By Gwen DeRu
TODAY
THE ROCKATEENS with HOLY YOUTH and JD WILSON at Saturn.
BASSHAM featuring AUNTIE VEWNIM, BARRY BANGERS, SKETCH, JIBBLES, DJ MIGGY SMALLZ and MIGGY SMALLZ at the Nick.
COMEDIAN DEANNE SMITH and DYON BROOKS at StarDome Comedy Club.
SOUND SESSIONS IN THE GRILL at Iron City.
MUSIC, COMEDY AND MORE at VIP Lounge in Ensley.
PLUM BAR on 17th Street, Downtown.
FRIDAY
COMEDIAN DARREN KNIGHT a.k.a. Southern Mama at the StarDome Comedy Club.
THE AUDIOVORE at The Nick.
HOT IN HERRE: 2000’S DANCE PARTY w/ DJS WILL EASTMAN AND OZKER, and VISUALS BY KILOS at Saturn.
SAXOPHONIST ART SHERROD at Perfect Note.
FACEBOOK FRIDAYS, every Friday, at the Legion in Fairfield, 5 p.m. Happy Hour, 7 p.m. Line Dance, 9 p.m., DJ Vick Goes Live and Ladies are free until 10 p.m.
MUSIC, COMEDY AND MORE at VIP Lounge in Ensley.
TIM SPINOSI’S COLOSSAL COMEDY SIDE SHOW at the StarDome Comedy Club.
FUNNY FREE FRIDAYS (Comedy Show) at Good People Brewery, 9- 10:30 p.m.
FRIDAY NIGHT EXPERIENCE at Luxe Ultra Lounge.
JAZZ at FRIDAY UNWIND, 6 p.m. – midnight, at Jazzi’s on 3rd.
PASSPORTS FRIDAYS, 10 p.m. – 4 a.m. at Legends Sports Lounge with Reggae, Dancehall, Soca, Afro-Beats and Top 40. FREE until midnight.
PLUM BAR on 17th Street, Downtown.
SATURDAY
8th ANNUAL RECOVERY LUNCHEON – Celebrate National Recovery Month on Saturday, 11 a.m. at the Harbert Center.
KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE, every Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on V94.9 FM with Curtis Bell. Request Line (205) 994-8949 (V949).
TAJ MAHAL TRIO with JONTAVIOUS WILLIS at Iron City COMEDIAN DARREN KNIGHT a.k.a. Southern Mama at the StarDome Comedy Club.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, every Saturday, at Luxe Ultra Lounge, 300 24th Street S with DJ CHOCOLATE.
SAXOPHONIST ART SHERROD, JR. at Perfect Note.
A BETTER COMEDY SHOW and LATE NIGHT w/KILL VARGAS and SUTPHIN at The Nick.
EAT DRINK AND RIDE NIGHT FOOD TOUR WITH COMEDIENNE 
JOY, at 6 – 10 p.m., meet in Brookwood Mall, at Grille 29.
SNV – SATURDAY NIGHT VIBES, 10 p.m. at Platinum.
RIOT DANCE PARTY: A TRIBUTE TO DAFT PUNK, 7 p.m. at Saturn.
SUNDAY
THE VOODOO SAINTS at Iron City Birmingham Bottomless Brunch.
MARTINIS & MASSAGES, 5 – 9 p.m. at Ensley Live Loft, 1816 Avenue E. Enjoy a fun filled evening of signature martinis, massages, food and live entertainment. Check out www.roxxyrocks.com for more.
JAZZ AND FOOD at Perfect Note.
KEY GLOCK performing Live at Luxe Ultra Lounge, Sunday.
SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art.
SOULFUL SUNDAYS at Perfect Note.
NECK DEEP – THE PEACE AND THE PANIC USA TOUR 2, TROPHY EYES, STAND ATLANTIC and WSTR at Saturn.
MONDAY
KARAOKE NIGHTS WITH RICKEY SMILEY at the StarDome
Comedy Club.
BIRMINGHAM BANDSTAND, 9 p.m. at The Nick.
CARD PLAYERS SPOT at the TIDE AND TIGER, 6 – 12 p.m.
FRANKIE COSMOS, LOMELDA and STEF CHURA at Saturn
TUESDAY
COMEDIAN MIKE SPEENBERG at the StarDome Comedy Club.
SOPPIN’ WET CINEMA PRESENTS: ROCK OPERA DOUBLE FEATURE at Saturn.
FIESTA TUESDAY at 1st and 23rd, all night.
TIDE AND TIGER HOT TUESDAY, 3 p.m. until … on Graymont across from Legion Field with $.50 wings and drink specials until 9 p.m. For more call (205) 503-3880.
