5 Things To Do This Weekend, Sept. 4-6: Get it while the getting’s good

onesixtyone1. See? One of the hottest weeks of the year is in September, y’all. You can’t tell me summer is over, because it’s not. It’s just not. Start your weekend off in the Bangor area with one of several Friday night events, including Bill Barnes Jazz at Nocturnem Drafthaus, rockers the Blast Addicts Paddy Murphy’s, or local hard rock band OneSixtyOne (pictured at left) with guest Mike E. Styx at the Downunder Club at Seasons. On Saturday, there’s the monthly art opening at the Central Gallery in Bangor featuring photographer Aurora Elmore; there’s also the 220s at Paddy’s, Allison Bankston and friends at Nocturnem, and out in Winterport, there’s the Bluesboy Revue at 4Points BBQ & Blues. On Sunday, the Central Gallery hosts local rock with They Called Me Legion, Night Life and Back 2 Reality.

dustin saucier2. Friday is a real whopper in Portland, with the First Friday Art Walk taking over downtown in the evening, and the super mega sold out rescheduled Death Cab for Cutie concert at the State Theatre. Later that night, there’s an after party with Dustin Saucier and the Sad Bastards (pictured at left) at Empire, and there’s the Love dance party at Flask Lounge featuring DJs Jamie O’Sullivan and Siddharta. That night there’s also a reggae concert at the Maine State Pier with Damian Marley, Stephen Marley, Morgan Heritage and more, there’s guitarist Jonny A at One Longfellow Square, there’s the New Orleans Suspects with special guests at Portland HOME, and at Bayside Bowl, there’s the Videoport farewell party, featuring lots of fantastic video store memories, and music from the likes of Samuel James, the Flipsides, Two Saints Boston, Big Meat Hammer and the reunited Technicians. On Saturday, take your pick of either Weyes Blood and Little Wing at Space Gallery, a record release party for Sunrunner with guests El Malo and Capture the Sun at Empire, a record release for songwriter Joel Thetford at Portland HOME, and Portland metal with Shabti, I Destroyer and Swarmlord at Geno’s Rock Club.

contradance6-JCR.jpg3. On the Midcoast, Friday night brings the monthly contra dance at the American Legion Hall in Belfast — always an exuberant time. In Rockland later that night, the 220s are at the Speakeasy, and musical duo Two Birds One Stone is at Trackside Station. On Friday, the Camden Opera House hosts  country folk singer Suzy Bogguss, Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars will play beautiful West African music at the Strand Theatre in Rockland, there’s Ragged Jack at the Speakeasy, and there’s Hurry Down Sunshine at Rock City Coffee, also in Rockland.

spicoli_ready4. For those interested in seeing some unique fims this weekend, there’s a really cool screening of 1920s silent films with live musical accompaniment by Les Sorciers Perdus at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Mayo Street Arts in Portland, and in Rockland, the Strand Theatre hosts Rockland Shorts, an evening of both local and international short films at 8 p.m. Friday. In Bangor, the Bangor Drive In hosts two double features of classic 80s films, with “Grease” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” set for 6 p.m. on Screen 1, and “The Breakfast Club” and “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” (Jeff Spicoli pictured above) set for 6 p.m. on Screen 2, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Finally, Eastport hosts a free Friday night screening of the classic “The Princess Bride,” at 7 p.m. at the outdoor amphitheater on Water Street.

5. Festivals and fairs? We’ve got them. Try the Windjammer Festival in Camden, where you can see big ships and take in the beauty of Maine’s seaside. Or the Windsor Fair in Windsor, full of agricultural attractions. Perhaps the Blue Hill Fair, a classic Maine fair? Or the Eastport Salmon and Seafood Festival, where you can stuff your face with delicious food? Get it while the getting’s good, folks!

Emily Burnham

About Emily Burnham

Emily Burnham is a Maine native, UMaine graduate, proud Bangorian and a writer for the Bangor Daily News, where she's worked since 2004. She reports on everything from local bands to local food to all the cool things going on in the Greater Bangor area. In her quest for stories, she's seen countless concerts and plays, been lobster fishing, interviewed celebrities, hung out with water buffalo and played in a ukulele orchestra. She's interested in everything that happens in Maine.