Rocking Out to a Baltimore Beat

By Lavanya Ramanathan
Friday, July 18, 2008

All weekend, Baltimore hosts Artscape, which boasts a diverse and compelling set of musical acts in addition to blocks and blocks of visual art and performances.

Somehow, it's Whartscape-- the underground, music-focused answer to the festival -- that really has us excited. The multi-night indie band blowout in Baltimore is running day and night all weekend. And in a way Artscape does not, Whartscape extends to the city's quirky venues and spotlights the city's ascendant music community. (Rolling Stone even flagged Baltimore as "Best Scene" in its Best of Rock issue.)

Whartscape's outdoor events during the day are followed by all-night indoor showcases that, in the case of Sunday's concert, threaten to end at dawn on Monday (oh, yes, we are going to try to stick it out, if for no other reason than to prove to ourselves that we are still cool).

What's on: Tonight, the city's own rising star Beach House headlines a bill that also includes Lesser Gonzalez and lo-fi Jana Hunter. 5-11 p.m. 2640 Space, 2640 Paul St.

Saturday, Ecstatic Sunshine and Oxes are among the 20 acts playing the daytime concert, held outdoors from noon to 10 p.m.; your ticket or pass can get you in free to the after-party at Sonar (407 E. Saratoga St.). It runs till 2 a.m. and is headlined by Celebration.

Whartscape ends Sunday night with the best lineup of them all: Black Dice, Dan Deacon (who happens to be one of the founders of Wham City, which hosts Whartscape), Ponytail, Parts and Labor and more than 15 other acts play outdoors from noon to 10 p.m.

Shows are $12 apiece at the door; after-parties are $5 or free with a ticket from any Whartscape concert. Outdoor shows are at 131 W. North Ave., Baltimore; other shows, various locations. For details (and the full after-party lineup), visit http://www.whamcity.com.

SAVE THE DATE

FILM Milos Forman, in Person at the AFI Beginning tomorrow and into early September, the AFI Silver will celebrate the oeuvre of the Czech filmmaker with screenings that range from "Loves of a Blonde" to "Hair." If you're a fan, get tickets now to the Aug. 19 showing of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"; besides the fact that it's an awesome film, Forman is actually scheduled to attend that screening. Tickets just went on sale. $15; members, $10. AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring. Get tickets at http://www.afi.com/silver. Click on "Buy Tickets" in the upper right-hand corner of the home page, then search for "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." Select the Aug. 19 show. Or get tickets at the AFI box office. For information, call 301-495-6720.

CONCERT Get Euphoric With the Black Crowes Chris and Rich Robinson and Co. are hitting the road to promote their first album in seven years, "Warpaint," and their Euphoria or Bust tour brings them through Washington next month. The tour has them doing all kinds of unusual things, like announcing some shows as "An evening with . . ." and playing a couple of acoustic-only concerts. For the band's show at Wolf Trap, the Crowes bring along special guest Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. $42; lawn, $25. Aug. 3 at 8 p.m. Wolf Trap, Filene Center, 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna. 877-965-3872.

ON STAGE Now, More Chances for Vitriol Kathy Griffin parlayed a reality series, "My Life on the D-List," and a sense of humor that is both self-effacing and celebrity-trashing into a cult sort of fame. She might not have warranted a second thought as the annoying secretary on "Suddenly Susan," but annoying is apparently hot now. She will perform at Constitution Hall this fall. A third show, on Sept. 28 at 8 p.m., was just added. Tickets go on sale for the new show today at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster. $48-$55. DAR Constitution Hall, 18th and C streets NW. 202-397-7328.

THE DISTRICT

Today

CONCERT Arturo Sandoval The Cuban-born trumpeter and pianist is a protege of Dizzy Gillespie, incorporating elements of Gillespie's style with Latin grooves, scat and more. His previous visit to the area was at the Silver Spring Jazz Festival last summer; now, he settles in at Blues Alley for a multi-night stand. $43-$50 (there is also a $10 minimum). 8 and 10 p.m. nightly through Sunday. Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW (rear). 202-337-4141 or buy tickets online at http://www.bluesalley.com.

