As usual, there are loads and loads of cool things happening all over the area this weekend, and yours truly is pre-occupied with a magazine deadline, so this is probably a good time to remind you that THIS IS NOT A COMPLETE LIST OF EVENTS.  It’s just a starting point, so don’t expect anything complete.

Sunday from 6 PM to 9 PM we have the world premiere of a very cool documentary at The Clay Center.  HOUSE IN THE CLOUDS: The Artistic Life of Robert Singleton, will be shown on the Clay Center main stage in Charleston W.Va., on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023. The West Virginia International Film Festival presents the AmpMediaProject documentary by Douglas John Imbrogno and Bobby Lee Messer, tracing the life and times, not all of them easy ones, of notable American artist Robert Singleton, now 85, who has lived and worked on a remote West Virginia hilltop since 1978 in a house he built.

The premiere is at 7 PM, with filmgoers seated on the Clay Center main stage, in homage to the role classical music and creativity played in Robert’s tumultuous, often traumatic upbringing. The screening is preceded by a 6 PM reception in the Clay Center’s Juliet Art Museum, to view the current exhibit “The Possible Dream,” featuring one of his paintings. A Q-and-A on-stage with Robert follows the premiere. Order tickets HERE or call the box office during business hours at: 304-561-3570.

The soundtrack features a host of West Virginia-based musicians, including Spencer Elliott; dulcimer explorer Jim Probst; classical pianist Barbara Nissman (recently inducted into the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame; National Flatpick Champion Robin Kessinger and others.

For more on Singleton’s engrossing life and work—and to support the cost of completing and distributing House in the Clouds via an upcoming SEEDandSPARK crowdfunding campaign feel free to subscribe to the documentary website.

Live Music is back at Taylor Books. There is no cover charge, and shows start at 7:30 PM.  Friday Sandy Sowell and Gerry Collyard take the stage. Saturday Minor Swing brings their Djangoesque melodies to the beloved bookstore/cafe/art gallery.

Wednesday from 7 PM to 9 PM The VB4 (AKA part of The Velvet Brothers) will play at Fife Street Brewing in Downtown Charleston.

The World Famous Empty Glass Cafe has some great stuff this week  to tell you about.  Wednesday night Gabby’s Lo Fi Lounge happens at 9 PM. Thursday at 5:30 PM, Swingstein and Robin return with Swing for a good cause. Later Thursday, at 10 PM One Love Rising brings Reggae to The Glass (graphic below).  Friday Tim Courts plays during happy hour.  Later on Friday RFC faves Blue Twisted Steel play at 10 PM. Saturday we have a graphic, which you can see below. Sunday, at 7 PM Dan Spencer, Charbelle, and RFC faves Heavy Set Paw Paws play an early show, then at 10 PM it’s Empty Glass Got Talent. Next Monday it’s Open Mic Night at 9 PM.

In Dunbar, aside from the Fall Festival, at Live at The Shop, Wednesday night the musical duo Southerland takes off at 8 PM.  Thursday, at 8 PM The Dirty Grass Players with Chandler Beaverts stir things up.

Saturday The Mothman Festival happens in Point Pleasant, and all over the area, public libraries are observing Cryptid Day with special events. It’s also Batman Day, which will be celebrated at many area comic book and game shops. You can celebrate either of those days, or if you’re Kirk Langstrom, maybe both.

Please remember that the pandemic is not over yet. It’s still a going concern with the ‘rona surging again. And now there are seasonal allergies, the flu, unindicted co-conspirators, boys named Sue, miniature K-Pop musicians getting into everything and other damned good reasons to be careful. Many people who have very good reasons are still wearing masks, and many of us, understandably, are still nervous about being in crowds, masked or not. Be kind and understanding  while you’re out.

Keep in mind that all shows are subject to change or be cancelled at the last minute.

If you’re up for going out, here are a few suggestions for the weekend, roughly in order…