compiled by Brian Goslow

JULY 17: JAVA HUCKSTERS

Since 1992, Jaded's self-produced cassettes have appeared in the least likely of places. Guitarist Aron Atkins and electronic drummer Jason Macierowski's fifth release, Sister in the Corner, shows the group heading toward a more commercialized pop sound in the spirit of Matthew Sweet. Help them continue their journey tonight at 9:30 p.m. at the Moonstruck Cafe, Route 20, Charlton. Donations accepted. Call 248-4558.

GUILTY PLEASURES

Worcester's Ellen Linn stars as Miss Prism, a secretive governess, in the Sudbury Savoyard's presentation of Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, which opens tonight and continues every Friday and Saturday through August 1 at 8:30 p.m. at the Sudbury United Methodist Church, Route 27, Sudbury. Tickets are $12. Call (978) 443-8811. Get a taste of Russian theater as the Stari Theater performs Alexander Ostrovsky's The Forest tonight and tomorrow at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Center for Arts in Natick, 31 Main Street, Natick. Tickets are $10. Call 647-0179. Ken Ludwig's Lend Me a Tenor is presented every Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. through August 8 at the Beatrice Herford's Vokes Theatre, Route 20, Wayland. Tickets are $10, $8 on Thursday. Call 358-4034. Further down the road, the Stageloft Repertory Theater presents Rupert Holmes's Accomplice every Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. through August 9 at the Barn Theater, 530 Main Street (Route 20), Sturbridge. Tickets are $14. Call 347-9005.

JULY 18: A GREAT ARTIST -- SIMPLY

First there was an attack on the city's claim of being first to bring America the Beatles. Now, a French artist claims he created the Smiley Face. Please. We've seen copyrights of 1968 mentioned, but I can declare in a court of law, that on at least two occasions in 1964, I grabbed handfuls of Harvey Ball's happy creations from inside the Harvard Street insurance company which commissioned the work. Get yours this afternoon when Ball appears at a signing from noon to 4 p.m. at That's Entertainment, 244 Park Avenue, Worcester. Admission is free. Call 755-4207.

HARMONY HEROES

Always noted as the inspiration behind the Beach Boys, the Four Freshman are also known for having, regardless of their line-up (they're now at version number 20), the best jazz vocalists of our time. Relive "Graduation Day" tonight at 7 p.m. at Point Breeze, Point Breeze Road, Webster. Tickets are $17.50. Call 943-0159.

SMOKY SOUL MUSIC

Having made decent careers by selling their songs to Cher, Nancy Wilson, Teddy Pendergrass, and Pat Benetar and hit TV shows (Fame, General Hospital, Guiding Light), Roger Bruno and Ellen Schwartz knew their lives wouldn't be complete if they didn't try to score a hit for themselves. Schwartz's powerful vocals fuel Too Human's From There to Here CD (Bonel), which is spotlighted tonight at 9:30 p.m. at the Java Hut, 1073A Main Street, Worcester. Donations encouraged. Call 752-1678.

JULY 19: PARTY IN THE PARK

There's been a slew of shows celebrating the 100th anniversary of George Gershwin's birth (the former Jacob Gershowitz was born on September 26, 1898). Tonight at 6:30 p.m., the Central Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra cuts the cake with selections from Porgy and Bess, Strike Up the Band, and Fascinating Rhythm at Institute Park, Salisbury Street, Worcester. Admission is free. In case of rain, concert will be held on July 26.

JULY 20: SOMETHING FOR YOUR BUNS

Some of the greatest cars in American history, including the Batmobile, Monkeemobile, and Munster Roadster, came from Hollywood. Not as well-known, but perhaps an even bigger head-turner, is the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile, which will spend the next three days at the Discovery Museums, 117 Main Street, Acton. No word on whether rides are available. Call (978) 264-4200.

JULY 21: COMPULSIVE THEATER

Last year, the Worcester Forum Theatre's production of West Side Story put the company and city in the national spotlight. This summer, it's bringing back the celebrated Forum TheaterWorks protégés and rolling the dice with Guys and Dolls every Tuesday through Sunday through August 23 at 8 p.m. at the East Park Pavilion, Cristoforo Columbo Park, Shrewsbury Street, Worcester. Tickets are $18 (reserved) and $12 (general admission). Call 799-9166.

JULY 22: BREAK FOR LUNCH

The 1998 Summer Brown Bag Concert Series opens today at noon with organist Kimberly Ann Hess, who'll perform on the legendary 3500-pipe Worcester Organ at Mechanics Hall, 321 Main Street, Worcester. Admission is free. Call 752-5608.

THE FIRST DEGREE

And how are you spending your summer vacation? Detroit punk-rock trio Social Scare grabbed their high-school diplomas and hit the road for a graduation tour, which promoter Phil McNamara labels "Summer Cooling for the College of Punk Rock." They're joined by Virginia's Wardance Orange (former members of Avail and Action Patrol), By Any Measure, Aurora, and Hillside 176 tonight at 7 p.m. at the Space, 85 Harding Street (Heywood Building), Worcester. Admission is $5. Call 753-0017.

JULY 23: JAM OVERLOAD?

Looks like the gatekeeper at the Home Grown Network's communications center had a temporary breakdown. Vermont's funky Augusta Brown drop into the Above Club, 264 Park Avenue, Worcester (752-2211), Western Massachusetts blues jammers Electric Blue and the Kozmik Truth, whose recently released La Raza Cosmica (EKBT) CD has earned them and vocalist Callie Katsounakis not-undeserved Big Brother and the Holding Company comparisons, party at the Tammany Club, 43 Pleasant Street, Worcester (791-6550); and local mongrels Dreadknot set up at the Plantation Club Drafthouse, 151 Plantation Street, Worcester (752-4666). Best of all, the Derek Trucks Band, led by the nephew of Allman Brothers Band drummer Butch Trucks, keep the Southern-rock tradition burning at 9 p.m. at Gilrein's, 802 Main Street, Worcester. Admission is $5. Call 791-2583.

JULY 24: INSTANT COLLECTIBLES

Ever wonder how an idea goes from an artist's imagination to the store shelves? Toy designer and merchandiser John Pirtel, who created many of the goods for Batman: The Animated Series and who is currently working on new Star Wars items, explains the process tonight at 7 p.m. at the Words and Pictures Museum of Fine Sequential Art, 140 Main Street, Northampton. Get there early and check out "The Best of Fantagraphics Art" and "Spotlight on 60 Years of Superman" exhibitions. Admission is $3. Call (413) 586-8545.

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The doctor is in

Clark Brown has been to Mexico, most of the eastern seaboard, and England in the past year, but right now he's cooling his heels in Worcester. The career of the ex-Dr. Bewkenheimer frontman took off last year when he auditioned for Geezer, fronted by Terry "Geezer" Butler of Black Sabbath fame. After recording an album, Black Science (TVT), and touring the globe, Brown returned to Worcester last January. With a few months to kill before beginning pre-production on Geezer's next album, Brown started jamming with a few friends: guitarist Tim Moran (ex-Stoolface), bassist Shane Wheeler (formerly of Forced Fed Shovel Head), and drummer Craig McDonald (ex-Super Creb Star Dynomax). Their practice sessions (they perform as Dedlift) produced a sound Brown says is reminiscent of their former bands' mix of hardcore and metal but "with not so much screaming all the time."

Check out Dedlift when they join Nuclear Assault, Candy Striper Death Orgy, and Warhorse this Saturday, July 18, at Sir Morgan's Cove, 89 Green Street, Worcester. Tickets are $8. Call 753-2188.

-- Chris Kanaracus