Swingin’ Sisters
As its Web site promises, the Edith Jones Project offers “86 percent less testosterone than the average big band & and 200 percent of the swing.” That’ s because the group is Maine’ s only all-female big band — and it also happens to be one of Maine’ s absolute best big bands, playing fiery, raucous takes on some classic numbers, as well as more contemporary, funk-influenced songs. The Edith Jones Project started back in 2003, and has since attracted some of the state’ s finest female musicians — from Bangor Symphony Orchestra trumpet player Lori Wingo, to bass trombonist and Aroostook County native Anita-Ann Jerosch. The group plays Saturday, Aug. 2, at the Center Theatre in Dover-Foxcroft, in a show sponsored by Mayo Regional Hospital. Tickets are $15 in advance, $17 at the door, and the show starts at 7 p.m. Bring your dancing shoes you’ re gonna need ‘ em.
 Best-seller reads
At the age of 33, Jhumpa Lahiri became one of the youngest authors to receive a Pulitzer Prize, for her debut publication, a collection of short stories titled “Interpreter of Maladies.” The book, comprised of nine stories chronicling the experiences of Indian-American immigrants, catapulted the then-unknown author to literary fame, which she built upon with her next book, the novel “The Namesake.” Her most recent book, another collection of short stories called “Unaccustomed Earth,” debuted at No. 1 on The New York Times best-seller list — an incredibly rare occurrence for a serious, critically acclaimed author such as Lahiri. But the New England-raised author’ s plain-spoken yet deeply detailed language, as well as her sensitively drawn characters, makes for reading that is both intelligent and compelling, and effortlessly simple to read. Lahiri will make an appearance at the Northeast Harbor Library from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, to read from and sign copies of “Unaccustomed Earth.” The reading is a project of both the library and of Port in a Storm bookstore in Somesville to celebrate the dedication of the library’ s new building. For more, call 244-4114.