I need something to do this weekend. Something free.
May I suggest you consult my list of downtempo/house-oriented DJ events (from the Distict Soul forum):
http://www.districtsoul.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?t=16561
Offhand, I believe that the Fatback DJs @ Saint-Ex (Fri. 1/30) and the event at Gua-Rapo (Sat. 1/31) are free.
As for a place that lets you in for free AND gives you a free drink... I think you might be out of luck there.
Free events for Fri. 1/30 newly added to my
roundup thread from DS:
- Soundclash @ the Marx Cafe - the Kaiser, Juan de Bolas
- FunkDC @ Wonderland - Neil Payne, Moose, Sean Haney
And this one is also free, although not in D.C. (or all that near):
- R.I.O.T. (Reggae in Old Town, formerly Reggae on the Lake) @ So Addictive (Herndon, VA)