Monday 1-7-18 Jive

Good evening, it's Monday, January 7th. 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 radio from NPR and Pacifica, as well as independent and local public affairs sources. Weeknights and weekends our student and community volunteers bring you the best in free-form programming.

I'm Leith Johnson, Host of The Light Fandango, heard every 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sunday at 4pm, where you'll hear uncommon songs of the 1960s and 70s from across genres. I hope you'll tune in.

Now here's some of what's happening in our area this week:

Here in Middletown, The Buttonwood Tree holds its Open Mic & Moments of Gratitude tonight hosted by Terry & Rob. There’s Gentle Yoga with Theresa Tuesday afternoon at The Buttonwood. The Sharp 5 Jazz Ensemble takes the Buttonwood Tree stage Friday night offering swing, Latin, bebop, blues, funk and more. You can enjoy the rhythm and voice trio Indigo Soul on Saturday night. www.buttonwood.org

In New Haven, tonight at Café Nine, Manic Monday brings you White Elephant, Daphne Lee Martin, and Thor Jensen. The Nine hosts a Birthday Tribute to Elvis on Tuesday and Wednesday night brings “Youth XL” and Fleurs to the Cafe Nine stage. Thursday’s lineup includes Kolegi, Tiny Ocean, and Julie Friend. The Café Nine 5pm Friday Happy Hour performance features Lyn Malavolte this week and The Friday night main event features Sinnet, Dangerous Animals, Ports of Spain, and Big Fang. Café Nine’s weekly Saturday afternoon Jazz Jam Session is with Garry Grippo & Friends and Saturday evening brings old School CT hardcore troubadours, Murphy’s Law to the stage alongside and Savage World. The Café Nine Sunday Buzz Matinée brings you The Lost Riots, Marko and the Bruisers, and The 509ers. Sunday evening The Nine rounds out the weekend with Bone Church, Hellhorse, Unloved, and Cast In Blood. http://www.cafenine.com/  

Up in Hartford at Black-Eyed Sally’s, Jazz Mondays offers an opportunity to catch local talent with regular special appearances by big city jazz names.   On Tuesday at Black-eyed Sally’s, Michael Palin’s Other Orchestra brings you jazz, R&B, soul classics, and more.  On Friday at Sally’s you can enjoy the Albert Lee Band, with special guests Atlas Gray. The Hartford/Springfield group Say Yeah! takes Sally’s stage Saturday night, with music from Carlos Santana to Boz Scaggs, and more. http://www.blackeyedsallys.com/ 

The Hartford Public Library hosts a free Chicago Style Steppin’ Dance Class tonight at 7 pm at the main branch location. No experience necessary. And the Simona Premazzi DreamTeam Trio performs Sunday at 3 pm in their Baby Grand Jazz series. www.hplct.org

Back Down in New Haven, after a 10 year Monday night residence at toads’ Place, Rohn Lawrence moves his soulful weekly jam session to The State House in New Haven, starting tonight at 7pm.  Tuesday night Brings The Lagunitas Brewing Company takeover featuring a DJs and a live performance by Zero Years. Thursday night The Bobby T Band with special guests Ryan Newman & Dominic Demonacco brings some classic rock good times to the State House.

Friday night there’s a Capricorn Classic B-Day Party with Grand Puba & Sa and more of old school hip hop’s greatest making appearances. German techno-folk savant Emperor X plays The State House in New Haven w/ Queen Moo and SPACE CAMP Saturday night. https://statehousepresents.com/

The Russell Library in Middletown presents author Dan Blanchard Tuesday at 3 pm with the workshop, Taking Charge of Your Life! The Russell Readers meet at 6:30 to discuss Hemingway’s “My Old Man.” Wednesday brings you Tween Trivia and the usual Scrabble event at 5 pm, or stop in to a sign language session with Bob Carlson and Keith Vinci. There’s a LinkedIn Workshop Thursday at 2 pm, and in the evening you can join their offsite book discussion of “Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last Hermit” at Stubborn Beauty Brewing. They host a U.S. Passport Fair on Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm in conjunction with the US Postal Service. There’s Yoga in the Activity Room Sunday at 1 pm, followed by author Mike Reiss at 2 pm, who presents “Springfield Confidential” as well as details about the years he spent as head writer for “The Simpsons.”  Visit the website for kids’ events and details on offerings for patrons of all ages. www.russelllibrary.org

The Connecticut Science Center in Hartford invites you to enjoy the Sock Skating Rink throughout the month. The Charter Oak Cultural Center is holding open auditions for a speaking part in “The Vagina Monologues” Tuesday and Wednesday; check the website for times. The Connecticut Historical Society invites you to check out their Busy Parents’ Short Story Club Thursday at 10 am. Drop off the kids while you discuss John Cheever’s “The Swimmer.” Sarah Rose and Blessings Divine will perform Bossa Nova, Brazilian Jazz and more at Spectra Wired Café in Hartford Thursday at 6 pm. Eggy and Swimmer both perform at the Arch Street Tavern Friday at 9 pm. You can catch Joon and Six Fox Whiskey there on Saturday night. It’s Second Saturday for Families this week at the Wadsworth Atheneum, with free admission, music, and special events. www.hartford.com/events/

