Weekend event picks, Sept. 21-23
The Life Is Good Festival
Making plans? Short on ideas? No worries. See Milva DiDomizio and June Wulff's picks for the top things to do around the Hub this weekend.
FRIDAY
STYLE WATCH In six months you’ll go green from head to toe, drink green beer, eat corned beef and cabbage, and sing Irish songs. The luck of the Irish is with you now for the song part when the Dropkick Murphys celebrate “Going Out In Style” and “Going Out In Style: Fenway Park Edition” at the band’s “Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day” show. Sept. 21, 7 p.m. $23.50-$35.50. Bank of America Pavilion, 290 Northern Ave., Boston. 800-745-3000. www.livenation.com
SWEDISH DELIGHT There’s ABBA, Pippi Longstocking, and meatballs, and this DJ duo. Add Cazzette to the list of good things from Sweden. Sebastian Furrer and Alexander Björklund bring Dub House to Boston on a September tour. Sept. 21, 10 p.m. $20-$25. 21+. Royale, 279 Tremont St., Boston. 617-338-7699, www.royaleboston.com
EATS AND ELEGANCE Red, white, bubbly, or all of the above served in a mansion fit for a king? They’re yours at the Newport Wine and Food Festival, featuring tastings of wines from around the world, cooking demonstrations, daily seminars, a collectible wine dinner, and visits by celebrity chefs Emeril Lagasse and father-daughter duo Jacques and Claudine Pépin. Sept. 21-23. $40-$795. Rosecliff, the Elms, and Marble House, Newport, RI. 401-847-1000, www.newportmansions.org
THE JAZZ SINGER In the past 12 years, a lot has happened to the vocally and visually stunning Jane Monheit. In addition to a mucho successful debut album, “Never Never Land,” the jazz singer and drummer hubby, Rick Montalbano, had a son four years ago. Give a listen to Mom’s record, “Home,” particularly the sultry “There’s A Small Hotel” and the peppy “A Shine On Your Shoes” (with John Pizzarelli on guitar). Sept. 21 and 22 at 8 and 10 p.m. $40. Scullers Jazz Club at the DoubleTree Guest Suites Boston, 400 Soldiers Road, Boston. 617-562-4111. www.scullersjazz.com
SATURDAY
ROSE-COLORED FESTIVAL Want to be happy this weekend? Hit the Life is good Festival for good music, good fun, and good vibes. The long list of performers features Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, The Infamous Stringdusters, and Sarah Jarosz. Lots of activities are planned, too, like seed spitting, bocce, a home run derby, and a tug-o-war. Fun stuff especially for kids? Yup, with a plethora of choices including clowns, magic shows, nature shows, and performances by the KIDZ BOP Kids and Dan Zanes and Friends. All proceeds go to help kids in need through the Life is good Playmakers. Sept. 22-23, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. $65 one-day pass, $120 two-day pass; ages 2-12 $20 one-day pass, $35 two-day pass; under 2 free. Prowse Farm, 5 Blue Hill River Rd., Canton. www.lifeisgood.com
TO PLAY'S THE THING Like to spend all day and night playing video games? Go to the Boston Festival of Indie Games, where you can partake of locally produced video games, live action games, tabletop games, and interactive fiction. You have to take a break from playing sometime, and when you do there’s a digital art exhibit, film screenings, guest speakers, and a showcase by the MIT Game Lab. Sept. 22, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Free, registration required. Various locations in Kendall Square, Cambridge. http://bostonfig.com/registration
WE CAN'T STOP LOVING HIM Ricky Skaggs worked with the late, great Ray Charles on the title track of his “Friendhip” album. The Grammy-winning bluegrass singer honors Charles at inspiRAYtion: A Tribute to Ray Charles with John Scofield, Raul Midón, The Raelettes, and others. Sept. 22, 8 p.m. $15-$35. Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. 617-266-1400. www.berklee.edu
SUNDAY
A BLENDING BEN Music is in the genes of Ben Powell. The jazz violinist’s mother is a violin teacher; his father is a classical cellist, but as a teen, the English lad fell head over heels for jazz. On “New Street,” you’ll hear the blend of classical and jazz from the Berklee College of Music alum. Sept. 23 at 5 p.m. $15-$28. Shalin Liu Performance Center, 37 Main St., Rockport. 978-546-7391. www.rcmf.org
NEW AND NEW The premiere of music director Martin Pearlman’s “Finnegans Wake” is performed at the first “New Directions: Chamber Music from the Baroque to Carter and Pearlman,” a series of four Boston Baroque concerts played on Baroque and modern instruments. Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. $20-$45, 20 percent discount for a 4-concert subscription. Edward Pickman Concert Hall at the Longy School of Music, 27 Garden St., Cambridge. 617-987-8600, ext. 113. www.bostonbaroque.org
Contributors
Stephanie Callahan is a native Bostonian who loves cooking, traveling, spa treatments, and being on the ocean.
Milva DiDomizio is a New England native who's fond of cooking, singing, and Boston's arts and culture scene.
Swati G. Sharma is a Somerville resident and is a fan of city living, exploring Boston’s nightlife, and dancing.
Emily Sweeney is a Boston native who goes out all over, from Irish pubs in Southie to the roller rink in Dorchester.
