Our arts critics have already recommended 37 great things to do this week and our music critics have picked the 22 best concerts, but there are still hundreds more events happening. To prevent some of the quirkier and more extraordinary ones from slipping through the cracks, we've compiled them here—from the EMP's Myth and Magic Faire and the Electric Bootie Carnival to wiener dog races and the Goatalympics. For even more options this week, check out our complete Things To Do calendar.
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WEDNESDAY
1. Am I Normal?
Revolver's monthly French music night, with DJs Emmanuelle and Vodka Twist, will get you into that weird, wild, Francophiliac mood.
2. Jonah Marais and Sebastian Olzanski
Babyfaced YouTube stars Jonah Marais and Sebastian Olzanski will come to Seattle on their Daydream Tour to crush some preteen hearts.
3. PubSci: The Science of Brewing
This month's edition of the science-and-beer lecture series will feature lead brewers at Stoup Brewing and Odin Brewing Company, who will talk about the science behind their beers. $1 from every beer sold will go towards the Pacific Science Center's exhibits and education programs, and there will also be food from the Cave Man Food Truck, trivia, and prizes.
4. Queer Justice / Queer Beats
Queer Justice / Queer Beats is a dance party and fundraiser for the 43rd District State Representative candidate, Nicole Macri. The queer beats in question will be courtesy of Julie Herrera and Mz. ArTiz aka "The Wonder Twins" with Will Winston (Free-Axis, TUF).
THURSDAY
5. Earshot Series: Jazz, The 2nd Century
Jazz: The 2nd Century is a long-standing program by Earshot Jazz that invites Seattle musicians to creatively consider the future of jazz, and what that could look like, in resulting performative interpretations. Starting today and continuing for the next three Thursdays, each concert will showcase original compositions by Seattle artists, and will be curated by different peer groups within our local music community through a blind jury process from responses to a general call for submissions.
6. Get Happy Seattle
This two-day "immersive experience" is hosted by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, and will feature opportunities to "feel your stress and anxiety melt away" and "#GetHappy." (Through Friday)
7. Independent Hangover: Acid Tongue, Psychomagic, Sloucher, Pleasures
Recover from all that patriotism with the psych-out weirdness of Acid Tongue, Psychomagic, Sloucher, and Pleasures.
8. Nights at the Neptune: When Women of Color Dance
This performance that features women dancing unapologetically bold, powerful choreography is dedicated to young girls of color; presented by STG and The Ziryab Collective as part of a free summer series at the Neptune.
9. Othello Quartz Festival
Fresh off their successful Transience event weekend at King Street Station this spring, Lion's Main Art Collective's South Seattle community-centric Othello Quartz Festival will feature QTPOC artists, bands, and more.
10. Out to Lunch Concert Series
Out to Lunch's concert series features a diverse lineup of local talent playing free, all-ages, lunchtime shows at a variety of plazas and parks around downtown. This week, hear indie singer Aqueduct on Thursday and psych rock band Vaudeville Etiquette on Friday.
11. PALMS
Look forward to elements including "snow, cake, lighthouses, confined spaces, pockets, shadow, hands" and "pulse" at PALMS, a multimedia event by choreographer and performer Paige Barnes, presented on a three-tiered set. After the closing night performance, celebrate with an after-party. (Through Saturday)
12. Seattle Tango Magic Festival
The Seattle Tango Magic Festival exists in the form of "five beautiful days and summer nights of tango in Seattle," featuring free dancing, classes, milongas, live music, and the allegedly famous Salmon Bake Milonga that happens by Lake Washington. (Through July 11)
13. Sex.WAV
A night of dark and sexy aesthetics in music, venue, and couture, this is definitely an event where one does not want to half-ass one's look. (May I suggest an ensemble along the lines of fatal-car-crash-meets-elegant-Wednesday-Addams?) ADRIAN RYAN
14. Taylor Swift vs. Katy Perry
Prep thyself for a battle of bubblegum proportions, with a brawl between pop princesses Taylor Swift and Katy Perry, courtesy of a DJ'd dance party at Neumos.