FRINGE FESTIVAL "B-Digga Presents" If you want to do something Fringey but aren't keen on subjecting yourself to 90 minutes of, say, a rock opera, check out "B-Digga Presents," a hip-hop and neo-soul concert organized by a music producer and featuring W. Ellington Felton, Black Indian and others whose performances are accompanied by video and projections. It's at the Capital Fringe Festival's hub, Fort Fringe, so you'll be in the middle of the action. $15 (plus one-time purchase of the $5 button). Tonight at 10, tomorrow at 5 p.m., July 26 at 6:30 p.m., July 27 at 5 p.m. The Baldacchino at Fort Fringe, 607 New York Ave. NW. 866-811-4111 or http://www.capfringe.org.

Tomorrow

EXHIBIT "My Space on 7th" Last year, Touchstone Gallery downtown launched this show, timed to coincide with the Capital Fringe Festival and sort of similar: Artists snagged space at the gallery for their work on a first-come/first-served basis; no jury, no questions asked. The show has returned, featuring work from 50 local artists. Free. Wednesday-Friday 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday-Sunday noon-5 p.m. Through Aug. 2. Touchstone Gallery, Second Floor, 406 Seventh St. NW. 202-347-2787.

Tuesday

THE SCENE Open Mike at Busboys and Poets With budgets unexpectedly tight and summer just about at the point where there's not much going on, isn't it time to return to an old (and cheap) mainstay? The event attracts some of the stars of the U Street spoken-word scene and is incredibly popular. $4. Line usually begins to form at 7:30 p.m. in the bookstore; doors open at 8. $4. Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th St. NW. 202-387-7638.

MARYLAND

Today

ON STAGE "Long Day's Journey Into Night" Quotidian Theatre Company's last play of the season is Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical tale of a crumbling New England family whose matriarch is a morphine addict and whose men contend with addictions of their own. $20; students and seniors, $15. 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 1:30 p.m. Sundays, through Aug. 10. Writer's Center, 4508 Walsh St., Bethesda. 301-816-1023 or http://www.quotidiantheatre.org.

Tomorrow

THE GREAT OUTDOORS The Global Wildlife Safari Adventure Just last month, the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo launched a guided tour of 25 acres so guests can check out the zebra, camels, bison, donkeys. And here's the strange-yet-intriguing part: It's all conducted from the safety of a military/industrial-looking vehicle called the FuFeFo (it stands for fun, feeding and "foto"). The rover takes guests on an hour-long ride over the terrain for closer views of the wildlife; more than 450 animals live at the preserve. Admission to the zoo is $14.95; 12 and younger, $9.95; seniors and military, $11.95. Safari ride: $10; members, $8. 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily. Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo, 13019 Catoctin Furnace Rd., Thurmont. 301-271-3180, 301-271-4922 or http://www.cwpzoo.com.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Today

FOR FAMILIES Comcast Outdoor Film Festival Returns to Alexandria The fifth annual series is just two nights, but features films the family can get into: "Bee Movie" tonight and "Transformers" tomorrow. Both are shown on a 40-foot screen at Ben Brenman Park. Bring a blanket and picnic. Free. Concessions open at 7 p.m., movies are at dusk, about 8:30 p.m. Ben Brenman Park, 5000 Duke St., Alexandria. 703-883-4686 or visit http://www.alexandriava.gov.

THE SCENE Summer Lantern Tours The folks at Gadsby's Tavern spend Friday evenings during the summer offering late-night tours of the historic tavern and City Hotel. A costumed guide will lead the post-happy hour crowd. $5 (age 5 and older only). 7-10 p.m. Fridays through Aug. 29. Gadsby's Tavern Museum, 134 N. Royal St., Alexandria. 703-838-4242.

Tomorrow

CONCERT Gladys Knight The pop singer, whose hits include "That's What Friends Are For," has turned into a gospel powerhouse and introduced herself to new audiences in May with an "American Idol" performance with her new "Pips," who happened to be Jack Black, Ben Stiller and Robert Downey Jr. She's at Wolf Trap tomorrow night. $42; lawn, $25. 8 p.m. Wolf Trap, Filene Center, 1551 Trap Rd., Vienna. 877-965-3872.