FRIDAY:
>> Maybe you check in with DCist only occasionally to get a few tips on which concerts to see, but tend to stick to touring acts for the most part, and still haven’t really exposed yourself to the local rock scene. If so, confess tonight and all your sins will be forgiven. Three of the best local bands are playing a show together on the Black Cat’s main stage at 9 p.m. — catch up on what you’ve been missing in local music in a conveniently-packaged single concert. Georgie James headline, with Middle Distance Runner and These United States. Did we mention all three bands are DCist Unbuckled alumni? What an excellent way to get warmed up for the 6th upcoming DCist concert next week. We’ll see you there. $10.
>> Expect to be dazzled by three styles of gospel at the “African-American Sacred Music Concert” from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival’s Mountain Laurel Stage with the Madison Hummingbirds (brass band); The Paschall Brothers (a cappella); and the Virginia Church Choir.
>> New York’s The Hymns are visiting D.C. tonight, fresh off the heels of a home town crowd that included Chris Martin of Coldplay last night. Another fusion of pop, indie, folk and country, The Hymns look the part in thrift store chique and shaggy hair, but luckily, have some pretty infectious songs to go along with their stylings. At the Red and the Black, opening for Vampire Weekend’s indie-rock take on Afropop, which the New York Times says has resulted in “one of the year’s most impressive debuts.” $8.
SATURDAY:
>> Joan Quigley will read from her book The Day the Earth Caved In, which examines the lives of the residents of Centralia, Penn., and their encounters with the government after the nation’s worst mine fire in 1981. Politics and Prose at 1 p.m.
>> The Smithsonian Folklife Fesival is winding down, so check out some of the final musical offerings, including “Sound of the Mekong” from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Nine Dragons Stage, which will include Cambodian, Laotian, Vietnamese and Thai performers, and “Last Night’s Fun” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Lagan Stage, with a bevy of traditional Irish musicians including Craobh Rua, Cathal Sean Hayden, Lee Lawson, Gino Lupari, Michael Thomas Sands, Robert Watt, Roisin White, and Mark Wilson.
>> Cajun and Zydeco dance lessons will be on offer for an hour before a live musical performance by Roy Carrier & the Night Rockers at Glen Echo Park. 9 p.m., $15.
SUNDAY:
>> The AFI Silver Theater presents Totally Awesome Films of the 1980s now through the end of the summer. Get things started off right with Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Amy Heckerling’s pitch-perfect teen sex comedy that taught a generation that “when it comes down to making out, whenever possible, put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV.” 9:30 p.m., also Saturday at 10:30 p.m.
Steve Kiviat and Amanda Mattos contributed. Photo of Middle Distance Runner at Unbuckled by JamesCalder.
