HOT AND BRASSY IN MANOA

The second annual Manoa Jazz Festival is going to get all hot and steamy (in a good way) Saturday with New Orleans' kings of street music, the Hot 8 Brass Band.

The Hot 8 have been all the rage in their hometown for years, but they became a national sensation after being featured in Spike Lee's film "When the Levees Broke," a documentary about Hurricane Katrina. The band mixes the traditional sultry sounds of jazz funeral parades with its own contemporary originals that range from gospel to funk to R&B to straight up crunk. The result? A little bit of everything and a whole lot of heat.

The Hawaii Pacific University Jazz Ensemble and the 'Iolani Stage band will be representing the local jazz scene, while Kevin's Two Boots fills cravings for Cajun fare.

Manoa Jazz Festival / Andrews Amphitheatre at UH-Manoa / 6 p.m. (rain or shine) Saturday /$15-$25 advance, $25-$30 door / 956-8246, www.etickethawaii.com

This month's Showdown in Chinatown -a 48-hour short filmmaking challenge — happens at 8 p.m. Saturday at NextDoor. See what you can do with a camera and two days.

THE FINNS OF DEATH METAL

Get yourself ready for Finnish death metalheads Children of Bodom's concert (Oct. 14, Pipeline Café). The band's latest album, "Skeletons in the Closet," drops Tuesday. Raise those horns and bang that head. We won't tell.

BRING ON THE BACALHAU!

Get your fill of malassadas, vinha d'alhos, Portuguese bean soup, bacalhau (that's dry salted cod) and Frank DeLima at this year's Portuguese Festa from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the McCoy Pavilion at Ala Moana Beach Park. Admission is $3.

HONOLULU IMPROV DISTRICT

The fourth annual improv festival, Improvoganza, kicks off Thursday for three days of unscripted genius with improv troupes from around the world, including Sweden's Improv and Co. Details at www.improvaganza.com.

CHEAP THRILLS

A pass to Wet 'n' Wild (674-9283) Hawaii is $29.99 for unlimited visits through Dec. 31.

A pudgy, mustachioed, Midwesterner Matt Damon plays scientist Mark Whitacre, who helps the FBI take down his employer, an agri-business mega corporation that is accused of price-fixing. It's a comedy, and it's funny. It opens today.

BLUE HAWAI'I

Hip-hop duo DJ Sabzi and MC Geologic, also known as the Blue Scholars, return to the Islands to debut their new album "Hawaii." (Geologic has strong local ties.) They perform at 9 tonight and 9 p.m. Sept. 28 at Loft Gallery and Lounge (115 N. Hotel St., $20).