PIFA, Cinedelphia & 47 Other Things To Do This Weekend

Knitting Peace — part of PIFA. [Photo by Mats Backer]

• Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts @ Kimmel Center/Lots of Places PIFA is so huge I don’t know where to begin. It’s 60 events over 16 days, ending with a giant festival on Broad Street. There’s Cirkus Cirkör, and String Theory: Exploring the Nature, Craft and Soul of Musical Instruments, Stand (which looks amazing) and so much more. Runs Through April 23. Look here and start planning.
• Cinedelphia @ PhilaMOCA This alternative film fest is packed with amazing weirdness. There’s An Evening With Degrassi’s Pat “Joey Jeremiah” Mastroianni, Beaver Trilogy and Beaver Trilody Part IV (featuring filmmaker Trent Harris, and followed by his Sean Penn/Crispin Glover movie, Ruben & Ed), New Breed (a documentary about NYC punk/hardcore), Dead Hands Dig Deep (about “shock metal” band Kettle Cadaver), and more. Through April 13.
• Wildhoney @ Boot & Saddle Shoegazey indie rock from Baltimore. Like if Mazzy Star jammed with Belly. (Tell me I’m wrong!) With Beth Israel and Blowdryer (a poppy, punky Philly band you oughtta keep your eye on).
• Restorations @ Johnny Brenda’s This band of Philly shoegaze kids is keeping busy. Right now they’re wrapping up a 14-stop tour with Creepoid and The Dirty Nil, and then they’re doing three dates with Minus the Bear in May.
• The Nether @ InterAct Theater critic David Fox enjoyed this production of Jennifer Haley’s play, for the most part: “The Nether, smoothly directed at InterAct by Seth Rozin, is a gripping 80 minutes that will give you a lot to think about.” Through April 17.
• Mt. Airy Kids Literary Festival @ Big Blue Marble | Readings and other events for kids. Ends with a birthday party for Beverly Cleary. Through April 10.
• The Infamous Stringdusters @ World Café Live Roots and bluegrass by experienced professionals. Nicki Bluhm And Paper Bird are also on the bill.

Jaill plays Ortlieb’s on Friday. [Photo by Renate Winter]

• Rosa Clemente: If I Was President @ Claudia Cohen Hall A presentation by the community organizer/“hip-hop activist”/former CP candidate of the Green Party.
• Mitch Fatel @ Helium Standup comedy by this charming fellow.
• Seán Curran Company @ Prince Music Theater Dance performance set to a score by Thom Yorke of Radiohead. Through April 10.
• Gardenpunk Book Release Party @ Mascher Space Celebrating the release of Meld Resistance by Marlon Macallister, with other readers as well.
• PCVA Annual Candle Lighting Ceremony @ First Unitarian Church In recognition of National Victims’ Rights Week. Hosted by Philadelphia Coalition for Victim Advocacy.
• Mano @ FringeArts New Paradise Laboratories invites the public to try out Mano, their “theatrically-devised sport.” “Come dressed to move and sweat.” Happy hour to follow. Free till you drink.
• Legendary Shack Shakers @ Milkboy Philly Rock/rockabilly from Kentucky. They specialize in upbeat guitars and lyrics about trains and getting on down the road.
• Source River: A Weekend of Grotowski Basics @ Mascher Space Dance/movement workshop aught by Tanya Marquardt, Almanac, and Lightning Rod Special. April 8-10.
• (re)Focus Fest 2016! @ The Rotunda Four days of independent, socially conscious theater. Runs through April 10.
• Ensemble39/Kinan Abou-Afach @ World Café Live Classical music in an typical setting.
• Philly Showcase of Wine & Cheese @ Pennsylvania Convention Center “Enjoy an upscale and fun evening of decadent wine & cheese!” Exclamation point theirs. I’m lactose intolerant.
• WXTU 6 Man Jam Guitar Pull Charity Concert @ Fillmore The name cannot be parsed. I think it’s the word “pull” that really effs it up.
• Show Some Love: Benefit Concert for University Community Collaborative @ Gojjo City Love and Vessna Scheff perform at this fundraiser for the UCC, which supports study abroad.
• Jaill @ Ortlieb’s | Just a hardworking SubPop band from Wisconsin. Four dudes. They play rock well. Look at them up there in their van.
• Action is Primary @ Icebox Meg Foley’s “exhibition of improvisational research and performance.” Features dancers Kristel Baldoz, Marysia Stokłosa, and Annie Wilson. Through April 23.

Saturday, April 9

The finalists at last year’s East Coast Beard & Mustache Championship.

