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LAist gets a lot of event announcements, and we comb through them all to bring you a curated list of what’s happening in LA this weekend, including these 20 events. Don’t forget to check the April Guide, as it has other options, too. We'll be back on Monday to help you plan the week ahead.
FRIDAY, APRIL 24
COMEDY: The LA Comedy Festival runs Friday to May 2 at Let Live Theatre. The festival is a and runs through May 2 (but dark on Tuesday, May 14). The festival is a mix of feature film, shorts, web series, live comedy and a screenplay competition. The festival kicks off on Friday night with a block of short films at 7 pm. Tickets: $10+ fee.
FILM: Cinefamily launches a new French film series, La Collectionneuse, which will present old and contemporary French cinema, drinks and treats, music and more. The series begins on Friday night at 7:30 pm with “black and white-themed evening of monochromatic decorations and dreamy French shorts and a beautiful 35mm print of Jean Cocteau's 'The Blood of a Poet.' Even the food and drink are black and white.” Dress to match the theme. Tickets: $12, free for members.
MUSIC: Looks like there are only a few seats left at the Greek Theatre for Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice’s show on Friday night. 7:30 pm. Tickets: $35-$80.
SATURDAY, APRIL 25
ART WALK: The Brewery Art Walk’s Spring Edition takes place this weekend from 11 am to 6 pm (Sat. and Sun.) at the Brewery Art Complex in DTLA. The twice annual open studio weekend, held at the site of the former Pabst plant, boasts more than 100 participating resident artists opening their studio doors to the public. Check out new works, installations and get a chance to meet and talk to the artists and makers themselves. Admission and parking are free (but it gets crowded so think about alternative transportation. Also onsite will be food trucks and a beer garden hosted Barbara’s restaurant.
ARTISANAL LA: Artisanal LA presents its Spring Show at The REEF with makers, artisans, crafters, chefs bringing their goods to the public. This weekend features hundreds of vendors, workshops, demos, panels and, of course, eats and drinks. Tickets: $12 per day in advance or $15 at the door. Hours for both days are 11am to 6 pm.
ARTS FAIR: The Jackalope Art & Craft Fair comes to Pasadena’a Central Park this weekend from 11 am to 6 pm on Saturday and Sunday. The weekend features more than 200 craftsmen and women selling their works, workshops and discussions. Food trucks available onsite, too. Admission is free and open to the public.
FILM: The new Kurt Cobain documentary Montage of Heck plays at the ArcLight Hollywood with a series of Q&A sessions with director Brett Morgen after the 8 pm screening on Friday; after the 3 pm and 8 pm screenings on Saturday; and after the 7 pm screening on Sunday. Tickets: $14.75-$16.
MUSIC: The 29th annual JazzReggae Festival is at UCLA’s Tennis Center from noon to 11 pm with headliners Wale, Portugal the Man, JMSN, Lido, Marian Hill, Shwayze and more. Food, crafts and other entertainment as well. General admission tickets: $40-$50.
MUSIC: Pete Yorn is on a solo acoustic tour of California and makes a stop at The Roxy on Saturday night. He may even take requests. Doors at 7 pm and show at 8 pm. We heard that it’s now sold out, so find your favorite ticket purveyor to get in (tickets were originally $32). Look for our interview with Yorn on LAist tomorrow, too.
COCKTAILS + BEER: 213 Hospitality presents the first Silverlake Craft Cocktail & Beer Exposition at 4100 Bar from 2-6 pm. Taking part in the indoor/outdoor festivities are Golden Road Brewing, Angel City Brewing, Beam Suntory, Mohawk Bend, The Thirsty Crow, El Condor, Garage Pizza, The Black Cat, The Virgil and Akbar and more! Admission allows guests to partake in petite cocktail samples, local craft beers and small bite of food. $5 of each ticket sold will be donated to the Sunset Free Health Clinic. Tickets: $30.
ART: The Autry Museum presents the new exhibition Empire and Liberty: The Civil War and the West, which opens to the public on Saturday. It’s the first major museum exhibition to explore the Civil War from a perspective of Westward expansion. “There are more than 200 significant artifacts, including Texas slave sale documents, Andrés Pico’s war drum, the battle flag carried by soldiers of the California Hundred, a Buffalo Soldier’s revolver, and Cherokee General Stand Watie’s bowie knife. This exhibition shows how the Civil War was more than a clash between the North and South; it was part of a history of debate over how America would expand, and who, within that expanding nation, might claim freedom.” The exhibition runs through Jan. 3, 2016. General adult admission: $10.
