Sound and vision are the watchwords for the arts happenings in New Haven this week. There are highly watchable bands such as the modernist-art act Chain & The Gang and local trip-hop duo Mission Zero. There are intriguing gallery shows, such as Creative Arts Workshop’s annual window installation and a new exhibit of Winfred Rembert’s tooled leather scenes at the Kehler Liddell Gallery. There’s the blowing (and popping) of bubbles. There’s a reading of Anne Frank’s diaries. There are photographs of Music Haven. Vision and sound. Sound and vision.
Monday, July 28
Mission in Action
The second Beecher Park Summer Concert Series and Pie Contest of 2014 is 6 p.m. in the park outside the Mitchell Branch library (37 Harrison St., 203 – 946-8117). The band is Mission Zero (the trip-hop sibling duo of Megan Chenot and David Keith). The featured food truck is Little Nora Cupcakes. And the theme for the pies is “savory.”
Tuesday, July 29
Forever Blowing Bubbles
Casey Carle has been blowing bubbles for many years, and he does it magnificently. The soap-savvy entertainer brings his wands and bowls to Wilson branch library (303 Washington Ave.) at 5:30 p.m. (203) 946‑2228.
Vance Notice
The Twilight Tuesday concert at Neighborhood Music School’s recital hall (100 Audubon St.; 203 – 624-5189) is folksinger Vance Gilbert. Admission is $25, $20 in advance. The concert’s at 7 p.m.; dinner’s available at 6:30 p.m. for an additional cost.
Wednesday, July 30
In Chains
Ian Svenonius has been playing New Haven since the early ‘90s, as the leader of such influential underground post-punk groups as Nation of Ulysses and The Make-Up. His current outfit is Chain & The Gang. As with his earlier bands, Svenonius is as inspired by historical political and artistic movements as he is by musical ones. Chain & The Gang plays Café Nine (250 State St.) tonight with Ed Shrader’s Music Beat and Dangerous Animals. $10, $8 in advance.
Thursday, July 31
Town Players
The final full-length play of the Yale Summer Cabaret 2014 season is Middletown, an ensemble drama by the dry-witted Will Eno. The Yale Repertory Theatre production of the playwright’s The Realistic Joneses transferred to Broadway, and there’ve been several productions of Middletown previously in Connecticut, including one by the undergraduate Yale Dramat. If you’re not aware of Will Eno, it’s time to catch up. The Summer Cabaret enters Middletown July 31 through Aug. 10. Performances are 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 7 p.m. Sundays at 217 Park St. (203) 432‑1566.
Friday, Aug. 1
Believe in People
There’s a reading from Anne Frank’s historic Diary of a Young Girl today at noon in the main (Ives) New Haven Free Public Library (133 Elm St., 203 – 946-8130), to mark the 70th anniversary of the diary’s concluding entry.
Hurry, Nanny
The “Friday Flicks” presentation at Mitchell branch library (37 Harrison St., 203 – 946-8117) is Saving Mr. Banks, the recent Disney movie about the making of the film version of Mary Poppins, with Emma Thompson as P.L. Travers, Tom Hanks as Walt Disney, and New Haven’s own Paul Giamatti as an amiable chauffeur.
Interplay in the Window
Creative Arts Workshop (80 Audubon St.,. 203 – 562-4927) is taking its annual summer vacation. But they always leave some art around, thanks to the thoughtful “August Installation” series which commissions artists to create works that can be appreciated through the gallery’s large front windows. This year’s installation, titled Interplay, is by Madison-based artist Shelby Head, and has a musical theme. Before the doors close for a month, CAW is holding an opening reception for Interplay, today at 5 p.m.
Music Hath Charms
There’s another art reception tonight, at Claire’s Corner Copia (1000 Chapel St.). Kathleen Cei’s warm, resonant photos of children and instructors in the Music Haven classical music program will adorn the walls of the famed vegetarian restaurant through October. The reception is tonight from 8 to 9 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 2
Grand and Lyrical
Is there a better place to see an indie gem like Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel than the lush and quirky antique moviehouse Lyric Hall (827 Whalley Ave.; 203 – 389-8885) in Westville? 7 p.m. $10.
Brubecks Beckon
The resurrection of the old New Haven Jazz Festival has been something glorious to see. This year, it spans three Saturday concerts on New Haven Green plus a “Jazz Week” of club gigs mid-month. Tonight, the 2014 festival kicks off with a 6 p.m. set by the New Haven Symphony Orchestra Jazz Sextet, followed at 7:30 p.m. by the Brubeck Brothers Quartet. Yeah, those Brubecks — bassist Chris and drummer Dan, sons of the late great pianist Dave Brubeck, who played a few shows on the Green himself over the years. The New Haven Jazz Festival is overseen by the non-profit Jazz Haven.
High Time
One of the best bands to come out of New Haven in the past decade, Estrogen Highs has been touring nationally and has released a slew of albums, singles and EPs. Traveling through garage rock, aggro punk and beyond, this rapidly changing act needs to be checked in on frequently. Estrogen Highs headlines Café Nine (250 State St., 203 – 789-8281) tonight, celebrating the release of their new album Hear Me on the Number Station. Civil Union and Medication are also on the bill. $6.
Sunday, Aug. 3
The Leather Man
Today’s the opening reception for the new exhibit of acclaimed local dyed-leather artist Winfred Rembert at Kehler Liddell Gallery (873 Whalley Ave., 203 – 389-9555). Rembert’s work has been seen around the country, and is the subject of a documentary film. This hometown exhibit should be something special.