• Pilam BBQ XXXVIII @ Pilam Full day of humans barbecuing and making music. Including: Cloakroom, Japanese Breakfast, HIRS, King Azaz, Moor Mother Goddess, Grubby Little Hands and more.
• PIFA @ Kimmel Center Look at this schedule.
• Gene Wildest/The Late Greats/Ridge Summit/Glitter @ Ortlieb’s A rock show.Camden Comic Con 2016 @ 301 Linden St., Camden Free, fun-for-the-whole-family comic con in Rutgers’ Athletics & Fitness Center. Includes, workshops, artist talks, a costume contest and more. More info here.
• East Coast Beard & Mustache Championship @ TLA Ornate facial hair will be judged and ranked.
• Tinmouth/The Hopefuls/Anthony Coppa @ El Bar Three rocks bands raising money for a friend who was injured in the Brussels terror attack on March 22.
• 4PLAY @ Kung Fu Necktie Two-floor dance party featuring the music of Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, Drake and Taylor Swift. No Kanye.
• Stark Naked — A Burlesque Tribute To Game Of Thrones @ The Trocadero Liberty Rose nerds out with Flirt Vonnegut, The Peek-a-Boo Revue, Tesla Tease and more.
• Santana @ Tower Theater Featuring Carlos Santana of (“feat. Santana” fame).
• 

  Big Trouble in Little China is by Stoger. From the exhibition of Ghanaian Film Posters at PhilaMOCA — Part of Cinedelphia.

  Johnny Showcase @ Boot & Saddle Philly’s sweatiest, glitteriest party band.

• Shut Up and Dance @ Forrest Theatre You know I was going to dance, I was fully prepared to dance, but I don’t like your tone. Features Miss Martha Graham Cracker and dancers from PA Ballet.
• Barns Courtney @ Milkboy Philly A singer songwriter from the UK who makes the kind of ominous blues-rock you might hear in a griefy Walking Dead montage.
• Home Blitz @ Philadelphia Record Exchange Home Blitz is secretly one of New Jersey’s best — a bratty, punky rock band that makes me smile every time I hear a new song. Sparrow Steeple’s also on the bill.
• Society of Civil Discourse @ FringeArts “An interactive night of debate, appreciation, hating and bullshitting: Debate Club meets Happy Hour.”
• Hiptron City @ The Fire Taj Mahal hosts a night of indie hip-hop by DJ Carl Crossfade, Troi Lauren, Grim Vader, Casino Brown and lots more. Check out this track by Grim Vader.
• The Art of Dre Grigoropol @ AIR Gallery Dre Grigoropol is a Moore grad and a comics creator and teacher. From what I’ve seen, her work is often fun and touching: Check it out. Also, see below. Saturday’s opening also features a “Life Drawing Event” presented by the Cosplay Life Drawing Club. Presented by 40th Street Artist-in-Residence Program. April 9-May 13.
• R.E.Load April Fools Fun Ride @ Penn Treaty Park The makers of fine messenger bags host this citywide bike ride/party. Prizes will be won.
• Peter Wolf @ World Café Live The frontman of the J. Geils Band. Plus a beer tasting and auction, benefitting WXPN.
• DJ Luca/Foisey/Ted Kamal @ Everybody Hits Hip-hop by DJ Luca (aka The Young Mr. Clean) and friends.
• Spring Cleanup @ All Over The City is postponed till April 16 due to the coming global superstorm. Still time to sign up to clean your neighborhood.

Sunday, April 10

Run River North plays World Cafe on Live Sunday.

• Ben Harper & Innocent Criminals @ Fillmore The blues, folky singer touched a nerve with his chilling new song “Call It What It Is” from the album of the same name.
• PIFA @ Kimmel Center Seriously. Look at this schedule.
• Sci-Fi Time and Planetary Unease @ Institute of Contemporary Art Kirsten Gill, Penn History of Art MA candidate leads a discussion inspired by Rodney McMillian: The Black Show. Part of the Coffee & Conversation series.
• April Openings @ The Colored Girls Museum Book your spot on a guided tour of The Colored Girls Museum any Sunday this month.
• Pat McGee Band @ World Café Live The ’90s rock band from Virginia plays a “reunion show” although their Wikipedia page shows they’ve been busy pretty much the whole time.
• They Might Be Giants @ TLA Glean is just a year old and they’re already putting out Phone Power — a pay-whatever compilation of music from their revived Dial-A-Song.
• Run River North @ World Café Live Folk/alt-rock band from L.A. with dreamy vocals and guitars.
• Sell Out Pilot Screening @ Frankford Hall Screening of the pilot episode of the new “daunting dramatic comedy” by Tony Cruz. Could be cool. Watch the trailer here: