Fri, Jan. 3

Good evening, it's Friday, January 3rd, and a brand new year!  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 Maria Johnson, on hiatus from my Reasonably Catholic program on WESU, but I'll be coming out of retirement in three weeks to do my annual Oscar roundup with two veteran film critics, Richard Alleva and Rand Richards Cooper. Mark your calendar for 4:30 pm on Thursday, Jan. 23rd, when we'll spend a lively hour unpacking the Academy Awards Best Picture nominations. You won't want to miss it.

Meanwhile, we want you to know that 2019 was an incredible year for WESU! With under $9,000 in donations left to raise to meet our pledge drive goal, time is running out to close out this pledge drive! Every donation, no matter how small or large, is heartily appreciated! Make your donation count by keeping community radio on the air at wesufm.org/pledge.

Make your contribution and check out our great thank you gifts online at wesufm.org/pledge Every dollar counts and we really need to hear from you!

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

Tonight at the Buttonwood Tree in Middletown the Story City Troupe takes the Buttonwood Tree stage  and The Aligned With Source workshop happens tomorrow morning, Tomorrow afternoon there’s an Art Reception for the new exhibition, “Wildlife in the Tree,” by Elizabeth Ann McNalley. The Subliminals are on the roster tomorrow night with instrumental jazz and groove. www.buttonwood.org

In New Haven tonight, Café Nine’s Friday Happy Hour features Lynn Malavolti. The  late show brings you Left on Scarlet Street, Green Light, and Rock Bottom. Tomorrow's Saturday Jazz Jam Session features Mike Coppola & Friends, followed by the late show with ReadyRockDee, Rowdy City, Dutch Shultz, and much more. The Sunday Buzz matinée headlines The Manchurians and The Sparkomatics, and they finish out the weekend with Blood Red/Blue, Jonas the Cloud, and All That We Are. www.cafenine.com

At Black-Eyed Sally’s in Hartford tonight you can catch the new “supergroup,” K-Jammz 2020. The Mighty Soul Drivers bring you the sounds of Memphis and more tomorrow night. http://www.blackeyedsallys.com/

Winterfest Hartford at Bushnell Park continues, where you can skate for free seven days a week, or check out the Holiday Light Fantasia at Goodwin Park. Center Church Hartford holds its 14th annual “Messiah” Community Sing on Sunday at 4 pm. Full details at www.hartford.com/events/

Back down in New Haven tonight, the State House presents the “We The Heroes Ball”  for the second year, and tomorrow you can Party Out of Bounds 2020 with an 80’s/90’s Dance Party. www.statehousepresents.com

The Middletown Arts & Culture Office reminds us that the Wadsworth Mansion holds a family-friendly Open House on Sunday with tours, carriage rides, music, and more. www.facebook.com/CityArtsOffice/

At Infinity Hartford, the cast of Beatlemania takes the stage tomorrow night. www.infinityhall.com

Cherry Street Station in Wallingford hosts a Birthday Bash for Michelle tonight with Uncomfortables, Price to Pay, Little Hands, and more, and tomorrow it’s the third installment of their The Earth is Doomed Show with FirstBourne, Matt Danger, and more. www.facebook.com/CherryStreetStation/

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

Hartford’s Real Art Ways continues runs of “Parasite,” a modern Korean fairy tale,  and “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” starring Tom Hanks as you-know-who. Opening this afternoon is "Harriet," based on the thrilling and inspirational life of an iconic American freedom fighter Harriet Tubman. Upcoming openings include "“Honey Boy” and “Burning Cane.” Check the website for details and screening times. www.realartways.org

Trinity College’s Cinestudio is running “The Two Popes,” a film about secularity and scandal in the modern Vatican. They open a run of “Parasite” on Sunday. Full details at http://www.cinestudio.org

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

Right after the Jive, stay tuned for AJ Cool J, followed at 6:30 by two hours of Universal Sound Wave with Sista Queen T. offering a wide range of music including African, reggae, gospel, R&B, Latin, and blues. In addition, she features health, nutrition, and stress reduction tips.

Then at 8:30 it's Grand Central Station with DJ Jenny Doll.inviting you to travel back in time to the 1940's and 1950's with a swinging upbeat show filled with big band, jazz, swing and rockabilly, and some new releases.

 At 10, stay tuned for Train to Skaville from Pacifica 

presenting deep cuts from his collection of popular Jamaican music of the 60s and 70s 

Then at 11, Mentaltown with the Ultimate emcee El Vee comes on, offering a dose of unsigned Local Hip Hop.

At midnight, it's Permanent Collection with Chris for an hour of non-toxic creative radio.till 1:30 and Overdrive with Clarence and Shantay Scott. bring a mix of contemporary and traditional urban gospel music

From 3 to 5 a.m., stay tuned for Back Down the Bayou with Bill Boelens. presenting an eclectic Louisiana and roots music show from the Banana Plantation in Baton Rouge.

From 5 to 6, it's BBC World News, followed at 6 by the Celtic Cafe with Mark Gallagher, and at 7, Caffe Italia, with Francesco Fiumara from KSLU.

That's all for today's Jive at Five. Join us weekdays at 4:55 for a daily rundown of area happenings and a rundown of evening programming on WESU Middletown!

Thanks for listening.