Welcome back to The To-Do List, where Daily Memphian staffers suggest their favorite events and activities for the coming week. 

This week, Memphis Listening Lab turns four, art pairs with wine at the Brooks and there’s ballroom dancing on the Bluff.

Refined Palettes: Art and Wine Pairing at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Thursday:

There’s nothing better than a trip to the art museum. Actually, there’s nothing better than a trip to the museum and a glass of wine. The Brooks Museum of Art gives you exactly that on Thursday night, as sommelier and art history buff Jake Smith walks through three artworks that pair with three wines. There’s no better way to educate your mind and your palate. 5-7 p.m. $48.31-$58.82. 1934 Poplar Ave. Click here for more information. — Kelsey Bowen

Whet Thursdays: Ballroom on the Bluff at the Metal Museum, Thursday:

On the last Thursday of the year’s warmer months, the Metal Museum has free admission after 5 p.m. Visitors can experience live music, food trucks, metalsmithing demos and hands-on activities. The bonus is that each Whet Thursday has a theme. This month is Ballroom on the Bluff, which features ballroom-dancing lessons. Cat’s Ballroom Dancing instructors will teach basic steps to beginners and old pros. For the hands-on activities, guests will make wire-wrapped pendants and leaf-wire figures. The food truck is Say Cheese, and The Tipsy Tumble will provide drinks for purchase. 5-8 p.m. Free admission. 374 Metal Museum Drive. Click here for more info. — Elle Perry

‘El’ at Crosstown Theater, Thursday:

Spanish filmmaker Luis Bunuel worked across countries (including Mexico and Spain) and decades (from 1929’s “Un Chien Andalou” to 1961’s “Viridiana” to 1972’s “The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie”) in modes often surreal, satirical and confrontational. This 1953 Mexican film is among his more highly regarded but lesser-seen works. Sometimes titled “This Strange Passion,” it’s about a jealous husband whose controlling instincts become a kind of “parody of machismo,” per critic Jonathan Rosenbaum. Part of the Crosstown Arts Film Series. 7 p.m., $5. See here for more info. — Chris Herrington

‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou’ at Pink Palace Museum, Thursday:

From left to right: Eli Berry, Josh Cannon and Nate Packard are the cofounders of Slowdown Cinema Club. The next Slowdown screening is Thursday, June 26. (Courtesy Slowdown Dry Goods)

This is director Wes Anderson’s fictionalized 2004 riff on sea explorer Jacques Cousteau, with Bill Murray in the title role. A kind of makeshift family story, the supporting cast includes Owen Wilson, Willem Dafoe, Anjelica Huston and Cate Blanchett. This is the second selection in the new Slowdown Cinema Club series. 7:30 p.m., $18.75. See here for more info. — Herrington

Eggy at Overton Park Shell, Thursday:

Eggy is at the Overton Park Shell on Thursday, June 26. (Couresy Overton Park Shell)

Connecticut indie jam band Eggy was founded in 2016. Alex Bailey (drums, vocals), Jake Brownstein (guitar, vocals), Mike Goodman (bass, vocals) and Dani Battat (keys, vocals) comprise the quartet. The band released its debut “Watercolor Days” in 2019 and a follow-up album (“Waiting Game”) in late 2024. 7:30-9 p.m. Free admission. 1928 Poplar Ave. Click here for more info. — Perry

Celtic Crossing’s 20th anniversary celebration at Celtic Crossing, Thursday-Sunday:

Celtic Crossing celebrates 20 years with four days of music beginning Thursday, June 26. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian file)

Celtic Crossing turning 20 is a sign that I’ve been in Memphis too long. I remember when that bar was called the Glass Onion (and my then-boyfriend worked in the kitchen). That bar didn’t last long, but lucky for fans of Guinness and fish ’n’ chips, Celtic did. (Slainte to that!) The anniversary party offers discounts on those two aforementioned menu items, plus four days of music, starting Thursday with Rusty Lemmon, one of the first bands to play Celtic back in the day. Subsequent days bring music from Eric Webb, Gypsy Road and more. Various times. See here for the music schedule. — Bianca Phillips

Memphis Listening Lab 4-year birthday party, Friday:

The Memphis Listening Lab celebrates four years on Friday, June 27. (Courtesy Logan Schaal)

The Memphis Listening Lab is a staple of music culture in this city. If you’ve never been, listen to this (eh?): Once upon a time, there was a really cool guy named John King who collected thousands of records and CDs. He eventually donated this trove of music memorabilia to form MLL’s library. Then, some other cool Memphians built the optimal sound room, designed for an ideal musical experience. This is the “listening” bit. That “lab” part comes from the production space and equipment MLL offers for free, meaning anyone who can fill out an online reservation can create music. For four years, MLL has provided a place for musicians, DJs, appreciators and others. It’s a testament to the musical roots of the city’s culture. So, yeah, let’s celebrate that! Plus, they’ll will have cake from Lucy J’s Bakery and beer from Clarksdale, Mississippi-based Red Panther Brewing Co. Guest DJ Jeff Kollath will be spinning! 3-5 p.m. Free. 1350 Crosstown Ave., Suite 269. Click here for more info. — Bowen

