The listing gave conflicting dates for the MPA artfest in McLean. It will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow Oct. 14 at McLean Central Park.
Listen Up! The District's Awake!
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All the hand-wringing about the recording industry has sucked much of the meaning, and yes, a lot of the fun, out of the old music festivals: CMJ feels like one big, desperate attempt by labels to foist mediocre bands on the marketplace (SXSW is where big-name artists go to have their egos stroked, not where you go to look for new music).
Yet out of this lethargy, new festivals have emerged -- Pitchfork in Chicago, Austin City Limits, even the shows at McCarren Park Pool in Brooklyn -- that simply bring in bands you want to see, book them over a short span and do it relatively affordably, so you can hear music and get on with your life. It's into this second category that the District's Awake! Music Festiv al falls.
The DAM! fest (organized by local Eric Boucher, who runs the music blog Big Yawn and modeled his festival after small ones such as Pop Montreal), is underway, and it endeavors to do not much more than book local and national acts and make them available nearby and for a steal: $35 buys you a pass through Monday. Last year, shows took place at smallish spots such as DC9, but this year, a new partnership with mega-promoter Live Nation and the addition of bigger acts means Cat Power is at the 9:30 club on Monday, and Stellastarr* and locals Exit Clov and others are at the 700-plus-seat Sixth & I Historic Synagogue tomorrow night.
What to catch:
¿ Tonight, We Fought the Hej, the face-off between DJ Natalya of the all-things-Nordic DJ party Hej Hej (you can usually find it at Cafe Saint-Ex) and DJ Trickster of the party We Fought the Big One (in residence at Marx Cafe). Free (but 21 and older only). It's the after-party for the show that night, so expect it to start about 10:30 p.m. Rock & Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE.
¿ Tomorrow, Stellastarr*, Exit Clov, Pela, Sanawon at the Sixth & I. Pass holders get in, but you can also buy tickets at the door at $18. 7 p.m. 600 I St. NW.
¿ Monday, Cat Power (a.k.a. Chan Marshall) returns to the 9:30 with a new backing band, Dirty Delta Blues. This will be a tough one for pass holders because only a limited number will be admitted; get there early. Tickets, if you want to be guaranteed an in, are $25. 7:30 p.m. 815 V St. NW.
And the best part, some proceeds from the festival will be donated to Chime, a music education effort in the District.
Tonight, you can purchase badges at the Rock & Roll Hotel. For details and a full schedule, visit http:/
