>> 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…

FRIDAY: >> The fun, free funk and soul dance party, Moneytown at Rock and Roll Hotel, is featuring a special guest DJ named Harry Hotter, which is reason enough in itself to check to it out just to see if he’ll be dressing the part. DJ Nitekrawler will also be there as usual. 9:30 p.m. to close. And don’t forget to check out our full preview of 1990s, who play downstairs with Red Romance and…