The Week in Arts and Entertainment

Downright Art and Music Showcase

in Collinsville opens its doors this Saturday night for a 7 p.m. art opening hosted by multidisciplinary artist Corey Pane. The art reception is just one aspect of the night's Downright Art and Music Showcase, which also includes original performances by the music shop's teachers along with some students.

The lineup includes:

7 p.m. A handful of Downright students "will be crushing the stage!"
8 p.m. Tricky & The Andrews (Patrick "Tricky" Allers, Andrew Decker, Jeff Kozlowski)
9 p.m. Chief Archaic (Lauren Blasig, Naomi Kravitz, Andrew Decker)
10 p.m. Mandrake Mechanism (Matt "Rook" Telford, Mike Macbeth, Chris Anander, Patrick Allers)
11 p.m. Stratus (Andrew Decker, Mike Macbeth)

Among many special guests slated to share the stage with one or more of the bands is Collinsville resident Eric Della Vecchia on saxophones. Music fans have several other special surprises in store during this unique event at Downright's renovated downtown space. 

Downright concerts are designed to welcome an all-ages audience. A donation of $5 to $10 is usually requested to help support future shows and to compensate the musicians. 

Speakeasy at Gallery 101 Main

Also slated for Saturday night is the monthly Collinsville Social Club gathering, known as the "Speakeasy," co-hosted at  by gallery owner and artist Doug Tubach with local musician Chris Sheehan. 

The organizers invite the public to "come and make up for 'the lost week' and celebrate electricity..." by attending this monthly celebration of the community's creative spirit. Ken Haller and Mike Lovallo, both guitarists and singers, make their second featured appearances at the Speakeasy, and Chris Sheehan will perform selections from his original CD, It Takes Me All Day To Be Me.

Regulars at this event know to expect a "Collinsville Trainwreck Jam" to close out the evening's music program. The event, open to everyone, is B.Y.O.B., and an appetizer or dessert to share along with a tip for the musicians' jar are appreciated and encouraged. The not-so-secret password, just in case you're asked, is: "The pearl is in the river."

The Crown & Hammer Restaurant & Pub

Good thing wildly popular Farmington Valley pianist and singer-songwriter Andre Balazs has a standing monthly gig at the , because his fans and band members alike were disappointed two weekends ago when the town-wide power outage abruptly forced the cancellation of a full-band Halloween show. 

Tonight, Friday, Andre and his band, Bipolar Jukebox, will delight fans of many musical styles with their original compositions and carefully selected cover material. Some newer songs are included on Bipolar Jukebox's imminent album, A Museum of Sorts. 

For tonight's show, joining Andre, who plays keyboards and provides lead vocals, are Dave Shuman on bass guitar, Charlie Dye on drums and Dennis Fancher on guitar. 

Saturday night, talented singer-songwriter John Mayock returns to the Crown for a solo acoustic performance of original songs, including some edgy roots-rock tunes written for his current band, John Mayock & the Homesteaders.

The Crown's live entertainment, which is always free, starts at 9:30 p.m. 

Bridge Street Live and Tolly's 41

The Best of the Laughing Skull Comedy Festival stops at Bridge Street Live tonight, Friday. Featured performers are Pat Dixon, Sam Morril, Marshall Chiles and host Mark Riccadonna. The Laughing Skull Lounge is a comedy club in Atlanta, Georgia.

On Saturday night, River City Slim & the Zydeco Hogs take the stage at Bridge Street Live for the first time. Based in Connecticut, River City Slim takes his name after Collinsville, a.k.a. the River City. This group plays festivals and shows around the Northeast and along the Eastern coast to Florida. 

Special menu items this week at the venue's new restaurant, , clearly take their inspiration from Saturday's Zydeco performance. Highlights include Cajun beef tips with gorgonzola cream and garlic crostini, buttermilk fried chicken and, enticingly, bourbon pecan pie.

Tolly's 41 is open Wednesday through Sunday each week for dinner starting at 5 p.m. whether or not there's a show scheduled on a given night.

Shows this week are all-ages with doors to the performance area open at 7 p.m.; showtime is 8 p.m. 

Rice Fields

Performing at Rice Fields tonight, Friday, is a musician who goes by the name Travel Vin. The show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Dish 'n Dat

Mike Rau, a Wethersfield native who has played at  many times as part of his guitar duo with Dennis Fancher, performs a duo set at the venue tonight, Friday, at 8 p.m. introducing Sue Gallagher. 

On Wednesday, Middletown acoustic musician Travis Winkley performs covers and originals at 8 p.m.

Myles, the bar manager, recently created special-edition vodka infusions with Crunchberry and Golden Graham cereals! This American diner-style restaurant and bar is located within . 

Flatbread Company

Also at the Shoppes, the hosts soulful singer-songwriter and guitarist Luke Stills on Thursday, Nov. 17, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Luke hails from the Northwest hills of Connecticut.

Roaring Brook Nature Center Concerts

Maine-based songwriter-guitarist David Mallett performs Saturday at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Roaring Brook Nature Center's concert series. Prolific and poetic over 14 albums of original material, David is often covered by fellow artists and has written material for legends such as Pete Seeger (an Avon Old Farms School graduate), Emmylou Harris, John Denver and the Muppets.

Art Demo at the Canton Public Library 

On Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., painter Art Chouinard will be at the working on one of his signature marine scenes. Library patrons are invited to drop in on this monthly art demonstration to see a talented artist at work. 

Call to Artisans: Collinsville Charity Craft Fair

The bustling, one-of-a-kind Collinsville Charity Craft Fair, just one aspect of the annual, two-day "Christmas in Collinsville" celebration, will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. inside the Little School House (also known as  "Upright" Music) at the Collinsville Congregational Church. Set-up time for crafters will be at 9 a.m. 

Interested crafters are encouraged to contact the organizer, Bethany, with questions and to register. She can be reached at (860) 205-4426 or bettejane.k@gmail.com.

The registration fee for space for a six-foot table (not provided) is $45 per crafter. Ten percent of all sales will be donated to the featured charity, Connecticut-based Interval House, which provides "services to prevent and break the cycle of family and intimate partner abuse."

By Nov. 30, please send registration checks payable to "Bethany Kendrick" to: Bethany Kendrick, 24 North St., Collinsville, CT 06019.

There will also be a raffle with 100 percent of the proceeds going to Interval House. Last year's event raised over $1,000 for the charity. 

Free Weekly Events

The popular Open Mic Night held at  Friday nights at 6 p.m. is hosted alternately by Eric Paradine and Con "Coyote" Doty. Call ahead or be early, as the sign-up sheet fills up fast.

Acoustic Open Mic Night at the Fireplace Cafe, hosted by singer-songwriter "GrimFacts" Ed Hoyer, Jr., continues each Tuesday starting at 8:30 p.m.

At , members of jazz band Swing 39 play as a trio on Fridays from 7 to 10 p.m., and return as a duo Thursdays from 7 to 10 p.m. On Saturdays pianist John Lomartra from Cromwell entertains from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

The  hosts weekly Karaoke Nights on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 9 p.m. 

Rice Fields also has a weekly Karaoke Night on Saturdays at 8:30 p.m., although that may change to Fridays soon. 

The Crown & Hammer is open on Mondays at 5 p.m. in honor of Monday Night Football with a special pub menu, and Trivia Night occurs each Thursday night at 9 p.m.

At Gallery 101 Main, artist Jim Koplar hosts an "Art Jam" on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. For a $10 cover charge, art supplies and instruction are provided in a casual, supportive and fun environment.