This Thursday night, former Razorback and current Chicago Bull Ronnie Brewer hosts a birthday party for promoter Courtney G at Deep Ultra Lounge, with DJ sets by Greyhound and g-force.
The event is also an album release party for Goines, whose newest album, “Something to Lose,” has been earning big-ups on the web. Everything gets rolling around 10 p.m.
Head to Rock Candy to hear “The Natural State,” the latest from Song+Stories, an audio series that blends documentary tape with original songs. The piece is on Arkansas earthquakes and blends clips of Faulkner County residents discussing their experiences as well as the pros and cons of the natural gas boom with a new song, written for the series, by Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy called “Mother Nature Kneels.” Hear the song at arktimes.com/mothernaturekneels.
Aug. 3 would have been Little Rock-born jazz musician Art Porter Jr.’s 50th birthday. The saxophonist died in a boating accident in Thailand in 1996.
To commemorate Porter’s life and work, Art Porter Music Education Inc., a nonprofit that provides scholarships to budding musicians, will present a week’s worth of music and events to celebrate the virtuoso musician’s life, from Aug. 1-6 at venues throughout Little Rock. See the complete schedule at arktimes.com/artporter.
Pretty Lights, the DJ name of Fort Collins, Colorado’s Derek Vincent Smith, is coming to Verizon Arena on Oct. 29. Tickets to the general admission show (a rarity at Verizon) range from $30 to $33 and go on sale on July 15 via Ticketmaster.
Early registration for this year’s Little Rock leg of the 48 Hour Film Project is now open, with early bird teams that sign up before Aug. 1 getting in for only $140 per team. The price jumps by $20 bucks after that. Register via 48hourfilm.com/littlerock.
Batesville’s Ozark Foothills FilmFest is accepting film and screenplay submissions for its 2012 festival, scheduled for March 28-April 1. Submissions must be on DVD, accompanied with a non-refundable $10 entry fee and must be received by Dec. 16. For more information, visit ozarkfoothillsfilmfest.org.