Manic Presents brings Big Freedia and The Quest Presents to the Space Ballroom in Hamden on Thursday. On Friday, the Big Ups Farewell Tour headlines at the Space, appearing with Ovlov, Lilit, and Hellrazor. At the College Street Music Hall in New Haven, they bring you The Wall Live Extravaganza on Saturday. www.manicpresents.com

Toad’s Place holds New Year’s Rockfest 2019 on Thursday with performances on the Main Stage and Lilly’s Pad, including A Strange Utopia, Audio Contraband, Amphis, Double the Dial, and much more. On Friday, The Englishtown Project will play two full sets of Grateful Dead, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and Marshall Tucker. It’s Opus’ Blizzard Birthday Bash on Saturday with a Metallica vs Megadeth All-Star Jam on the Main Stage, along with Sky Swamp Orange, Dutty Winehouse, Fury and more in Lilly’s Pad. Full details at  www.toadsplace.com

Infinity Hall Hartford brings you Riders on the Storm a Doors Tribute Band, on Friday. At Infinity Norfolk, it’s folk rock on Friday with Penniless Wild & Moon Matrix of the Lizard People. On Saturday you can hear The Spirit of Johnny Cash, and the live music Sunday Sessional in the Bistro features Andy Styles. www.infinityhall.com

Middletown Arts & Culture Office wants you to know that the Skating Rink in Harbor Park is open on weekends. Oddfellows Playhouse invites you to audition for their Circophony’s production of Circus Botanicus Tuesday and Wednesday from 6-8 pm. Auditions for their Junior Rep Company winter production of “The Servant of Two Masters” will be held Thursday from 4:30-6:30 pm. Vinnie’s Jump and Jive invites you to check out their Cardio Dance class on Wednesdays, or their new Cha-Cha class on Thursdays. And the Recreation Department starts Ballet Class for adults This Friday at 6 pm. Check the website for full details, and for information on more upcoming events and offerings. www.facebook.com/CityArtsOffice/

The Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore in Middletown invites you to visit the website for ongoing events, including a Family Story Time this week on Saturday morning. www.wesleyanrjjulia.com

Cherry Street Station in Wallingford presents Dissolve, Intercourse, FTE, Con Etiquette, and more on Saturday starting at 7 pm. Details at www.facebook.com/CherryStreetStation

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

Hartford’s Real Art Ways continues “At Eternity’s Gate,” a biopic of Vincent van Gogh, and “The World Before Your Feet,” a documentary about walking through all five boroughs of New York City. Also continuing is “Free Solo,” a documentary about climbing the face of El Capitan without a rope, and “Bathtubs Over Broadway,” a film revealing Broadway-style musicals about America’s iconic corporations. On Friday they open “Shoplifters,” a Golden Globe-nominated Japanese film about a family of thieves and an abandoned child. Check the website for details and screening times. www.realartways.org

Trinity College’s Cinestudio in Hartford reopens this Sunday with a one-time screening of Mozart’s opera, “Don Giovanni,” along with “Becoming Astrid,” a Swedish film about author Astrid Lundgren, the creator of Pippi Longstocking.  http://www.cinestudio.org/

Here's the rundown of tonight’s lineup here on WESU 88.1 FM Middletown:

Right after the jive at Five, Stick around for Afternoon Jazz with Charles Henry.

From 6-8 pm stay tuned for Michael Benson’s 75% Folk for a mix of contemporary folk, blues, jazz, and movie soundtracks.  

Stay tuned for the Rumpus Room with Lord Lewis for 90 minutes of contemporary and vintage Soul, Funk, Dub-reggae, and latin dance floor grooves from 8-9:30.

Cruiser’s Radio with Jack Sullivan brings you music of the 50s-60s, along with TV Trivia and other vintage nostalgia from 9:30-11pm

…when it’s time for Hits of the 1960’s and 70’s with Jimmy Z who hold down the fort until 12:30 when Franco’s Studio 54 disco mix takes over with Italian and American disco and dancefloor hits from the 70’s and 80’s.

Then at 2:30 it’s time for Rootsworld Radio offering an hour of music from around the world and sometimes our own backyard.

At 3:30 its time for original radio drama on Nutmeg junction.

Each weekday at 4am WESU kicks off our public affairs programs with the BBC world report and followed by a mix of daily NPR and weekly specialty programs from Pacifica.

Thanks for listening and stay tuned for afternoon Jazz with Charles Henry up next!