PLUM BAR on 17th Street, Downtown.
JOSE’ CARR at the Boss Lounge, 8:30 – 11 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
VINTAGE VIDEO GAME NIGHT at Saturn.
LITTLE GIRL, HEX and DES VU at The Nick.
LIVE JAZZ, every Wednesday, at The Marble Ring, 430 41st Street South, Suite B.
WINE DOWN WEDNESDAY, every Wednesday at 30/40 Hookah Lounge.
WINE AND JAZZ at the Perfect Note.
COMEDIAN MIKE SPEENBERG at the StarDome Comedy Club.
NEXT THURSDAY
VINTAGE VIDEO GAME NIGHT at Saturn.
REGULUS, SEISMOS, RUDE DUDE AND THE CREEK FREAKS, and CAPTAIN KUDZU (Solo) at the Nick.
COMEDIAN FRANK DEL PIZZO at the StarDome Comedy Club.
NEXT FRIDAY
THE DECEMBERISTS at Iron City.
COMEDIAN BRUCE BRUCE at the StarDome Comedy Club.
JIVE MOB, SHAHEED AND DJ SUPREME, P.O.T.I.S. at The Nick.
PARCHUTE PUNK SHOW, WESTERN MEDICATION and LADY LEGS at Saturn.
IN THE COMMUNITY
REGIONS INSTITUTE FOR FINANCIAL EDUCATION SERIES IN SEPTEMBER…September 17 – Counseling Clinic, September 21 – Innovate Birmingham Program participants), 1 – 4 p.m., September 22 – Women and Money Series: Investing, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., and September 27 – Retirement Planning Today, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Call (205) 996-0884 for more.
OUT SPOKEN WITH JOE LOCKETT TV SHOW New on Cable TV. Check it out!!!
PEPPER PLACE MARKET, every Saturday.
CELEBRATE NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH
8th ANNUAL RECOVERY LUNCHEON – Celebrate National Recovery Month on Saturday, 11 a.m. at the Harbert Center for the 8th Annual Recovery Luncheon.
Join Pearson Hall, Olivia’s House, Zukoski Center and Fellowship House as they celebrate the successes of the programs. Enjoy a lunch and Silent Auction. Call (205) 923-6552 for more or visit www.adatc.org.
FOR OUTDOOR LOVERS
SATURDAY DAYHIKE, 11 a.m. – Southeastern Outings Dayhike, Limestone Rail Trail, Elkmont, Alabama – DETAILS: This trail is located in extreme North Alabama just to the west of I-65 and a few miles south of the Tennessee-Alabama border. The hike is rated easy – a total of 5.3 miles. There is much lovely scenery along the path that was once a part of the Tennessee and Alabama Central Railroad. The trail winds through wetlands with wildlife, a great variety of birds and pass the site of the Civil War Battle of Sulphur Creek Trestle. Bring your picnic lunch and drink with you. Well-behaved, carefully supervised children age 8 and over able to walk six miles without complaining are welcome. Optional dinner afterwards at Terranova’s Restaurant in Athens, Alabama. Depart 11 a.m. from the Hayden/Corner Park and Ride. For more info: Randall Adkins, (205) 637-0942.
FOR LOVERS OF SPORTS, FOOTBALL, TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY and MAGIC CITY CLASSIC
CLASSIC KICKOFF – The football season is here. October 25, 5 p.m. is the MAGIC CITY Classic Kickoff Block Party, Concert with YUNG VOKALZ, JUST A FEW CATS, and KEKE WYATT. There will be food trucks, entertainment and more.
TALLADEGA SUPERSPEEDWAY RACES – NASCAR Playoff doubleheader weekend, Oct. 12-14. The 2018 Races are coming October 13 and 14. BUT, there is more… NEW!!…. GET READY ALABAMA! The BONEFROG is Coming Back to Talladega Superspeedway March 30, 2019. Bonefrog is the world’s only Navy Seal Obstacle Course Race. Go to www.talladegasuperspeeday.com or www.bonefrogchallenge.com for more.
FOR ART AND PERFORMING ART LOVERS
AT THE LIBRARY
BARDS AND BREWS – Bards & Brews, the popular spoken word poetry-craft beer event, will go on the road to the Grill at Iron City, 2208 6th Avenue South, Friday, on the Southside before returning to the Central Library with a poetry slam on Friday, Oct. 5.
88NEW EXHIBITION – PAINTING AT UAB – Also Friday, a new exhibit, Painting at UAB, featuring students of UAB professor Gary Chapman, will debut at the Central Library 4th Floor Gallery in the East Building of the Central Library, 2100 Park Place. A free opening reception is scheduled from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, at the library. The exhibit is Friday, Sept. 7 through Oct. 25, 2018.
