We’re so egg-cited for this weekend, it’s not even bunny. Okay, okay, so low hanging fruit puns, we’re sorry. It’s just with the weekend ahead and the events it brings, it won’t be hard to hunt down a good time.
This weekend, Gritty McDuff’s sees the return of a New York-based rapper, Oxbow Blending & Bottling gets deep, Portland Stage Co. is cakin’ it easy, and Maine Craft Distilling is keepin’ it shaken and stirred.
Happy Easter and Passover holiday! Be sure to check out our guide to ‘Easter & Passover Takeout, Dine-In and Events in Portland, Maine’ for more!
Here’s the Weekend Guide for Friday, April 7th – Sunday April 9th, 2023
Friday the 7th
DJ HiDuke’s “Deep Cut”s – Boogie, Funk, Disco | Oxbow Blending & Bottling | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
DJ HiDuke is bringing you the deepest, all vinyl cuts from his collection and digging missions. Boogie, Funk, Modern Soul, Jazz & more.
Go Back to Keep Going by Rachel Gloria Adams Opening Reception | NOTCH8 Gallery | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Immerse yourself in the gorgeous artwork of Rachel Gloria Adams at NOTCH8! A multidisciplinary artist living in Portland, Rachel has attended residencies at Speedwell, Pace House and is an Indigo Arts Alliance David C Driscoll Fellow. In addition to her studio practice, Adams has been commissioned to create murals for several institutions including the Children’s Museum of Portland, University of Maine and the Farnsworth Museum. As Rachel states, “This collection of ‘self-collaborative’ gouache paintings merge the uninhibited approach to patterns and dynamic color combinations of my youth with my current visual language of botanicals and quilt motifs to. Together serve as a way of piecing together memories within an heirloom framework.
PINK NAVEL with Altered Gee & Won Pound | Sun Tiki Studios | 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Pink Navel is a non binary rapper originally based out of the South Shore of MA, but has relocated to Maine to join Ruby Yacht at their headquarters. As a self proclaimed Nintendo and Disney collector, Navel’s music tends to blend the carefree cadence of cartoons with introspective lyrics on gender identity and mental health. Joining Pink Navel are Maine’s own Altered Gee & Won Pound. Tickets here.
Homeboy Sandman | Gritty McDuff’s Brewpub | 9:00 PM
Gritty McDuff’s couldn’t be any more excited to announce a very special music event – the return of New York rapper – Homeboy Sandman! If you missed his first appearance in March 2022, this is your chance to get up close and personal for an intimate performance by this incredible musician. Since hitting the rap scene in 2017, Homeboy Sandman has gained a loyal following for his sharp lyrics and irresistibly melodic beats. So far, he’s released 11 studio albums, and has been featured on tracks from some of the biggest names in the rap game.
The Cake (2023) | The Portland Stage | 7:30 PM – Multiple Dates
Showtime at The Portland Stage! The Cake is a deliciously funny comedy that asks what happens when what we believe comes in conflict with those we love. Della has planned to bake Jen’s wedding cake since she was a little girl, but when Jen comes back from NYC with her fiancée Macy, Della doesn’t know what to do. Performances of The Cake written by Bekah Brunstetter, start on April 5th and will run until April 23rd. Tickets.
Saturday the 8th
Salvatore’s Hoagies POP-UP | Highroller Lobster Co. | 11:00 AM – Sellout
Before the Highroller Lobster Co. crew really starts ramping up for their usual summer shenanigans, the month of April is going to be packed full of sick pop-ups with a few of their favorites. This weekend, enjoy a visit from Salvatore’s Hoagies in Portland, Maine will be slingin’ hoagies and cheesesteaks!
Ugly Duckling | Merrill Auditorium | 3:00 PM
Meet the most unusual duckling the pond has ever seen as Hans Christian Andersen’s well-known tale comes to life with inventive physicality, and live music and songs that quack and trill. Show synopsis: In their nest at the edge of a pond, the baby ducklings wait impatiently for Mummy’s enormous egg to hatch. But their new brother doesn’t look like everyone else. He doesn’t even quack like a proper duckling! Teased and called Ugly by his siblings, this hero goes on an adventure in search of a place to fit in. Tickets.
