1. GAME ON!
PARTY TIME EXCELLENT may take their name from Wayne and Garth’s most excellent theme song, but the only thing the band shares in common with the SNL sketch is that they love to rock! Get out onto the patio at SLAB before the weather turns cold for their colorful, delightfully self-conscious and completely ridiculous (in a good way) pastiche of ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s hits and have a beer from SLAB’s interestingly-curated draft list along with a slice of pizza big enough to weigh you down and prevent you from breaking out your best dance moves from your junior high days. | Aug 23 | Thu 7 pm | SLAB Sicilian Street Food, 25 Preble Street, Portland | $7-9 | 21+ | www.slabportland.com
2. (SWEET ‘N) SOUR MASH
Earning the rare distinction of having impressed Radiohead’s Thom Yorke in Miami a few years ago when he opened for the reclusive band, MCQUEEN (a collaboration of comedian/producer Jesse Adams and Phantogram drummer Tim Oakley) presents a hot mashup of music, comedy and video splicing and dicing along the lines of the Everything Is Terrible crew, and a kind of fresh standup that doesn’t challenge the audience so much as it surprises them with its haute couture nerdiness. Fans of Reggie Watts, super-popular-for-five-seconds mixtape master Girl Talk, Kids in the Hall, or Key and Peele could fall in love, and don’t worry if you’re fatigued by all things Trumpian - you’ll find less political content here than most contemporary stand up acts. Expect a skewering of pop culture, not Robert Mueller. Local comedy heavy hitter Connor McGrath opens. | Aug 23 | Thu 8 pm | SPACE Gallery, 538 Congress Street, Portland | $12 | all ages | www.space538.org
3. DANK PLATES
Weed is the new craft beer; taking up its inevitable position as the darling of foodie culture as decriminalization and recreational use settle onto Maine like a cozy blanket and a bag of Cheetos after a few righteous bong hits, weed is the central ingredient of honor at the CULTIVATOR COUNTRY FAIR, a collaboration of art, food and cannabis culture. Wander around the grounds of Caswell Farms while enjoying infused courses prepared with the farm’s fresh ingredients by local chefs, including Josh Potocki and Roux Sutherland of Bread + Butter Catering and Scott Nikol of Duckfat. Live entertainment and opportunities to enjoy Tom Forcade’s precious flower in myriad ways (liquids, edibles, combustibles, you name it) abound throughout the night, and for a good cause: proceeds of the event benefit the Maine Center for Grieving Children. | Aug 24 | Fri 5 pm | Caswell Farm, 120 Whitney Road, Gray | $100 | 21+ | www.caswellfarmmaine.com
4. NO HUMAN IS AN ISLAND
Maine Transnet, a nonprofit endeavoring to empower transgender humans throughout Maine, create a culture of safety and care around trans individuals and educate our communities in allyship and supportive behavior is offering a free two hour workshop at Hope.Gate.Way church tonight. Their TOUR FOR TRANS ALLIES offers the opportunity to learn about basic terminology and pronouns, and participate in an open discussion on the meaning and practicalities of being an ally to transgender people in Maine. After the discussion, a panel of local transgender Mainers and allies will answer questions about what life is like for trans folx in rural Maine. This event is for all ages, and provides a welcoming forum in which to listen, learn and expand our understanding of all corners of the human experience. | Aug 24 | Fri 6:30 pm | Hope.Gate.Way, 509 Forest Ave, Portland | Free | All Ages | www.mainetransnet.org
5. LOBSTAHBILLY
It’s late summer in Portland, and the annual LOBSTER STOMP, Portland’s micro-celebration of all things rockabilly, once again returns to BAYSIDE BOWL. Rockabilly culture, though alive and well on the West Coast and in its place of origin, the Southeast US, has a smaller but still dedicated following here in Maine. MA band THE DEMON SEEDS, along with locals THE GAMMA GOOCHIES and I SUPPOSE YOU KNOW KARATE hold down the live music end while DJ MATT LITTLE from WMPG spins your rockabilly hits ranging from Wanda Jackson to the Reverend Horton Heat. Think 1950s chic; expect victory rolls, a classic car or two out in the parking lot, push-up bras and maybe even a brylcreem’d pompadour here or there. | Aug 25 | Sat 9 pm | Bayside Bowl, 58 Alder Street, Portland | Free | 21+ | www.baysidebowl.com
Film: Generation Wealth
