PICKIN’ AND GRINNIN’: The banjo seems to be making a mini resurgence. Some of that is thanks to Steve Martin, who toured recently in support of his album of banjo music. And maybe you saw Danny Barnes when he headlined KXT 91.7’s Barefoot at the Belmont last month. If all that pickin’ has got you interested in playing, the Dallas Banjo Band would love to have ya. “Hey, we all have to start somewhere,” Harold Poole, the band’s director, tells dallasnews.com. If you just want to hear a little banjo music to start the day, the site also has video of the band performing.

WILDE IN FORT WORTH: Hip Pocket Theatre has transferred Oscar Wilde’s Salome to the big top for its Circus Salome. So how did the change work out? Kris Noteboom calls the show, “A conceptually daring and frighteningly beautiful presentation, transporting the audience to a bizarre time and place,” on theaterjones.com. Mark Lowry, taking off his Theater Jones hat to review for dfw.com, writes, “In what has already been a strong year at the Pocket, Circus Salome is the season’s highlight.” Sounds like a must see, which you can do through Sept. 26.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: When the calendar hits September, that’s when things start picking up again in the arts. And if you live in Denton County, don’t feel like you’ve got to head south on I-35 to take part. The Denton Record-Chronicle has compiled this handy fall arts preview to get you ready for performances by Denton Community Theatre, Music Theatre of Denton, Denton Bach Society and others.