FRIDAY
Rising star and Howard grad Eric Roberson hosts a solid night of genre-busting hip-hop, spoken word and soul at Black Cat??s mainstage featuring hip-hop legend Prince Paul, local renaissance man W. Ellington Felton, and heralded newcomers Platinum Pied Pipers.
Neighborhood festivals keep attracting aging stars to the area. Celebrate Fairfax kicks off its festivities at the Fairfax Government Center with headlining performances on competing stages by 90s alt-rock radio darlings Better Than Ezra on the Bud Light stage and 70s arena rockers Blue ?yster Cult (of now infamous Will Ferrell cowbell fame) on the Michelob Ultra stage.
Veteran folkie Greg Brown, headlining at The Birchmere, has been writing, recording and performing for more than twenty years now. Fellow singer/songwriters Karen Savoca and Pete Heitzman open.
Legendary jazz pianist and Miles Davis protégé Chick Corea is going back to his Spanish roots at Annapolis?? Ram??s Head Tavern. With his new group Touchstone, Corea??s flamenco-steeped fusion truly comes to life.
It??s Halloween in June at Warehouse Next Door. Club-goers who show up in costume get $2 off admission to see Baltimore synth-poppers Karmella??s Game, supported by Mathematicians, Rachel Jacobs, and Lemuria.
If you couldn??t make it out to the shore this weekend ?? or you??re just avoiding the beach ??replenishment? ?? venerable meat market Lulu??s hosts a rowdy Dewey Beach party.
SATURDAY
Celebrate Fairfax kicks off a big night of 80s power pop with college rockers The Smithereens opening for Rick Springfield of ??Jessie??s Girl? fame on the Bud Light stage.
9:30 Club hosts a fantastic alt-country bill featuring headliners and Americana legends Old 97??s. Grey DeLisle and hotly tipped singer/songwriter Bobby Bare, Jr. open.
Mousetrap, ??DC??s biggest Brit-Pop dance night,? returns to the mainstage of Black Cat, while the Catfish Shack, featuring jump blues, garage rock and 50s favorites, is free in the backroom.
Some of the lesser known Wu-Tang Clan members, including Inspectah Deck, Cappadonna, Planet Asia, and Afu-Ra, continue a successful string of shows for Off the Ground promotions at Springfield??s Jaxx.
The much anticipated Mike Tyson fight is tonight at MCI Center. If you??re looking for a place to party afterwards ?? or didn??t want to throw down a few C-notes for a seat ?? H20 is holding an official after-party hosted by Jamie Foxx.
SUNDAY
James Murphy is one of the instigators of the cooler-than-thou dance-punk craze as the head of influential Brooklyn label DFA and leader of his group LCD Soundsystem, headlining a sold-out 9:30 Club gig. Get there early to see London-by-way-of-Sri Lanka rapper M.I.A. who is creating a deafening blogger buzz.
Criminally overlooked Canadian power popsters Sloan headline Black Cat??s mainstage with Philly??s fantastic hook creators The Capitol Years in support.
