Friday night is the first Spoken Word Night at the new Greencup Books. I don’t think they care what you say as long as you’re willing to get up and say what you got to say. And I love the rules — “No judges, no grudges, just love and rockets.” Sign up starts at 7. FREE to listen and FREE to speak though they would appreciate donations for the drinks. The bookstore is located at 105 Richard Arrington Blvd. South.

Editor’s Note: Don‘t forget to check out Trav’s piece on the bookstore’s opening weekend from February…

You can also Come Out and Play Game Shows Friday night at 7. Release your inner Trebek, hone your rock, paper, scissors strategy and in general, have a good time and maybe win prizes. This FREE fun has a new location — Magic City Motor Scooters, 1305 2nd Ave. North, downtown Birmingham.

More after the jump!

For me springtime in Birmingham means beautiful weather, colorful flowers, and Magic City Art Connection. Even before I dabbled in art, I enjoyed wandering among the artists, soaking in all the creativity in the air (floating alongside the intoxicating scent of funnel cakes). In fact, it was at a Magic City Art Connection that I rediscovered block printmaking and got inspired to explore it again.

The 25^th edition of the city’s biggest art festival is this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at Linn Park downtown. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, it’s free, and it’s a vibrant event you really shouldn’t skip. More than 200 artists from around the city, state, and country will be scattered throughout the park, showing the magic they’ve made using paint, watercolor, pencils, ink, wood, fiber, metal, and who knows what else. You don’t have to buy anything, but I guarantee you’ll see something you’ll like—and perhaps something to spark your own artistic ideas.

One of central Alabama’s hottest tickets returns for a 4th season as Art on the Rocks turns the Birmingham Museum of Art into one of the hottest venues in town. This year’s series begins on May 16 with a performance by The Dynamites (before you . We’ll be updating the destinations calendar with dates and information in the coming days, but follow the jump to take a look at the acts that will be (weather permitting) gracing the Sculpture Garden with their presence (and music). As always, the doors open at 5 p.m. and close at 10 p.m.

Old Crow Medicine Show - courtesy of the band’s website.

A quick check of the Pollstar schedule for Birmingham (and their own website) confirms that Old Crow Medicine Show has joined the City Stages 20 lineup in Birmingham’s city center with a June 13 performance closing out the set on the Legacy Credit Union Stage beginning at 10 p.m.

Bob Farley/f8photo

Last night the Bomb Shelter held its last public event. About 40 people showed up for the send off. Local folk rock group Menewa started the night off with an hour or so long set followed by New York based Spottiswoode.

Members of both bands have been friends for years so Spottiswoode and his Enemies had no problem driving 11 hours from a Monday night gig in Houston (on the way back from SXSW) to be there for the send off.

Click on the image above or here to view images from the performance.

André Natta/Flickr

Wind chills in the upper teens did not stop Austin, TX-based Latin-funk band Salvador from taking to the streets of Birmingham, Alabama to film their new music video this morning. The crews were still setting up late this morning as members of the Christian funk band began to tape segments near Zen, housed in the former location of The Station while looking just a little cold. There was no word as to how long the band would be filming today along Morris Avenue.