Photo by Brett Bowers.
FRIDAY
FILM: The Freer Gallery’s 19th annual Iranian Film Festival opens this weekend with a thriller that the Gallery explains was “made in defiance of a 20-year ban on filmmaking.” Director Mohammad Rasoulof “was inspired by the Iranian government’s attempt to murder several prominent writers and intellectuals in 1995. Eschewing the metaphorical approach to subversive material that many Iranian filmmakers deploy, Rasoulof (Iron Island, The White Meadows) delivers a bold indictment of Iran’s brutal and secretive security apparatus. At the same time, he brilliantly highlights the moral toll this system takes on both the victimized and the complicit. So dangerous was this project that Rasoulof’s name is the only one to appear in the credits.” Note: the film will be presented in DCP. Screens at 7 p.m. at the Freer Gallery. Free. — Pat Padua
MEDIEVAL MUSIC: Fans of medieval music are in for a real treat this weekend. Delightful all-male vocal ensemble Lionheart teams up with the Folger Consort to perform a selection of English medieval pieces from the time of Geoffrey Chaucer and his Canterbury Tales. Some pieces may be familiar, like “Miri it is,” and “Sumer is icumen in,”- and if those pieces are appealing, so too will be the whole set. Tickets are $30-$50. More info here. — Caroline Baxter
METALACHI: Mariachi + metal = Metalachi. Need I say more? Local punks Booze Riot open. $12, Black Cat’s main stage. Doors at 9 p.m.
SATURDAY
DISTILLERY: D.C.’s newest distillery, One Eight Distilling, is finally open! You can start taking tours of the 7,500 square-foot facility in Ivy City (1135 Okie Street NE) on Saturday. They’ll take place every 30 minutes starting at 1 p.m. and the Red Hook Lobster Pound truck will be there to sell grub.
EMMYLOU HARRIS TRIBUTE: Quite the lineup at Constitution Hall on Saturday to celebrate the life and music of folk icon Emmylou Harris: Alison Krauss, Conor Oberst, Sheryl Crow, Joan Baez, Iron & Wine, John Hiatt, Lucinda Williams, and much more. Tickets and info here.
JAZZ: CapitalBop continues to kill it with the shows it has been presenting. Just weeks after inaugurating its Traveling Loft series, CapitalBop kicks off 2015 with The Preparation, three nights of creative music taking place Saturday through Monday at Union Arts. Each night features two or three acts and there are no weak links in the program. Highlights include Baltimore-based trumpeter Dave Ballou with LEAP, ace local drummer Lenny Robinson with Lafayette Gilchrist and Tarus Mateen, and guitarist Anthony Pirog. The duo of saxophonist and MacArthur “genius” Ken Vandermark with trumpeter Nate Wooley closes the event. 7 p.m. doors. $10 for each night or $28 for an event pass. — Sriram Gopal
SUNDAY
BOOK TALK: Comedian Patton Oswalt—Arch Campbell’s arch nemesis—has a new book out that talks about his relationship with movies. He’ll discuss the book with Slate culture editor Dan Kois and sign copies of it at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue (600 I Street NW). Tickets are $35 and includes a copy of the book. Starts at 5 p.m. Tickets here.
JAZZ: The New York Times recognized Matt Mitchell as a Pianist on the Rise. He has played as a sideman with the likes of Dave Douglas and Rudresh Mahanthappa. Mitchell joins drummer Ches Smith for a duo performance on Sunday at Bohemian Caverns. 7 and 8:30 p.m. sets. Tickets $15 in advance/$20 at the door. — Sriram Gopal
