Get Out: Beer Tastings, Animation Showcases, and Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

Grace Potter of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals rocks the spangly mini-dress the way Tina Turner did. And she has the same heart. She says she defined the deep throb of the rock beat as set by Michael Jackson, her childhood favorite, but thinks of Keith Richards when she plays guitar. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals will set the fall tempo at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, Sept. 30, at 8 p.m.

The band found itself in its latest album, appropriately titled Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. It just poured out of them, Potter says. “The whole thing was fluid and effortless. In my mind, an album shouldn’t be self-titled unless it feels that way.”

The album showcases the Vermont-based band's new five-piece configuration that starts with keyboard specialist Potter, lead guitarist Scott Tournet and drummer Matt Burr and adds in bassist Catherine Popper and rhythm guitarist Benny Yurco. The album made its debut in the Top 20 on Billboard’s Top 200 and got to No. 1 on the iTunes Rock Album chart.

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals were named One of the Best Bands of 2010 by Rolling Stone magazine. Potter made a recent solo appearance at the Hollywood Bowl, performing with Stevie Wonder, among others. The band appeared this summer at the Lollapalooza festival in Chicago and headlined a show in New York's Central Park on Sept. 24, just before coming to Jorgensen.

“You've got me down on the floor. So, what'd you bring me down here for?” Potter sings in “Paris (Ooh La La)” in a heated style that demands an answer. As she wrote it, Potter was riveted to the primal riff in the Kinks' “You Really Got Me” and says “Paris” is her favorite song to perform.

Potter says of the latest album, recorded in the Michael Jackson “monkey room,” “We realized we’re not the kind of band that’s ever gonna fit neatly in one genre, and this time we just let the songs be the songs. … You have to either want to dance to it or cry to it.” Dance or cry Friday night at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts on the Storrs campus.

Tickets are regularly $42-32 and $20-15 for students. For tickets or information, visit the Jorgensen Web site or call 860-486-4226. Free parking in the North Garage.

Animation at CT Science Center

Interested enough in animation to want to learn more? On Oct. 1, the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford unveils a new exhibition: Animation, which invites viewers to explore, question and experiment with the art of animation. Designed to appeal to all ages, the exhibit explores the animation process from concept to finished product – from story-boarding, character design, and drawing techniques to movement, timing, filming, and sound. It also delves into the history of animation. Larger-than-life graphics from the Cartoon Network provide engaging visual aids.

Animation runs through March 4. The Connecticut Science Center is at 250 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford. For more information, visit www.ctsciencecenter.org or call 860-SCIENCE (or 860-724-3623).

Global Affairs: A World of Revolution at CT Forum

The event is a Connecticut Forum panel discussion. The panelists are: Tom Ridge, first secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Anne-Marie Slaughter, former director of policy planning for the State Department, and Robin Wright, a foreign affairs expert and award-winning journalist. The three come together to discuss global affairs on stage on October 1 at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford. Michel Martin, host of WNPR's Tell Me More, is host.

Starting time is 8 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $60. To purchase, visit www.ctforum.org. The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts is at 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford. For tickets and more information, visit www.bushnell.org or call the box office at 860-987-5900. 

Autumn in the Park in Stafford

In its sixth year, the Stafford Arts Commission's Autumn in the Park festival features expression from the homegrown to the quirky this Saturday, Oct. 1, from noon to sunset in Hyde Park. Under homegrown, we might include Bruce John and the Eagleville Musicians performing about 5 p.m., with Town Troubadour Jim Bailey sitting in, local book author appearances at 1 p.m., a youth art display, caricatures, face painting and food from local vendors.

Under quirky, look for miniature donkeys and Elvis sightings during the 3 p.m. Imagine Hour. But, mostly, look up to the skies for a creative kite contest with a hot air balloon ride for two adults and a child as 1st prize and a Nook reading tablet as 2nd prize, both compliments of American Sleeve Bearing. Entrants must be age 10 or older and can feel free to do dry runs or repeats of their kite flights during the day.

Other festival highlights include Celtic music and storytelling at noon, Phoenix Fire Swords feats at 2 p.m., the Southeast Light Quartet singing barbershop at 3 p.m. and strolling thereafter, and the Manchester Regional Police & Fire Pipe Band's bagpipe swells at 4 p.m.

