As summer approaches, Portland’s skies will finally clear up for a while, providing the perfect conditions for an interstellar visit. In other words: Sun Ra’s Arkestra is coming to back to town.

The Hollywood Theatre announced today that the cosmically-minded jazz ensemble would be returning to Portland for three nights of performances at the famed movie house on July 14, 15, and 16.

As you may remember, the Arkestra made a triumphant return to Portland earlier this year—their first visit in over three decades—for a pair of shows at the Portland Art Museum and the Hollywood. Both were as colorful, boisterous, rude, and funky as everything the group has done since their now-deceased leader Sun Ra arrived on our planet from Saturn (or Birmingham, Alabama depending on whose story you want to believe).

The group is now under the direction of Marshall Allen, the 94-year-old saxophonist, who has kept alive the wild and starry-eyed spirit of the Arkestra, filling out the rest of the band with longtime compatriots (trombonist Julian Priester came down from Seattle this past July to lend his horn to the proceedings) and young bucks. And they still bring a mighty, woozy ruckus.

According to the Hollywood, the Arkestra promises that all three shows will be entirely unique, and they’ll make use of the big screen in their main theater to provide some psychedelic visuals to accompany the music.

Tickets for the shows are $40 for each night. Hollywood Theatre members can snap theirs up tomorrow (Wednesday, May 15) at noon. The general public will have to wait until Friday, May 17 at noon to get theirs.

UPDATE 12:30 PM, THURS MAY 16:
The Hollywood has updated their website with an event page and ticket links.