OPERA MASHUP: LA Opera presents an interesting mashup that screens Mario Bava’s 1961 film Hercules vs. Vampires (Ercole al centro della terra) this weekend. When the onscreen characters open their mouths to speak, the audience will hear the lines sung by the cast of opera singers. There are two performances on Saturday at 7 pm and 10 pm with a sword-and-sandals costume party held between the performances. (So come dressed to impress…) There’s also a 2 pm matinee on Sunday. Tickets: $24-$46.
MUSIC: Polaris, best known as the house band of the 1990’s Nickelodeon series, The Adventures of Pete & Pete, play a rare show at the Echoplex on Saturday night. (The indie band was an offshoot of Miracle Legion, for those who might remember their great song, “Snacks and Candy.”) Polaris just released their only album Music from the Adventures of Pete & Pete on vinyl as part of Record Store Day. Upset opens. Tickets: $19-$21. 8:30 pm.
ART: Subliminal Projects presents SURFACE, an exhibition that features portraits of street artists from around the world taken by Danish photographer Søren Solkær. The works sometimes give an alternative view to the artist’s identity. A selection of Solkær’s photographs are on view alongside 14 collaborations by the following renowned artists: Aakash Nihalani, Above, Beau Stanton, Cyrcle, DabsMyla, Dan Witz, Jordan Seiler, Lee Quinones, Logan Hicks, Mark Bode, Rae, Risk, Saber and Wolfbat. The opening reception is on Saturday night from 8-11 pm with the exhibition running through May 23.
DR. WHO IMPROV: On Saturday night at 10 pm at iO West, the cast of Doctor Who Live takes a suggestion from the audience to create a fully improvised episode of Doctor Who. The episode isn’t taken from TV, and will probably never be seen again. Tickets: $5.
ROLLERSKATE: Even muggles are invited to the 4th Annual Harry Potter Roller Skating Night at Moonlight Rollerway Skating Rink in Glendale. Presented by The Los Angeles Dumbledore’s Army, the family-friendly party runs from 8-11 pm. The night includes music from the films, a costume contest, merchandise for sale and raffle prizes. Tickets $6.50 (no skating) to $14.50.
UK Artist Ryan Callanan AKA RYCA has been selected to receive BritWeek’s first ‘Visual Artist of the Year’ honor. (Image: “This Style is Identical to None”, 2015, Courtesy of the artist and gallery)
BRITWEEK: We’re in the middle of BritWeek, which highlights the “creative fusion between the United Kingdom and California.” The “week” extends through May 3 with events and celebrations throughout, including An Evening Reception for BritWeek's 'Visual Artist of the Year' honoree RYCA (in partnership with Juxtapoz Art Magazine) from 8-11:30 pm at the Copro Gallery in Santa Monica.SUNDAY, APRIL 26
ART: There’s a public opening on Sunday from 3-6 pm for French artist Vincent Lamouroux’s site-specific installation Projection (the Bates Motel covered in white paint). Bates Avenue (at Sunset) will be closed off for the event, with light refreshments being served at the Silver Lake Jewish Independent Community Center. Meals will also be available for purchase. Free admission.
BEER + WINE: The third annual Atwater Village Beer, Wine and Food Festival takes place on Sunday, April 26 from 1 pm-5 pm at the parking lot at Link N Hops and 55 Degree Wine. There will be live entertainment, more than a dozen craft breweries, wine tastings and a variety of local vendors. A ticket includes entry and 15 drink tickets as well as a commemorative glass. A VIP ticket includes early entry, a gift bag and unlimited tastings. Tickets: $35-$45. Only a few remain.
CLASSICAL MUSIC: The popularL.A. chamber orchestra wild Up plays a free concert on Sunday at UCLA's Schoenberg Hall. Filigree takes on a vibrant program of eclectic musical compositions: “The program features Brian Ferneyhough's shredding violin concerto "Terrain," and Pesson's sprawling "Rescousse," which whips through 19 folk melodies while the group saws on the wood of their instruments and slap their own bodies rhythmically. The program also touches on the church music of Arnolt Schlick, the secular music of William Byrd, and features a sound collage of Whitney Houston's whistle-tone melismas, plus works by Nico Muhly and George Lewis.” 4 pm.
Related: LAist’s April Guide
Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.
