The Week in Arts and Entertainment: Sam Collins Day

Sam Collins Day A&E Schedule

A lively day of music, art, food, history, a local , kids' activities and much more is planned for Saturday's , which is held at two locations with a free  running between them.  

At the main site, at the Canton Volunteer Fire Company Field on Canton Springs Road, live music will be emceed by Darryl Griffing of . The planned schedule is:

• 10 to 10:45 a.m. —
• 11 to 11:45 a.m. — 
• 12 to 12:45 p.m. — Canton High School Jazz Band/Ensemble
• 1 to 1:45 p.m. — Farmington Dance
• 2 to 2:45 p.m. — Chris Sheehan
• 3 to 4 p.m. — Turkey Foot Band

In Collinsville, the will be open free of charge with a variety of live music performances outdoors on the porch. The planned schedule is:

• 10 a.m. to noon — Bill Benson (alternative country); Bill will shoot a music video for "Rodeo Cowboy" a portion of the time 
• noon to 1 p.m.— Sweetheart Mountain (bluegrass)
• 2 to 3 p.m. — The Con Doty Band (rock/country)
• 3 to 4 p.m. — The Downright Music Band (jazz/funk/rock)

In partnership with in organizing the day's events at the Collinsville site, the museum is making historic costumes available for "Old Time" photo opportunities over at the gallery. The sale of these prints for $10 will help raise funds for the museum's building project.

There will also be live art demonstrations by locals popular local artists Chris O'Herron and Jim Koplar. 

Doug Tubach, owner of Gallery 101 Main, says, "It's a privilege and a pleasure to help organize such a talented community of artists and performers that come together to celebrate Sam Collins Day, in Collinsville no less, which I consider the heart of Canton."

The Art of Food

The Sam Collins Day "Taste of Canton Food Court" at the Canton Volunteer Fire Company Field on Canton Springs Road includes offerings by , , La Trattoria Restaurant, , the , supermarket and . 

's booth at the food court will include wine and beer, their famous sausage and peppers, and fresh-made fried dough with a choice of sugar or their house-made marinara sauce.

The will also be hosting a Pancake Breakfast at the Canton Springs Road location from 7 to 10 a.m. that day.

In downtown Collinsville, special menu items at include chipotle tomato bisque, pulled pork and cheddar empanadas and, made from locally grown peppers of different varieties, several new hot sauces.  

Collinsville Social Club and Art Show

Gallery 101 Main isn't taking much of a break after Sam Collins Day. That same evening at 7 p.m., the gallery will host up and coming Connecticut artist Ryan Christenson for a solo show and demonstration featuring his most recent work. Ryan is a multi-dimensional artist whose work ranges from fine art painting to spray-can artwork. He was recently chosen by the Connecticut State Police to speak as a role model to young offenders caught spray painting illegally in the state and show what can be done legally with graffiti art. 

Then from 9-10:30 p.m., a shortened version of the monthly Collinsville Social Club and "Speakeasy." Returning to perform will be two regulars, singer/songwriters Robert Fullerton and, as usual, Chris Sheehan, who will open and close the show with his distinctive, popular music and comedy.  

The Crown and Hammer Restaurant & Pub

A relative newcomer to Connecticut from the Outer Banks, N.C., sultry-voiced guitarist Becky Kessler has quickly been gaining fans locally and at recent gigs with big crowds at Arch Street Tavern in Hartford and BAR in New Haven. She returns to the tonight, Friday, to perform a set of her original songs along with a few covers selected carefully to showcase her unique voice and musical style.

On Saturday night, Mark Miller performs. Shows usually begin around 9:30 p.m. and are free. The full dinner menu is available on Fridays and Saturdays until 10 p.m. with the pub menu offered until last call. 

Open Mic Night at the Crown, which had been held each Wednesday night, has been canceled effective this week.   

Bridge Street Live

Friday, bluesman and harmonica player Guy Davis rocks along with Professor Louie & the Crowmatix. Louie Hurwitz brought together his band while preparing studio productions for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Band.

Two popular cruise ship entertainers, Tom Briscoe and Bob Brizendine, bring their comedy and magic show, "The High Seas Headliners," to Bridge Street on Saturday night. 

A fiddle and cello duo featuring Scottish and Celtic music performs on Tuesday night. the latest recording by Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas"Highlander's Farewell," is available on Fraser's own label, Culburnie Records.

On Wednesday, Bridge Street welcomes prolific American roots musician Tom Russell. He's released 25 music recordings, not to mention his many books, DVDs and paintings.  

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. 

Collinsville Farmers Market

This weekend's visitors to the Collinsville Farmers Market on Sunday will be treated to entertainment by WUWURU, winners of the Hartford Advocate's Grand Band Slam 2011 "Best Reggae" category. Playing in a mainly roots reggae style, the band got their start in Farmington and plays regularly in Hartford.  

Free Weekly Events

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 Eric Paradine and Con "Coyote" Doty. Be sure to call ahead or arrive early if you'd like to play. 

Open Mic Night at the Fireplace Cafe on River Street in Collinsville continues on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. It's hosted by "Grim Facts" Ed Hoyer, Jr., an acoustic guitarist and singer-songwriter who is a veteran of several open mic nights around the state. 

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