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For better or worse, Donald Trump will become President of the United States of America this week. (Who are we kidding? It will, with 100 percent certainty, be for worse. Much worse). But among D.C. residents, there’s a broadly shared sentiment: Not My President. There’s no shortage of protests and demonstrations happening on Inauguration Day and all weekend long, but the resistance isn’t limited to the streets. Here are just a few of the many anti-inaugural events happening this weekend, ranked by middle fingers (one being not that big of a “fuck you,” and five being a huge “fuck you”).
THURSDAY
Not My Inauguration: Music, Arts, and Wellness Festival
What: The folks at Brightwood’s 16th Street House are putting together an entire weekend of anti-inaugural music and arts programming. Local and regional acts like War on Women, Olivia Mancini & The Mates, Kid Claws, Go Cozy, Lowercase Letters, and about a dozen more will perform throughout the weekend, with all proceeds going toward Planned Parenthood and the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Where: 16th Street House, 16th Street and Van Buren Street NW. Jan. 19-22. $5 suggested donation.
Middle Fingers: 5/5. An entire weekend of counter-inaugural protest music at a DIY venue. Doesn’t get much more punk than that.
Peace Ball
What: Busboys and Poets teams up with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture for a star-studded evening to “celebrate the accomplishments and successes of the past four years and the vow to continue to be the change we want to see in the world.”
Where: National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1400 Constitution Ave. NW. 8 p.m. Sold out.
Middle Fingers: 2/5. With an awe-inspiring guest list of outspoken celebs, artists, writers, and activists that includes Solange, Angela Davis, Danny Glover, Alice Walker, Esperanza Spalding, Ashley Judd, José Andrés, George Pelecanos, and more, you’d think Busboys and Poets would be bold enough to not label this a “nonpartisan event.” I get it: This is a Smithsonian venue, but still: C’mon, Andy Shallal.
What: A free two-day anti-inaugural punk festival in Franklin Square, featuring performances by Room Full of Strangers, Refuge Beat Poets Collective, Rebel Diaz, Bust Off, Unabomber, Copstabber, All Torn Up, Lauren DiGioia, The Screws, XK Scenario, Liss Victory, DeLaran, Ruin by Design
Where: Franklin Park, 901 14th St. NW. Jan. 19 and 20, 4 p.m.-8 p.m. Free.
Middle Fingers: 4/5. Props to booking a band called “Copstabber” for this protest show.
DISRUPT J20 PRESENTS: A Benefit for Diverse City Fund
What: A benefit concert for the Diverse City Fund, featuring an impressive lineup of artists, including Immortal Technique, Jeff Rosenstock, Sammus, Evan Greer, Rebel Diaz, and more.
Where: Rock & Roll Hotel, 1353 H St. NE. 7 p.m. $15.
Middle Fingers: 5/5. Always good to see shows that benefit local organizations.
FRIDAY
No Thanks: A Night of Anti-Fascist Sound Resistance in the Capital of the USA
What: Black Cat hosts an incredible lineup of musicians and activists, including Priests, Ted Leo, Waxahatchee, Speedy Ortiz’s Sadie Dupuis, Pure Disgust, Flasher, Free Children of Earth, Mellow Diamond, and more.
Where: Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. 6:30 p.m. $20.
Middle Fingers: 5/5. This is the counter-inaugural show to be at, folks. Some of the region’s finest, and most politically vocal, musicians gather for a night of anti-fascist sounds, all benefitting two great local organizations, Casa Ruby and ONE DC.
What: Jacobin magazine sponsors an “anti-inauguration” event at the Lincoln Theatre with a panel of revered writers, journalists, and deep thinkers: Naomi Klein, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, Anand Gopal, and Owen Jones.
Where: The Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St. NW. 8 p.m. Sold out, but will be live-streamed online.
Middle Fingers: 3/5. The Anti-Inauguration isn’t going to be a transgressive act of resistance so much as it’ll be a tame, though enlightening and thoughtful, conversation with some of the world’s foremost writers on culture, race, and politics.
What: Capital Fringe is hosting some of the Fringe-iest counter-inaugural events you can imagine, beginning with this cabaret, which will feature a number of dancers, musicians, theater artists, comedians, clowns, and more. Feminist punk performance collective Tia Nina will perform, too. Hell yeah.
Where: Capital Fringe, 1358 Florida Ave. NE. 6 p.m. Free.
Middle Fingers: 4/5. Resisting fascism, neo-nazis, misogynist, racists, and general bigots shouldn’t sound this fun.
Show Up! A Concert for Reproductive Health, Freedom, and Justice
What: Planned Parenthood is putting on a show at 9:30 Club with artists who are definitely bigger than playing 9:30 Club, specifically The National and Common.
Where: 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. 7 p.m.
Middle Fingers: 1/5. Despite what the name of the concert suggests, do not just show up. Apparently tickets to this were only given to a select number of people and you never stood a chance of getting one.
SATURDAY
My America Artsfest: DC Creates-Innovates-Unites
What: A “community arts festival and fundraiser” featuring performances by local musicians Charmaine Michelle, Elena & Los Fulanos, and Brian Farrow & Friends. These musicians, along with D.C. artists of all backgrounds, “won’t hold back.” All the profits will benefit DC Arts & Humanities Education Collaborative.
Where: Edgewood Arts Center, 3415 8th St. NE. 7 p.m. $15-$18.
Middle Fingers: 4/5. With a diverse bill of local favorites, including Latin bilingual folk-rock group Elena & Los Fulanos, My America Artsfest is a true gathering of artistic resistance during inauguration weekend.
Laugh. Dance…then Get to Work!
What: 9:30 Club is teaming up with Funny or Die for the official after party of the Women’s March, proceeds of which benefit Planned Parenthood. According to Pitchfork, Sleater-Kinney, Ted Leo, Tig Notaro, The National, Janeane Garofalo, and more will perform.
Where: 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. 8 p.m. Sold out.
Middle Fingers: 2/5. OK, the accessibility to attend this show was better than the Planned Parenthood show the night before, but it still sold out in minutes. Even with $100 tickets.
THE ANTI-BALL: Women’s March After Party and Planned Parenthood Benefit
What: After a day of rallying and marching with the Women’s March on Washington, the best way to celebrate feminism and all it stands for is at Black Cat, with a huge roster of performers, including Kimya Dawson, TEEN, TV On the Radio‘s Kyp Malone, Wilco‘s Nels Cline, Kat Wright, Holly Miranda, and much more.
Where: Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW. 8 p.m. $30.
Middle Fingers: 5/5. For the second night in a row, Black Cat’s got the goods.