Friday, March 6
In addition to all the visual art, there’s plenty of great performing art happening in Portland’s Arts District tonight. Acorn Productions and the Maine Charitable Mechanic Association celebrate their new partnership with a showcase at the Mechanics Hall Ballroom (519 Congress St.) featuring short performances by neo-Vaudevillians Dark Follies, the Naked Shakespeare ensemble, improv-comedy group Running With Scissors, physical comedian Michael Trautman and others, at 6 p.m. Free. acorn-productions.org. After that, you can take a few steps west to Empire (575 Congress St.), where the highly acclaimed Irish pop-rock band Pugwash returns for a gig opened by Rick Murnane and An Overnight Low at 10 p.m. Tix: $7 (21+). 747-5063. portlandempire.com. Or walk east a few steps to Port City Music Hall (504 Congress St., Portland) for Girls Rock!, an estrogen-heavy evening of tunes, presented by the Maine Academy of Modern Music, that features The Box Tiger and numerous younger groups and performers, including the Maine Youth Rock Orchestra’s String Quartet. Starts at 6 p.m. (all ages). Tix: $10-$12 ($20 preferred seating). 956-6000. portcitymusichall.com.