Arts in brief

Peter Mulvey performs today

American singer-songwriter Peter Mulvey performs at 7:30 p.m. today at Bunnell Street Arts Center. A frequent visitor to Homer, Mulvey has built a strong audience here over the last 20 years. Tickets are $24 in advance and $28 at the door, available at Bunnell or bunnellarts.org. Of his latest album, “Silver Ladder,” Gavin Martin of Uncut writes, “The eclectic range of Mulvey’s tireless past pays handsome dividends on this stylistically sweeping, LA-recorded album. … Mulvey’s troubled visions attain striking clarity.”

Marimba Madness is March 4

The Homer Council on the Arts sponsors Marimba Madness, its annual celebration of African marimba music, on March 4. The show starts with a rum tasting at 6 p.m. followed by music starting at 7:10 p.m. Rum specialists from Odom Distributing will guide a tasting of five complex, top-shelf rums. Light snacks also will be provided. Vheneka Marimba, Homer’s youth ensemble, starts the evening followed by Shamwari Marimba Ensemble, Homer’s traveling marimba ambassadors, and Tamba! Hadzi, Homer’s all-women musical powerhouse following.

During the break in action, take a chance to win two nights at Otter Cove, a $600 value. The prize includes round trip water taxi and A guided kayak trip for two. This will be an evening to bring you out of the winter doldrums and into an uplifting frame of mind. Tickets are $50 in advance (including show) for the rum tasting, $15 general admission, $10 HCOA members and $5 youth, available at HCOA, the Homer Bookstore and homerart.org.

Writers’ conference registration opens

Registration has opened for the 2017 Kachemak Bay Writers’ Conference, to be held June 9-13 at Land’s End Resort. Presented by the Kachemak Bay Campus, the conference features 18 award-winning, nationally recognized authors, editors and agents who present writing workshops, readings, craft talks and panel presentations. This year’s keynote presenter is Pulitzer Prize novelist, poet and essayist Jane Smiley.

The conference’s early registration fee is $395 and includes meals and workshops. The deadline for early registration is May 1. There is a special UA admitted student rate. Advanced registration is required. For program and registration information, visit writersconference.homer.alaska.edu.

Other national and Alaska presenting and visiting writers are Richard Chiappone, Kevin Clark, Kate Carroll de Gutes, Erin Coughlin Hollowell, David Huddle, Brendan Jones, Thomas Larson, Nancy Lord, Linda Martin, Rebecca McClanahan, Nina McConingley, Don Rearden, Susan Fox Rogers, Rachel Rose, Peggy Shumaker, Dan Smethanka and Jane von Mehren. Optional activities include manuscript reviews, editor-agent consultations, receptions, a boat cruise and open mic. Evening readings on June 13-13 by visiting writers will be open to the public at no charge. A special post-conference writing workshop also will be held across Kachemak Bay at Tutka Bay Lodge for conference registrants.

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