FRIDAY:
>> Let it be known – any country with a holiday that translates as “party of music” (or “music party”) is OK in our book. In celebration of the French holiday Fete de la Musique, as well as the summer solstice, French and American musicians will be performing at La Maison Francaise tonight. Local guitar and cello duo Janel and Anthony*** will play from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the auditorium stage, but the whole party goes from 5 p.m. to midnight, tickets are $15 or 2 for $20.
>> The Red and the Black, H Street’s own version of DC9 except with better seating options and an outdoor patio, celebrates its first anniversary with a night of drink specials and a solid line-up of bands, including Pittsburgh’s Black Tie Revue, D.C.’s own Nunchucks, and The Subjects out of Brooklyn. Can’t beat a $5 cover on a Friday night (or most other nights, really). Starting around 9.
>> Check out our full preview of the Jaguar Wright concerts in the Lange Theater at the Atlas Performing Arts Center on H Street NE, 8 p.m. & 10 p.m., $27.00.
SATURDAY:
>>The 15th Annual Safeway Barbecue Battle hits the streets this weekend, and the forecast calls for gullet fillin’ with a 65% chance of lip smackin’. The massive festival takes over Penn Ave. from 9th to 14th streets, NW. Also, be on the lookout for NBA Nation, featuring interactive games and challenges as well as appearances by Caron Butler and DeShawn Stevenson (Saturday) and Juan Dixon (Sunday). Admission is $10. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.
>> The D.C. Caribbean Carnival is back as well, with its typical steel band parade starting at 11 a.m. at Georgia and Missouri NW and ending at Banneker Park, the site of the festival, with tons of booths and live music including Bunji Garlin. The festival starts when the parade ends, right around noon, and continues on until 7 p.m. Also Sunday with Haitian Kompas band Rafrechi and DJs Storm International. $10 each day.
>> Be sure to stop by the Black Cat for their annual Run For Cover event, when D.C.’s music scene comes together to form one-night only bands dedicated to covering a particular artist. This year’s line-up includes names like Abbatite for Destruction, Revelation 88, Serious Moonlight, American Psychos, Don’t Fear the Reefer, and more. Can you figure out which bands (or combination of bands?) each of the ones listed will be covering? We’d say (and hope) Don’t Fear the Reefer is some kind of reggae version of the Blue Öyster Cult, and Abbatite for Destruction is GNR songs performed in the style of ABBA. $10, 9 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the excellent cause of Fort Reno.
SUNDAY:
>> DC’s longest running open mic night, The Movement, celebrates its 10th anniversary at the Lincoln Theatre. The event will feature over 40 performers, including Saul Williams, Raheem DeVaughn, Asheru, the Poemcee and many more. 7 p.m. $25 in advance, $35 at the door, $15 for students.
Photo courtesy the Safeway Barbeque Battle. Liz Eckert and Matt Bourque contributed to the Picks
