Arts Devo

Something new … something Blue The Blue Room Theatre just announced its 2015-16 schedule, and Arts DEVO has to say that he is eagerly anticipating the new season. It's an impressive mix of contemporary selections, and it's noteworthy that directors already have been attached to each production, especially given the fact that many of them were members of the now-defunct Rogue Theatre (the roaming rebel crew that broke away from the Blue Room in 2007 when then-Artistic Director Joe Hilsee was let go). It's nice to see these former company members return to a place of prominence at the Blue Room and join a schedule showcasing some of the best theater minds in Chico.

Here's what/who is on tap: Stupid Fucking Bird (September), directed by Joyce Henderson; The Elephant Man (October), directed by Martin Chavira; The Other Place (December), directed by Joe Hilsee; Detroit (January/February), directed by Paul Stout; Taking Steps (February), directed by Rob Wilson; The Night Alive (March/April), directed by Amber Miller; In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play) (April/May), directed by Hilary Tellesen. Visit www.blueroomtheatre.com/guild.

Local music in bloom Three new recordings from three of Chico's favorite local acts will come out this week: Heart Nouveau, by MaMuse (CD-release Sunday, June 7, at Chico Women's Club); Rumspringa, by Furlough Fridays (Friday, June 12, at LaSalles); and Happiness, the new EP from Lisa Valentine (Saturday, June 13, at Chico Women's Club).

Stop the presses I received a last-minute missive from local garage-rock impresario Jake Sprecher about a just-booked show featuring a trio of visiting crews riding fuzzed-out reverberations all the way from SoCal to Duffy's Tavern Tuesday, June 9, at 9:30 p.m. Cosmonauts, JJUUJJUU and L.A. Witch had a Bay Area show fall through, so Chico scores a properly groovy party for a hot Chico weeknight.

Too late for investors? If I had a time machine, I'd go back to 5:45 p.m, June 1, 2015, and RSVP to the Momona Noodle + Bao Pop Up!, a backyard preview of dishes that will be featured at a new noodle and bao (steamed bun) restaurant called Momona that local rocker Michael Lee (of Surrogate and Michael Lee fame), his wife, Sarah, and their friend Mahina Gannet are opening in downtown Chico this fall. Judging by the insanely delicious-looking pictures of “Chico ramen” and fried-chicken bao on its Facebook page, I missed something amazing. I'll just be here licking my monitor until opening night.

Straddling the line 1078 Gallery is bringing Chico State MFA students into the civilian art world for Liminal, a group exhibit that opens tonight (June 4), 6-8 p.m.

Pow Wow Pals needed The Paradise Pow Wow is in trouble. In a press release, the organizers of the annual weekend festival of Native American song, dance, food and art said that they recently found out that the Gold Nugget Museum is requiring the $5,500 cost of holding the event be paid up front this year. This year's pow wow scheduled for July 11-12, but if they don't raise the money by next Thursday, June 11, they'll have to cancel. Visit www.gofundme.com/pru4p4 to donate.

Summer jams It's that time of year again when I try to devour as much new music as I can cram into my summer-lovin' ears. Please, won't you help me gorge? Email Arts DEVO your tips for summer jams. To get you in the summer mood, go listen to this brand-new, kick-ass song from The Velvet Teen (featuring Chico drum stud Casey Deitz, also of the Americas) from their forthcoming album, All Is Illusory (out June 30). It's called “Eclipses,” and the hyper, soaring track has already been featured on NPR's All Songs Considered.