Welcome back to The To-Do List, where Daily Memphian staffers highlight can’t-miss events and fun activities heading into the weekend. 

This week’s listing of events is burning hot. In some cases, literally. 

Earth, Wind & Fire at Live at the Garden, Thursday:

They will be exactly a month late, but the “21st night of September” will still sound fine on the 21st of October, even though Memphis-born band founder Maurice White passed away in 2016. Perhaps the most beloved of 1970s-launched R&B acts, Earth, Wind & Fire still has White’s younger brother, Verdine, on bass and Philip Bailey on vocals. A sure shot. Memphis Botanic Garden. 7:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $50. See here for more information. — Chris Herrington

Carlos Evans, a filmmaker from Germany, stands on the stage of the Playhouse on the Square to present his film pitch during Indie Memphis' Black Filmmakers Pitch Rally during the 2018 Indie Memphis Film Festival. (Houston Cofield/Daily Memphian).

2021 Indie Memphis Film Festival, through Monday:

The 24th Indie Memphis Film Festival began on Wednesday night and continues Monday, with live screenings at venues such as the Crosstown Theater, Playhouse on the Square and Circuit Playhouse and the Malco Summer Drive-In. Among the higher-profile screenings still on the docket are international Cannes prize-winners “Drive My Car” and “Memoria,” documentary profiles “Larry Flynt for President” and “Listening to Kenny G” and a memorial screening of late filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles’ counterculture landmark “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song.” I’ve got a full “viewer’s guide” to the festival here. See indiememphis.org for a full schedule and ticketing info. — Herrington

Anastasia Mak, an artist from Chicago, shows Walter and Leticia Arnold some of her paintings for sale at RiverArtsFest on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. Artists from all over the country showed up to peddle their latest wares at the two-day festival. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian)

RiverArtsFest at Renasant Convention Center, Saturday and Sunday:

The area’s largest and longest-running fine arts festival moves from Riverside Drive to the refurbished Renasant Convention Center due to the ongoing Cobblestone Landing project. In addition to featuring art for sale from local, regional and national artists, this lowkey event includes fused glass, woodturning and metalsmithing demonstrations; a children’s interactive art station and several live music performances. Single-day tickets are $5 for children 6-12 and $1o for adults; two-day adult tickets are $15. The festival will be held 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Click here for more information. — Elle Perry

Spree Wilson is performing in Memphis soon. (Submitted)

Spree Wilson at The Green Room at Crosstown Arts, Saturday:

For a good time, check out Nashville-native, Atlanta-based singer/songwriter Spree Wilson performing five songs (“Counterfeit,” “Nena,” “The Spark,” “Last Call for Sad Goodbyes” and “Where Were You Last”) with a quartet of Memphis Symphony Orchestra musicians. You can see a preview of my personal favorite, “Counterfeit,” right here. Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 the day of the show. Doors open at 7 p.m., the show starts at 7:30 p.m. Click here for more information. — Perry

The Dixon Gallery & Gardens Art on Fire in 2019. (Courtesy Dixon/Ziggy Mack)

Art on Fire at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens, Saturday:

Fall in Memphis means cool(er) temps; it also means listening to music and noshing on local food and drinks in front of a bonfire at the Dixon. One of Memphis’ most awaited annual events, Art on Fire includes an auction and art sale. Proceeds benefit the museum’s art and horticulture programs. While this event is not free, museum admission is through the end of the year. So take advantage of it. Tickets start at $60 (for Dixon members) and go up to $250 for VIP. 7 p.m. Click here for more information. — Perry

The Memphis Listening Lab, on Wednesday, July 7, 2021. (Mark Weber/The Daily Memphian)

“Where the Devil Don’t Stay” book signing and discussion at Memphis Listening Lab, Saturday:

A Rhodes College graduate who started his writing career penning record and book reviews for The Memphis Flyer and Commercial Appeal, respectively, Stephen Deusner returns to town to discuss his new book “Where the Devil Don’t Stay: Traveling the South with the Drive-By Truckers.” Deusner’s novel approach is to tackle the career of the signature Southern rock band of the past two decades (and change) not chronologically, but geographically, organized around the places the band writes about and which has most influenced their music. Among the book’s nine chapters: “Memphis, Tennessee.” Burke’s Book Store, in Cooper-Young, is sponsoring the event, which will be held at the Memphis Listening Lab, inside Crosstown Concourse. Deusner’s first editor from the old days at the Flyer — that would be me — will be moderating the discussion and Q&A. 3-5 p.m., free. See here for more info. — Herrington

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