Can't Miss It: The Weekend

HOLY FOLK: Local cats Ball of Wax have put together another compilation of artists under a theme and are ready to release it onto the world. This time, the focus is on Harry Smith and his Anthology of American Folk Music, a seminal collection of regional tunes from small, independent labels that marked a lot of people's first connection to the genre. Tonight, on an apropos weekend, the tradition continues forward with a performance of those old songs by contemporary artists: Kevin Murphy (The Moondoggies ), RedDog, Kevin Barrans, Folichon Cajun Band, Pacific Northwest Sacred Harp Singers, Jeremy Burk, Colin J Nelson , Sokai Stilhed, Norman Baker, Ben Fisher, and Virgin of the Birds. It's a good day to travel back.
Friday 8:00 p.m. // Columbia City Theatre // $15 doors (Free Ball of Wax 26 CD with entry)

A VISQUEEN GOODBYE: In the same family as a Viking Funeral, a Visqueen Goodbye is fiery, pyrrhic, and spectacular. Local band Visqueen is going on indefinite hiatus after 10 years as a band, but before they go, they're gonna play pretty much every song they know. They've also got enough dirt on the members of one of their favorite defunct bands to make them re-unite for a one-off, just this evening, just with them: Broadcast Oblivion, which is The Shins' Dave Hernandez, Murder City Devils' Coady Willis, and Hazelwood's Drew Church. It promises to be a good show, if not an outright emotional one. Just don't stand too close to the band.
Saturday 7:00 p.m. // Neptune Theatre // $13

BACH AT TOWN HALL: Joshua Roman, former principal cellist with the Seattle Symphony, will perform all six Bach Cello Suites in a special two-part concert on Sunday. Yes. Two parts. With a dinner break in between and everything (although we have to assume that Roman will mostly be lightly snacking). The Bach Cello Suites were written throughout 1717-1723, making them pretty much the first and last major works composed for solo cello. You can watch Mischa Maisky tackle the 1st Suite here, or Roman himself do all six thanks to the Seattle Channel via the Town Hall website.
Sunday 4:00 - 9:30 p.m. // Town Hall // $10-$36