OLS & The North Atlantic Blues Festival Present: Jontavious Willis | One Longfellow Square | 8:00 PM
Every generation or so, a young bluesman bursts onto the scene and sends a jolt through the blues community. Jontavious Willis may just have that effect on people. The 24-year-old multi-instrumentalist was nominated for a GRAMMY in 2020 thanks to his latest album, Spectacular Class. Through original lyrics written by Willis himself, the gifted musician delivers a timeless album that features dynamic vocals and all types of blues: Delta, Piedmont, Texas, and Gospel. His stand-out fingerpicking, flat-picking, and slide prowess are also on display. Tickets.
12/OC | The Porthole | 7:00 PM
With roots in Nashville and Portland, 12/OC puts their spin on a variety of country, bluegrass and rock…family-style! Join The Porthole and the 3 brothers of 12/OC for a night of live music!
Shaken & Stirred | Maine Craft Distilling | 8:00 PM
Join for another Shaken & Stirred at Maine Craft Distilling! An intimate evening of burlesque, drag, and jazz. Sip on tantalizing cocktails and be teased by classic burlesque beauties, and glamorous drag queens. Enjoy a dinner or late night snack while feasting your eyes on shimmying rhinestones and booty shakers. Performances and features by Kitty Levesque, Moxie Sazerac, Kinky Slippers, Sweet Dee, Luna Lee, Vivienne Obsidian, Vivian Vice, Luna Lee. Hosted by Clamz! Kasino. Tickets.
Sunday the 9th – Easter
Dino Egg Hunt | Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine | 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM (Repeats Sunday)
A Mama Dinosaur left her eggs throughout and the Children’s Museum & Theatre needs your help to find them! Search for colorful dino eggs, and try your luck at the golden dino egg challenge. Stop by the Makerspace to create a dinosaur-themed craft, explore fossils, and have a tasty snack to finish the celebration. All dino egg hunters will receive a special bag for collecting their eggs and prizes. The Golden Dino Egg Hunt is sold out for Saturday. Reserve tickets here.
Cave in with Mouth Washington | PHOME | 7:o0 PM – 10:00 PM
Cave In is an American rock band that formed in 1995 in Methuen, Massachusetts. Their sound is a unique blend of various genres, including post-hardcore, space rock, and metal. The band experienced a tragic loss with the passing of their bassist, Caleb Scofield, during the recording of their 2019 album, Final Transmission. However, the band finished the album with the help of another dear friend, Nate Newton of Converge/Old Man Gloom/Doomriders. Cave In’s latest album, Heavy Pendulum, is their first proper studio recording since 2009’s Planets Of Old, and it features Newton on bass and backing vocals alongside original members Steve Brodsky (vocals/guitar), Adam McGrath (guitar/vocals), and JR Conners (drums). The album pays tribute to Scofield with references to him throughout, including a song that features lyrics from a journal he kept specifically for writing music. Tickets.
Mary Halverson’s Clone Decay | SPACE Gallery | 7:30 PM
The MacArthur “Genius Award”-winning guitarist Mary Halvorson returns to SPACE with Clone Decay— a new trio with Kalia Vandever on trombone and Weston Olencki on trombone and electronics. Halvorson has been called “NYC’s least-predictable improviser” and “the most forward-thinking guitarist working right now.” This project marks the first meeting between these three musicians, featuring new compositions for two trombones and guitar, augmented by electronics and processing, to create a sound that begins as an acoustic trio and morphs into something else entirely. Tickets.
Weekend Brunch Begins | Alto Terrace Bar + Kitchen | 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Alto Terrace Kitchen Bar + Kitchen is excited to announce starting Easter Sunday they will have a weekend brunch! Every Saturday and Sunday they will be offering a special brunch menu and cocktails. Menu includes Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Chicken & Waffle Sandwich, Loaded Omelet, Alto Hotcakes, Shrimp & Grits and more. Make a reservation.
For more events head to our Events Calendar here.