Of course, the pinnacle is the lighting of the moon fire on the river a little before 5 p.m. and dancing to the rocking music as it burns.

In the event of rain, the festival will move to the Stafford Senior Center on Route 190. For information, call 860-684-9500 or 860-684-5211.

Cheo Feliciano Headlines Latin Fest

Dance the night away to the irresistible beat of salsa and singer/songwriter Cheo Feliciano and the Franky Rodriguez Orchestra on Saturday, Oct. 1, at 8 p.m. at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts in Storrs.

Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, in 1935 in humble surroundings, Feliciano, a rare baritone interpreter of salsa and bolero, is known as a living legend. He formed his first group with friends at age 8, using instruments made from cans. He settled with family in Spanish Harlem in New York and became a sought-after percussionist in Latino orchestras.

Feliciano has recorded numerous salsa and bolero hits and albums. In 2008, he won a Grammy for Excellence in Music at the Latin Grammy Awards and was honored for 50 years in music by then-New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who declared June 20 Cheo Feliciano Day in the city.

Also on the program are DJ Wil G and a dance performance by UConn’s Latin Dance Club, BAILE. The show is presented by Jorgensen and the Puerto Rican/Latin American Cultural Center and sponsored by Univision.

Jorgensen’s Cabaret, ranked tops in Connecticut Magazine's 2011 Best Of issue, offers seating at candlelit tables and Latino dinner fare, desserts and drinks for cash purchase. Semi-formal attire is required. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25, $30 and $35. For tickets or information, visit theJorgensen Web site or call 860-486-4226.

Shakespearean Era Lute Songs

Soprano Katharine DeBoer and lutenist James Meadors will perform “Lute Songs From Shakespeare's Time” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the Arts Center of Tolland on the Green.

The classically trained duo will perform songs written around 1600 by poet-musician Thomas Campion, lutenist John Dowland and others. DeBoer, formerly of Vermont, earned master's and doctoral degrees in vocal performance at the University of Illinois. She is on faculty at the University of Nevada and performs widely in chamber music concerts.

Meadors has a doctorate in musicology from Harvard University, where he wrote a dissertation on 16th century Italian lute music. He has taught music history, guitar and lute at the New England Conservatory and Holy Cross College. He has performed with early music ensembles in Boston and has recorded five CDs of music for flute and guitar.

Regular tickets are $10, $8 for Arts Center of Tolland members and students. For reservations, call 860-871-7405.

Arts Show Opens at Rockville General

Rockville General Hospital reopens its gallery for a fall-themed art show that will run from Monday, Oct. 3, through Dec. 2. An opening reception will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5.

The gallery space is now under the management of the Vernon Community Arts Center.

For information about the free exhibit, visit the event Facebook page, email vernonarts@gmail.com or call Melissa at 860-729-5806.

Guitarist Returns to Windsor Arts Center

Spanish-style guitar seasoned with rock, blues and jazz is on slate at the Windsor Art Center in Windsor when New York-based guitarist Kelly Birtch makes a return appearance on October 6. For more information on Birtch, visit www.kellybirtch.com.

Concert time is 6:30 p.m. Suggested donation is $10 at the door. The Windsor Art Center is at the corner of Central and Mechanic streets in Windsor. For more information, visitwww.windsorartcenter.org or call 860-688-2528.

Beer Tasting at Noah Webster

On Oct. 6, West Hartford's Noah Webster House opens its doors for a tasting of select suds – Brooklyn Lager from Brooklyn Brewery in New York, and Harpoon ales, which are produced by Harpoon, which has breweries in Boston and Windsor, Vermont. Brooklyn Lager is one of the top draft beers in New York City. Harpoon has become the second largest annual producer of beer in the United States, second only to Anheuser-Busch.

Starting time is 7 p.m. Tickets cost $12. Attendees must be at least 21 years old. A valid ID is required at the door. All funds raised benefit the Noah Webster House and the West Hartford Historical Society. The event is sponsored by Wine Cellars 4 of Farmington. The Noah Webster House is at 227 South Main St., West Hartford. For more information, visit www.noahwebsterhouse.org or call 860-521-5362.