Friday Lowdown Musical Highlights: Joanne Rand, Christian Martin, Darth Vader

Maybe you worked hard this week. Here:

You groove, they groove we all groove at the Arcata Theatre Lounge. Deep Groove Society presents electronic music producer and DJ Christian Martin among other beat purveyors.
Local singing/songwriting institution Joanne Rand releases her 15th album with in conjunction with a show at The Sanctuary in Arcata. Rand got a nice little bump recently in the form of a glowing review in roots music magazine No Depression which you can read here.
You've heard of this Star Wars thing, yes? Pretty big! And people seem to know the music. With that in mind, tonight at the Fulkerson Recital Hall the HSU Symphonic Band will set out to play the scores you've heard countless times, this time without the pesky movie in the way.

Details on these gatherings and others in your Lowdown listing below. —AG

EVENTS (SUBMIT YOURS!)

California Native Plant Society Spring Wildflower Show

Manila Community Center / 1-5 p.m. / Free

"An exciting, annual gathering of wildflowers (both native and non-native) and people who love them."

822-2015 / smayklein@gmail.com / Web site

Tall Ships

Bonnie Gool Dock / 4 p.m. / $3 Walk on tour

Lady Washington the official tall ship of Washington State and her companion vessel the Hawaiian Chieftain will visit the Bonnie Gool Dock and offer family-oriented Adventure, Evening and Battle Sails featuring a living history experience.

800-200-5239 / Web site

Mad Cap Variety Show

Arcata Playhouse / 7 p.m. / $12 / $10 Students and members

Features Portland performers Rhys Thomas from Juggle Mania, Stunt man and comedian Leapin Louis Lichtenstein and ace dancer/musician Shoehorn.

822-1575 / info@arcataplayhouse.org / Web site

Dead Man's Cell Phone

Gist Theater at HSU / 7:30-9 p.m. / $10 / Free HSU students (limited seating) / $8 seniors, students / 18+

"She doesn’t fall down the rabbit hole or through the looking glass. But a young woman enters her self-made Wonderland by answering the cell phone of a stranger she soon realizes is dead."

826-3928 / attentionservices@sbcglobal.net / Web site

Joanne Rand CD Release

The Sanctuary / 8 p.m.

An evening of music with songwriter-performer Joanne Rand accompanied by Rob Diggins on Violin, Tim Randalls on piano and Piet Dalmolen on electric guitar.

Mothers and Sons

Redwood Curtain Theatre / 8 p.m. / $15 / $10 Thursdays

"At turns funny and powerful, this extraordinary play portrays a woman who pays an unexpected visit to the New York apartment of her late son’s partner, who is now married to another man and has a young son."

Web site

Bat Boy: The Musical

Ferndale Repertory Theatre / 8 p.m. / $18 / $16 students/seniors 60+ / 18+

"An adult only theatrical experience, Bat Boy: The Musical was inspired by a series of tabloid headlines published in 1992 by The Weekly World News claiming that a terrifying creature, half-man and half-bat, had been discovered in a cave, escaped, and was terrorizing the local dairy farmers."

786-5483 / info@ferndalerep.org / Web site

Clown

Carlo Theatre (Dell'Arte) / 8-10 p.m. / Free / 18+

"One of Dell'Arte's most popular student performances! Character is the basis of the theatrical clown, developed by Dell'Arte's 1st year students in duos and trios, and presented for your entertainment - to be funny or die!"

668-5663 / info@dellarte.com / Web site

HSU Symphonic Band: Star Wars and More

Fulkerson Recital Hall / 8-9:30 p.m. / $8 / Free HSU students / $5 seniors, children

The Star Wars that started it all—John Williams’ original Star Wars Suite, plus a world premiere piece by Humboldt State professor Brian Post, Copland’s lyrical “Promise of Living,” Grondahl’s Trombone Concerto featuring student trombonist Craig Hull, and works by Darius Milhaud and Percy Grainger.

826-3928 / attentionservices@sbcglobal.net / Web site

The Trouble, The Honky Tonk Detours

Humboldt Brews / 9 p.m. / $5 / 21+

"The Trouble brings a literate, lyrical edge to their roots-rock foundation, fusing Americana with a visceral blend of driving rhythms, snarling guitars, sharp melodic hooks, and intuitive country harmonies. Honky Tonk Detours play vintage honky tonk and alt-country."

826-2739 / Web site

Christian Martin

Arcata Theatre Lounge / 9 p.m. / $30 / $20 adv. / 21+

"Since 1995, Christian Martin has been exploring electronic music from one end of the earth to the other; from full-moon parties in the deserts of California to the thumping, dark corners of the London club scene."

613-3030 / Web site

Watershed Regeneration and Land Restoration Training

Heartwood Institute / 8 a.m.-8 p.m. / $450 / $385 Early Bird Registration Discount

Increase your working knowledge and understanding of the complex and dynamic natural processes that shape landscapes and ecosystems. Use that information to develop a holistic design approach to water harvesting, erosion control and land restoration projects.

923-5009 / lauren@heartwoodinstitute.org / Web site

Rio Dell CRC Playgroup

See Event Description / 10 a.m.-noon / Free

764-5239 / Web site

Preschool Storytime

Fortuna Library / 10:30-11 a.m. / Free

A rotating group of storytellers entertain preschoolers and parents at Fortuna Library's ongoing weekly storytime. Ages 2-5 welcome.

725-3460 / forhuml@co.humboldt.ca.us / Web site

Backpacking the Marble Mountains

Recreation and Wellness Center, HSU Campus / 5 p.m. / $95 / $80 HSU Students

826-3357 / cntract@humboldt.edu / Web site

10th Annual Cash Bash

St. Bernard's Academy / 5:30-11:30 p.m. / 21+

Weekend Roller Skating

Eureka Municipal Auditorium / 6-8:30 p.m. / $4.50 / $5.25 Adults

502-2041 /

Anna Hamilton

Double D Steak / 6-9 p.m.

Local singer/songwriter/comedian.

725-3700 /

Murder Mystery Dinner Theater and Auction

Eureka Woman's Club / 6 p.m. / $35

The Eureka High School Players present Murder Mystery at the Murder Mystery, an evening of dinner, theater and fun. This event is a benefit for the EHS Players trip to New York City this summer.

476-1735 / vossn@eurekacityschools.org /