Pencil This In

By Staff in Arts & Entertainment on Jul 21, 2011 5:20PM

Etran Finatawa (Photo Credit © by Ulf Lieden)

Desert Blues From Niger

Formed in 2004 during the Festival of the Desert near Timbuktu, Mali, the music of Niger's Etran Finatawa blends the traditional music of the Woodabe and Tuareg people with western instruments such as the electric guitar. Their hypnotic musical groove evokes the breathless heat and shimmering horizon of the Sahara. Literally meaning “stars of tradition,” the band of Wodaabe and Touareg nomads bring their laid back guitars, driving rhythms and compelling voices to Mayne Stage for a night of highly innovative sound and rich performances. DJ WARP bring the solid world grooves before and after the show. (1328 W. Morse, 9 p.m., 18+, tickets available here.)

Drag Revue

Starting tonight and running every Thursday, the divas of the Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club will perform the best music of the 90s, including hits by Salt-N-Pepa, C + C Music Factory, TLC, The Spice Girls, Mariah Carey, Madonna, Deee-Light, No Doubt, Alanis Morissette, Toni Braxton, Lauryn Hill and more. Tonight also marks the debut of Kit Kat's "make Your Own Martini" menu. Those and Cruzan rum mojitos will be sold for $5. (3700 N. Halsted St., 7:30 p.m.)

Art/Discussion

Artist Barbara Hashimoto is best known these days for her "junk mail" projects, where she takes junk mail, shreds it and uses the resulting confetti. The Chicago Artist Coalition's Collectors Circle presents an evening of discussion and art at Hashimoto's Motor Row studio. Guests will also have the opportunity to take part in her "Junk Mail Video" project. (2241 S. Wabash, 6-8 p.m., $30, $15 to CAC Collectors Circle members. Click here for tickets.)

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