Outlaw Music Festival at Memphis Botanic Garden, Friday:

Musician Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival is coming to Memphis on Friday, June 27. (Susan Walsh/AP file)

For the 10th anniversary tour of his Outlaw Music Festival, country icon Willie Nelson brings the party to Memphis. The festival, presented by the Mempho folks, features folk legend Bob Dylan, Americana band Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, bluegrass/folk group Trampled By Turtles and country/soul singer-songwriter Tami Neilson. 3-11 p.m. $89-$405-plus. Read more about the fest in our June concert guide, and find tickets here. — Perry

Dog Social at the Brewery at Memphis Made Brewing, Friday:

There’s a dog party at Memphis Made Brewing on Friday, June 27. (Lucy Garrett/The Daily Memphian file)

Dogs are always welcome on Memphis brewery patios, but most times, the brewery has more to offer the human. This event is literally for the dogs though. West Tennessee K9 is hosting a “dog social,” and guests are encouraged to bring their dogs for a little butt-sniffing meet-and-greet in the Ravine. Sure, it’s hot, but pups are allowed inside the taproom, too. The Memphis Snake Doctors will provide the tunes. 6-8 p.m. Free. 16 S. Lauderdale St. More info here. — Phillips

Mak Ro at Overton Park Shell, Friday:

Mak Ro will play the Overton Park Shell on Friday, June 27. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)

Mak Ro takes its name from the names of Filipino American cousins Eric Makapugay (multi-instrumentalist) and Kristoffer Ruaro (lead vocals). Both write and produce. Mak Ro started writing original music in 2016 but didn’t begin recording their music until 2019. The R&B/soul group released a debut album, “Love in the Dark,” in October. 7:30-9 p.m. Free admission. 1928 Poplar Ave. Click here for more info. — Perry

Artist talk with Justin Tyler Bryant and Carl E. Moore at Sheet Cake Gallery, Saturday:

Justin Tyler Bryant and Carl E. Moore are both featured in Sheet Cake’s “Summer Break” exhibition, which explores Southern summers. They’ll both give an artist talk on Saturday. Bryant received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and a Master of Fine Arts from Louisiana State University. He attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. He is an assistant professor of visual art at Philander Smith University in Little Rock. His paper and fresco works explore Afrofuturism. Moore, a Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts graduate of Memphis College of Art, explores identity and social perception through color and composition. His murals and paintings can be found throughout Memphis. 1 p.m. Free admission. 405 Monroe Ave. Click here for more info. — Perry

Sleep Theory at Minglewood Hall, Saturday:

Sleep Theory will play Minglewood Hall on Saturday, June 28. (Courtesy Sleep Theory)

Sleep Theory is a Memphis band with more than two million monthly listeners on Spotify. The band released its debut album “Afterglow” on May 16. Vocalist Cullen Moore, guitarist Daniel Pruitt, bassist Paolo Vergara and drummer Ben Pruitt comprise the band, which blends metalcore, pop and R&B. Appropriately, Sleep Theory ends its “The Afterglow” tour with this Memphis stop. Opening acts include Tampa, Florida-based hip-hop/nu-metal/alternative band Nevertel; Queens, New York rock/rap band Oxymorron; and Dallas pop-metal band Stray View. 6 p.m. doors, 7 p.m. show. Ticket prices vary. 1555 Madison Ave. — Perry

‘How to Survive a Plague’ at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Sunday:

In these days of pre-exposure prophylaxis (aka PrEP) meds, it’s easy for younger generations to forget the devastation — and resulting homophobia — caused by the AIDS crisis in the 1980s. This documentary chronicles the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community during those days, and it shares personal stories from those on the frontlines through organizations like ACT UP. After the screening, Seth Davis, a professor from LeMoyne-Owen College, will lead a discussion about the film. 2-4 p.m. $5. 1934 Poplar Ave. Click here for more info. — Phillips

David Ryan Harris at The Green Room at Crosstown Arts, Sunday:

David Ryan Harris will play The Green Room at Crosstown Arts on Sunday, June 29. (Courtesy Crosstown Arts)

Longtime guitarist for John Mayer and solo singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist David Ryan Harris will share songs and stories in his “An Intimate Night with David Harris” show. Harris was frontman for Atlanta rock band Follow For Now and has been a member of the rock trio Brand New Immortals. Harris has collaborated with former Arrested Development singer Dionne Farris, India.Arie, Hootie & the Blowfish and Dave Matthews. His music spans folk, R&B and acoustic soul. 6 p.m. doors, 6:30 p.m. show. $20 advance, $30 door. 1350 Concourse Ave. — Perry

Editor’s note: Kevin McEniry — a member of the board of Memphis Fourth Estate, the nonprofit that owns and operates The Daily Memphian — is founder and master producer of the Mempho Festival and Mempho Presents.

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