15. Twister Beach
The newest musical cabaret from Nordo's Culinarium, Twister Beach features beach games, sing-a-longs, tropical food, tiki drinks, squirt guns, and a story about the "dangers of a hasty seaside vacation." (Through Sunday)
16. Wild! Wild! Woods!
Grim's is bringing back that good ol' dance party vibe, this time with both kinds of music: country and western. This shindig is hosted by DJ Slam Dunkins and DJ Big Shitty, so throw on your boots and get scootin’.
17. Yo Yo Yoga: Thursdays on the Deck with Audrey Dohm and Recess
Yo Yo Yoga is back and better than ever, with a special event on the roof deck of the Monkey Loft every Thursday night til September. Join instructor Audrey Dohm for a 90-minute yoga flow with a live DJ set by Recess. The unofficial series theme is "Summertime," so get ready to emerge from your apartment hibernation and stretch out into this season's sunshine.
FRIDAY
18. 18th Annual DANCE This
Teen and community performers collaborate with artists from around the world to share their own culture through dance. This year's performers include Mexican folklore group Herencias Mexicanas, African-urban group Gansango, the Ukranian International Ballet Theatre, and contemporary dancers from Whim W'Him.
19. Bootie Seattle: Electric Bootie Carnival
Feel like you're at EDC without actually having to go to Vegas, with the Electric Bootie Carnival. Expect EDM-flavored mashups all night long, accessories that glow, lasers, and rave junk galore. Keep that PLUR alive, baby freaks.
20. Campout Cinema: The Fellowship of the Ring (21+)
Watch the critically acclaimed first film in director Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy in EMP’s impressive Sky Church at a screening complete with photo ops, trivia, and drink specials. This event is 21+, but there is also an all-ages screening on July 10.
21. Chinook Fest Summit
Enjoy three days of live music from artists like Whitney Monge, the Fame Riot, and Magic Giant nestled within the setting of what Chinook Fest describes as "the Great Outdoors," which means there will be equipment rentals for trail and water activities, as well as camping. (Through Sunday)
22. Czech That Film
This weekend-long festival promises seven films highlighting the best of Czech cinema: drama The Way Out, beautiful and emotionally devastating Home Care, crime thriller Ganster Ka, puppet animation The Little Man, sci-fi classic Invention for Destruction, and comedies Chasing Fifty and Schmitke. (Through Sunday)
23. The Dickies, The Queers, Acid Teeth
So you love the Ramones but missed the boat on any chance of seeing them. What’s the next best thing? The Queers! No, they’re not technically a Ramones tribute band, but this New Hampshire four-piece plays a style of pogo-friendly pop punk so derivative of that classic sound that they might as well be. LA-based punk veterans the Dickies are always a blast, so don’t skip out early before they (let’s hope) serenade you with their revved up covers of the Moody Blues and the Isley Brothers. Combined, these two bands have more than 74 years of touring behind them, so you can bet they know how to play the hell out of those three chords. KEVIN DIERS
24. Festival of Shorts
The Edmonds Driftwood Players' season finale will highlight eight new, short (15-minute) plays, selected from more than 200 global submissions. Each play fits the theme of "Paradox," and titles include I Couldn't Compete with a Harley, Cupid, and A Prayer for the Firecracker Kid. (Through Sunday)
25. Kenny Rogers
Classic rock and country legend Kenny Rogers brings his full goatee to Tacoma this summer, for a live set at the EQC.
26. Late Night at the Triple Door
Seattle Chamber Music Society musicians Chris Thile, Jeremy Turner, Steve Moretti, Jeff Kready, and Michael Brockman join Grammy Award nominee and trumpet virtuoso Jens Lindemann as he emcees a genre-bending evening of music and vignettes in this cabaret-style performance, as a part of the Seattle Chamber Music Society Summer Concert Festival.
