PREVIEW PICKS
Shemekia Copeland and “Nonplus” are favorites.
1. Shemekia Copeland
The career of singer Shemekia Copeland has been a joy to track over 20-plus years. The daughter of Texas blues legend Johnny Copeland, Shemekia always possessed a formidable voice that perfectly fit the form of the music. But starting a decade or so ago with “Never Going Back,” Copeland has pushed out in adventurous ways with wonderful returns. Her new album is “Uncivil War,” a mix of blues, soul and acoustic roots music that reflects our current cultural crises but with her music serving as plea for unity. Guests include the legendary guitarist Steve Cropper, young phenom Christone “Kingfish” Ingram and Jason Isbell.
Where: Streaming services and music retail.
Andrew Dansby
2. ‘The Great British Baking Show’
This reality-TV competition featuring amateur bakers dates back to 2010, so it’s nobody’s idea of a hot new TV tip. That said, during tumultuous times, it has provided something of a comfortable safe place to disappear an hour at a time. There are stressful peaks here and there — burned fingers, dropped puddings — yet the tone throughout this show is strangely soothing, despite the stakes. And for those who need a little violence, 2012 contestant John Whaite’s rubber glove full of blood proved startling.
Where: Streaming on PBS and Netflix.
Andrew Dansby
3. Big Night at the Museum
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum has put together Big Night at the Museum, a fundraising concert that will merge the music genre’s past and present as some young players will use older instruments fromthe Hall’s collection. Marty Stuart will host the event that has a few East Texas connections. Longview native
Miranda Lambert (pictured) will perform “That’s the Way the World Goes ’Round,” a song written by the late, great John Prine, while playing Prine’s guitar. Houston native Rodney Crowell will duet with Emmylou Harris on “Love Hurts,” penned by Boudleaux and Felice Bryant, with Crowell playing Boudleaux’s guitar. Beaumont native and songwriting legend Bob McDill will have his song “Don’t Close Your Eyes” performed by Tim McGraw (Keith Whitley made the song a hit in the ’80s). And Lucinda Williams, a Houston mainstay in the 1980s, will perform Johnny Cash’s “I Still Miss Someone” while playing Cash’s guitar.
Where: 8 p.m. Oct. 28 at youtube.com/user/countrymusichof
Andrew Dansby
4. ‘Nonplus’
What if guys could get pregnant? Would our empathy toward bodies and our fragile world evolve? Houston artist Yue Nakayama offers images for thought with “Nonplus,” a large-scale video installation and sculptural intervention presented by Diverseworks during a live, outdoors and socially distanced show at Buffalo Bayou Park. Another aspect of the project, “Recycled Air — First Iteration” is streaming online through Nov. 14.
Where: 6:30-9 p.m. Oct. 29 (rain date Nov. 1), Water Works, Buffalo Bayou Park, 105 Sabine; free; advance registration requested, masks required; diverseworks.org
Molly Glentzer
5. Carmen Herrera
At 105, this “new” icon of minimalist art is having a long-overdue Houston moment, with shows indoors and out. The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston has hung 30 paintings, drawings, prints, wall sculptures and objects in “Structuring Surfaces,” while Buffalo Bayou Partnership presents four of her recently realized aluminum sculptures in “Estructuras Monumentales.”
Where: Through Jan. 18 at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; 1001 Bissonnet; $12-$19, children younger than 12 free; mfah.org. Through April 23 at Buffalo Bayou Park; free; buffalobayou.org. Molly Glentzer