>> DAM! Fest kicks of with its first night of shows featuring a dozen different bands at three venues, including New York's A Place to Bury Strangers (don't miss our interview with the band) and Dirty on Purpose at the Rock and Roll Hotel, Vandaveer and Julie Ocean at the Red and The Black, and Foreign Islands at DC9, among many others. Check out our guide to the DAM! highlights.

>> Two film festivals open tonight: The D.C. Labor FilmFest opens with a bang with the U.S. premiere of Ken Loach's new film, It's a Free World, at 7 p.m. at the AFI Silver Theater, details here. Reel Affirmations 17 opens at the Lincoln Theatre with Naked Boys Singing, followed by a kickoff party at Nellie's Sports Bar. $20-$40, 7:30 p.m.

>> Francisco Goldman examines the death of Guatemalan political activist Bishop Gerardi in The Art of Political Murder. The author will be at Politics and Prose to discuss the book, his first work of nonfiction. 7 p.m.

>> DJ Nitekrawler is back at Saint Ex tonight for HEAT, their monthly funk and uptempo soul dance party. 9:45 p.m., no cover.

>> There's a fundraiser happy hour tonight at 18th and Red to benefit the folks who lost their homes in the recent fire at Adams Morgan's Avalon Condominiums. A $10 donation at the door gets you access to free nibbles and drink specials. 6 to 9 p.m.

Photo at sintixerr