27. Myth and Magic Faire
This festival of myths and magic features Campout Cinema screenings of The Fellowship of the Ring, a masquerade ball, and a day faire that lets you visit realms including Middle Earth, Hogwarts, Narnia, Westeros, and Oz all from Seattle's EMP Museum. (Through Sunday)
28. Nearly Dan
Cover enthusiasts Nearly Dan play a set of Steely Dan classics (so really anything from Aja) with a full twelve-piece band well-versed in jazz, R&B, blues, and rock traditions at the ready.
29. The Other Enclave
This very temporary exhibit presented by Paulie RodRiguez and Sofia Lee will reflect on a dozen artists' "racial marginalization, solidarity, oppression and struggles through their artwork." (Through Sunday)
30. Paul Kikuchi: AUTONOMIC
This installation (exploring "awareness, intention, human physiology, and pattern") by sound artist Paul Kikuchi, combines chamber music composed by Kikuchi with images by videographer James Reeves.
31. Rat City Radio: The Rob Zombie Experience
Burlesque and belly dance performers will present "a sexy, hard-hitting, metalicious show" produced by SeaStarr Productions.
32. Resonate Fridays
Foundation brings back Resonate Fridays with Henry Fong and Milo & Otis, drink specials all night, high energy party beats for four straight hours, and most likely confetti aplenty.
33. Scriptease
Watch a staged reading of the first six pages of a new play...then an improvised, full-length version of that play created by performers on the spot. (Through Saturday)
34. Seattle Night Ride
The Seattle Night Ride is a 15-mile evening bike ride that starts at Peddler Brewing Company. You'll get a t-shirt (and some minor street cred) for signing up.
35. Summer Sunsets On The Pier
Watch the waterfront be sonically transformed every second Friday this summer with DJs stationed by the ferris wheel, playing very chill disco and house music for you to get down with. Featured DJs include Pezzner, Sharlese, DJ Sloth, Kid Hops, and more.
36. Tasting Flight
Take in the wonder of the animal kingdom as you taste 10 wines (from a selection of over 40 wineries) at this Woodland Park Zoo fundraiser. Bring your own glass to participate in WPZ's waste reduction effort.
37. Todrick Hall: Straight Outta Oz
Todrick Hall performs a "twisted" version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz with more than 20 original songs, depicting Hall's travels from his small town in Texas, to the big time: "Oz Angeles.”
38. Turn of the Screw
An immersive take on Henry James' gothic ghost story, where you can sip tea or whiskey by the Victorian parlor's roaring fire as creepy things start to happen and the governess descends into madness. You're encouraged to come dressed to impress in black "cocktail finery," and, although general admission tickets are $25, upgrades include a Scotch flight for $25, the $99 "Lovers' Rendezvous" reserved seating package with port and cheese, or the $5,500 "Executive Producer" package, which includes a Victorian dinner for up to 12 of your closest friends before a private show for up to 40 people. (Through Sunday)
SATURDAY
39. The Big Gig
Expect music, dancing, comedy, and videos featuring the Fremont Troll at the seventh generation of this variety show, which will showcase performers Billy Brandt with the Thing & the Stuff Band, Ernest Pumphrey, Jr., Carrie Wicks & Aria Prame, Marina Christopher, David Arteaga, Jazmarae Beebe, and Brad Upton.
40. Cast of One
One comedian will take the stage and improvise a production (inspired just by a synopsis) all alone, playing every character in every scene.
41. Chance Fashion: The Petite Edition
Chance Fashion presents an event for the petite community, with a full fashion show, and post-show reception with opportunities to purchase one-of-a-kind garments from local designers.