AT THE BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM OF ART
SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2-3 p.m.
FOR MUSIC LOVERS AND SPOKEN WORD
TAJ MAHAL TRIO with JONTAVIOUS WILLIS, Saturday, 7 p.m. at Iron City. Mahal’s career has been full of and defined by colorful twists and turns, unexpected whimsical ventures and a commitment to a muse that has long preferred freewheeling innovation to conformity. So there’s always the challenge of finding the right words and phrases to capture just what he’s meant to American music over the past half century. The parents of Harlem born Henry St. Claire Fredericks, Jr. (Mahal’s given name until his dreams of Gandhi, India and social tolerance inspired him to change it) came of age during the Harlem Renaissance and instilled in their son a sense of pride in his West Indian and African ancestry. His 2008 Heads Up International recording Maestro marked the 40th anniversary of his recording career and featured performances by Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Angelique Kidjo, Los Lobos, Ziggy Marley and others – many of whom have been directly influenced by Mahal’s music and guidance. He said that people are as much a part of the performance as the music, like ancient culture.
SUNDAY JAZZ, 5 p.m. at the Perfect Note.
SPOKEN WORD OPEN MIC NIGHT, every Third Sunday, 7 p.m. at the Carver Theatre.
LUCERO AT SATURN – Lucero and their upcoming performance at Saturn on September 26. The band is touring in support of their new album, Among The Ghosts (August 3). Check out their track “For The Lonely Ones“ via Rolling Stone Country. Lucero remains a seminal band that has the unique ability to evolve their sound and maintain their relevance over the span of two decades. They’ve continued to inspire so many over the years, captivating a large and loyal following with their raucous live shows and gritty, blue collar spirit.
BLUESMAN TAS CRU AT DANIEL DAY GALLERY – Bluesman Tas Cru has just released a new full-length album called Memphis Song. He will be performing at Daniel Day Gallery & Melody in Birmingham on October 7th, at 2 p.m.
OBAMA FELLOWS 
APPLICATIONS FOR THE NEXT CLASS OF OBAMA FOUNDATION FELLOWS ARE NOW OPEN – The Obama Foundation is seeking its next Obama Fellows. Deadline is September 18th. They’re looking for 20 rising stars from around the world who are working alongside their communities to solve important public problems in creative and powerful ways. The two-year, non-residential program offers hands-on training, leadership development, and a powerful network to equip Fellows to scale the impact of their work. They’re searching for candidates who are civic innovators, discipline- diverse, at a tipping point in their work, not yet connected to the networks they need to advance their work, and motivated by the powerful desire to help others. You can learn more about what they look for when selecting Fellows by going to: www.obama.org.
FOR COMEDY LOVERS
AT GOOD PEOPLE BREWING EVERY FRIDAY
FUNNY FREE FRIDAYS (COMEDY SHOW), 9 – 10:30 p.m., at Good People with Birmingham’s finest comedy show at a brewery. It’s free and features the best comedians from around the country.
AT THE STARDOME
TODAY
COMEDIAN DYON BROOKS. Dyon Brooks a.k.a. Mr. James and Friends is bringing his 2018 tour entitled “Hysterical in person” to The StarDome’s for three nights only!!The 28-year-old comedian started out doing comedy simply because he enjoyed it and it was fun to do in his spare time. Little did he know his skits and jokes were making a difference in other’s lives. He started receiving direct messages from fans who watch him daily expressing how his videos got them through a rough time, or simply brightened their day. This became his motivation to write and perform more often, which inspired the “Hysterical In Person” tour. He loved seeing the positive feedback, the laughs and smiles he could put on people’s faces. In five years of his career, he has gained a following of 52,400 on Instagram and 222,000 on Facebook
COMEDIAN DEANNE SMITH. Internationally acclaimed comedian, writer and columnist DeAnne Smith captivates audiences with “nerdy but dirty” yet progressive cutting edge satire regarding feminism, sexism, modern language and multi gendered relationships. With over 48 million views on her Facebook video she gives straight guys advice on “stepping up their game” because she, “doesn’t have time for ALL your ladies.”
MONDAY – COMEDIAN RICKEY SMILEY ‘EVERY MONDAY NIGHT’ at the StarDome Comedy Club for Karaoke Nights.
COMING SOON
SEPTEMBER 27-29 – SAINT GEORGE’S MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD FESTIVAL OCTOBER 21 – KICKOFF TO CLASSIC – THE ROOFTOP EXPERIENCE
Well, that’s it. Tell you more next time.
People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is a weekly column. Send comments to my emails: thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com and gwenderu@yahoo.com.
