Writer’s in the know about where to go for music

A few weeks ago, I was sitting at a local food-and-beverage establishment, enjoying a frosty cold, locally brewed pint of ale, when a random fellow approached me to ask about some local bands and upcoming shows he should check out.

Not only was I taken aback that someone actually recognized me (I’m famous! In Bangor! Ha!), but I also was stunned to hear myself rattling off a list of bands, where they’re playing, and what the bar, club or theater is like. On any given day, I know what’s happening in most towns in Maine, as far as music and nightlife goes, and whatever I don’t know, I’m probably trying to find out more about it.

Now, I’m not saying you should trust me. All I’m saying is that if you’re at a loss for what to do on a particular night, you can ask me. I’ve got nothing but good intentions, even if the aforementioned fellow suddenly got up in my business and asked for my number, and I made some lame excuse about having to take my pet chinchilla to the vet for an emergency colonoscopy. But I digress.

Here are some suggestions for musical happenings over the next month or two.

Colby College in Waterville presents two hip-hop heavy hitters at 7 p.m. tomorrow, May 13, in the Wadsworth Gymnasium; rapper Talib Kweli and the duo Blackalicious. Kweli’s socially conscious solo albums have garnered him critical acclaim, and he’s best known as half of Black Star (the other half is Mos Def), as well as for his collaborations with Kanye West and the Black Eyed Peas. Blackalicious features Gift of Gab and Chief Xcel, both of whom co-founded Quannum Projects, a record label that helped create today’s underground hip-hop scene.

The Space Gallery in Portland boasts an eclectic and challenging lineup; on Thursday, May 18, the Japanese psychedelic collective known as Acid Mothers Temple makes a rare U.S. appearance. The band combines the dense riffage of heavy metal and prog-rock with electronic flourishes and improvisational freak-outs. Later on, the Space will host a Middle Eastern night at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 26, featuring Turkish and Arabic musicians from Portland and Boston.

Local 188, an art gallery and venue with a fabulous tapas bar in Portland, will host a cult hero of American folk music, Michael Hurley, at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 14. He’ll perform with Tara Jane O’Neil and avant-garde songwriter Samara Lubelski. At 8 p.m. June 11, Micah Blue Smaldone performs blues-folk songs from his latest album, “Hither and Thither,” released last winter by local label North East Indie.

Maine indie collective Seekonk, which features the delicate vocal stylings of singer Sarah Ramey, will play a 21+ show at the chic new Portland nightspot, the White Heart Lounge, on Monday, June 26, with Buffalo, N.Y., rockers Knife Crazy. Elsewhere, the Big Easy Blues Club, also in Portland, will host As Fast As’s CD release party for its new album, “Open Letter to the Damned,” with an all-ages show at 7 p.m. and a 21+ show at 10 p.m. Wednesday, May 31. Back at the Space Gallery, up and coming jam-pop singer and guitarist Matt Costa will play Thursday, July 6.

Remember that Nine Inch Nails show at the Cumberland County Civic Center originally scheduled for February? After Trent Reznor got a nasty case of the sniffles, he had to reschedule for June 21, thus gaining two new openers: electro-rock queen Peaches and goth godfathers Bauhaus. Well, now goth Mainers have another reason to mope: Bauhaus has dropped off that date, leaving only Peaches.

Closer to home, the legendary Willie Nelson will play two shows in the area; the first at the Augusta Civic Center on Sunday, May 21, and again at the Bangor Auditorium on Tuesday, May 23, with Allman Brothers Band guitarist Dickey Betts. The Grand Theatre will host songwriter Shawn Mullins, best known for his late ’90s hit “Lullabye,” at 8 p.m. June 24.

Geno’s is one of Portland’s longest running rock clubs, and it’s celebrating another year of hosting local and regional bands with an anniversary weekend starting at 9 p.m. May 20 with the Pontiffs, the Joe Mazzari Band and Mink Wilde and the Gentleman Callers, and continuing through May 21 with a 9 p.m. King Memphis show. A full schedule is available at www.myspace.com/genosrockclub. All shows there are 21+.

But if you just want to dance, then Saturday, June 10, would be the day to head down to Bubba’s Sulky Lounge in Portland, famed for its light-up dance floor and collection of vintage lunchboxes decorating the walls. Brick City Media (www.brickcitymedia.com), a Maine electronic music label, will showcase some of its finest DJs, including local mainstays Lostsatellite, Jason Keith and j.hjort, and Lord Bass, host of the region’s longest running electronic radio show, Trancelab, on the University of New Hampshire’s WUNH. The 21+ event starts at 9 p.m.

Ticket/cover charge information:Space Gallery and Colby College tickets can be purchased at Bull Moose Music locations. Cumberland County Civic Center, Augusta Civic Center and Bangor Auditorium tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster. Grand Theatre tickets can be bought at www.grandonline.org. All other shows, call ahead of time: Big Easy Blues Club, 871-8817; Bubba’s Sulky Lounge, 828-0549; Geno’s, 772-7891; Local 188, 761-7909; The White Heart Lounge, 828-1900. Shows are all ages unless otherwise noted. Emily Burnham can be reached at eburnham@bangordailynews.net.