Editor’s Note: Welcome to V3 Weekend, Vanyaland‘s guide to help you sort out your weekend entertainment with curated selections and recommendations across our three pillars of Music, Comedy, and Film/TV. It’s what you should know about, where you need to be, and where you’ll be going, with us riding shotgun along the way.
Music: Great Scott Pop-Up at Bellforge Arts Center
Here’s one that’s personal to us, and personal to a lot of people in the Boston music scene: As Great Scott continues its search for a new permanent home around Allston, the rock club hosts a one-time pop-up party this Saturday (July 9) at Bellforge Arts Center at the old Medfield State Hospital, part of a summer-long series from Vanyaland publisher Redefined.
The free, all-ages outdoor party features live music from GYMSHORTS, The Benji’s, a solo set from Eldridge Rodriguez, and a kinda-sorta impromptu reunion from Great Scott aughts OGs The Bon Savants (Thom Moran joined by Kevin Haley). Plus, there’s some true Friday night flavor: Live comedy from The Gas, plus yours truly, Michael V, reprising the pill dance party with a traditional Britpop and modern indie DJ set.
“It’s been a while, a lot of things have changed and a lot has returned to a sense of normalcy,” says Great Scott booking agent Carl Lavin. “The idea that bands, artists, comics and DJs, that have such a history with Great Scott can coalesce in this kind of setting is something that is undeniably appealing and something we’re thrilled about and proud to be a part of.”
GREAT SCOTT POP UP :: Saturday, July 9 at Bellforge Arts Center, 45 Hospital Road in Medfield, MA :: Noon to 7 p.m., all ages, free admission :: Bellforge event page
Comedy: Michael Ian Black at City Winery
We’ve been watching Michael Ian Black on our TV screens since we first learned how to dip balls in stuff, and so we’re stoked to welcome the comedian, actor, writer, director, and Twitter dynamo to City Winery in Boston tonight (July 8). Here’s how Mic’d Up set the tone earlier in the week: “If you’re looking for a relaxing night of comedy and laughs, this is damn near the perfect venue for it. However, Michael Ian Black has never been one to keep his hot takes to himself, and things aren’t exactly feeling fun right now when it comes to the social landscape, so sit back, enjoy the vibe, and buckle up, because Black is bound to have some deep-cutting thoughts to share — and we are here for all of it.”
MICHAEL IAN BLACK :: Friday, July 8 at City Winery, 80 Beverly St. in Boston, MA :: 6 p.m., $25 to $35 :: City Winery event page :: Advance tickets
Film/TV: CatVideoFest 2022 at The Coolidge
Well, we’ve spent the past two years cooped up inside watching cat videos on the internet, so it’s probably time we re-entered society and did the exact same thing, only in a public movie theater surrounded by others. Without any paws for concern, CatVideoFest 2022 comes to Brookline’s Coolidge Corner Theater on Sunday (July 10), and it’s exactly what you’d expect it to be.
From the Coolidge: “CatVideoFest is a compilation reel of the latest and best cat videos culled from countless hours of unique submissions and sourced animations, music videos, and classic internet powerhouses. CatVideoFest is a joyous communal experience, only available in theaters, and raises money for cats in need through partnerships with local cat charities, animal welfare organizations, and shelters to best serve cats in the area.”
CATVIDEOFEST 2022 :: Sunday, July 10 at The Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St. in Brookline, MA :: 2 p.m., $13.50 to $15.50 :: Coolidge event page