Wednesday, Aug. 21
T.J. Borden
Lisa’s Oak Street Lounge
1004 E. Oak St.
$5; 8 p.m.
Cellist T.J. Borden is one of the all-too-rare classically trained musicians who thrive on exploring the very modern, often experimental music of today’s composers. Though he knows how to crank out the dead guys’ greatest hits, from Bach to Beethoven, Borden is perhaps even more comfortable with the compositions of his lifetime, having opened for Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Tony Conrad. In addition to his opening set, Borden will also join Camera Lucida cellist Jon Silpayamanant; the duo will improvise while Roxell Karr projects video as their accompaniment. Also performing is Ut Gret, the playfully exotic ensemble who recently completed a new album featuring vocals by Cheyenne Mize. It’s a night of high culture in a dive bar, which is beautiful. —Peter Berkowitz
Thursday, Aug. 22
‘The Invisible War’
The Muhammad Ali Center
144 N. Sixth St. • 992-5240
Free (RSVP suggested); 6 p.m.
The Pentagon estimates that in 2012, about 500 men and women in the military were sexually assaulted each week. Lawmakers and advocates are pushing for changes to military protocol that would better protect victims who speak out and punish those who commit such acts. The Muhammad Ali Center, in partnership with The Center for Women and Families, is highlighting this important issue with a screening of “The Invisible War,” a documentary about the military’s long history of covering up sexual assault cases and the devastating effects they have on victims. Afterward, a panel discussion will be held. Participants include a sexual assault survivor featured in the film, representatives from the Kentucky National Guard and a local legal advocate. —April Corbin
Aug. 22-24, 30-31
‘Va Va CarniVale’
Headliners
1386 Lexington Road • 584-8088
$20 adv., $30 door; 7 p.m.
Vaudeville meets burlesque when colorful local entertainers Va Va Vixens take the stage, and they’re about to do so again at Headliners the next two weekends with “Va Va CarniVale,” a brand new show that promises to blow audiences’ minds. Here’s how the official Facebook event describes it: “They will be crooning, screeching, flying through the air, dancing with flair, contorting, adorning glittery costumes in many a CarniVale style, flirting and kissing at the ‘kissing booth’ …” That either sounds like a 13-year-old gypsy boy’s wet dream, or a really sweet mushroom trip. The Vixens especially want to invite any “Va Va Virgins” to this performance; you decide what might go down. Either way, color us intrigued. —Kevin Gibson
Saturday, Aug. 24
Generations Picnic
Shelby Park
600 block of Oak Street
Free; 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Seems like most Louisville neighborhoods have an annual festival or fair that celebrates their history, culture and community. Smoketown and Shelby Park may soon have theirs. The Smoketown Community and Shelby Park Neighborhood Association are hosting what they hope will be an annual Generations Picnic at the latter’s namesake park, located on Oak Street between Jackson and Clay streets. Residents and supporters are invited to pack a picnic lunch and enjoy recreation time with one another. DJ Ms. Rosetta will provide music. A karaoke contest is set for 4 p.m. Children can enjoy the park’s sprayground or take part in other planned activities. —April Corbin
Monday, Aug. 26
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros
Iroquois Amphitheater
1080 Amphitheater Road
$30; 7:30 p.m.
Modern hippies Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros are real, in that their collective hair and odors are all authentic and earned. And by now, with their recently released and self-titled third album, the band has proven they are the real deal musically, as well. Having lost two important composer/musicians early on, founder Alex Ebert (once of the electro-rock band Ima Robot) has maintained a steady yet relaxed sound and a large line-up of fellow believers since. Despite their L.A. home base, Ebert’s sonic past and accordionist Nora Kirkpatrick’s acting career, the band has proven to be a vital live experience, driven by vocalist Jade Castrinos’ startlingly huge voice. And the live experience often offers fans a chance to join the band onstage. Willy Mason opens. —Peter Berkowitz
Monday, Aug. 26
Great Dane
Zanzabar
2100 S. Preston St.
zanzabarlouisville.ticketfly.com
$8; 9 p.m.
