37 Things to Do This Weekend

YouTube mom Cat & Nat play the Merriam on Sunday.

Friday, March 23

Bach Festival of Philadelphia @ St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Bach Festival, the Philadelphia Singers and Chorus America celebrate their departed founder Michael Korn with this intimate tribute concert at the church where he started conducting Bach Festival in 1976. The program includes Bach and Mendelssohn.

Philly Loves Phife & ATCQ @ Johnny Brenda’s
The third annual DJ night paying tribute to Phife Dawg, gone-too-soon founding member of A Tribe Called Quest. Live art, video tribute and music spun by DJs Mike Nyce and Royale. Benefits the American Diabetes Association.

Young Frankenstein @ Lightbox Film Center
Mel Brooks’ 1974 parody of the horror classic stars Madeline Kahn, Gene Wilder, Marty Feldman, Terri Garr, Cloris Leachman, Peter Boyle and more.

Taggart / The Space Merchants / Thee Glitterbombs @ Boot & Saddle
It’s a great night for indie rock. Taggart, whose members moonlight as an amazingly versatile live karaoke band, just released the jangly, catchy L’Maskin. Led by Michael Guggino (This Radiant Boy), the Space Merchants are getting ready to drop their new record Kiss the Dirt in May. Thee Glitterbombs, meanwhile, make snarly, punky garage rock.

Noises Off @ Walnut Street Theatre
Critic David Fox had this to say: “From the moment Michael Frayn’s Noises Off premiered nearly four decades ago, it was rapturously anointed the greatest British farce ever written. Time has only burnished its reputation — on both sides of the Atlantic, as seen in three Broadway productions (so far), as well as countless mountings by regional and even community theaters. We can’t get enough of Frayn’s ingenious look at a dilapidated but still hanging-in-there touring theater troupe, as they struggle to present a lame comedy called Nothing On to aging audiences in a parade of British provincial towns. The trump card of Noises Off is that we see the action from both the front and behind the scenes — and what happens on-stage is nothing compared to the intrigue and chaos behind it. Frankly, I find the passion for Noises Off — particularly here in the U. S. — somewhat mystifying. Not because of the quality of the play, mind you—it remains a virtual miracle of comic construction. But it’s so damn tricky, for audiences and performers alike.” Read the whole review here. Runs through April 29.

Yamaneika Saunders @ Good Good Comedy Theatre
The Maryland standup has appeared on Inside Amy Schumer, In Security, Last Comic Standing and more. Here she is on the Tonight Show.

Gang of Youths @ Underground Arts
The Australian rock band released Go Farther in Lightness last year. They’re dramatic and glossy and soaring, kinda like Coldplay-meets-’90s alt-rock, with a yarl. “The Deepest Sighs, the Frankest Shadows” is a weird name for a not-weird song:

Michael Kosta @ Punchline
You might’ve seen this Michigan standup on The Comment Section (E!), Crowd Goes Wild (Fox Sports) and/or The Daily Show (Comedy Central) where he has appeared as a correspondent. Through March 24.

Under the Cherry Moon @ South Street Cinema
Prince directed and starred in this black and white musical comedy that took home five Razzies, and shared the title of Worst Movie of 1986 with Howard the Duck. I posted the trailer the other day.

Demi Lovato/Khaled @ Wells Fargo Center
The pop superstar who gave us “Sorry Not Sorry,” “Heart Attack” and “Give You Heart a Break” is touring with the guy Jack White says doesn’t do anything.

San Fermin / Gracie and Rachel @ Sellersville Theater
Both of these Brooklyn bands make cinematic chamber-pop full of violins and keys to push their “classical music is not boring” agenda.

k.d. lang @ Keswick Theatre
The veteran singer-songwriter is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Ingénue by playing it cover to cover. The 1992 record was a pop breakthrough for lang, earning her six Grammy noms and one win (Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, “Constant Craving”). Lang doesn’t tour often, so don’t sleep on this one.

AWFUL Wrestling @ PhilaMOCA
The Art Wrestling Federation Urban League (AWFUL) promises “artists wrestling very poorly.” But the costumes should be top notch.

High Reeper @ Ortlieb’s
This Wilmington/Philly band does metal heavy and hearty like chunky soup. Their new self-titled record has got a Sabbathy mean streak, with lots of thick riffs to bang your head to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pec3Vrc1IXA

Personal Affairs @ The Middle East Center
Maha Haj’s 2016 drama about parents in Nazareth and children in Ramallah living very different lives. Part of the Middle East Film Festival, as is Longing (on Saturday, see below).

Frozen @ Walnut Street Theatre
Critic David Fox had this to say: “Twenty years ago, Bryony Lavery’s play, Frozen, premiered in Birmingham, soon moving to London’s Royal National Theatre. Subsequently, it made a significant splash on Broadway and in regional theaters here and abroad… and then, seemed almost to vanish. The disappearance involved a protracted legal battle (Google it, if you’re interested), which has since been resolved. Frozen is now back in circulation. Soberingly, two decades have only served to sharpen aspects of Lavery’s play, a piercingly sad study of murder, family loss, grief, and the healing power of forgiveness.” Read the whole review here. Runs through April 1.

