Jazz/classical, singer-songwriter, “kindie” and some juke-joint blues is what I’ve got up my sleeve for you this week.

And speaking of blues, I finally made it to the Frontier Cafe in Brunswick last week for a live show, and found the performance space be an intimate, comfortable listening room. I’ll be back there for sure, maybe even tomorrow night to see my favorite bluesman, Samuel James. Get wise at www.explorefrontier.com.

Stay sunny everyone, despite the fact that we are now plunged into darkness in pretty much the middle of the day. 

Composer and trumpet player Mark Tipton, along with his jazz/classical chamber ensemble Les Sorciers Perdus, will be performing Tipton’s original score for the 1922 silent vampire film “Nosferatu” on Sunday night at Mayo Street Arts.

Les Sorciers Perdus features trumpet, bass flute, flute, violin, cello, guitar, bass and drums. This rates really high on my cool-o-meter: the screening of a famous German expressionistic horror film with live accompaniment by Tipton and six of his supremely talented musician friends. If that doesn’t give you Monday-morning watercooler bragging rights, I don’t know what does.

Les Sorciers Perdus. 8 p.m. Sunday. Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland. All ages. $10. www.maystreetarts.org 

Elizabeth Mitchell; her husband, Daniel Littleton; and their daughter, Storey (she’s 9), are traveling the U.S. exclusively by train this fall in support of Elizabeth’s latest album, “Sunny Day” (Smithsonian Folkways).

I simply must share the quote from NPR about her: “Some of the most uplifting kids’ music out there. Mitchell is without a doubt a kindie rock star.” Yes, that’s right people, “kindie music.” Check it out at youaremyflower.org/home.html.

It’s music for parents who like to think outside the Raffi box and are hip to the fact that there’s quite a bit of really terrific music out there that kids and their parents can both dig.

Mitchell’s been playing music since 1998, and apparently has a sizable fan base, as evidenced by the fact that the 2 p.m. show is sold out and tickets are going fast for the one at 11 a.m.

Elizabeth Mitchell. 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday. Space Gallery, 538 Congress St., Portland. $12 for adults; $7 for ages 3 to 17; free for children under 3. Tickets at Bull Moose Music locations or www.brownpapertickets.com. 

Singer-songwriter Louis Grassi is concerned about depression and anxiety, and has struggled with both himself.

He’s doing something about it as the headlining act at a free benefit show tonight in Portland. Donations will be collected at the show, with all proceeds going to Youth Alternatives Ingraham (www.yimaine.org).

The Music for Mental Health Concert is being presented as an early jump-start to Mental Health Wellness Week (Nov. 14-20), and to highlight the various services and programs that YAI offers, including 774-HELP, the anonymous crisis helpline.

Come hear some terrific live music, take part in a raffle with prizes that promote healthy living, and help support the work of YAI.

Thank you, Louis, for doing your part to promote awareness and drum up financial support for this cause. Check him out online at www.louisgrassi.com.

Louis Grassi with special guests. 7 tonight. St. Pius X Parish, 492 Ocean Ave., Portland. Free/donation.

Blues slide guitarist Ted Drozdowski and his modern-day juke-joint blues band Scissormen will be setting the Venue stage on fire Friday night.

Since the group’s last time in Maine, it has traveled all over Europe, made a movie, released a live album recorded in Switzerland, and recorded a soundtrack album.

The aforementioned movie is called “Big Shoes: Walking and Talking the Blues,” the latest documentary by roots-music filmmaker Robert Mugge. See a preview at vimeo.com/channels/bigshoestrailer.

Scissormen. 9 p.m. Friday. Venue Music Bar, 865 Forest Ave., Portland. $10. All ages. www.brownpapertickets.com 

Aimsel Ponti is a Portland freelance writer. Contact her at: aimselponti@yahoo.com

 

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