You know that the colleges are firmly back in action when Wednesdays are as chock full of events as weekends. Also when local clubs and galleries and city parks are bursting with every kind of music under the sun. The Elm City Noise Festival alone consumes three nights in three different venues, with over a dozen bands.
Monday, Sept. 14
Solo TImes Five
It’s a crowded singer-songwriter showcase 8 p.m. at Cafe Nine (250 State St.) with Andrew Serow, Pat Dalton, Michael Sivak, Sam Carlson, and Catalina Gonzalez. $5.
Tuesday, Sept. 15
She Repped Streisand
Brian Kellow reads from and signs his new book Can I Go Now, about Hollywood agent Sue Mengers. 6 p.m. at the Yale Barnes & Noble Bookstore, 77 Broadway.
Be Read To
The Listen Here! series, where local actors read stories by great writers, kicks off its new season 7 p.m. at the Institute Library, 847 Chapel St.
Wednesday, Sept. 16
International Drama
Chilean playwright and director Guillermo Calderón is visiting the Yale Theater Studies program today, and is discussing “Theatre and Politics in Contemporary Chile” 4 p.m. in the downstairs lounge of the Yale Repertory Theatre, 1120 Chapel St.
“Stop calling me a crypto-Nazi”
The acclaimed documentary Best of Enemies, about the ongoing feud between William F. Buckley and Gore Vidal, which was captured in a series of televised political debates, is being screened at Yale (Buckley’s alma mater), 7 p.m. in the Whitney Humanities Center, 53 Wall St. Free.
Paper Puppetry
The political puppetry company Great Small Works, known for their appearances at the first two editions of New Haven’s International Festival of Arts & Ideas back in the mid-‘90s, and for several local visits since, returns on tour. Alongside them is the Mexico City-based troupe Facto Teatro, for “An Evening of Paper Theater on the Road,” a sort of “Living Newspaper” performance using toy-theater elements. 6:30 p.m. at Fair Haven School, 164 Grand Ave., Fair Haven. $5, $10 or pay what you can.
Sofus So Good
The jam band Sofus is at Stella Blues, 204 Crown St.
Guitar Brazil
Brazilian guitarist Rogerio Souza plucks seven strings 7 p.m. at Cafe Nine, 250 State St. Edinho Gerber and Stephen Guerra open. $10.
Gallery Strings
The Haven String Quartet, the house band of the extraordinary Music Haven classical music community education organization, has a new cellist to show off, and is back at Yale Art Gallery for its latest “Playing Images” concert, where the ensemble plays live next to inspirational works of art. 12:30 p.m. 1111 Chapel St. (203) 745‑9030. The whole program is repeated Sunday Sept. 20 at 3 p.m.
Architecture Lecture
Alan Plattus, Professor of Architecture and Urbanism at Yale, lectures on “The Babies and the Bathwater: The Loss of New Haven’s Modernist Heritage,” 6:30 p.m. at the Graduate Club, 155 Elm St. (203) 562‑5919. The talk is sponsored by the New Haven Preservation Trust, and is preceded by reception at 6 p.m. $10.
Baby Blue
The Michigan folk quintet Greensky Bluegrass and Tom Hamilton’s American Babies are at College Street Music Hall, 238 College St. at 7 p.m. $17-$20.
Thursday, Sept. 17
Mee’s We
The Yale Cabaret 2015 – 16 school-year season opens with We Are All Here, a “remix” of Charles L. Mee’s bracing romance drama Wintertime. Adapted by David Bruin and Jireh Breon Holder and directed by Bruin, the show runs through Saturday with performances tonight at 8 p.m. and Friday & Saturday at 8 & 11 p.m. (203) 432‑1566.
Moving Pictures
The experimental films of photographer Donald R. Blumberg and his wife/collaborator Grace Blumberg will be screened and discussed 5:30 p.m. at the Yale University Art Gallery, 1111 Chapel St. Jock Reynolds, who co-curated the Blumberg photo show currently at the gallery, moderates the discussion. (203) 432‑0600.
