Staffpicks

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 Artist talk and ?display by ?Koren Shadmi Zephyr Gallery 610 E. Market St., 812-786-0026 ideaslouisville.com 5:30-7:30 p.m. Illustrator and cartoonist Koren Shadmi is in town, courtesy of IDEAS and the National Endowment for the Arts-funded XLerateART grant that has him working with the Mayor’s Summer Works program. While he’s learning about Louisville, we have the chance to learn about him in his talk discussing his life as an Israel-born, Brooklyn-based designer. He’s certainly no slacker. Shadmi was 17 years old when he published his first graphic novel. He’s continued to have success in the visual arts; his works have been featured in such publications as the New York Times, the Village Voice and Spin. Shadmi will also discuss his two upcoming graphic novels: “MIKE’S PLACE: A True Story of Love, Blues and Terror in Tel Aviv” and “The Love Addict.” —Jo Anne Triplett

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 Communion Series Zanzabar 2100 S. Preston St. zanzabarlouisville.com $8-$13; 9 p.m. In an effort to get their up-and-comers a wider audience, Communion Records has established a monthly showcase in seven cities, and for Louisville’s March installment of the program, Filligar, Bobby Long and The Tunesmiths play Zanzabar on March 11. The Chicago-based alt-rock band Filligar mix slight psychedelic components with proven pop structures to make themselves easily likable, while Bobby Long, a fresh-faced UK singersongwriter, might have enough grit to lift him above the crowded young-emotional-dude-with-a-guitar paradigm, and, of course, The Tunesmiths will bring the energy. Not a bad bet to place on a Wednesday. —Scott Recker

March 12 - 29 ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ CenterStage at JCC 3600 Dutchman’s Lane, 238-2709 CenterStageJCC.org $20; times vary “Matchmaker, Matchmaker …” if you’re familiar with Broadway tunes, you’re probably already humming along with one of the many classic songs from “Fiddler on the Roof,” a production which is a perfect match for the finale of CenterStage’s 100th anniversary season and the Jewish Community Center’s 125th anniversary. Monroe Fields Jr. is reprising his role as Tevye, which he last played in 2006, and artistic Director John Leffert is directing the classic play for his fifth time. Other greats songs from this Tony-award-winning musical (Nine Bests!) include “If I were a Rich Man,” “Sunrise, Sunset” and “Do You Love Me.” All stand the test of time, as does the musical’s theme of holding on to tradition in an ever-changing world. —Laura Snyder 

FRIDAY, MARCH 13 Film and Filmmaking in Kentucky II University of Louisville 200 E Brandeis Ave., 502-852-2247 louisville.edu/arts-culture/events-workshops $25; 8:30 a.m. Louisville’s burgeoning film scene has a lot of people talking, which is why UofL, along with the Louisville Film Society, has organized a symposium to discuss all aspects of film. Whether it’s making, hosting, critiquing or teaching film, there’s a panel for you. Organizers of the Flyover Film Festival will be there to speak about their successful venture into the festival scene. Gil Holland brings his experience to the panel “Making Feature Films in Ky.” A few experimental art curators from 21c Museum Hotels, Louisville Visual Art Association and Speed Art Museum will discuss the struggle for artists to gain an audience for non-narrative film. And a few experts will have the low down on local tax incentives for filmmaking in the state. – Ethan Smith

FRIDAY, MARCH 13 Hiss Golden Messenger The New Vintage 2126 S. Preston St., 502-749-4050 newvintagelouisville.com $10; 9 p.m. The breezy, soft elements that call to mind the 1970s Laurel Canyon sound that represented a shiny, almost-country take on folk are front and center with Hiss Golden Messenger, but they don’t really define the music. This isn’t an update or a celebration — those sensibilities just seem more like the things that stuck with songwriter Michael Taylor and multi-instrumentalist Scott Hirsch through their formidable years. But, Taylor’s eerie voice is the stark difference. It’s haunting. And piercing. But, if just for fun, we wanted to play a round of needlessly-connect-the-Canyon dots, I would say they have the inherited sadness and literate mind of Warren Zevon, with the slick production of CS&N. —Scott Recker

Friday, March 13 Wild & Scenic Film Festival Clifton Center, Eifler Theatre 2117 Payne St., 589-8008 KWAlliance.org $15 - $25; 6 p.m. Like clean air, clean water is easy to take for granted … until you don’t have it anymore. The Kentucky Waterways Alliance works to make sure that doesn’t happen. They’ll be celebrating all the ways clean water supports and enhances our lives at their 7th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival. The lineup of 13 short films includes “Bikes, Bourbon & Bluegrass,” which includes the important message “A quality water source is chief to making good whiskey,” and “Dream,” a film about a kayaker’s wildest dreams coming true. A $25 ticket gets you admission, food and drink at the reception, hosted by Wiltshire Pantry and Founders Brewing Co., and membership in the KWA. Intermission includes a raffle drawing for a kayak donated by Quest Outdoors. —Laura Snyder

