* Denotes events that are $15 or less
Speck on Speck on Speck *
All summer, the Henry will be hosting Summer Field Studies, featuring local artists out and about. Friday’s event takes us to Gas Works park for star-gazing, and a reading and “thought experiment” with visual artist Allyce Wood. Wood’s work, whether print, cut paper or sculpture, focuses on humanity’s interaction with nature, and on this evening we’ll explore our place in the world under the vast night sky.
In addition, take in the city and beyond at twilight, guided by members of the Seattle Astronomical Society (and their telescopes).
If you go: Speck on Speck on Speck, Gas Works Park, 9 p.m. on June 27, (FREE) — N.C.
Seattle Pride *
It’s Seattle Pride’s 40th anniversary and the city is abuzz with activity. While there are dozens of events, I’m a big fan of Sunday’s Pride Parade, this year led by Celebrity Grand Marshal George Takei (who’s also appearing at brunch on Sunday morning). It’s crowded and a little hokey, but I can think of few occasions when everyone, it seems, is clamoring to represent. My personal favorites are the City of Seattle departments: employees decked out in rainbow shirts atop library carts, sanitation vehicles and police cars equally festooned. Afterwards, head to KEXP’s Pride Party at Tilikum Place Park, complete with KEXP DJs, cash bar, and grub from The 5 Point Café.
If you go: Seattle Pride Parade, Downtown to Seattle Center, 11 a.m. on June 29 (FREE) — N.C.
South Park Bridge: Grand Opening & Dedication *
After 4 years of closure, the South Park Bridge is reopening. If you like the way it looks, you have Tucson-based artist Barbara Grygutis to thank. She helped incorporate functional and mechanical elements from the original 1931 bridge into its current incarnation. So the railing panels, gears, rockers and guide tracks all call attention to the engineering feats from long ago.
You can get up close and personal with the bridge with tours all day on June 29. A grand opening celebration also features a street party and a parade.
If you go: South Park Bridge Grand Opening & Dedication, South Park, Noon to 9 p.m. on June 29 (FREE). – F.D.
The Flower of England’s Face: Henry IV *
This summer, as it’s done for years, Freehold will tour a theater production to non-traditional sites: the state’s prison for women, Harborview and Joint Base Lewis-McChord to name a few. It’s part of the company’s Engaged Theatre tour, which reflects Freehold’s ongoing commitment to bring art to diverse populations. On tap this year is “The Flower of England’s Face: William Shakespeare’s Henry IV.” It’s a story about the tenacity and courage it takes to reinvent oneself. In other words, it’s a story about having guts.
The cast includes Tony Pasqualini as King Henry IV and Reginald Andre Jackson as Prince Henry. The production also features live puppets as well as live music scored by Gino Yevdjevich of Kultur Shock. And while some of the tour shows will be performed for selected audiences, Freehold will be hosting a series of pay-what-you-can performances that are open to the public, between July 12 through July 20 at the UW’s Penthouse Theatre. A special preview show on June 30 will be held in that most summertime of venues – outdoors! – at the lovely Luther Burbank park on Mercer Island.
If you go: The Flower of England’s Face: Henry IV, June 30 at Mercer Island’s Luther Burbank Park; July 12 through July 20 at the UW. (Pay what you can). — F.D.
Cherry Glazerr *
Imagine a standard young indie rock group: Guitarist, bassist, drummer. Then weave in some lackadaisical psychedelic experiments and allow it to bake in the California sun until it becomes radiant in an (ever so slightly) slackerish way. This is Cherry Glazerr, an up-and-coming group out of LA. They have the hooks and the pretty reverb vocals that many of their peers employ, but with that extra x-factor. They aren’t afraid to slow down and space out. Opening for them is Lakefight! an avant-garde blend of keyboard pop and post-hardcore with a vocalist that knows how to get his scream on.
If you go: Cherry Glazerr and Lakefight! Barboza, June 30 ($10). — J.S.H.
Black Milk *
I discovered Black Milk far too late into his career for my liking. He appeared on my radar when he made the Black and Brown EP in 2011 with one of my favorite contemporary rappers, Danny Brown. Black Milk’s career as a producer and rapper goes back over a decade, however, and includes several studio albums and a slew of collabs. This Neumos concert is especially exciting because Black Milk is performing with a live band. This should round out his soulful, jazzy production style exceptionally well. Here’s hoping for a beefy horn section!
If you go: Black Milk, Neumos, July 1 ($15) — J.S.H.
Fuck Buttons
Fuck Buttons are one of the bands that help me accomplish things. It is battery recharging music, like chugging a sonic Red Bull. Pump their cocktail of old-school industrial techno and contemporary production polish into a pair of headphones and watch your productivity skyrocket. Fuck Buttons are especially appealing in the post-dubstep era of music because their build-ups and drops are much more gradual then most contemporary electronic music. It’s a refreshing change from the club music status quo. Their most recent album, “Slow Focus,” almost seems named to exemplify this aesthetic.
If you go: Fuck Buttons, The Crocodile, July 1 ($18). All ages. — J.S.H.
Crosscut's arts coverage is made possible through the generous support of the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation.
