5 Things To Do This Weekend, Nov. 20-22: Cozy up by the firelight

Photo by Alessandra Tinozzi

Photo by Alessandra Tinozzi

1. What’s good, kiddos? Well, this weekend in Bangor, start it off with either the eighteenth edition of Bangor Pecha Kucha, set for 7 p.m. at the Union Street Brick Church, or the monthly Penobscot Contradance, set for 8 p.m. at the UU Church on Park Street. Later that night, there’s Stesha Cano and the Jerks at Paddy Murphy’s, jazz ensemble Indigo at Nocturnem Drafthaus, and there’s a DJ battle featuring Michael Jackson vs. Prince at the Central Gallery at 9 p.m., while just north of town, Ira and Josh’s Band is at Woodman’s in Orono, and Jordan Kaulback is at the Boomhouse in Old Town. On Saturday, it’s derby time at 5 p.m., as Central Maine Roller Derby takes on the Rock Coast Rollers at the Cross Insurance Center. At 7:30 p.m., the Bangor Symphony unveils its beer collaboration with Geaghan’s at the Geaghan’s Bros. Brewer in Brewer (that’s a lotta brews!) with violinist Elena Urioste (pictured above). That nightm enjoy the 220s at Paddy’s, Allison Bankston at Nocturnem, rockers the Blast Addicts at the Downunder Lounge at Seasons. Up in Orono, comedians Tim Hofman, Brian Giles and Erik Gundersen are at the Bear Brew, and Chris Ross and the North are at the Boomhouse in Old Town. On Sunday, the BSO performs Beethoven, Schubert and Haydn at 3 p.m. at the Collins Center for the Arts (again, with Ms. Urioste), and at 5 p.m., there’s a punk rock show with Free To Think, Corrective Measure, Back 2 Reality, Night Life at the Central Gallery.

kat wright soul band2. Down in good ol’ Portland town, Friday night features a lil’ something for everybody. At the State Theatre, bluegrass legends David Grisman and Del McCoury will take the stage, while at Empire, rockers Bully Mammoth have an album release with guests Jesse Berlin, Mouth Washington and Tiger Saw. Roots ensemble the Ballroom Thieves are at Portland HOME, trash rockers Buckcherry and Saving Abel are at the Asylum, and folk duo Aztec Two-Step are at One Longfellow Square. Moving onto Saturday, that evening there’s King Friday’s Dungeon Puppet Slam — yes, a puppet slam, which is exactly what it sounds like — at 7:30 at Mayo Street Arts. There’s also Warren Miller’s ski movie “Chasing Shadows” at the State Theatre, and there’s Red Hot and Ladylike burlesque at Port City Music Hall. Musically speaking, Ryan Halliburton and the Still play with Great Season and Sorcha Cribben-Merrill at Empire, Kat Wright and the Indomitable Soul Band (pictured) are at Portland HOME, heavy rockers Rigor Samsa, Sunrunner and King Buffalo are at Geno’s, and songwriter Garnet Rogers is at One Longfellow Square.

5 college students3. Dans la Midcoast, on Friday night in lovely Rockland, Bangor rockers Chamberlain are at Rock City Coffee and Celtic rockers the Jubilee Riots — formerly known as Enter the Haggis — are at the Strand Theatre. Also, don’t forget that the Unity College Center for the Performing Arts hosts on Friday and Saturday night Some Theater Company’s bloody fun production of “Evil Dead: The Musical” (cast members from which are pictured at left). On Saturday, acoustic group Slippery Slope are at Rock City, blues band the Juke Rockets are at the Speakeasy, rockers Whoopy Kat are at the Myrtle Street Tavern, and country rockers Sharon Hood and Dixon Road are at Trackside Station.

4. Finally, the final movie in “The Hunger Games” series comes out this week, so all you fans of J-Law, this is the big weekend. There’s also big blockbusters like “Spectre” out, and smaller indies like “Suffragette” at places like Railroad Square Cinema and the Nick in Portland. Of course, on TV “Jessica Jones” premieres on Netflix, and there’s all kinds of great comedy like the John Mulaney special or “With Bob & David” out, but those are more Sunday night kind of weekend-ending things, aren’t they? I’m certainly not advocating staying in and watching TV. Heavens no.

5. Just a little note to everyone: I’ll be taking next week off, as Thursday is Thanksgiving, and I’ll be doing the requisite stuffing of the face and hanging with the family and friends and drinking of the wine. In case you were wondering about some of the things happening Thanksgiving weekend, well, there’s good stuff like When Particles Collide at Nocturnem Drafthaus in Bangor Friday, Nov. 27, or Girls Guns and Glory and the Ghost of Paul Revere at the Strand Theatre in Rockland, also on Friday night, or the legendary Beatles Night at the State Theatre in Portland Nov. 28 and 29, or, of course, any of the crazy Black Friday and Small Business Saturday shenanigans happening all weekend. Enjoy your holiday weekend — I know I will be!

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.