The Week in Arts and Entertainment: Community Unity Day

Downright Community Unity Day

The annual summer festival in Collinsville sponsored by is finally here! On Saturday starting at 1 p.m., all are welcome to attend the free outdoors at 100A Main Street in the town parking lot. Along with live music, art demonstrations, craft vendors and performance artists, this year's festival includes some eclectic new additions. Here's the schedule:

1 p.m. Dog Show & Parade (open to all)

1:30 p.m. Pollen (live music)

2 p.m. Bev Kent's Baby Blessing (; nondenominational; open to all) 

2 p.m. Forbes School Jump Rope champs' routine

2:15 p.m. Dillion Bowen and a few other talented Downright students (live music)

3 p.m. Fresh Ride (funk band from University of Hartford)

4 p.m. Burrito Eating Contest by (must preregister; prizes awarded)

4 p.m. Live Improv Music by the Downright Crew accompanies Live Goovin' Yoga by Bev Kent (Collinsville Yoga Center; open to all)

5:30 p.m. The Parts (band from Burlington, VT)

6:30 p.m. Meghan & Rowen

6:45 p.m. Vortex (live music by Jeffery "Axe" Howard, Jeff Kozlowski, Andrew Decker and special guests)

8 p.m. Laser Light Show produced by Waking Dream and the first Fire Show including live improv music jam session

8:30 p.m. Consider The Source (Middle Eastern sci-fi funk fusion band from Brooklyn, NY)

10:30 p.m. second Fire Show

10:30 p.m. Silent Disco Dance Party (open to all)

For the dance party, 200 sets of wirless headphones are available to be handed out under the laser light show dome. DJs Vito G, Dougie Fresh and Kalomo Jordan will spin tunes for silent disco dancers that can only be heard through the headphones. Silence will fall over Collinsville while the dancing continues into the night.   

Vendor booths, temporary art exhibitions and artisan demonstrations during the day include the participation by many local and regional artists such as Jenny Maher of loveycraft, Corey Tucker, Chris O'Herron, H.L. Groen and many more. (Add a comment below if you are an artist who plans to display your work or participate in some other way!) 

Collinsville Farmers Market

On Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the talented and versatile musicians of the Downright Music and Art staff continue the festivities—as they complete clean-up from the night before—with a performance for the Collinsville Farmers Market crowds in the parking lot near the store. 

Canton Amateur Summer Theater

"You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," a play based on the classic comic strip "Peanuts" by Charles M. Shulz, will be presented this weekend at Canton Town Hall by Canton Amateur Summer Theater, a program of . 

are tonight and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $8 for students and seniors and $12 for other adults. 

Crown and Hammer Restaurant & Pub

Talented Collinsville-based songwriter, pianist and vocalist Andre Balazs returns to the tonight, Friday, along with bass player Dave Shuman and drummer Charlie Dye. The trio played two long sets of Andre's original tunes, jazz standards and other carefully selected covers during last month's performance, getting the dynamics and mood just right for the intimate room, and apparently earned themselves a monthly gig at the Crown on the second Friday of each month. Andre's band, Bipolar Jukebox, releases their latest recording, "A Museum of Sorts," later this month. 

On Saturday night, another jazz-trained singer-songwriter, Becky Kessler, returns to Collinsville to perform at the Crown. Based in Roxbury, Conn., Becky performs sultry interpretations of jazz, blues and modern classics along with her own original compositions. Stop in to unwind during or after the Community Unity Festival right across the street. 

Live music at the Crown is free and begins around 9:30 p.m. 

Although the Crown is normally closed on Monday evenings, this week from 5-8 p.m. local photographer, artist and hairstylist Joe Galiette is holding an artist's reception celebrating his "Photo Fusion Art" collection, several examples of which are currently on display at the restaurant. The party opens with cello music and continues with a performance by Hartford-based tango band, InfiniTango. There will be free finger food and a cash bar. 

The Fireplace Cafe

In a much-anticipated appearance, Snuffbox will perform tonight, Friday, at the Fireplace Cafe on River Street starting at 9 p.m. Open Mic regulars may know this project by their tongue-in-cheek, early moniker, The Hillbilly Band.

Dorian, the band's bass player and vocalist, writes:

"Snuffbox started as two guys playing some cover songs we loved that would not fit into our other band's set. We kept adding songs, then members, then original songs, and now we have this project. Playing at the Pit for our first real show as a band seems appropriate. They have a no pressure atmosphere that tolerates our [antics], and I can walk home from there."

The trio is rounded out by Kevin on guitar and five-string banjo and Garrett on accordion, guitar, vocals, mandolin, tenor banjo and harmonica.

Bridge Street Live

Tonight, Friday, Bridge Street Live welcomes back 4th Time Around for a night of dance tunes from the '50, '60s, '70s and '80s. 

On Saturday, LittleHouse will perform a show and while they're at it. The band plays their original compositions, always drawing from traditional American styles such as country, rockabilly, rock, spiritual, folk and blues. 

Comedians Gary Gulman and Robert Kelly transform Bridge Street into a comedy club again on Thursday. Both comics grew up in Boston and are known not only for their success on tour in clubs and at colleges but for their extensive and impressive TV comedy credits. 

Purchase tickets in advance at www.41bridgestreet.com. All shows this week are scheduled for 8 p.m. with doors open at 7 p.m.; the venue is all ages.

Dish 'n Dat

Dog Star Blue members Josh Bouchard and Justin Bytell will perform as the "DSB Acoustic Duo" tonight, Friday, from 8-11 p.m. at . 

The Flatbread Company

Also at the , on Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m., soulful songwriter Luke Stills will perform at . 

Free Weekly Events

Tonight, Friday, Stanley Maxwell continues their weekly summer residency on the  courtyard at the Shoppes at Farmington Valley from 7-9 p.m. 

The sign-up list fills up fast for the popular Open Mic Night held at each Friday night at 6 p.m. hosted alternately by Con "Coyote" Doty and Eric Paradine. Be sure to call ahead or arrive early if you'd like to play. 

Open Mic Nights at the Fireplace Cafe continue, but on a new night of the week, now Tuesdays at 9 p.m. Regulars and new participants alike are welcome to join in the jam. 

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

The Crown and Hammer has started a Trivia Night on Thursday nights from 9:30-11 p.m. with prizes awarded to winners.

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.