42. Cucci's Critter Barn
Cucci Binaca is one of Seattle's newest and most fearless hostesses-with-the-mostesses. Never ever one to stick to the antiquated drag convention of lazily lip-synching to old Cher/Madonna/Gloria Gaynor songs in a bad wig, Cucci is more likely to strip down to a nearly naked boy-body to enact the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' "Warrior" while covered in violently-colored paint. Tonight, expect games, jokes, creatures, a few muggles, and performances by Aphasia, Betty Wetter, Butylene O'Kipple, Hellen Tragedy , Mads Dudebabemodel, and Ursula Major, and, of course, Cucci. KELLY O
43. Draw... Or Die
Local, contemporary artists will show work depicting the Wild West in this new show from Push/Pull Collective, which opens, appropriately, at high noon before the Ballard Art Walk.
44. Get Nailed! Sexy Manicures with Topcoat
Your first association with Babeland might not be "manicures," but as part of their Customer Appreciation Month, they're hosting a Topcoat pop-up with nail art, cocktails, "breezy bedroom tips," and of course, lots of sex toys on offer.
45. Goatalympics
This day-long event offers adults and kids the chance to compete with their pet goats in a series of challenges for titles including "Widest Goat," "Most Unusual Color Goat," "Goat-Owner Look-a-Like," "Musical Chairs" and "Best Costume."
46. The Goo Goo Dolls with Collective Soul and Tribe Society
Relive the glory of the '90s with the orchestral alt rock of the Goo Goo Dolls, Collective Soul, and Tribe Society.
47. Hi-Life's Beer Alley & Pork Fest
Pork and beer are the main attractions at this event that offers a beer alley, rotisserie pig show, BBQ pork sandwiches, and more. (Through Sunday)
48. International Bubble Flash Mob
Fill your heart with joy (and bathe in some suds) at this "International Bubble Flash Mob"—bring extra bubbles and prepare to be filled with lighthearted whimsy. The location of the flash mob will be announced as soon as you submit your (free) RSVP.
49. The Jethro Tull Experience, Janis Lives
Experience a classic rock twofer in what will surely be a psychedelic kaleidoscope performance set by the Jethro Tull Experience, and Janis Lives, cover bands of the Jethro Tull and Janis Joplin back-catalogs, respectively.
50. Kamehameha 3
Arctic Productions and Interstellar Records team up to present KAMEHAMEHA 3, a Dragon Ball themed party, featuring Brisbane notable, DJ S3RL. You gotta be 16+ to dance and 21+ to drink, and there will be plenty of merch and treats for everybody.
51. KHU.EEX with Tim Alexander and Skerik, Dubchamp
KHU.EEX is an experimental funk group that includes bassist Preston Singletary, Galactic drummer Stanton Moore, and saxophonist Skerik, who together fuse elements of funk, jazz, and Native American Tlingit singing and storytelling. It is also the brainchild of recently deceased Bernie Worrell, the pioneering funk and soul keyboardist of Funkadelic and Talking Heads. Gather to honor Bernie's legacy with musicians who truly knew him and appreciated his work.
52. Mixed Bag
Be a part of the live, studio audience for this variety show filmed for Buddy & Buddy Productions. Hosted by Jeanine Walker, the show will feature stand-up comedy from Hans Kim, music and sketch comedy from The Drop Shadows, and variety performances by actors including Seyi Akanni, Matthew Kelsey, Steve Mauer, Amelia Peacock, Hannah Schnabel, and Chris Walker.
53. Natsu Matsuri
The annual, family-friendly Natsu Matsuri Outdoor Summer Festival will have a selection of food booths, plus entertainment including live music, eating competitions, Hello Kitty, and children's games. (Through Sunday)
54. Questionable Content
This popular comedy panel show pits two teams of comedians, performers, and other artists against each other in a battle to recall the most off-beat local and pop culture stories of the month. David Rollison will host, Ian Schulke will keep score, and Phill Arensberg and Raymond Williams will be team captains.
55. Summer Stag Party 2016
Get ready for the First Annual Summer Stag Party at Slim's with (presumably) booze and trucks and BBQ, and also featuring live sets from Those Pretty Wrongs (with Jody Stephens of Big Star), STAG, Stereo Embers, Dirty Sidewalks, The Boxing Lesson, Less Than Equals, Gibraltar, The Service Providers, and special guests playing Big Star covers with Jody Stephens.
