Happening Wednesday: National Storytelling Conference, Squeeze and more

MOVIES

RiseUp The film documents the lives of Jamaican musicians with three very different music and lifestyles, from one who grew up in the ghetto to a wannabe-gangster who plays in dance halls to a singer from the countryside. Filmmaker Luciano Blotta focuses on the undiscovered musicians and the underground Jamaican music scene. Grammy Museum, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free admission. (213) 765-6830.

EVENTS

National Storytelling Conference This weekend-long gathering of raconteurs starts early with a pre-conference workshop about storytelling in education and a free story slam. This year’s conference, which runs through Sunday, has the theme “Many Stories, One World.” Warner Center Marriott, 21850 Oxnard St., Woodland Hills. Pre-conference workshop: 8:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m. $85. Story slam: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Free. Full conference registration is $550. (800) 525-4514. www.storynet.org.

POP MUSIC

Squeeze “Pulling Mussels (From the Shell),” “Tempted” and “Annie Get Your Gun” are the kind of songs that marry good storytelling with wry, crisp guitars. That satisfying combination is a Squeeze specialty and why the group charmed the U.S. airwaves throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s. The recently reunited British band is playing shows with the English Beat, so expect lots of Anglophiles in the room. Gibson Amphitheater, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. 8:15 p.m. $19.50-$89.50. www.livenation.com.

BOOKS

Gabrielle Calvocoressi The poet recently was a finalist for an L.A. Times Book Prize for “Apocalyptic Swing,” but a more intriguing accolade may be her job manning the sports desk for the Best American Poetry blog. She’ll read from “Swing” and her other book, “The Last Time I Saw Amelia Earhart.” Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7 p.m. Free. www.hammer.ucla.edu.