City Arts Fest Home Stretch: Day Four

So far, we've been absolutely blown away by the shows City Arts Fest have brought us. Incredible bands at all our favorite venues throughout the city. We knew it was going to be interesting, but they've lived up to the hype and then some. The Weepies show last night was heart-breakingly amazing and the Hip Hop fiesta at the Paramount on day one was epic. There's still a couple days left. With Blitzen Trapper and the Vaselines tonight and a full day of shows tomorrow, we're keeping busy. Here's what we think you should head to on Saturday.

Big Boi: Showbox Sodo // Doors 7pm, Show 8 p.m. // tix $38 (including fees)

Big Boi, nee Antwan Andre Patton, is a jack of all trades in the entrainment industry. Best known as half of the pioneering Atlanta-based hip-hop duo OutKast alongside Andre 3000, Big Boi is a rapper, song-writer, record producer and actor - he has really done it all.

As OutKast, Big Boi and Andre 3000 have become one of the bestselling and widely acclaimed hip-hop groups of all time. Over 25 million copies have been sold of OutKast's eight releases, which includes six studio albums, a greatest hits compilation, and the Grammy Award-winning (for Best Album) Speakerboxxx/The Love Below - a double album containing a solo album from each member. And they have managed to do it all without cheapening their style as they have maintained the experimental approach that makes their music universally praised for its originality and artistic content.

So, in 2007 when Big Boi announced plans to release a full-fledged solo album, fans were understandably excited. Over the next few years the album saw many delays, but multiple promotional and video singles were released to hold fans over. And on July 5, finally free of contractual obligations, Big Boi was able to release Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty. Triumphantly, Big Boi didn't let label setbacks infect his music and was able to make an album that explodes with ideas at every turn. The 15-track album showcases Big Boi's swift and witty wordplay over forward-thinking productions that infuse the sound of the Dirty South with space funk and dubstep. The kaleidoscopic and constantly entertaining album has garnered universal critical acclaim and is being hailed as one of the best hip-hop albums of the year.

The evening of hip-hop also includes local acts Neema, Fatal Lucciauno, and DJ Swervewon to get the Showbox Sodo jumping.

She & Him: 5th Ave Theater // Doors 7pm, Show 8pm // tix $33

She & Him, consisting of folk genius (and long-time resident of the Pacific Northwest) M. Ward, and indie actress Zooey Deschanel, who (conveniently) has played a quirky love interest with an offbeat sense of humor and bangs in pretty much every movie we've ever seen her in, are gracing the presence of our lovely city this Saturday the 23rd at the 5th Avenue Theater.

Produced by M. Ward, their first release titled Volume One was warmly received by the media who were pleasantly surprised by the genuinely vintage aesthetic and well crafted harmonies created by the duo. After touring 2008 with Lavender Diamond and The Living Sisters singer Becky Stark and a backing band consisting of non other than Yo La Tengo, She & Him hit the studio to record their second album, titled (surprise, surprise) Volume Two, which was released in March of this year.

Seattle 100: Seattle 100 Studio (757 Thomas Ave) // Friday and Saturday 1-6 p.m.

Seattle 100: Portrait of a City is the culmination of more than two years of work by renowned Seattle-based photographer, Chase Jarvis. The 240-page archive of black-and-white portraits captures more than one hundred influential creative leaders working in Seattle right now and will have its public debut during the City Arts Fest. The list of Seattle luminaries includes James Keblas, the director of the Seattle Office of Film + Music; Greg Smith, a developer; Jeremy Faver, who picks mushrooms for all the fancy restaurants in town; Greg Lundgren, an artist working in the death-care industry; and Kerry Casey, the goalkeeper for the Sounders. Jarvis shot all the portraits on the same seamless white background in his studio. Although, makeup artists were available, he encouraged subjects to come as they are in a reductive approach that put all the subjects in the same playing field. At the opening party (for VIPs and wristband holders), attendees are invited to the Chase Jarvis Studio to get a peek into where the book was created. For those not able to attend the opening night party, City Arts Fest is hosting an art exhibit on Friday and Saturday where large-scale prints of the portraits will be on display.