Central Track Contributor
Start Anew.
Proof that summer is here: This weekend, Dallasites will be treated with block parties, festivals, and art exhibits galore.
Best of all? A lot of it is free.
So pull out your stunner shades, grab some friends and bask in all the free entertainment happening.
You deserve it. — Chase Whale
Friday
Game of Thrones, Junior at Plano Children’s Theatre
What’s left of Game of Thrones once all the sex, the over-the-top violence, the gore and the explicit language are gone? Something like a medieval version of The West Wing, perhaps? We don’t know, for sure. But this farcical, intentionally saccharine take on the series courtesy of Jeff Swearingen and his troupe of pint-sized accomplices should help us all find out. — Cory Graves
Dallas Indie Festival at Bathhouse Cultural Center
The Dallas Indie Festival promises everything you need for an indie festival — indie music, indie movies, indie art, indie food trucks and Indie-ana Jones (just kidding). For four days of pure indie fun, you can get a pass starting at an indie price of $10. — CW
The Mountain Goats at Dan's Silverleaf
Singer-songwriter John Darnielle has turned his musical project The Mountain Goats into a great thing if you enjoy: a.) fun music with meaningful lyrics, b.) a super-engaged crowd, and c.) witty commentary between songs. This crowd, in particular, will likely go apeshit when the band performs its classic “The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton.” Hail Satan! — Trace McCaslin
The Artist Collective: Charlsie Grace Benefit Show at Lola's
Calling all North Texans: If you're looking for some good karma, here's your chance. Concert promoter Charlsie Grace of Dallas' own The Artist Collective was recently diagnosed with the same fatal and incurable disease that Woody Guthrie died from. And, at this event, all funds raised will go to her medical expenses and to the Huntington's Disease Society of America. On a more uplifting note, you'll be able to catch some great bands while doing a good deed: New Fumes, Year of the Bear, Spacebeach, Mercury Rocket, Missing Sibling and The Diabolical Machines each perform. — Chrissi Chetwood
Stryper at Granada
The world's foremost Christian arena-metal band makes an appearance at the Granada tonight. Or: Hey, it's your chance to check out the band your parents listened to because their parents thought KISS stood for “Knights in Satan's Service!” — Stephen Young
Summer Block Party (Free) at the Dallas Arts District
The Dallas Arts District is throwing another big, bad block party this Friday. Attendees will be able to gallivant around three museums and grab food at the joyous abundance of food trucks while checking out art, special activities, live concerts, guided tours, films and more. — CW
Oral Fixation at Dallas Museum of Art
Oral Fixation will be hosting its “Lost in Translation” showcase in the Horchow Auditorium of the DMA. Come by and listen to the touching tales of seven recent American immigrants as they share their experiences of living in Dallas, the hurdles of attaining citizenship and their struggles with identity. The performance will be for free, but will only be held once. — Chris Escarfullery
A Wilhelm Scream at Gas Monkey
You've heard The Wilhem Scream a thousand times but probably never knew it. It's a popular screaming sound effect used in more movies than you can count in your head. A Wilhem Scream is melodic hardcore band from New Bedford, Massachusetts. They're playing tonight with Red City Radio at Gas Monkey. —CW
Blackbird Blackbird at Three Links
Following the recent release of its Tangerine Sky LP, Blackbird Blackbird preforms at Three Links. You can check out that bit of dreamy electro-pop from the San Francisco outfit right here. Nite and AViDD open. — Ashley Gongora
Enter the Dragon at Inwood
There's only one legend who could kick you in the face and make you like it: Bruce Lee. Gone too soon, Lee died at 32, leaving behind only a small handful of energetic and classic action films. Perhaps the most famous one of them all is Enter the Dragon. This weekend only, it's screening at the Inwood. KACHOW! — CW
'till Midnight at the Nasher at Dallas Museum of Art
In conjunction with the Arts District's Summer Block Party, the Nasher will stay open late for another edition of its 'til Midnight at the Nasher series. Tonight's edition will feature free music courtesy of Larry g(EE) and a screening of the dramedy The Way Way Back. — CG
Sworn Enemy at Trees
With its recently released Living on Borrowed Time LP — a disc that earned its release a earlier this year despite failing to raise its fundraising goal via an internet crowd-funding campaign — New York hardcore band Sworn Enemy left behind its thrash metal tendencies in favor of the sounds it was making a decade ago. Silence the Messenger, A Threat to the Enemy, Fighting Chance and Dei Aemeth open. — CG
