• HOT TICKETS

Music and Nightlife: It takes a big band to produce EMEFE’s sound

EMEFE has had its music described as “Afrobeat mixed with the funk of Sly Stone” as well as jazz, hip hop and rock. The group certainly fills a stage, what with four horns, two guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, shekere and congas. See for yourself at One Longfellow Square.

WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday

WHERE: One Longfellow Square, 181 State St., Portland

HOW MUCH: $10 in advance; $15 at door

INFO: onelongfellowsquare.com

Art and Theater: ‘Dreamgirls’ about to take final bows

MAINE STATE MUSIC THEATRE in Brunswick ends its run of the Motown show “Dreamgirls” this weekend. If you haven’t seen it and want to, this is your last chance to put these tunes into your head for the rest of the summer.

WHEN: 2 and 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 7:30 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Maine State Music Theatre, Bowdoin College, Brunswick

HOW MUCH: $43 to $59

INFO: 725-8769; msmt.org

Dining and Drink: Taste of the Nation seriously satisfying

TASTE THE CREATIONS of 28 Maine chefs at the annual Share Our Strength Taste of the Nation dinner that fights childhood hunger. Then bid on lots of food-related auction items, including meals prepared by local chefs just for you.

WHEN: 4:30 to 8 p.m. general admission; 3 to 8 p.m. VIP ticket holders Sunday

WHERE: Wolfe’s Neck Farm, 184 Burnett Road, Freeport

HOW MUCH: General admission $125; VIP $200

INFO: ce.strength.org/portlandme

Et Cetera: It’s a juggling act, running a theater

THE FREEPORT THEATER of Awesome is a fairly new venue run by performers: Maine’s juggling-comedy-electronic gadgetry duo The Tardy Brothers. And one of the perks of running a theater is that you can book yourself to perform there. Which the Tardys have done, scheduling a show for Sunday afternoon.

WHERE: Freeport Theater of Awesome, 5 Depot St.

WHEN: 2 p.m. Sunday

HOW MUCH: $15 in advance; $18 day of show

INFO: awesometheater.com

• CHEAP THRILLS

Music and Nightlife: Restaurant staffers try to outplay each other

FOOD FIGHT! Sound good? It should, and it won’t even be messy. Food Fight is the title of a battle of the bands featuring groups formed from the staffs of area restaurants. Come out and cheer for your favorite eatery.

WHEN: 9 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Big Easy, 55 Market St., Portland

HOW MUCH: $5

INFO: bigeasyportland.com

Art and Theater: Gallery owner puts own art out there

ANDY VERZOSA is known as one of Portland’s most outgoing fine-art gallery owners. Through Sunday, Verzosa is showing his own paintings at Isaac Dyer Galleries in Gorham under the title “An Elephant in the Room.”

WHEN: Through Sunday, with a closing reception from 4 to 6 p.m.

WHERE: Isaac Dyer Galleries, 180 Fort Hill Road, Gorham

HOW MUCH: Free

INFO: 839-5466

Dining and Drink: Sample exotic brews before main event

WARM UP FOR THE WEEKEND’S beer extravaganza known as The Festival with a precursor at the Great Lost Bear. Drink from dedicated taps picked by the Shelton Brothers themselves, including Dieu du Ciel Rigor Mortis (Quadrupel from Canada); De Ranke XX Bitter (Belgian IPA); Page 24/N? ?Rhub’ (IPA from France/Norway); High and Mighty pas de Dieux (saison from Massachusetts); and Cantillion Gueze from Belgium.

WHEN: 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday

WHERE: Great Lost Bear, 540 Forest Ave., Portland

HOW MUCH: Tulip glasses priced $4.99 to $5.99

INFO: 772-0300

Et Cetera: Crafters gather on Windham green

ARTISANS ON THE Green is Windham Historical Society’s gathering of old-time crafters putting on public demonstrations. On Saturday there will be a blacksmith, a candle maker, a woodworker, a quilter, a basket maker and more.

WHERE: Windham Historical Society, 234 Windham Center Road

WHEN: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday

HOW MUCH: $5/donation; free for those under 12

INFO: windhamhistorical.org