SLCene Suggests: 5 Tips for Your Week

Get the weekend started with one of the best arts fundraisers of the year, and a taste of some of the best food Utah has to offer, and the beginning of a multi-day benefit concert series in support of local sustainable agriculture. Check out the highlights of the weekend ahead:

Artists for Local Agriculture Benefit Concert Series, various venues, Wednesday-Sunday

A new non-profit geared to engaging the Utah community in support of sustainable, local agriculture, Artists for Local Agriculture is hosting a series of concerts along the Wasatch Front to raise money for organizations like the Utah State University Student Farm, Wasatch Community Gardens and other worthy local-ag groups. The music lineups are rock-solid, the cause a good one, and a minimum of $1 of every cover charge is going to support the movement. Here are your opportunities to support the cause AND hear some great music:

Wednesday, May 16: Jesus or Genome, Joel Pack, Utah Slim, Adam Virostka of I Am the Ocean and Trey Gardner of God’s Revolver at Poplar Street Pub in Salt Lake City.

Thursday, May 17: Gaza, Loom, Merlin’s Beard, Gunfight Fever and Cedars at The Basement in Ogden.

Friday, May 18: Day Hymns, Loom, Maraloka at Muse Music in Provo. Despite Despair, John Ross Boyce & His Troubles and God’s Revolver at ABG’s in Provo.

Saturday, May 19: Muscle Hawk, Dark Seas, Jesus or Genome and DJ Street Jesus at The Urban Lounge.

Sunday, May 20: Cornered by Zombies, Done, Cicadas and Worst Friends at The Urban Lounge.

300 Plates fundraiser and exhibit, Art Access Gallery, Thursday, 6 p.m., $30

The 300 Plates fundraiser is one of the cooler arts-related benefits of the year. Not only is it a great cause–every painting bought helps support Art Access’ mission to bring art to communities like special-needs children and the elderly–but it’s a great party as well. More than 100 local artists, from new voices to established contemporary-art superstars take part in providing original works on 11″ X 10″ metal plates, and you can find everything from delicate landscapes to striking (sometimes disturbing) images. The show will stay up for a month at the Art Access Gallery, but you can have one of the paintings in your own home if you hit the party on Thursday.

One of the 300 Plates original pieces available at the Art Access fundraiser Thursday, May 17.

Tastemakers, downtown Salt Lake City, Thursday & Friday, 5-10 p.m., $30

Salt Lake magazine puts together this dining tour of downtown Salt Lake City, and for $30, it’s hard to beat the price. That ticket will get you samples from a slew of fine eateries, including Bambara, Silver, Cafe Molise and others. There’s a pavilion set up in the parking lot east of Squatters (another participating restaurant), where you can eat and drink in close quarters, but you can also wander downtown and try places like J. Wong’s, Pallet and Naked Fish. Check out the Website to get the full list of participants. Also, your ticket is good for both nights, so you’re looking at dinner from some of Utah’s best food spots–twice–for a mere $30.

Living Traditions Festival, Salt Lake City & County Building, Friday-Sunday, free

The Living Traditions Festival is one of Salt Lake City’s signature cultural events, a celebration of how diverse Utah is, despite our rep as a lily-white, homogenous place. Food from a variety of Utah’s ethnic populations is certainly one highlight of the thing, and this year new groups serving American soul food, Nepalese and Turkish cuisine are on board for the first time. You’ll find me delving into some deep-fried catfish and dirty rice for sure. The entertainment is just as diverse as the culinary highlights: Friday night you can catch Chilean hip-hop princess Ana Tijoux and the Mexican Institute of Sound, who are often compared to a Mexican LCD Soundsystem. Saturday night, it’s American R&B royalty in the form of Detroit’s Bettye LaVette, and Sunday night, bluesman Charlie Musselwhite brings his stunning harmonica skills to the stage. There are plenty of local dance and music groups performing as well, so be sure to peep the full schedule at the Living Traditions Website.

Bettye LaVette, headlining at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at the Living Traditions Festival.

Trampled by Turtles, The Depot, Saturday, 9 p.m., $20

Touring in support of their new Stars and Satellites album, Minnesota bluegrass cats Trampled by Turtles are stepping up to a larger venue this time around after previous visits to SLC brought them to The Urban Lounge. Clearly, their sound has struck a chord with a mixed bag of bluegrass traditionalists, jam-band fans and rockers. And probably a few Twin Cities expats, to be sure.

Trampled by Turtles headline Saturday, May 19, at The Depot.