Things to do in the DC area: Liberation Weekend, Spring Night Market … and more!

D C -based band Ekko Astral performing live Photo courtesy of Kevin Condon D C -based band Ekko Astral performing live Photo courtesy of Kevin Condon A bold and brand new music festival is set to launch in the District Liberation Weekend is a two-day music and arts festival taking place at Black Cat and DC in D C on Friday May and Saturday May with all proceeds from the event benefiting the nonprofit Gender Liberation Movement GLM The bands performing at the event are an eclectic mix of rock pop punk rap and more Chosen of the bands expected include Pretty Bitter Home is Where Pinky Lemon and Ekko Astral among others The organizer of the event is Ekko Astral lead singer and bassist Jael Holzman who in the past few days was praised for having one of the best rock albums of As a journalist Holzman reported she often writes about context change and the existential threat to our species and numerous other species but after she released on the future of trans life in America for Rolling Stone Magazine she mentioned We need more cultural disruption I wrote that story and while it described the world I was not happy with the change that was made after It felt too tepid commented Holzman who thereafter joined GLM in order to unify members of the queer region to raise money for trans rights organizations Check back every Thursday for a roundup of Things to do in the D C area There have been festivals to raise money for individual trans rights organizations before There have been festivals of all-queer bills all-trans bills before But as far as we understand this is the single largest in-scope event of its kind that has happened so far announced Holzman Holzman s hope is for the Liberation Weekend festival to act as a beacon that other organizations to model themselves after saying We designed this event to maximize the proceeds going to Gender Liberation Movement We raised enough money on the back end before we even publicized who was playing and communicated the tickets were on sale to essentially cover all of the expenses it takes to put on an event of this size and scale With that reported every dollar spent on raffles or tickets go directly in the hands of GLM So be sure to get your tickets while you can as they re expected to sell out Ticket prices vary selling at a base of for night one only or night two only or for a two-night pass Optional donations can be added as well at or Here s what else is happening in the D C area DC Spring Night Region Two floors at Hi-Lawn and Dock of Union Field in Northeast D C are being transformed into the Spring Night Industry This event brings street food-inspired fare and unique sweets specialty gifts and wares cultural performances and a live DJ Entry to the event is approximately per person The event is on Thursday Ghana to the World Head to Bold Fork Books for a conversation between Chef Eric Adjepong Korsha Wilson and moderator Carla Hall as they dive into Adjepong s and Wilson s book Ghana to the World The book features West African-influenced recipes and stories Tickets to the event on Thursday May cost approximately Maryland Maryland Deathfest In Baltimore Maryland Maryland Deathfest is bringing both legendary and up-and-coming bands that showcase various of the best death metal grindcore doom thrash and similar genres of music in the current era This year s event features five stages and spans from May to Maryland Plant Fest From May to the Maryland Plant Fest is being hosted in Silver Spring with specialty plant vendors all weekend long as well as a Makers Sector and the chance to meet and grab a signed book copy by plant stylist and author Hilton Carter The event is free Virginia Asian Summer Festival Tysons Corner Center is celebrating Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Heritage Month with live music martial arts performances Asian street food and panel discussions The Asian Summer Festival runs from May through at PenFed Plaza The event is free to attend ViVa Vienna From May to several local food vendors artisans live performers and public organizations plan to congregate in Vienna Virginia for three days of family fun Ticket prices for ViVa Vienna vary Pride Music Bingo Celebrate the LGBTQ region by participating in Pride music bingo at Lost Boy Cider in Alexandria Virginia Expect giveaways and a portion of the per person ticket proceeds going to Safe Space NOVA The event is on Sunday May Have an event you d like featured in WTOP s Things to do in the D C area weekly guide Let us know Source