sensae, Gaarth, Poonteens
Sunday, 8 p.m., $5
918 Douglass Ave.
Vancouver-based bands Shearing Pinx and Nu Sensae join Davis staples Gaarth and Poonteens at Fort Douglass this Sunday night. The concert is sponsored by KDVS and sure to be a great night of music.
Flute Recital
Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., free
Music 115
The flute is a pretty amazing instrument, so come to the students of instructor Tod Brody’s recital on Wednesday afternoon and enjoy it for free. If you’re skeptical of the power of such a small, delicate instrument, then this recital will blow your mind.
THEATER/MONDAVI
Sacramento Area Youth Speaks (SAYS) Slam Finals
Friday, 6 p.m., $5
Mondavi Center, Jackson Hall
Young slam poets from around the Sacramento Area compete for one of six spots to perform in L.A.’s Brave New Voices, a national slam poetry festival. The students at Friday’s performance are sure to entertain, inspire and offer their own unique views on life through a powerful art form.
ART/GALLERY
Owen Smith
Today, 4:30 p.m., free
Technocultural Studies Building, Main room
Painter and illustrator Owen Smith will give a free seminar about his work and highly successful career as one of the great modern painters today as the next in the Art Studio Lecture series. Smith has created works for The New Yorker magazine, the New York City subway, and the San Francisco Opera, often depicting scenes of social realism and strong urban characters. Read our article in MUSE for more information.
Twenty-First Annual California Clay Competition Exhibit
Through May 28, free
The Artery, 207 G St.
The Artery received 295 submissions for their annual clay competition, held in conjunction with the California Conference for the Advancement of Ceramic Art. Stop by the Artery through May 28 to see the 41 winning pieces and vote for your favorites.
30 Ceramic Sculptors
Through May 29, free
John Natsoulas Gallery, 521 First St.
In case your appetite for ceramic sculpture isn’t sufficiently fulfilled by the Artery’s clay exhibit, stop by the Natsoulas Gallery and check out its new exhibit of works from some of today’s best ceramic sculptors. It’s sure to be inspiring for anyone who’s ever tried to make a clay pot or sculpture of their own and found their masterpiece to be, well, less than artistic.
ROBIN MIGDOL can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.
