This Week on Nantucket

It’s as if the island’s artists have just shaken off the holidays and have gotten back to business. From almost no cultural events for the past few weeks, this weekend is chock full: Bluegrass, acoustic rock, classical, theater and poetry.

Tonight (Friday), start off at the Bamboo from 5 to 7 to check out Eli Stover. He’s new on the music scene here, although certainly not new to the island. Here’s his story (of travel and music) from the Inquirer and Mirror, and here’s his web site with two free songs to download and play on Real Player.

Next, get downtown to the Atheneum by 7 p.m. to hear a free concert with Four Easy Payments (pictured below) followed by Eelgrass.

Head back out of town after the Atheneum. Stop at Pi Pizza for a bite, then wander over to the Box for more bluegrass, where Four Easy Payments is joined by Dave Poland, fiddler extraordinaire, from 10:00 to 1:00. Maybe Eelgrass too for an all star jam.

Saturday, the Atheneum celebrates the birthday of Scottish poet Robert Burns with poetry readings and musical performances by Amy England, Mollie Glazer, Greta Feeney, River & Zeb Bennett and Nick Davies. Free, from 7 to 9. These are all fine musicians and singers, but don’t miss a chance to hear a fairly rare performance by Greta Feeney.

Sunday at the Whaling Museum beginning at 1 p.m. pianist Dr. Tinka Knopf de Esteban performs pieces from the 16th to the 20th centuries.She will be joined by her student Samantha Reis, a Nantucket native, a sophomore honor student at Nantucket High School, and a member of the high school’s singing group the Accidentals & the Naturals.

At about the same time, The Nantucket Poetry Slam will be out at the UMass Field station with featured poet Adam Stone, open mic and open slam. Free, from 2 to 4.

And one more: Over the Moon, presented by the Nantucket High School Drama Club. High School Auditorium. Friday and Saturday (26th-27th) at 7:30 p.m.