Welcome Back to School Concert, Southern Films, & MORE
Drawing in the College Crowd
The Capitol is thrilled to see so many students returning for the fall semester! Western students on the hill and those at SKYCTC (both locals and commuters) will find our downtown theater to be a welcoming space to hang with friends at free movies as well as a vibing venue where they can attend free library events, ticketed music shows, and live productions throughout the year. If you haven’t visited yet – now’s your time! Need directions? Our address is 416 East Main Street, and we’re located right off Fountain Square.
To welcome all students back to school, we will host “The Library Rocks” (FREE) concert Saturday, September 12, at 6:30pm. For the fourth consecutive year, WCPL will open up The Capitol for a night of music and community featuring several bands. Twin Fang (@twin.fang on Instagram) is a local group with a postpunk, gothrock, synthpop, alternative musical style, and Knifey (@unitedstatesofknifey) is a Nashville-based underground indie/punk rock band. (Still awaiting third band’s confirmation.) Tickets are not required. Concessions will be sold. The invitation is open to students of ALL ages to head downtown for a rocking night out!
On another note, since it’s Library Card Sign-Up Month, all college students, whether local residents, from out of town, or from out of state, qualify for a free library card. Since The Capitol is managed by the library, students can apply on-site here, as well as at any other public library location! And for those at WKU without transportation, the Lisa Rice Library on State Street is an easy five-minute walk from campus. That facility, our largest location, is a great place to study (reserve the upstairs Zen Pods for extra privacy) or just escape from your everyday routine, with free wifi, snack machines, and ample seating. Insider tip: community meeting rooms can be reserved for group projects!
Serving Up Southern Circuit Films
The Capitol is pleased to once again partner with WKU this season, one of 12 screening partners that make up South Art’s regional 2026-27 Southern Circuit Tour. Made possible through a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the series of independent film showings will run monthly through April of next year (excluding December and January). Each session will feature a free screening of a film created by Southern filmmakers and will conclude with a Q&A session with one of its creators. For fifty years, the Southern Circuit has worked with partners to connect independent filmmakers with audiences throughout the South for screenings and conversations around compelling stories, important topics, and the art of filmmaking.
The first film of this season presented at the theater by South Arts in partnership with WKU PCAL will be The A Stands For Art, which will show Thursday, September 10, at 6:30pm. This feature-length documentary explores Atlanta’s homegrown renaissance through intimate stories of artists, curators, and cultural organizers. Filmed over several years, the film captures Atlanta at a crossroads: a booming population, a flourishing art scene, and the tension between cultural heritage and gentrification.
Additional upcoming films in the local Southern Circuit series include:
•October: Minnie Evans: Draw or Die
•November: American Pachuco: The Legend of Luiz Valdez
•February: Who Moves America
•March: The Gas Station Attendant
•April: Who’s the We
Most of the films will be presented at The Capitol. If there is a schedule conflict, the alternate location for the showing will be WKU’s campus. Check capitolbg.org for specific dates and times.
In addition to an occasional documentary, free movies are shown regularly at the Capitol. From blockbusters to classic films, the lineup typically features a variety of genres and styles, something for everyone. Movies are shown during the week and on the weekends, at matinee times and in the evening. To see what is on the schedule, pick up a flier at The Capitol, or go to capitolbg.org/movies for the complete listing. We also make movie announcements on social media (Facebook and Instagram), but our public performance license prohibits us from stating their titles anywhere other than in-house or on our website. You can also sign up for our online newsletter at tinyurl.com/CapitolBGNews to stay in the know about Capitol movies and events. Hope to see you downtown soon!
-by Ashley Fowlkes, Digital Content Manager
