Fans of avant-garde and anarcho jazz-punk will thrill to Thollem Electric at The Kosmos (1715 Fifth Street NW) on Friday, April 12. Part-time Nuevo Mexicano pianist and vocalist Thollem McDonas tickles those Fender Rhodes ivories pink—nay, fuchsia—and his lyrics, vox and analog sound manipulation may induce frisson. McDonas is touring solo in support of international avant-punk outfit Tsigoti's new release, Read Between the Lines … Think Outside Them, and In the Valley of the Cloudbuilder, the debut full-length of Bad News from Houston, his revelatory collaboration with Deerhoof's John Dieterich. Consort Un-Caged opens the gig with  percussion, flute and effects-centric art-rock and Tuia Cherici's Manucinema films screen as real-time avant wallpaper. This all-ages concert starts at 8 p.m., and 10 bucks gets you in. (Samantha Anne Carrillo)

If it’s April, there is probably a good chance that someone somewhere is publicly reading a poem to a rapt audience. After all, April is National Poetry Month, and Albuquerque celebrates it with a gusto usually reserved for hot-air balloons and green chile. So as the inaugural Book Talks Series kicks off at the Kimo Theater, it only seems fitting that some of the best poets in town will appear live for this celebration. On Friday, April 12th at 8 p.m., there will be a no-holds barred conversation between poetry legend Jimmy Santiago Baca (whose books include A Place to Stand, Healing Earthquakes, Black Mesa Poems, Martḯn and Meditations on the South Valley and others) and local poet extraordinaire, Jessica Helen Lopez (author of Always Messing with them Boys). Tickets are only $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for students, and can be purchased at the Kimo Box Office, online or by phone at 886-1251. (Don McIver)

Whether you're an advocate for environmental protection, or a fan of art in general, the Blue Trees Project at Tingley Beach will certainly satisfy your craving to save the planet and see something beautiful at the same time. The project is an installation that promotes energy conservation and celebrates Earth Day. In an effort to raise awareness, Australian artist Konstantin Dimopoulos will hold lectures from April 7 to 12 throughout the city. All of this will lead up to the painting of trees, you guessed it, blue (the blue paint is non-toxic and wears or washes off without harm to the trees). The installation will be up and running on April 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Tingley Beach, and on April 13 at the Fourth Street Mall from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Taking part in the event is Tree New Mexico and Albuquerque's Public Art Program, bringing the love of art and nature back to a city that prides itself on being both naturally and aesthetically beautiful. The event is free and open to the public. (Mark Lopez)