08-29-16 Jive

Good evening, it's Monday, August 29th, and this is the Jive at Five, our daily community calendar and rundown of nighttime programming here on 88.1 FM WESU Middletown. By day, WESU offers talk programs featuring NPR, Pacifica, and independent and local public affairs broadcasts. Weeknights and weekends we bring you the best in free-form community programming.

I’m Maria Johnson, producer and host of Reasonably Catholic: Keeping the Faith, a progressive-minded radio show which airs and streams every Tuesday from 4 to right before the Jive at Five. Tomorrow, I turn to my guru, Passionist Father John Baptist Pesce of West Hartford's Holy Family Monastery, for help dealing with a recurring bout of crankiness with the church. Hear why, in his view, God is found in grouchiness. See why Father John's my guru? I'm willing to share. Can't listen live? Find the audio archived at www.reasonablycatholic.com.

Now, here's a rundown of what's happening in our area this week: 

Tonight, at the Buttonwood Tree in Middletown, brings their usual Anything Goes Open Mic and Moments of Gratitude. On Thursday, it’s the long running monthly Acoustic Open Mic with Bob Gotta. On Friday, G2 (G Squared) from across the river in Portland offer bluegrass and folk at The Buttonwood. On Saturday morning Annaita Ghandy’s Aligned with Source workshop happens at 10:30 am. At 2 pm there’s Kerouac Café, a Free Poets Collective celebrating the legacy of the Beat Generation of poets. The August art exhibit features works by Sicilian native Sal Italia.  Full details at http://buttonwood.org

Tonight, down in New Haven at Café Nine, it’s the Elm City Noise Festival presenting Pulse-width-mod, Parlay Droner, COMPACTOR, and Avmus. On Tuesday you can catch The 34’s, The Joiner Inners, and Black River Union.  Wednesday’s headliner at Café Nine is The Big Easy, appearing with Ourselves, Alone, The Right-Offs, and S.G. Carlson. Thursday, brings The Revelers to the Café stage. Friday’s Happy Hour artist is the Blasphemy Boys, with Matt Wixson’s Flying Circus, PUS, and The Abductors on board for the Friday night late show. Saturday’s Jazz Jam Session is with Mike Coppola and Friends, followed by Sarah Golley, Smillz, and more for the evening show. On Sunday, Cygnus Radio & Cafe 9 present "The Sunday Buzz" Matinee with The Ebin-Rose Trio and Tommy Cosmo & Bobo. Manic Productions and Premier Concerts bring you The Helium Brothers and Frank Critelli later Sunday night to round out your weekend. www.cafenine.com

Up in Hartford at Black-Eyed Sally’s, it’s Jazz Mondays with the Joe Natale Birthday Bash tonight. Michael Palin’s Other Orchestra works out new material on Tuesday. On Wednesday it’s the Community Blues Jam, hosted by Tim McDonald this week. On Thursday, the Balkun Brothers host a Rock-N-Roll Residency, with special guests each week. Friday, you can hear blues standards and originals by the Salty Dog Blues Band. On Saturday, singer/songwriter Lazer Lloyd takes the stage to bring you blues/rock. www.blackeyedsallys.com 

At Toad’s Place in New Haven, it’s the usual Night of Smooth Jazz with Rohn Lawrence & Friends tonight. On Thursday they bring you Electric University and the EDM College Dance Party. On Friday, they headline Basement, appearing with Hotelier and OVLOV. www.toadsplace.com

On Tuesday, in Middletown's Harbor Park, the Summer Sounds Weekly Concert Series closes out with the Middletown Symphonic Band bringing you popular classics. Concerts are free and open to the public, and begin at 7pm. Details at www.arts2go.org

At the Russell Library in Middletown, it’s Origami this Tuesday evening at 6:30. The Veterans Writing Group meets every Thursday at 7. Check the website for more information on the new hours, as well as additional programs and activities for all ages. www.russelllibrary.org  

There’s free music at noon Wednesday at Constitution Plaza in Hartford presented by their Lunchtime Music Series, “Audio Feed.” This week’s featured performer is Daniel Salazar III. Full info at www.hartford.com

Manic Productions brings you Pavo Pavo, Uni Ika Ai, and Ports of Spain to Bar in New Haven this Wednesday. On Saturday, Manicpresents Willie Nelson & Family at the College Street Music Hall in New Haven. Full details at http://www.manicproductions.org/

This Thursday from 5-8 pm, you’re invited to Art Walk at City Hall in Middletown, featuring the exhibit “Middletown: Landscapes, History, People.” Tour guides from the Middletown Commission on the Arts will be available to answer questions.  Ninety-four works by seventy-four artists are part of the collection, celebrating thirty-nine years of expressions created by Middletown’s vibrant arts community.  Details at www.arts2go.org