Not Spielberg’s Amistad
The documentary film Ghosts of the Amistad is introduced and discussed by historian Marcus Rediker, whose book The Amistad Rebellion was the basis for the film. 6 p.m. New Haven Museum, 114 Whitney Ave. Free.
Proceed to Heartbreak
The three-night, 14-band Elm City Noise Festival opens tonight with the bands Intercourse, Procedure Club, TOYZ, and Michael Illian a.k.a. Mister Heartbreak, starting 8 p.m. at Anna Liffey’s. Yes, Anna Liffey’s, 17 Whitney Ave. $5. Other Noise Festival events will be held at Cafe Nine on Saturday and Three Sheets on Sunday.
Early Bay Better
The punk/roots act Bayside is at Toad’s Place (300 York St.) with The Early November and Better Off. 8 p.m. $20, $17 in advance.
Friday, Sept. 18
The Heat is On
A good week for raw roots-rocking at Toad’s Place (300 York St.). Reverend Horton Heat is there tonight, with The Adicts and The Creepshow. 9 p.m. $25, $22 in advance. (203) 624-TOAD.
Out of Nowhere
Two generations of shoegazers, Ride (from Britain) and DIIV (from Brooklyn) are at College Street Music Hall, 238 College St. $23-$26.
Greene and Black Watermelon
The Elm City Noise Festival continues with Oneida, Watermelon, Rivener, Black Fluff, and Dan Greene, 8 p.m. at Cafe Nine, 250 State St. $10.
Cowherd Mentality
The Jon Cowherd Mercy Project is first up in the Fall Jazz Series at Firehouse 12. Pianist Cowherd’s combo includes Kendrick Scott on drums, Steve Cardenas on guitar and Tony Scherr on bass. Cowherd’s a versatile talent who co-founded the Brian Blade Fellowship and has performed with everyone from Liz Wright to Roseanne Cash to Iggy Pop. Two sets: 8:30 p.m. ($20) and 10 p.m. ($15).
Saturday, Sept. 19
Ave Maria
The Yale Schola Cantorum sings works by Guerrero, Victoria and Pärt as part of an Evensong service 5 p.m. at Christ Church, 84 Broadway. (203) 432‑5062.
Gliss Riffers
Contemporary interactive electronic and indie pop from Dan Deacon, On an On, Eliot Sumner, and Dosh, 8 p.m. at College Street Music Hall, 238 College St. $15.
Elm Slime, Elm Hive, Elm Phemale, Elm Droner
The Elm City Noise Festival concludes with performance artist/pop singer Phemale, Tick Hive, Slime Mob, The Forest Room, and Parlay Droner, 9 p.m. at Three Sheets, 372 Elm St. Free.
X Marks a Change
The Yale Film Society and the university’s Religion and Social Change Film series screens, then discusses, Spike Lee’s 1992 biodrama Malcolm X. 7 p.m. at the Whitney Humanities Center, 53 Wall St.
Sunday, Sept. 20
Organ Keys
The latest Great Organ Music at Yale concert stars Renée Anne Louprette, playing works by Marais, Vierne, Islor, and others 7:30 p.m. at Woolsey Hall, 500 College St. (203) 432‑5062. Free.
Peace Garden
The 10th annual International Day of Peace festival, held from noon to 5 p.m. in the West River section of town, offers live music, poetry readings, food, activities for kids, information booths for local non-profits, and peace. It’s in the park area known as the United Nations Peace Garden, where Ella T. Grasso Boulevard, Legion Avenue, and Martin Luther King Boulevard intersect. Performers include Boogie Chillun, I.N.I.T.Y., Kode Red, Baub Bidon, Samantha Boisvert, the Nation Drill and Drum Team, and numerous poets and speakers.
He Gets High
Ky-Mani Marley, one of the many sons of Bob (whom he references on his mid-‘90s album Like Father Like Son and hit single “Dear Dad”), performs 9 p.m. at Toad’s Place, 300 York St. (203) 624-TOAD. $30, $25 in advance.
The International Paper Theater Performance at the Fair Haven School Performance. There is parking next to the school. Performers and designers have won international prizes. Pay what you can.