Cuba Festival @ Annenberg Center
Though politics remains a chasm between the two countries, the arts are always building bridges. The Annenberg Center’s Cuba Festival promises a lively three weeks of enlightenment and entertainment. There will be music by The Pedrito Martinez Group, Grammy winner Chucho Valdés, jazz pianist Alfredo Rodríguez and dynamite vocalist Daymé Arocena; and a performance by contemporary dance company DanzAbierta. Runs through April 13.

Mike Casey Trio @ Philadelphia Museum of Art
The independent sax/acoustic bass/drums ensemble celebrates the release of their new album, Stay Surprising.

Ryan Davis @ Helium
A standup performance by the North Carolina comedian and YouTuber. Runs through March 24.

Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers @ Prince Theater
The Philadelphia-based contemporary dance company is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a new work, Faith Project/The Door. Features projections by multimedia designer Jared Mezzocchi and choreography by Kun-Yang Lin. Runs through March 24

Norma Jean @ Voltage Lounge
On this tour, the Georgia metalcore band is celebrating the 12th anniversary of their third record, Redeemer. Why not?

Saturday, March 24

Courtney Marie Andrews @ Boot & Saddle
This singer-songwriter sets her powerful voice to a country, folk and rock backdrop and comes up with something classic-sound. Easy on the ears, heavy on the heart. The new one’s called May Your Kindness Remain.

Marlon Williams @ Johnny Brenda’s
The New Zealand singer-songwriter makes lovely blues, bluegrass and folk. His second full-length record, Make Way for Love, was released in February.

Longing @ Lightbox Film Center
Savi Gabizon directs this story of a man who discovers that his ex-girlfriend gave birth to his son 20 years ago, and that’s only the first of several surprises. Part of the Israeli Film Festival of Philadelphia which wraps up this weekend.

Primatives @ Connie’s Ric Rac
The Philly grunge/metal act celebrates the release of their self-titled EP recorded live on Radio 104.5. I don’t know much about these guys except that they rock:

Justify Your Love @ Good Good Comedy Theatre
T.J. Hurley hosts another installment of his guilty pleasures game show. Funny people defend the songs they’re ashamed to like, while other funny people give them hell for it. This week’s show includes Rick Mitchell, Keane Cobb, Jaime Fountaine, Sara Castillo and Darien Fripps.

No Vacation @ Everybody Hits
Dreamy indie pop from San Francisco.

The Revelers @ TK Club
Cajun and zydeco music you can dance to. In fact, there’s a dance lesson before the show.

The Sentimental Art of Victorian Hair Work Jewelry @ Science History Institute
Science History Institute and Atlas Obscura Society Philadelphia join forces for an informative program about the Victorian practice of making art out of human hair. This ties in with the Institute’s Things Fall Apart exhibition focusing on temporary works of art.

Regina Carter @ Kimmel Center
The jazz violinist just released Ella: Accentuate the Positive, her tribute to Ella Fitzgerald. She’s calling her tour Simply Ella.

Liberty Flea @ Bok Building
This flea market features vendors specializing in antiques, vintage clothing, accessories and more will sell their wares.

Egyptomania @ Penn Museum
The evening of educational family fun includes mummy making, scarab necklace making, a belly dancing workshop, hieroglyph lessons and talks on history and archaeology.

The Chestnut Street Singers @ Historic St. George’s Methodist Church
The “cooperative chorus” performs “storytelling through song” in its Where The Truth Lies concert. Includes music by Clément Janequin and Mateo Flecha, along with American and Spanish colonial hymns. (They do it again on Sunday at the First Unitarian Church.)

Sunday, March 25

American Trappist @ Ortlieb’s
A little Philly rock ’n’ roll.

Silent Night, Funny Night @ South Street Cinema
The little South Street screening room presents an evening of Charlie Chaplin classics, including The Kid.

The FUN Show with Cat & Nat @ Merriam Theater
Moms/wine drinkers/YouTubers Catherine Belknap and Natalie Telfer host an evening of chit chat and humor.

Richie Ramone @ The Barbary
The mid-’80s drummer for the Ramones headlines a night of rock ’n’ roll hosted by WMMR’s Jackiy Bam Bam. Also on the bill: Voltheque, The Dull Blue Lights and a DJ set by Guitar Army Philly.

Her-Story Concert — A Sistahs Perspective @ World Cafe Live
Sistahs Attune perform music in celebration of Women’s History Month. Includes performances by Bethlehem “The Vocussionist” Roberson, Saudah Al-Akbar and Shekhinah B. Benefits The Women’s Coalition for Empowerment.

After Louie @ Kimmel Center
Alan Cumming stars in this story about love in the time of AIDS in 1980s Manhattan. Directed by Vincent Gagliostro. Cumming will be in attendance to receive the qFLIX Philadelphia’s Artistic Achievement Award in Acting. See the whole qFLIX schedule here.

Dead Meadow @ Underground Arts
The veteran psych rock band likes to work in that sweet spot between Sabbath an grunge, with heavy riffs and stoned, echoey vocals. There’s lots of that on the new The Nothing They Need.

Nana Grizol @ Everybody Hits
These lost sons of the Elephant 6 collective make bright, fuzzy indie-punk about our modern dystopia. It’s fun, but not too much fun, you know?