On Thursday, Cherry Street Station in Wallingford brings you Toxic Holocaust with Cemetery Piss, Xenosis, and Orcumentary.  On Saturday, you can catch Pus, The Abductors, Blastmat, Bragging Rights, and Horns of Ormus. You can find Cherry Street Station on Facebook, or call (203) 265-2902 for info.  www.facebook.com/CherryStreetStation

The Connecticut Historical Society brings you a free “Growing Up With Grandparents” workshop this Saturday at 10 am in Hartford.  Design garden pots and pick seeds to plant together.  Details at www.chs.org

Here in Middletown you can you can support local farmers and get nutritious home-grown goods on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the long running market at the South Green on Old Church Street from 8am-1pm.  On Fridays, The Middletown North End farmers market happens on Main Street outside Its Only Natural Market. For times and dates, as well as info on the many more in our area you can visit www.ctnofa.org

With the end of summer on the horizon, Connecticut’s Agricultural fair season is in full swing! This Labor Day weekend brings The 105th Haddam neck Fair, opening Friday night and continuing through Monday, offering, agricultural displays and competitions, plus stock and modified truck and tractor pulls, a carnival midway, live music, and much more. Music performers include, Basically Blues and Rock Landing Friday night. Saturday’s lineup includes Alpaca Gnomes, Chaser Eight, Run Jenny, Phono synthesis and more. Sunday’s featured music includes The Balkan Brothers, Fountainhead, Someone You Can X-ray, Parson field, and Belle of the Fall.  CT Old Time Fiddlers also take the stage Sunday. http://www.haddamneckfair.com/

Now here's a rundown of cinema off the beaten track in Central Connecticut: 

Through Thursday, Hartford’s Real Art Ways continues the run of “Nuts!,” a Sundance Award-winning documentary about an eccentric genius who built an empire during Depression-era America.  Also continuing is “Summertime,” a French film about two young women who fall in love in France’s 1971 early feminist era.  Both run through the weekend. Opening Friday is “My King (Mon Roi)”, a film about a woman who examines a turbulent relationship after a skiing accident. They also bring back a run of “Life, Animated,” a true story about a family discovery that Disney animated films will help them communicate with their troubled son. Both run through the weekend.  www.realartways.org 

Trinity College’s Cinestudio continues the run of a new 25th anniversary 4K restoration of “Howards End,” starring Vanessa Redgrave and Anthony Hopkins, a saga of class relations in Edwardian England. On Friday and Saturday they’re screening “Captain Fantastic,” starring Viggo Mortenson as a parent bringing up six kids off the grid in an Oregon forest.  It runs through the weekend. Sunday opens the run of ‘Heironymus Bosch: Touched by the Devil,” a Dutch film that explores the depth of this artist’s legacy as they celebrate the 500th anniversary of his death. Details and screening times at www.cinestudio.org 

The Hartford Free Summer Movies series brings you the Academy Award-nominated “The Martian,” starring Matt Damon and Jessica Chastain, on Friday at Riverfront Park. Details at www.riverfront/org

Now here's what's on the air tonight on WESU:

Right after the Jive at Five, stay tuned for an hour of Afternoon Jazz with Charles Henry.

From 6-8:00 pm, it’s 75% folk with Michael Benson, featuring folk, blues, jazz, world music, and movie soundtracks.

At 8 pm, stay tuned for the Rumpus Room with Lord Lewis for vintage and contemporary funk, soul, reggae, and other dance floor treats.

From 9:30-10:30 pm, Cruiser’s Radio with Jack Sullivan offers a blend of Rock & Roll from the 1950 – 1960’s that provides the news of that era along with the music.

At 10:30 it’s an hour of “Free Talk” with Al Robinson & Deni Young, a commentary talk show addressing news, politics, entertainment and weather.

From midnight to 3 am Franco’s Studio 54 with Francaccio di Roma provides three hours of Disco and dance music of the 70’s and 80’s.

We switch it up big time at 3 am when Maximum Rock & Roll Radio comes alive to offer the best DIY punk, garage, and hardcore Rock and Roll.

BBC World news comes your way at 4, with tomorrow’s broadcast day starting with Morning Edition from NPR at 5 am.

That’s all for today’s Jive at Five. If you missed anything, you can find the written version online at wesufm.org/jive. And tune in each and every weekday at 4:55 p.m. to hear about what’s going on in the community, and on the air right here at WESU 88.1 FM, a community service of Wesleyan University since 1939.