On a busy Monday night in August, with all of our city’s finest college students back in their respective sessions, nightlife options abound, especially for those who live near U of L. This funkier option features Team Supreme co-founder Great Dane taking over the DJ table at one of Preston Street’s finest venues. The Southern Californian, known to his loved ones as Dane Morris, is an underground hip-hop head with a self-described “ear for sticky beats” (perfect for summer!). An aficionado of beats and grooves from A Tribe Called Quest to Odd Future, Great Dane’s debut full-length, Alpha Dog, was born in March, earned DJ Shadow’s approval, and promises a Monday night that will feel like a Friday. —Peter Berkowitz
Monday, Aug. 26
Typesetter
Magnolia Bar
1398 S. Second St.
$5; 9:30 p.m.
Fans of ’90s punk and indie have something to look forward to as Chicago's Typesetters bring their brand of bombastic emo-punk to Louisville. Touring in support of their soon-to-be-released 7-inch, Typesetter emphasizes melody over creating a sound that is equal parts Hot Water Music, Jawbreaker and Archers of Loaf. Self-described as brewgaze, Typesetter ably embody the working-class aspects of punk/indie not only as blue-collar punk crusaders but also in their simplistic approach to composition that seems to privilege having fun and enjoying the moment. Headlining is Skin Tone, whose Pavement meets Pixies-influenced sounds serves as the perfect compliment to Typesetter’s more kinetic approach. Rounding out the bill is the dulcet Fugazi-meets-Hot Snakes debut of XOX, who, based their newly minted Bandcamp page alone, promise to bring it. —Syd Bishop
Through Aug. 30
‘We Out Here’
Green Building Gallery
732 E. Market St.
Patrick Jilbert’s new solo exhibition at the Green Building Gallery is a culmination of his inspirations: song lyrics, slang and pieces of overheard conversation. His work is urban, gripping and eerie in its use of sharp lines and exaggerated features. Jilbert is a self-taught artist, and though he is native to Louisville, his work has been displayed all around the country. “Most of my paintings revolve around drawings,” he says, although it is, arguably, the words that pack the final punch. He has been called an “outsider urban artist,” recording and sharing the (dark, edgy) humor he finds in everyday life. “Sometimes the work has a meaning I am trying to convey, but I really like to leave it open to interpretation.” —Natalie French
Through Sept. 27
‘Beyond Borders’
Arts Council of Southern Indiana
820 E. Market St., New Albany
812-949-4238
Butterflies flutter about on fragile wings that resemble stained glass. Monarchs certainly get our attention with their red-orange, white and black coloring on wings that span up to five inches. In celebration of the monarchs’ annual migration across the country (they like to “winter” in Mexico), the Arts Council of Southern Indiana features a yearly art exhibition based on butterflies and their symbolism of resurrection and change. It’s all part of their larger vision, which includes a Monarch Way Station and annual celebration. “Butterflies have long been the symbol of transformation in many cultures, and in art and literature,” says executive director Julie Schweitzer. “Monarch butterflies, with their annual migration between the U.S. and Mexico, have become a symbol of endurance, as well. Their long journey takes them beyond borders.” —Jo Anne Triplett
Through Oct. 5
LAFTA Group Exhibition
Carnegie Center for Art and History
201 E. Spring St., New Albany
812-944-7336
For a while now, the Carnegie Center for Art and History has been a leader in the promotion of the fiber arts. The Louisville Area Fiber and Textile Artists (LAFTA), an organization that’s been around for 18 years, is more than happy to help the Carnegie in this endeavor. The exhibition includes work by some highly inventive and skilled artists who have taken something once considered “women’s work” to a creative, gender-neutral level. “My primary goal was to show the incredible variety of mediums and styles,” says juror Beverly Glascock. “The selected entries are the ones that I felt succeeded the most in showing the incredible range of innovation that exists in fiber and textile art today. Some are planar, others are multidimensional, some are wearable and some are sculptural.” —Jo Anne Triplett
