DO Delaware: Indie rock's night of stars at 1984, plus a plan for your Thanksgiving Eve

The News Journal

WATCH

“Back to the Future,” the beloved ‘80s sci-fi film starring Michael J. Fox, will return to the big screen for one night only at Penn Cinema Riverfront & IMAX (401 S Madison St, Wilmington) this weekend.

The ongoing Movies on Tap series, which pairs local breweries with cult classic films, will be held Friday night.

The night will combine Marty McFly and Doc Brown with beers from Delmar-based 3rd Wave Brewing Co. with all proceeds going to The Michael J. Fox Foundation.

Beer tastings start at 6:30 p.m. with the movie starting 35 minutes later. The $20 ticket cost includes beer and popcorn.

GO

Sometimes the stars just align perfectly. If you’re a Delaware indie rock fan, Friday night will be one of those times.

Four must-see local, original bands will share the stage at Wilmington’s 1984 (2511 W. Fourth St.) starting at 9 p.m.

The night marks the return of Scantron, led by James Everhart, who left Philadelphia’s Low Cut Connie over the summer and has been performing with his old Scantron buddies in recent months.

The bill also includes the soulful sounds of indie blues act Hoochi Coochi, which is now based in Wilmington after getting their start in Dover.

Wilmington indie rock queen Grace Vonderkuhn is also playing, sure to draw a big crowd as always. Rock trio Eyebawl rounds out the bill fronted by singer/guitarist Erin Silva backed by drummer Brian “Octie” Bruce (Gozer, Fiancé) and bassist Tyler Yoder (Milieu Lust, Fiancé).

It will be the best $5 you’ve spent in a long time.

PARTY

Thanksgiving Eve is upon us. Wilmington will be hosting several concerts that will give the party night a lively shot, whether you’re looking for reggae grooves, danceable rockabilly or extended jams. Here are a few options ...

Spokey Speaky at Stitch House Brewery (829 Market St.): The Wilmington reggae trio — a staple of the city’s annual People’s Festival : A Tribute To Bob Marley — will bring a rare live show to the downtown brewery. Starting at 10 p.m., the expansive Stitch House will be filled with the sounds of summer. And since the brewery is so large, complete with communal tables, it’s a perfect spot to land on a busy night like Thanksgiving Eve without worrying about space. Free.

Bones Brigade at Nomad (905 N. Orange St.): If you’re looking for a bit of a more jam-packed experience, Nomad will likely be flooded with jam fans to see Pat Kane’s Bones Brigade, which covers both Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia Band tunes. The four piece is led by Kane on vocals and guitar, backed by Cole Petrillo (guitar, vocals), Dalton Gills (bass) and Kevin McCabe (drums). They start at 9 at the under-the-radar jazz club. Free.

The Bullets at Oddity Bar (500 Greenhill Ave.): The Bullets’ weekly Thursday night residency at Oddity gets bumped up a night due to the holiday. Singer/guitarist Michael Davis will break out another night of rockabilly originals and covers — a show that usually has the crowd on their feet and dancing. The music usually starts a little after 9. $5.

Steal Your Peach with The Blues Reincarnation Project at The Queen (500 N. Market St.): The Philadelphia-area Allman Brothers/Grateful Dead mash-up cover band Steal Your Peach returns to The Queen and this time, they have young Newark blues trio The Blues Reincarnation Project opening. The act is led by perpetually-smiling guitarist Jeffrey Attakorah, who landed in Delaware at the age of 12 after growing up in Ghana. What led him to guitar? He picked one up after watching the Jonas Brothers’ Disney show “Jonas” and has been hooked ever since. Stay alert, he likes to wander into the crowd and shred right in front of your face. It kicks off at 7 p.m. Advance tickets — $15 — can be scooped up at thequeenwilmington.com.

PLAY

The Winter Wonderfest in Lewes is ready to light the lights and welcome guests Sunday.

The attraction features light displays along a 1.5-mile stretch through Cape Henlopen State Park, best seen while driving through the park while snug as a bug in your car.

Over the years Wonderfest has grown, and now includes an entire Christmas Village at the Cape May Ferry Terminal Grounds. We’re talking carnival rides, games, Santa’s workshop, fire pits, live music, a Crooked Hammock Lodge, and did we mention the ice skating? The Delaware Ice Rink is an 80-by-90-foot rink with real ice to glide around, surrounded by the holiday merriment.

Christmas Village attractions and the light spectacular are open from 5 to 10 p.m. and open Saturday.

The drive through the lights starts at $15 to $20 per vehicle for up to seven passengers; the price goes up for buses or vans. Costs for the Christmas Village attractions vary, and ice skating is $8 to $10 per session.

For more information, visit wonderfestde.org.

PARTY

It’s that time of year again when Dogfish Head combines their love of beer and music into one big festival: Analog-A-Go-Go. Even though there will be three bands and seven cask beers specially made just for the two-day event, the biggest star just might be one of those brews.

Dogfish teamed up with Dewey Beer Co. and Wyoming’s Fifer Orchards to make a beer using fresh-out-of-the-oven apple cider doughnuts — combining the sweet seasonal Delaware favorite with two of the beach’s best breweries. Other special brews include a bourbon barrel-aged Palo Santo Marron, Horchata Cream Ale (a golden cream ale brewed with rice, lactose, cinnamon and vanilla), Raspberry Truffle Stout (milk stout with cocoa nibs and raspberries) and a golden ale called Invisible Ink.

It kicks off Friday with the release of the doughnut beer and a 10 p.m. performance by Philadelphia-based indie pop act Japanese Breakfast at the brewery’s downtown Rehoboth Beach brewpub (320 Rehoboth Ave.) The event is free.

On Saturday, the tastings (both beer and spirits) start at 11 a.m. and run until 4 p.m. at the brewery in Milton (500 Off Centered Way). It costs $20 and includes 10 samples, allowing you to choose between seven beers and two distillery options.

If you’re not an alcohol-drinker, it’s $10. Kids ages 12 and younger are free to enter.

Buy tickets in advance at dogfish.com.