RAW at Lizard Lounge
Once again, RAW brings together another batch of up-and-coming artists, musicians and folks from the fashion and film industries. There will be a lot to take in here, to be sure. — CG
Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks at Kessler Theater
In his decades-long career, the ever-eccentric Hicks has used his mix of country, folk and jazz leanings — plus an acerbic wit — to develop a healthy cult following. He's a true American original. Carsie Blanton opens. — CG
1310 The Ticket's Summer Bash at Sneaky Pete’s
All day, hosts from America's favorite sports radio station will broadcasting live from Lake Lewisville’s infamous party cove. More interesting, though, are the weird contests they've got planned throughout the day — including such things as “Norm's Bucket of Warm” and “Coconut Couples Rubdown.” Not sure what those are? That's the idea, we think. Best of all, though, is that once this party is over, you'll never have to hear that promo featuring host Donovan Lewis' fake version of Pharrell's “Happy” ever again. — CG
Saturday
Androgynous, Father Ned Misty and Jank City Jacket (Free) at Gas Monkey
If there's anything that North Texas audiences seem to enjoy more than locally-based Americana outfits with rough, hard-rock edges, it's cover bands. So, it stands to reason that there's probably a sizable portion of locals for whom it doesn't get much better than watching locals Dead Flowers, Goodnight Ned and Somebody's Darling performing tribute sets to The Replacements, Father John Misty and My Morning Jacket, respectively. — CG
Pegasus Music Festival at Verizon Theatre
Festival season is out of control, you guys. But what, exactly, constitutes a quote-unquote music festival these days? What makes the five-band bill of acts performing at Verizon Theatre as part of the Pegasus Music Festival more fest-like than when half-a-dozen hip-hop acts share a bill in Deep Ellum on any given weekend? Fortunately, we think we've got a pretty good handle on it. Fest or not: Brand New, Cold War Kids, Circa Survive, Bad Books and others perform at this one. — CG
Mickey Avalon at Trees
It is perhaps Avalon's back story that makes the rapper so popular even more so than his often satirical brand of pop-rap? Or maybe it's because of his back story that he has so many interesting things to say? Really, though: How could a teenager whose grandparents were holocaust survivors, drug dealers and addicts, and a guy who has previously prostituted himself to fund his own addictions not have a lifetime of material to draw from? — CG
Hagfish, Bobgoblin and Blank-Men at Three Links
It looks like Christmas is coming early this year in Deep Ellum — at least for '90s pop-punk mainstays Hagfish, who tend to perform but one reunion show a year these days, and typically sometime around the holidays. Let's just say that we hope tonight's show goes a lot smoother than the band's last one. Bobgoblin and Blank-Men open. — CG
Matsuri! A Samurai Celebration (Free) at Kimbell Art Museum
Out in Fort Worth, the Kimbell Art Museum is hosting a free-to-attend event called “Matsuri! A Samurai Celebration” on Saturday. The event will feature live music from Sarah Jaffe and Air Review and also offer free attendance into the Kimbell's current “Samurai: Armor from the Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Collection” exhibit. There's also face painting, tai chi instruction and a “selfie” photo booth — their quotes, not ours, as we've long accepted selfie as a real word. — Scott Mitchell
Hercules & Love Affair (DJ Set) at It'll Do
Disco-rooted club DJ Andy Butler, most notably of Hercules & Love Affair, will make you dance the night away here. Also, he's extremely proud of the fact that he doesn't have to rely on EDM or what he calls that genre's “cheap tricks” to do so. That's right, folks: He's a purist. — CG
Brief Lives at Double Wide
Earlier this year, Valient Thorr frontman Valient Himself joined Richmond, Virginia, hardcore outfit Brief Lives. Which is enough of a cosign for us. Without knowing anything about Brief Lives prior to Valient's arrival, we can still safely assume that Himself's presence is a massive upgrade for the crew. Anyone who's seen his other band perform live know how much of his guts and sweat he puts into every single performance. Locals Plissken and Bitch Teeth open. — CG
Jimmy Buffett and John Fogerty at Toyota Stadium
For the second time this week, Buffett performs in North Texas wastes away again Margaritaville. This time, he's tapped John Fogerty to open for him out in center field. (Does that reference still work on a soccer pitch? Whatever, man.) — Pete Freedman
