The Week in Arts and Entertainment

FVFC's 2nd Annual Film Fete & Mixer

This Friday night at , the Farmington Valley Film Commission celebrates its 2nd Annual Film Fete & Mixer, which is open to the public. The evening includes entertainment by Cassandra Kubinski from 7:30-8:30 p.m, food, a cash bar and, from 8:30-10 p.m., a screening of film clips and trailers submitted by filmmakers who shot all or part of their projects in one or more of the eight core Farmington Valley towns: Avon, Burlington, Canton, East Granby, Farmington, Granby, New Hartford or Simsbury. 

The evening will be emceed by Chion Wolf, a photojournalist and radio personality known for her announcing and songwriting on WNPR's The Colin McEnroe Show. 

One of the featured projects will be a new trailer for by Avon director Brian Spectre, who shot some footage for the feature-length film in Collinsville, including a Halloween Parade-themed scene shot with volunteer extras at . 

Tickets for the Film Fete & Mixer are $15. 

Bridge Street Live

Also at Bridge Street Live, guitarist Debbie Davies brings her band on Saturday night at 8 p.m. for a night of virtuosic blues with special guests the Oli Brown Band.  

On Sunday, Abigail and Lily Chapin, who perform under the name The Chapin Sisters, will perform their unique blend of Appalachian-style harmonies and contemporary arrangements with Sean Rowe opening the evening. 

Bridge Street Live welcomes two Connecticut original, independent rock bands on Wednesday night. Playing at 8 p.m. is Bipolar Jukebox, led by Collinsville resident Andre Balazs, featuring jazz- and blues-tinged rock on keyboards, bass guitar, drums and Andre's soulful vocals.

Headlining Wednesday's show is electro-grunge band You Scream I Scream of Hartford, Nantucket and New York City. YSIS, like Bipolar Jukebox, achieves their signature sound through minimal instrumentation with keyboards, drums, and lead songwriter Floyd Kellogg's distorted bass guitar and baritone vocals.

The venue's string of genre-defying, independent rock performances by jazz-trained local musicians continues on Thursday, July 28. Bridge Street Live's own entertainment manager, Pat Ryan, takes the stage on upright bass and vocals with his fusion band, The Trio from Rio featuring Isaac Young. Also playing on Thursday is Todd Clouser's quintet A Love Electric. 

Purchase tickets in advance at www.41bridgestreet.com. Apart from the Film Fete on Friday at 7:30 p.m., all shows this week are scheduled for 8 p.m. The venue is all ages.

Mills Pond Park Summer Concert Series

The coming week's concert at , sponsored by the , features classic rock and roll by Hartford-area band The Bus Drivers. Expect a diverse and danceable set of covers from "classic rock, blues rock, southern rock and a little bit of country rock," arranged by the band members to showcase their musicianship and professionalism and sense of fun. 

Adults and children alike are welcome and encouraged to bring their blankets or lawn chairs for the show, which is Thursday, July 28, from 6:30-8 p.m.

Collinsville Farmers Market

On Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., acoustic guitarist Nathan Day of New Hartford will entertain the Collinsville Farmers Market crowds with his original folk-rock compositions. 

Canton Public Library 

As part of a Harry Potter Birthday Party from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 28, the has invited their Readers' Theater Club to perform selections they've been rehearsing from "The Tales of Beetle the Bard."  

The Shoppes at Farmington Valley

This Friday, Stanley Maxwell continues their weekly summer residency on the courtyard from 7-9 p.m.

Music fans can then move inside the same night for an acoustic guitar set by Mike Rau and Dennis Fancher starting at 8 p.m.

At the  on Thursday, July 28, at 6 p.m., The Frantic Blue of Torrington will entertain diners with their funky folk-rock.

The Fireplace Cafe

Friday night, local legends Con Doty & the Bloodbrother Band will rock The Fireplace Cafe on River Street starting at 9 p.m.

The Crown and Hammer Restaurant & Pub

To the delight of his local fans, guitarist and singer Ben Pegg of Massachusetts returns to the this Friday night for what is sure to be a deeply expressive performance featuring his smooth vocals and distinctive, complex finger-tapping rhythms on guitar. 

On Saturday, Connecticut artist Chris Lynch returns to the Crown for a long set of folk, acoustic rock and Americana selections.

Free Weekly Events

Local singer-songwriter Joanna Szymanski will be hosting her last Open Mic Nights this week before moving to California to pursue her studies. Join her Wednesday at the Crown and Hammer starting at 9 p.m. and Thursday at the Fireplace at 9 p.m. 

The popular Open Mic Night at each Friday night at 6 p.m. hosted alternately by Con "Coyote" Doty and Eric Paradine now includes a renovated bar area with taps for draft beers and a selection of wines. (Now that the bar is up and running, the venue can no longer offer a B.Y.O.B. option.)

The  (192 Albany Tpke, Canton) hosts weekly Karaoke Nights on Wednesdays at 9:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 p.m. 

Entertainment at  Restaurant features classic jazz by Swing ’39 with a guitar and upright bass duo on Thursdays from 7-10 p.m. and a trio, including a clarinet and saxophone player, on Fridays from 7-10 p.m.

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