Daily Loaf

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Next week, a three-day interactive multi-media art event, 11:11 – Let There Be Light, Art, Sound, is a celebration of the creativity that molds our communities and keeps us from falling prey to the everyday tedium of mainstream mediocrity.

The star of the event is Alex Grey (pictured), who, along with his artist wife Allyson, leads today’s psychedelic/spiritual/visionary/postmodern art movement. Alex’s most well-known works are his glowing “x-ray” paintings of human bodies, which offer detailed, anatomical-style examinations of his subjects’ physical and metaphysical anatomy. On Thursday, Alex stages a reading from his book, Art Psalms. Afterwards, he’s joined Allyson for the first two hours of a six-hour painting demo, which is paired with video projection painting by Johnathan Singer, and live multi-sensory music by Scott and Anne Kennedy. During the Friday night “Alex Grey Gala Event,” Read the rest of this entry »

Mississippi blues fusion “juke joint duo” Cedric Burnside (pictured, right) and Lightnin’ Malcom (left) play a show at Skipper’s Smokehouse. 8 p.m., $8. The Skipper’s show has been cancelled due to a death in Burnside’s family, but there’s still plenty of other noteworthy live music take place tonight — read about the Black Diamond Heavies (pictured) in Tampa Calling, and Bob Weir and Lorna Bracewell in Upcoming Concerts.

Largo Cultural Center presents a touring incarnation of the hit off-Broadway musical, The Altar Boyz, about a Christian boy band enjoying success from America’s fascination with religion. 7:30 p.m., $33 VIP/$30 general/$25 seniors/$15 students 18 and under, 727-587-6793.

Los Angeles-by-way-of-South Africa songwriter Karma brings her acoustic ballads to St. Petersburg. A Girl Named Chuck provides support. 8 p.m., Nova 535 Art Lounge, St. Petersburg, $12.

Soulful Arts Dance Academy stages a preview performance of its fifth annual production of Langston Hughes’ Black Nativity, A Gospel Song Play. 7:30 p.m., Studio at 620, St. Petersburg, free admission, reservations required; 727-895-6620.