FRIDAY, MARCH 13 RuPaul’s Drag Race: Battle of the Seasons Headliners 1386 Lexington Road, 502-584-8088 headlinerslouisville.com $35; 10 p.m. RuPaul will be gracing Louisville this weekend with her favorite reality-show darlings. The over-the-top show will be hosted by Michelle Visage and include acts by Adore Delano, Bianca Del Rio, Detox Icunt, Ivy Winters, Jinkx Monsoon, Sharon Needles, Cary Nokey and my personal favorite, Alaska Thunderfuck 5000 from the planet Glamtron. For the lover of fabulous fashion, outlandish performances and dance music of questionable taste, this show will certainly hit the spot. Loud and outrageous outfits are encouraged, and if this is your first time attending I promise you the queens don’t bite, unless you ask them to. Sashay! Shantay! —Ethan Smith

SATURDAY, MARCH 14 St. Patty’s Day Parade Baxter Avenue louisvilleirish.com 3 p.m. The Kentucky Derby is the “Greatest two minutes in sports,” and the St. Patrick’s Parade is the greatest two hours in Louisville parties. It is a sign that spring is here, the sun is shining, and once again we can leave the cave after several weeks of hibernation. This Saturday, families and friends take to the Highlands streets to watch all corners of Louisville turn out in a celebration of what is often called “the people’s parade.” The Ancient Order of the Hibernians expect as many as 150 parade “floats” and over 100,000 spectators, as well as 60 degrees and sunshine. There will be the LEO, Louisville celebrities and public officials, music, beads, and of course … beer. It is a Louisville tradition unlike any other. —Aaron Yarmuth

SATURDAY, MARCH 14 Monkey Wrench Celebrates 10th Anniversary Monkey Wrench 1025 Barret Ave. monkeywrenchlouisville.com $5; 4 p.m. What’s your best Monkey Wrench memory? Mine is seeing Kevin and Tracy get married on the rooftop. I bet you have a good one too, and this Saturday is the day to share it. Dennie Humphrey’s eclectic hillbilly headquarters is celebrating its 10th birthday with 10 hours of fun. Head over after the St. Patty’s parade and sample a little of everything the Wrench has to offer: music from New Grass Jam Session (with Steve Cooley), a set from Tyrone Cotton, Scott Carney and friends (including members of Wax Fang and the Deloreans) and a revival of the “Barret Avenue Shake” with DJ Matt Anthony and Woodrow on the Radio! Special Kentucky Mules will be served along with treats from the Monkey’s Uncle Grill. —Laura Snyder

Monday, March 16 ‘Louisville Beer: Derby City History on Draft’ Great Flood Brewery 2120 Bardstown Road, 635-5083 filsonhistorical.org/events $15; 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Bourbon may be our city’s international celebrity (the Jennifer Lawrence of Louisville libations), but beer is our hometown hero. As Kevin Gibson details in his book “Louisville Beer: Derby City History on Draft,” this city was once a brewing mecca with Falls City, Fehr’s and Oertel’s breweries carrying on the centuries old brewing traditions laid down by German settlers. You can knock back a flight of four beer tastings (included in the ticket price) with Gibson at one of the city’s newest breweries, Great Flood Brewing, whose name references the flood of ’37 and whose walls tell the story. Great Flood Brewing co-owner Vince Cain will join in the conversation with Kevin, as he shares beer stories and photos at an event hosted by the Filson Historical Society. —Laura Snyder

THROUGH MARCH 27 ‘Female Icons & Identity’ The Green Building Gallery 732 E. Market St., 561-1162 thegreenbuilding.com March is Women’s History Month, which gives us a chance to reflect on all things female. The Green Building Gallery is doing just that with its group exhibition that includes artists from New York City, St. Louis, Lexington and Louisville. The artists in the show have a lot of personal and social material to cover. For example, Rae Goodwin loves her grandmothers and your grandmothers too, with work celebrating our link to our parents’ mothers. If a life examined is indeed a life well led, then Hallie Jones is on the right path. Just like Humpty Dumpty, visitors are invited to put her mixed media work “King’s Horses and Men” back together again. —Jo Anne Triplett

THROUGH MARCH 27 ‘Afrofuturist’ by Donté K. Hayes Garner Narrative Contemporary Fine Art 642 E. Market St., 641-8086 garnernarrative.com I always like when an unfamiliar word or phrase gives clues as to what it means. “Afrofuturist” does that. Deciphered, it reveals a possible African-American future gleaned from science fiction. Artist Donté K. Hayes describes himself as an afrofuturist, stating, “My work is centered on the history and culture of the African diaspora through the communal connection of storytelling … incorporating pop culture, Egyptian motifs, history and technology.” This is the second time Hayes has shown with Garner Narrative. As in the last exhibition, his current paintings and prints are complex in technique and meaning. He’s right when he says his “art confronts the viewer with issues of imagery, power, alienation, violence, identity and social politics.” Take your time when viewing. —Jo Anne Triplett