Highlights include Bridget Gunning on the aerial scarves, accompanied by cellist Evan Flory-Barnes, a powerful poem written and read by Linden Ontjes, the beautifully played harp+vocal solo by Monica Schley and pre-recorded video work overlaid with Memmi Ochi's live marimba solo. Not to exclude every other performer, truly, but the important thing to establish is that the entire program is an excellent presentation of alternate art forms, or a welding together of independent disciplines to make pieces that are new and different and interesting.

The great thing about Miscellenea is that, unlike programs like On The Boards 12 Minutes Max, it brings together independent artists to work together as a group; the program is presented as a whole instead of isolated segments of individual expression. You can somehow sense this throughout, but its cemented with the final piece of the program, an ensemble jazzercise with silly choreography and gold and black spandex outfits, an artistic way of telling the audience: we enjoyed putting this all together for you, and we hope you had fun.

tonight, 7 p.m. // Canoe Social Club, 409 7th Avenue South // $15-30

Whether we’re performing for a crowd who’s come to see us or not, our primary focus is to make our live performance an engaging and unique experience separate from our record. If it’s a more intimate setting, we’re lucky to have the flexibility that at an extreme means we can unplug our amps and pull out our patch cables and play acoustically. In larger settings, we might rehearse with an additional instrument corps or find other ways to engage the crowd in a compelling way.

Vera holds a very special place in the hearts of many around these parts. How do you compare the experience of playing Vera to other venues?

We are excited to find out for the first time what it will be like to play at Vera; to play there has been on our list of aspirations since we started. And we’re looking forward to continuing to set up more all ages shows, into the immediate future and beyond. We are hopeful that inherent youthful exuberance will replace the energy frequently provided by drink.

The Give album is one of the best benefit compilation's we've heard in quite a while. How did you all get involved with the project and what's your pitch on why our reader's should check it out?

Michael Hebb of Caffe Vita asked us to participate and we were pretty humbled to be a part of such a reputable lineup. Your readers should check it out because it embodies two important Seattle values: supporting issues of social import and excellent local music.

What's next for HM during the upcoming holiday season and beyond?

We’re looking forward to our first official tour—a short West Coast jaunt in early January—and we’re going to be on a Starbucks compilation that’s to be released nationally that same month. And the Holidays themselves usually mean heavy doses of egg nog while recording Christmas tunes in Jacob’s loft.

Tagaban: I’m recording a CD of Native American Flute music, my goal is to have it available for Christmas.

With the event coming soon, what are you working on now to prepare for it?

LBB has been rehearsing the last couple weeks. Star Nayea the lead singer has a couple new songs that are in the works for this Friday. Along with myself, James Luna, Preston Singletary of the Tlingit Nation, Swil Kanim, a classical violinist of the Lummi Nation, Nicholas Galanin of the Tlingit/Aleut nations, and Philip Charette of the Yupik nation will be performing as well.

The Tribute to the Spirit: Little Big Band concert commemorates the end of the 100th anniversary year of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition. Along with the A-Y-P symposium tomorrow, it complements The Burke Museum’s A-Y-P: Indigenous Voices Reply exhibit. One hundred years ago, Northwest natives were exploited and used for entertainment at the world’s fair. The exhibit, set along side 1909 objects and photographs, "explore[s] how the representation and understanding of indigenous people and cultures has changed or not changed over 100 years." Tonight’s event continues the exhibit’s responses and features many of the exhibit’s artists.

How would you describe your response and the responses of some of the other performers?

I’d just like to say we’ve come a long way, yet we have much more to learn about respect and honor not just for Native people but for all People. I hope those who attend the event Friday night will walk out with the feeling that we are all in this together.

What motivated you to become a motivational speaker?

Awesome parents, grandparents, family and teachers. They loved and Honored me which allowed me to love and Honor myself. I was given a gift to teach, it’s my responsibility to share this gift in a world where so many are suffering, especially the children. If we really want to see change in the world we need to be the change. Share the Love, Spirit and Honor.

You seem to be a tremendously busy man. What do you have in store for 2010, whether for yourself or any other collaborative efforts?

Keep an eye out for each of the artists involved with the event Friday. We all have projects in the works in our own way. What I enjoy about these individuals is that they are taking action. Instead of complaining and talking they are doing. Come and share the experience, and walk out experienced.

Matt Smith is an actor best known for his solo performances including "My Last Year With the Nuns," "Helium," and "Beyond Kindness: A Childcare Guide." In 1988 Smith founded the famous Stark/Raving Theatre with Edward Sampson, and his acting credits include Sleepless in Seattle, Spiderman, and Northern Exposure, among many others.

Molly Rose is a Seattle-based singer/songwriter who recently released her first full-length album Clandenstine this past year. Originally from Fresno, CA, Rose's sun-soaked foothills and orange blossoms have influenced her music, which can also be heard on her 2007 debut EP, My Skin, Your Bones.

We're excited to see what these four will have in store for us on Friday at Visiting Hours. We have no doubt that this open-ended theme will be as entertaining as this group's varied work, and can't wait to hear their new individual works and what the term "visiting hours" means to them.