Lit & Luz, Space Gators, Duma, and more

I think today is some sort of special occasion? Oh yeah! It’s the first day of Lit & Luz, a festival focused on art, literature, and language shared between the U.S. and Mexico. At noon, things kicked off with a virtual keynote from poet, editor, and translator Anthony Cody. From 6-7 PM, artist Balam Bartolomé will give an artist talk at the Logan Center for the Arts (915 E. 60th). He’ll be joined by visiting curator, Esteban King, to discuss themes in his creative practice, which harnesses a variety of media (sculpture, writing, photography, and more) to explore how contemporary cultural narratives are constructed and their relationships to the past. And from 6-8 PM, guest writers will share personal work as well as favorite Halloween poems at the Insect Asylum (2870 N. Milwaukee). This year’s guests include Kathleen Rooney, Robin Myers, yolanda segura, Kailah Peters, Olivia Maciel, and more. Lit & Luz runs through November 5. For a complete list of programming, check out their website. (MC)

Here are some music options for tonight with links to past coverage by our music writers: if you’re looking to finish Halloween weekend with some aural costuming, head to one of the venues where bands are keeping up the time-honored Halloween tradition of pretending to be other bands! At Sleeping Village, the Tomblands will cover Black Sabbath’s music; Space Gators are also on the bill with their swampy rock. (9 PM, 3734 W. Belmont, $5, 21+, tickets here). And at Golden Dagger, John Perrin and his band will become the Ramones, Jack Fluegel and band are playing Blondie for the evening, and the band Uncle Pigeon will morph into Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble. (8 PM, 2447 N. Halsted, $10, 21+, tickets at Ticketweb).

Other non-Halloween (but I’m sure they’ll let you in if you’re wearing a costume, just go as a paying customer) shows tonight: singer-songwriter Kevin Morby plays the Vic with opener Coco (8 PM, 3145 N. Sheffield, $30-$55, 18+, tickets at Jam’s website). At Empty Bottle, Martin Kanja and Sam Karugu of Nairobi bring their metal duo Duma to the stage; Masma Dream World and Hopeless Voyage open. (8:30 PM, 1035 N. Western, $20, 21+, tickets at Eventbrite). (SCJ)

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