56. Taste of Chaos
Relive your emo days at this summer concert presented by Rockstar Energy Drink and featuring Dashboard Confessional and Taking Back Sunday, plus special guests Saosin and The Early November.
57. Western Parkour Championships 2016
Parkour! Compete in this intense urban competition—or just watch the frenzy from a safe distance—and see who moves on to the North American Parkour Championships in Vancouver BC.
SUNDAY
58. Buckethead
One might surmise that the reason guitar warlock/chicken fetishist Buckethead sports a featureless white mask when he performs is because he prefers to be seen as a blank slate upon which just about any musical impulse can be projected. In terms of artistic whimsy, Buckethead (real name: Brian Carroll) is as indulgent as a drunk at an open bar, his mile-long list of collaborators spanning free-range experimentalists Praxis, Japanese noise-jazz freakazoid Shin Terai, actor/musician Viggo Mortensen, rockers Guns N’ Roses, and dozens more. In late 2012, Buckethead took a break from playing live to begin self-issuing a torrent of solo releases. He dropped 118 albums last year alone, a pace of one every three days. Now he’s back on the road, which means it might take him a whole week to crank out a new record. JASON BRACELIN
59. Campout Cinema: The Fellowship of the Ring
After the 21+ screening on July 8, all ages are invited to watch the critically acclaimed first film in director Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy in EMP’s impressive Sky Church at a screening complete with photo ops, trivia, and fun goodies.
60. Columbia City Beatwalk
Head to Columbia City for the Columbia City Beatwalk this weekend. The Royal Room kicks off early with the Youth Initiative Showcase, followed by Zony Mash in the evening, along with Dubcar at the Hummingbird, Low-Hums at Lottie's, Duo Finelli at Full Tilt, Savani at Tuttabella, and The Beaconettes at Columbia City Gallery. DJ 3J Million willl be spinning in the alley along with the reggae band Lamarr on the street. Like every session, the Beatwalk is free and all-ages.
61. Hashtag 7:10 Party with Arisawkadoria and the Hashtag Trio
According to the Hashtag crew: "7:10, on a digital clock, spells OIL upside down, a form dabs take. 7/10 is 'the day of dabs.'" And with that Escher-like pot logic, they'll be throwing a follow-up to their Hashtag 4/20 party with free live music sets from Arisawkadoria and the Hashtag Trio (Seattle-based psych group featuring Ari Joshua, Delvon Lamarr, and Ehsan Karimi) and plenty of free surprises from Hashtag. Go blaze up and figure out what other numbers also look like letters sometimes.
62. The Kinsey Sicks: Electile Dysfunction
This musical election year show was called "clever and jubilantly performed" by The Washington Post, and follows the story of the first Dragapella Beautyshop Quartet's campaign to be elected President of the US on the Republican ticket. Parody songs from the Kinsey Sicks include "I Wanna Be a Republican," "Sell the Poor," and "Sikh to Shiek."
63. Noise Yoga
Noise Yoga is a yoga session series that intertwines the "meditative intentionality of yoga with the sonic depth of a live performance by local experimental musicians." Each class is guided by local business owner, musician, and generally badass yogi Emily Denton (of 'Poseurs', a local yoga series and zine), in direct collaboration with musicians curated by Hollow Earth Radio's Gabe Schubiner.
64. Richard Sherman Celebrity Softball Tournament
The Seahawks' Richard Sherman will bring together other local and national celebrities to compete in this fourth annual celebrity softball game. The lineup includes Marshawn Lynch, Clint Dempsey, Josh Smith, Sage Steele, and Waka Flocka, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Richard Sherman's Blanket Coverage Family Foundation and other local charities.
65. Wiener Dog Races
Bet money and watch wiener dogs (as well as "wiener wannabes") run their little hearts out at this special event.
