Monday, Aug. 21 – Thursday, Aug. 24
The Ghoul
I’ll devour pretty much anything British auteur Ben Wheatley puts his name on. He serves as executive producer on this thriller, with Gareth Tunley taking the director’s chair. Tunley’s work has been drawing comparisons to Lynch and Nicholas Roeg, meaning it’s a strange alloy of private-eye flick and lysergic horror, executed with mindfucking virtuosity. —Tony Kay
Grand Illusion Cinema
Wednesday, Aug. 23
Comedy Open Mic
It’s possible the comedy club business model is dying. Blame digital entertainment, which allows fans to save their live entertainment budget for only those famous performers they actively follow, as opposed to the random mélange of lesser-known comics served up most weekends at our local clubs. Still, there’s something to be said for the shaggy weeknight randomness that is a comedy club open mic, and Laughs’ is the best in town. —Brett Hamil
Laughs Comedy Club
Wednesday, Aug. 23
Actress
During his upcoming U.S. tour, Actress, aka British dance-music producer Darren Cunningham, is leaving behind his latest collaborators, the London Contemporary Orchestra. Instead he’s premiering a live-PA set—about as on-the-fly as an electronic musician can get—of dark, sensual techno. He calls it “classical stuff for a modern generation.” —Jonathan Zwickel
Kremwerk
Thursday, Aug. 24 – Saturday, Aug. 26
In Time
Patrick Kelly isn’t from here (close: Portland!); but that’s all the more reason to bask in the momentary opportunity to experience his nonpareil use of graphite. He makes works that glisten and shimmer like black-diamond-dust-engraved marks chiseled into and onto breathless substrates. Yes, I’m talking about drawings—ones you can dissolve into. —Amanda Manitach
Bridge Productions
Thursday, Aug. 24 – Sunday, Aug. 27
Maceo Parker
Maceo Parker is legit soul royalty. His sax playing and unerring sixth sense for grooves have enriched the work of James Brown, George Clinton and Prince, and Parker can still cook like nobody’s business at age 74. —Tony Kay
Jazz Alley
Saturday, Aug. 26
Riesling Revolution
Jet City Winery—that massive production facility, tasting room and event space at the southern tip of Georgetown—hosts an all-day bash that brings 18 of Washington’s best Rieslings together in one place, plus food trucks and live music courtesy Modest Mouse front Isaac Brock (first-ever solo show!) and Tex-Mex jammers Calexico. —Jonathan Zwickel
Jet City Winery
Saturday Aug. 26 – Sunday, Aug. 27
City Arts presents High Tide on the Waterfront
Here are two days of awesome, upbeat music on the downtown waterfront, presented by City Arts and Friends of the Waterfront. Saturday features eight hours of Night Shift DJs playing house, hip-hop and all manner of modern dance music. Sunday brings live dance jams from Fruit Juice, Killer Workout, SFG and Slow Dance, plus DJ/host Rudy Willingham. And it’s all free! —Jonathan Zwickel
Waterfront Park
