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: Speedy Ortiz at ONCE Boynton Yards
The summer season at ONCE Somerville’s Boynton Yards space comes to a close this Saturday (September 24) with a whopper of a homegrown lineup led by Vanyaland BFFs Speedy Ortiz (that’s Sadie Dupuis up in the photo frame, the image felt appropriate). Last week we heralded all the killer indie music festivals happening all at once, and this one is one of the best showcases of talent the greatest season has to offer: Haasan Barclay, Mallcops, Sorry Ma, Clifford, Paper Lady, Radio Compass, and Prateek, all while local vendors sell art, clothes, records and more. The show is all ages, and children under 13 don’t need a ticket, so round up the fam and get outside while there’s still time.
SPEEDY ORTIZ & FRIENDS :: Saturday, September 24 at ONCE Boynton Yards, 0 Windsor Pl, Somerville, MA :: Noon, all ages, $18.03 :: Event info :: Advance tickets
Comedy: Ninja Brian’s All-Star Variety Spectacular in Somerville
Hey, we’re bummed that Podcast But Outside’s stop at Crystal Ballroom got postponed due to illness, but the weekend still has a sizably sexy comedy offering as we turn attention to Ninja Sex Party. Before the comedy band’s Up Close and Personal Tour hits The Wilbur on Sunday, Ninja Brian brings his All-Star Variety Spectacular to The Center for the Arts at the Armory on Saturday (September 24), not too far from where Speedy Ortiz (scroll up) are setting up shop.
Here’s what Jason Greenough has to say about it in this week’s Mic’d Up: “It’s a variety show, and it’s bound to be spectacular. Yes, that’s exactly what the name of the show is, but there’s also no way around describing it as such with 50 percent of comedy rockers Ninja Sex Party throwing down in Somerville with 100 percent laughing gas. Revisiting the area that hold his ImprovBoston roots, Ninja Brian has a stellar night of comedy, music and mischief at the ready that will hopefully have everyone throwing some respect on the fact that he’s been wearing a mask before it was cool and required per CDC guidelines.”
NINJA BRIAN’S ALL-STAR VARIETY SPECTACULAR :: Saturday, September 24 at The Center for the Arts at The Armory, 191 Highland Ave. in Somerville, MA :: 7 p.m., $15 :: Event info :: Advance Tickets
Film/TV: Video Coven at Cinema Salem
The empowering and inspiring Kay Lynch may be shifting Salem Horror Fest to April to avoid the tourist crush and better serve the year-round community, but the event’s founder and director, independent film producer, and event producer for the George A. Romero Foundation is still delivering the goods to the Witch City. Tonight (September 23), Lynch’s Video Coven series kicks off a devilishly delightful screening of scares at Cinema Salem with the premiere of Out There Halloween Mega Tape, “a nostalgic blast of pure Halloween-themed public-access joy,” and the feast rolls on through December, long after the spooky black and orange has turned to a bloody red and green. Other highlights on the calendar include Death Drop Gorgeous (October 13), and Salem-set comedy horror romp Mass Hysteria, so hit Cinema Salem’s homepage for the full schedule.
VIDEO COVEN AT CINEMA SALEM :: September 23 to December 29 at Cinema Salem, 1 E India Square Mall, Salem, MA :: Theater event page :: Festival info
