CIRCUS, CIRCUS

Besides the “Jerry Springer” show, where in the world can you see women leading large animals through hoops only for the promise of a big, raw steak?

Well, at the circus of course.

Eastern Maine AIDS Network has answered the public’s call for lions and tigers and bears in sponsoring the L.E. Barnes Circus in Bangor July 6-8.

L.E. Barnes Circus is believed to be the first large-scale circus in history to be named for a woman. And whoever she is, she knows how to run a circus.

This event will feature all the trappings of a traditional circus with a flare for danger. The human cannonball will soar past the daring young men and women on the flying trapeze.

This circus even has an event billed as “fighting lions in the Big Steel Arena.” Holy smokes! You want action? Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

There also will be tumblers, hand balancers, jugglers, llamas, zebras, horses, ponies and dancing camels. For the love of Mike! What more could you want?

Well, how about a sideshow with fire-eaters, magicians, the “Punch and Judy” show and a Chinese torture cabinet.

All this, and it may be your last chance to see live elephants in Maine.

The L.E. Barnes Circus will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, July 6; 2:30 and 6 p.m. Saturday, July 7; and 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Sunday, July 8. Tickets are $10 for adults and $3 for children in advance or $12 and $5 the day of the shows.

To purchase tickets, proceeds from which go to a tremendous cause, call Eastern Maine AIDS Network at 990-3626 or visit Kid Kutters, the Grasshopper Shop, Miller Drug or Patrick’s Hallmark.

WEAVING ON THE OPEN PLAIN

The annual Native American Festival and Maine Indian Basketmakers Sale will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 7, at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor.

The cultural heritage of four Maine tribes – Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot – will be represented.

Native artists will demonstrate their crafts and sell their wares, including basketry, wood carvings, birch-bark containers, beadwork, dolls and jewelry.

Storytelling, drumming, dancing and singing will also be scheduled throughout the day.

For more information, contact the Abbe Museum at 288-3519 or visit their Web site at www.abbemuseum.org.

ANYONE FOR BACON?

For years famous musicians have crossed over into cinema, somehow thinking that good looks is all it takes to make a good movie. But during the same period, the gate never has seemed to swing the other way.

So, like he did in “Footloose,” Kevin Bacon is leading the charge into formerly taboo territory.

Bacon and his brother, Michael, formed a musical act in 1994 called (oddly enough) The Bacon Brothers.

What started out as an impromptu group to play at a charity event has parlayed into a solid string of folk-rock and country tunes. While they may never go Top 40, The Bacon Brothers are more legit than novelty.

Even though Kevin Bacon still keeps a busy schedule in the acting studio (most recently “Hollow Man”) – the brothers still find time to tour, and this time around, they’re stopping in Portland.

The Bacon Brothers will perform at the State Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 18.

Tickets are $25.50 and $20.50 and all seats are reserved. For tickets, call Ticketmaster at 775-3331 or stop by the State Theatre box office, any Ticketmaster outlet or log on to www.sfx.com.

Wouldn’t it be too bad if they covered Kenny Loggins’ “Footloose” and you missed it? He was in “Tremors” for crying out loud. How many more reasons could you need? This guy is a piece of Hollywood legend.

Oh yeah, and the music is pretty darn good, too.

DON’T STOP BELIEVING

How would you feel about a concert featuring Journey and Peter Frampton?

Do you feel like we do? Would you welcome them with open arms? You’d have to have a solid excuse not to.

Journey, Frampton and special guest John Waite will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, July 7, at the CTNOW.com Meadows Music Centre in Hartford, Conn.

Between Journey and Frampton, there are enough classics to fill a solid gold double-disc set to be hawked on an infomercial, perhaps with host Alan Thicke of “Growing Pains” fame. But, we digress.

All these artists can still turn on the magic and sell out arenas. They may be a little thinner on the top and thicker in the middle, but the mastery of music that brought them to legendary status hasn’t gone away.

Need tickets? Look to www.tickets.com to show you the way.

– By Matthew Paul