Space Jam at Granada Theater
In 1996, thespian Michael Jordan — who, turns out, also happened to be be a great basketball player! — starred alongside Bill Murray and the Looney Toons in the never-to-be-forgotten classic, Space Jam. Thankfully, the Granada Theater remembered how beloved this film is and is bringing it back on the big-screen for a one-time showing. Also? Comedians from the Dallas Comedy House — along with you, the audience — will be tweeting jokes about the film that will pop up alongside the screen the movie is playing on. This is your chance to be a hero. — CW
Stoney LaRue at Billy Bob's
Can you even imagine what it'd be like to grow up with a name like “Stoney?” LaRue can: “Stoney” is not a stage name. He was born with it. Openers Holy Moly and Whiskey Folk Ramblers chose their names, we believe. — PF
Kris Kristofferson at Bass Performance Hall
Though he doesn't always get the credit for it that he deserves, Kris Kristofferson is hands down one of the greatest living songwriters. Period. His song “Me & Bobby McGee” was not just a huge hit for Roger Miller, who originally performed it, but for a couple dozen other stars as well. In fact, as of the late '80s, over 450 artists had recorded songs written by Kristofferson, and, at the '71 Grammys, three of the five finalists for Best Country Song were Kristofferson compositions. The serious, personal tone of his style helped to reshape country music, folks. Show some respect. — CG
Blake Shelton at Gexa
When he's not on The Voice or doing cool stuff with his wife Miranda Lambert, Shelton sometimes performs really bro-y country music in front of thousands of fans. You don't have to go to this one, but it'd sure be cooler if you did. AG
Best Little Brewfest in Texas at Old Town Lewisville
Texas has a brewfest in it. Lord have mercy on our souls. Lots of craft beer drinkin' going on, going on, going on. — CG
Sunday
Tech N9ne, Freddie Gibbs at House of Blues
Somehow, over the last few years, Tech N9ne, one of the most successful independent rappers ever, has aligned himself with the likes of the Insane Clown Posse and their hyper-loyal juggalo fan base. It makes sense why an artist unaffiliated with the major label system would want to attract a built-in group of fans as wholly-devoted as ICP's, but more impressive is the fact that the so-called juggalo family has embraced Tech N9ne right back. Expect plenty of face paint among the House of Blues crowd tonight. Krizz Kaliko, Jarren Benton and Psych Ward Druggies also perform. But the opener worth paying attention to is gangster rapper Freddie Gibbs, who is a total badass and sticks out on this bill like a sore thumb. — CG
Cut Copy at Granada Theater
Now that LCD Soundsystem is no more, Aussie alternative dance pop outfit Cut Copy is probably the closest thing out there for filling the James Murphy-shaped hole in your life. In any case, there will be much dancing to be had here. — CG
Electric Six at Gas Monkey Bar & Grill
The creators of such weird, fun party jams as “Gay Bar,” “Dance Commander” and “I Buy the Drugs” come to Dallas for this one. of Montreal off-shoot Yip Deceiver opens. — TM
Jeff Tweedy at Majestic Theatre
Just because Tweedy isn't doing the Wilco thing at this one doesn't mean he'll be performing solo acoustic, either. Here, he'll be backed by guitarist Jim Elkington, bassist Darin Gray, keyboardist Liam Cunningham and his son Spencer on drums as they help him pull of cuts from his upcoming solo debut. — CG
The Voice Tour at Verizon Theatre
Now that season six of The Voice has officially wrapped, the show's latest champion, Josh Kaufman, tops a bill that features a handful of his fellow competitors. To that end Tessanne Chin, Jacquie Lee, Will Champlin, Dia Frampton, Christina Grimmie, Jake Worthington, Jake Barker and Kristen Merlin also perform at this one. — Cory Graves
Fort Worth Weekly Music Awards Festival (Free)
Fort Worth's West 7th Corridor will be alive with music as some 50 bands that are nominated for awards in the Weekly's annual music awards will perform across eight venues, all of which are free to get into. — CG
World Cup Watching Party at Klyde Warren Park
For one month every four years, everyone on the planet seems to turn into a soccer fanatic. That said, there are roughly one trillion places to watch the USA World Cup team taking on Portugal this weekend. The outdoor watching party at Dallas' deck park, though, promises to be the city's biggest. And the one that might show up on the national broadcast for a home country reaction shot should the fellas of the USMNT score. — CG
To find out what else is going on today, this week and beyond, check out our events page.
