ROCKLAND—Something wicked this way comes. Wicked cool that is.

On Friday, April 1, the Farnsworth Art Museum's [Collective] membership group will host its fifth annual BASH. This year's BASH will feature a band flying in from Nairobi, Kenya who call themselves humbly  “Just a Band: "Africa's nerdiest hip-hop art collective." Just a Band is known for Gorillaz-like immersive performances, creative sampling, video and wit.

Every Collective BASH has been off the charts, the coolest thing to hit Rockland. This one will be no exception. The Farnsworth’s Special Events Manager Annie Brown said it has taken almost a year to plan this extravaganza. “Last year’s BASH we ramped it up and brought in live music for the first time, and I’ve been focusing on choosing performers that we normally wouldn’t get here. She’d been listening to Just A Band for years, which has a house/funk/disco sound that combines jazz, hip-hop, disco and electronica, and reached out to them to come play in Rockland. “It was somewhat difficult to communicate with them since they’re based in Nairobi, but they really are incredible.”

Just like a three-ring circus, the spotlight will also shift over to other performances throughout the evening including Haus Paradigm, a dance group that brings a unique flair to belly dancing in their own unique approach, The Band of Weirdos—an odd group of performing carnival creatures, and Simple Circus out of Portland.

“The Band of Weirdos is led by dancer Hanna DeHoff, sort of coming out of the Jeerleader tradition (the alternative cheerleaders for the Rock Coast Roller derby team),” said Brown. “They’ll be a roving side show through the crowds. And Simple Circus is a group based in Portland, led by Warren-native Amity Stoddard, who does pop-up circus events.

As always, the Collective’s unique group of community artists, come together to envision art installations that fit the theme. (If you ever saw their Dorothy’s House from The Collective’s third Wizard of Oz-themed bash, you’ll have an idea of what to expect.) The Farnsworth’s Wyeth Center, on the corner of Union Street and Grace Street in Rocklandwill be transformed through installations created by many local artists, including MidCoLab, Margaret Rizzio, Annie Bailey, Orlando Johnson, Alexis Iammarino, Scott Sell, Chris Gamage, Jared Cowan, Alexandra Gillian Martin, Owen Cartwright and multiple Youth Arts Participants.

What else you can expect? A dance floor, carnival-game art installations and two cash bars manned by Rollie’s Pub and Grill with a side of hot dogs and popcorn thrown in. Sorry kids, the BASH is 21+. Doors open at 8 p.m. with the band starting at 9 p.m. Participants are encouraged to dress up in theme or just “come as you are.” More than 300 people attended last year.  Tickets to this sure-to-be-sold out event are Free for [Collective] members and $20 for nonmembers. For more information or to purchase a ticket, please visit www.thecollectivebash.com.

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com