THEATER & PERFORMANCE
Can’t Stop That Foot from Flying
Think Stomp on steroids and you begin to get an idea of what a Flying Foot Forum dance/theater company is like. Combine that with the unique vision and skill of the company’s director, Joe Chvala — who has been compared to “Fred Astaire on acid” — and you’ll start to form a more complete picture of what this weekend’s Percussion Project performance will entail. Tonight’s show brings together drums, tap, ballet, and theatre to create a unique and innovative performance — one that has toured nationally to rave reviews and had a sold-out run at the Southern last year. —Kate McDonald
Friday at 8 p.m., Southern Theater, 1420 Washington Ave. S., Minneapolis; 612-340-1725; $18.
STYLE
Hat Tricks
Whenever and wherever there’s an event celebrating our local fashion MiNdustry, there’s one character certain to be in attendance: Ms. Anna Lee. As producer of the momentous annual Voltage Fashion Amplified show and founder of the fledgling mnFashion service organization, Lee is a reliable source of support for local designers. Not everyone knows it, but she’s also a designer—of hats! Those familiar with her millinery know her by the flamboyant, showgirl-style headdresses. But now she’s unveiling an assortment of wearable winter hats, too. —Christy DeSmith
Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m., Ruby3, 2303 Kennedy St. NE , Studio 402, Minneapolis.
MUSIC
Spain, Mexico, and Smooth, Smooth, Jazz
There’s some seriously great music to choose from this weekend, so get ready to soothe the savage breast, soften rocks, and bend the knotted oak.
Friday marks the first-ever Minnesota Guitar Society Flamenco Guitarathon. Dedicated to the memory of Donn Pohren, who passed away last month, this event features some of our best flamenco talent: Dave Elrod, Mike Hauser, Tony Hauser, Scott Mateo Davies, Trevor May, and Michael Ziegahn. Best of all, and in true bohemian fashion, the evening will end with a group performance.
Friday at 8 p.m., Hamline University, Sundin Hall, 1536 Hewitt Ave., St. Paul.
Of course, Friday is a tricky night, as the Minnesota Opera’s Young Professionals Group is also throwing a party with Matt Wilson’s Carl Sandburg Project. The New York drummer – "sometimes hard-swinging, sometimes experimental, sometimes just weird, but always entertaining" – will present Carl Sandburg poems set to original jazz compositions. Wilson will perform with his quartet and special guest Dawn Thomson.
Friday at 8 p.m., Minnesota Opera Center, 620 N. First St., Minneapolis; 612-333-6669; $15.
On to Saturday… which again offers two fabulous choices:
Tijuana’s Nortec Collective will be "riffing and ripping" traditional norteña and ranchera music at the Walker on Saturday evening (8 p.m., $22). This is no ordinary concert, folks — we’re talking DJs, graphic artists, and filmmakers… "for an infectious collision of style and culture, roots and revelation."
For a smoother, groovier, jazzier, local-legend infused Saturday evening experience, head to the Fitz (8 p.m., $22.50) for The New Standards Holiday Concert. It’s no fail, man. It’s no fail. John Munson, Chan Poling, and the fabulous Steve Roehm — how can you go wrong?
FILM
Animated
The fact that the Sloppy Films website claims its frontman, twin cities animator/video artist John Akre, is simply a fictional creation of a mad scientist and jazz enthusiast named Dr. Hubert Zork, is really not very surprising. Instead, it is merely icing on the already curiously creative cake that encompasses all his Sloppy-ness (Sloppy Films, Sloppy Shorts, Sloppy Books). An alter ego, after all, might be quite a convenient tool when one is creating experimental shorts and feature-length films that tackle everything from cannibalism to garden growing. See a trailer for one of his films here, and then enjoy more of his animated shorts this Sunday, as part of the Eastside Co-op Members Art Festival. Oh, and if mad scientist alter egos and visions of cannibalism don’t strike your fancy, there will also be free organic popcorn! —Kate McDonald
Sunday from 4:30 to 6 p.m., Eastside Co-op, 2555 Central Ave. N.E., Minneapolis.
Also opening this weekend: Romance and Cigarettes, Margot at the Wedding, and Deep Water.
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