June 29, Wednesday
Know the Mother Reading Desiree Cooper’s short story collection Know the Mother examines motherhood in all its complicated variations—mothers of unborn children, mothers of adults, unhappy mothers. Seattle author Tara Conklin’s novel The House Girl is about a runaway slave’s legacy. These two should deliver a fascinating conversation about race and gender. Elliott Bay Book Company, 1521 10th Ave., 624-6600, elliottbaybook.com. Free. All ages. 7 p.m. PAUL CONSTANT
#SEAhomeless Rally and March This January, 4,505 homeless people were counted in King County. Join Real Change and Operation Jungle Defense for a rally at the City Hall plaza, followed by a march (with prayer flags to represent each homeless person) to Occidental Square. Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Ave. Free. All ages. 1–6 p.m. CASEY JAYWORK
Stories From the Borderlands The nonprofit Puentes, which supports the mental health of undocumented immigrants, hosts a live storytelling series featuring Seattle residents who’ve been directly affected by (often unjust) U.S. immigration policies. Coffee and tea provided; open dialogue encouraged. Sí se puede. Hillman City Collaboratory, 5623 Rainier Ave. S., 920-6933, puentes seattle.org. $10-–$5 suggested donation. All ages. 6 p.m. SARA BERNARD
Convergence Series The Brewshed Alliance is founded on a simple principle: Clean water makes good beer, so people who like good beer should work especially hard to protect it. To further this mission, the group has teamed with the Watershed Pub & Kitchen for the “Convergence Series” brewers’ nights, in which small brewers pull pints with a portion of the proceeds going to efforts to protect the environment. This month features Seapine Brewing, a newcomer to the brewing scene that’s made waves—cascades?—with its German sours. The Watershed Pub, 10104 Third Ave. N.E., 729-7433. Free. 21 and over. 6 p.m. DANIEL PERSON
Re-Sounding This benefit for upstart local all-female/non-binary arts collective TUF features film screenings on women in electronic music, including a documentary about seminal English composer Delia Derbyshire (whose many achievements include the Doctor Who theme), luminary experimental musician Pauline Oliveros on her “deep listening” technique, and a preceding discussion and demonstration of that techique by Mercury Rev’s Suzanne Thorpe. Grand Illusion Cinema, 1403 N.E. 50th St., 523-3935, grandillusioncinema.org. $10–$15. All ages. 6:30 p.m. KELTON SEARS
June 30, Thursday
Sera Cahoone & Naomi Washira It has been a quiet few years since Cahoone released her third full-length, Deer Creek Canyon, in 2012, but there is no cause for concern. Recent appearances have featured some new songs, as will tonight’s show. And anyway, Cahoone has never been one to let the world rush her, and her music benefits from it—her roots-indebted songs emerging mature and moving in their quiet confidence. With Naomi Wachira. Fremont Abbey, 4272 Fremont Ave. N., 414-8325. $15. All ages. 8 p.m. MARK BAUMGARTEN
No Tolerance Earlier this month, accusations came out against Jim Hesketh, fromt man of celebrated Seattle hardcore bands Champion and True Identity, alleging that he preyed upon, sexually assaulted, and raped underage women—accusations that now are now being reported from over 60 women. Tonight’s forum, put on by the Seattle GRRL Army in reaction to the news, will examine rape culture in the punk/hardcore community, how this was allowed to happen, and how to put an end to it. V2 (the old Value Village), 1525 11th Ave. Free. All ages. 5:45 p.m. KS
Natasha Kmeto One of the best new musical exports from Portland, Kmeto fuses her nimble, minimalistic electronic production with her cathartic, powerful voice—squarely landing on that coveted but hard-to-stick balance beam of brainy pop. Tonight’s local opener, industrial pop duo Crater, will perfectly complement Kmeto with its own unique brand of electronica, which takes a similar albeit slightly more clangorous tack. With symbion project. Nectar Lounge, 412 N .36th St., nectarlounge.com. $10. 21 and over. 8 p.m. KS
July 1, Friday
The Starving Artist Cookbook Reading Just because you’re poor doesn’t mean you have to eat garbage. Artist Sara Zin learned how to cook real food from real ingredients, and now she’s published The Starving Artist Cookbook: Illustrated Recipes for First-Time Cooks. For God’s sake, stop eating Lunchables three times a day and go listen to this woman. Elliott Bay Book Company, 1521 10th Ave., 624-6600, elliottbaybook.com. Free. All ages. 8 p.m. PC
July 2, Saturday
Lonesome Shack This Seattle three-piece blues-rock band has just dropped a new album, The Switcher, the release of which will be celebrated tonight. The album’s opening tracks feel jumpy, with quick finger guitar and rattling drums hurtling the songs forward in the vein of the Black Keys’ best work. Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Ave. N.W., 789-3599. $10. 21 and over. 9 p.m. DP
The Hood Internet Have you wondered what a Kendrick Lamar verse would sound like over a Taylor Swift instrumental? Well, for your cross-genre craving, look no further than The Hood Internet, a Chicago-based duo famous for creating mashup remixes of hip-hop and alternative/pop tracks. Joining them will be lesser-known local DJ and beatboxer BoomBox Kid. The Crocodile, 2200 Second Ave., 441-4618, thecrocodile.com. $12 adv. All ages. 9 p.m. ANDREW CALLAGHAN
The Amazing Acro-Cats
As the Internet reminds us every day (or hour, really), the housecat can be an endless source of entertainment. But can these pets—famed for being untrainable and aloof—do it on command? Samantha Martin says yes, and the cat trainer-turned-ringmaster is bringing her 14-feline-strong circus to town to prove it with a four-day residency that will feature high-flying cat tricks. Columbia City Theater, 4916 Rainier Ave. S., 722-3009, columbiacitytheater.com. $25–$35. All ages. 3 & 7 p.m. Ends July 5. MB
July 3, Monday
Jacquees In 2014, Decatur-based rapper and R&B singer Jacquees signed to Birdman’s Cash Money Records. His recent single, “Like Baby,” has become a runaway web smash, currently nearing six million Youtube views. Having worked with T.I., Chris Brown, and Young Thug, Jacquees is a breath of fresh air for Cash Money Records, a label that’s slowly started losing its relevance since Lil Wayne’s departure. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9442, neumos.com. $15 adv. All ages. 7 p.m. AC
July 5, Tuesday
Clarion West Presents Elizabeth Bear Seattle-area sci-fi writing organization Clarion West brings Elizabeth Bear to town as part of its summer reading series. Bear has written 27 novels and over 100 short stories in the past 11 years alone—step aside, Stephen King—about an array of topics including espionage, LGBT rights, witchcraft, and steampunk brothels. University Book Store, 4326 University Way N.E., 634-3400, www2.bookstore.washington.edu. Free. All ages. 7 p.m. PC
Seattle Queer Exchange Writers
Print out a copy of that blogpost, essay, short story, or letter to the editor you’ve been working on and come workshop it with other queer writers. Or just hang out—that’s cool too. Bedlam Coffee, bedlamcoffee.com. 2231 Second Ave. Free. 6:30 p.m. CJ
