The birthday weekend of this immigrant-built country includes a number of gigs featuring immigrants and other international visitors. The Smithsonian Folklife Festival continues through Monday and spotlights a number of traditional Mexican groups as well as area-based Asian-Americans. The Mexican groups that may prove most interesting are Chinelos de Atlatlahucan, a costumed Mardi Gras/Indian-type ensemble that dances and struts around accompanied by a brass band, and Grupo de Fandango de Artesa Los Quilamos from the southern coastal region of Oaxaca, who combine indigenous, African, and Spanish elements. Both perform a number of times through Monday. Sulu DC will showcase performances by local Asian artsy types Saturday evening. At the clubs one can find reggaeton, moombahton, reggae, U.K. folk, and more. See a list of events after the break.
FRIDAY
Smithsonian Folklife Festival starting at 11 a.m.
Bio Ritmo for free at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden 5 to 8:30 p.m. This Richmond-area salsa band heads up 95 again for another D.C. date.
Los Cardencheros de Sapioriz, Chinelos de Atlatlahucan, Los Verdaderos Caporales de Apatzingán from 6:30 to 9 p.m. for free at the El Salón de México Stage of the Smithsonian Folklife fest. A cappella, Mexican Mardi Gras parade brass, and big harp music respectively.
MoneytownAt Little Miss Whiskey’s, 1104 H St NE
(between N 11th St & N 12th St). DJ Nightkrawler spins funk and soul records.
SATURDAY
Smithsonian Folklife Festival starting at 11 a.m.
Gregory Isaacs at Zanzibar On the Waterfront. Jamaican singing legend.
Arcangel (pictured) at DC Star Nightclub, 135 Queens Chapel Rd. NE. This son of a Dominican mother and a Puerto Rican father is an exciting 20-something reggaeton artist with a speedy, suave flow.
DJ Dave Nada‘s Tormento Tropical at U Street Music Hall. DC..’s Nada has become known now for spinning hipster cumbia, moombahton, and other international beat-based sounds.
The Unthanks at Iota. Lush U.K. harmony folk.
Ralph Rinzler Memorial Concert, featuring bluegrass by Hazel Dickens and Alice Gerrard, plus Bernice Johnson Reagon (from Sweet Honey in the Rock) from 6 to 8 p.m. on the National Mall at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival.
Sulu DC are underground Asian-American, D.C.-area performance artists, musicians, and poets who will display their skills from 6 to 8 p.m. onstage at the Smithsonian Folklife Fest.
DJs Stylus, Meistro, and Jahsonic at Sol Power at Dahlak (1771 U St. NW) with sounds from Africa, Brazil, and beyond. Free before 11 p.m.; $5 after 11 p.m. Music starts at 10 p.m.
SUNDAY
Smithsonian Folklife Festival starting at 11 a.m.
La Maquina del El Salvador at Fast Eddie’s, 6220 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, Va.
El Gringo de la Bachata at Galaxy Night Club, 2031A University Blvd, Hyattsville, Md.
Dhol Beat International at Ibiza Nightclub, 1222 First St. NE. Asian-Indian.
MONDAY
Smithsonian Folklife Festival starting at 11 a.m.
Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Lily Bee; the all-female band Ivy Rose; and the Dhoonya Dance Performance Company performing a variety of South Asian dance styles for free (and webcast) from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage.