Hip parents take note: The Sweet Colleens (true to their name, a sweet group playing Irish-tinged folk-pop) have come out with a children’s record that’s just about as cute as a leprachaun. It’s called the Monkey Dance, and you’ll get all the dancing with the kids you want at Rhythm and Words, a children’s festival on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center.
Also for kids, MPR hosts Classical Cartoon Morning at the Fitzgerald Theater on Saturday at 10 a.m. featuring classic Warner Bros. cartoons—the ones referencing classical icons, of course, which were always the best.
Bobcat Goldthwait, the comedian you may remember from ’80s college flicks for his hoarsely cracking voice (but didn’t realize had directed the sleeper hit “Shakes the Clown” with Robin Williams), is back on the comedy circuit with a smart, retro look a la Drew Carey and promoting a new movie with Robin Williams. He’s playing three nights at the Acme Comedy Club, Thursday through Saturday.
While Stieg Larsson has been dominating movie screens and headlines recently, another cool European detective novelist is getting a prolonged look at St. Anthony Main movie theater—Austrian Wolf Haas, whose sardonic detective named Brenner is featured in “The Bone Man,” held over now through June 17 and screened by Minnesota Film Arts.
While the biggest charity event in the Minnesota arts scene, the Minnesota Orchestra’s Symphony Ball, goes down this Saturday, the alternative party for young professionals—Crash the Ball—is happening at The Depot Minneapolis featuring chanteuse Maud Hixson and DJ Jonathan Ackerman. Tickets will not be sold at the door, so get them now at the orchestra’s site.
Famous Dave’s BBQ & Blues Festival goes down on Peavey Plaza on Saturday—a totally free afternoon and evening, starting with a battle of the blues bands at noon and ending with some major players: Hubert Sumlin (Howlin’ Wolf’s guitarist), Pinetop Perkins, and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith at 6:30 p.m. and Guitar Shorty at 9 p.m.
The latest crowdpleasing entertainment to hit Hennepin Stages opens Saturday and runs weekends through July 31—“Bye Bye Liver: The Twin Cities’ Drinking Play.” As you might have guessed from the title, it’s both unsubtle (drinking games are featured, including male vs. female inebriation) and part of a city-specific series (there are Milwaukee and Chicago versions). Bottoms definitely up.
The Time, yes, Prince’s old rivals, reunite at the Epic nightclub on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. featuring Morris Day, Jimmy Jam, and many more funky folks who put the Twin Cities on the music maps. No word if Prince will crash the party, though it seems hard to resist.
