By Rachel Carlson
Standing with Standing Rock Fundraiser
Monday 9/26. Olympia Film Society at The Capitol Theater. 6:30 pm
Come show your support for the movement against the Dakota Access Pipeline, known as NoDAPL, by taking in the film “Trudell”. Doors are at 6:30, and the show begins at 7 p.m. “Trudell” is a documentary from filmmaker Heather Rae depicting the life of Native American activist John Trudell. The film was made in 2005 and follows Trudell from his childhood in Nebraska through his career as an activist and Native American leader. The showing is pay what you can, with all donations going to help those fighting for native water rights in North Dakota.
So Pitted, Moaning at Obsidian
Tuesday 9/27. Obsidian. 9pm. $7. 21+
Tuesday September 27, check out So Pitted of Sub Pop Records and Moaning, a touring band from Los Angeles, at Obsidian. More bands are TBA and this show is sure to please. So Pitted just got back from a west coast tour with Chastity Belt—if you didn’t catch them at Bumbershoot, now is your chance Olympians. Obsidian is located downtown near the artesian well and is a hotbed of music and community events. Go for the music, stay for the Wi-Fi and drinks that will make studying in public your favorite pastime.
Olympia Zine Fest Kickoff Punk Show
Friday 9/30. Olympia Timberland Regional Library. 7 pm.
Kicking off the Oly Zine Fest this Friday at the Olympia public library is a show not to be missed. Performing are Spider & the Webs, Dr. Identity, VOG, hosted by MC Osa Atoe of the “Shotgun Seamstress” zine, as well as in between sets by DJ Erika Elizabeth. Spider & the Webs are a feminist punk music group that formed in Olympia. This band has released with the iconic label K Records and are known for “creating wherever they go.” If you want a show that really gives you the ‘dive on in’ Olympia experience, this is for you. Zines, feminist punks, and book learning—the quintessential Oly show. Consider attending all of Olympia Zine Fest, the annual Olympia festival all about making zines. This is a great chance to see a large body of creative work that is foundational to the Olympia art scene. This event is free and open to everybody.
Teaching with Zines: An Olympia Zine Fest Workshop
Saturday 10/1. The Olympia Center. 2 pm.
Saturday brings more Olympia Zine Fest. The “Teaching with Zines” workshop, taught by Greg Hatcher and Cathy Camper, will highlight using zines in education. Greg is a three-time winner for the Higher Goals Award for children’s writing and Cathy is the author of “Lowriders in Space”, and “Lowriders to the Center of the Earth.” This zine workshop is for the zine enthusiast, someone who wants to go into education, or for the casual zine interested party who wants to know the practical applications of zines in education. These two workshop teachers will share the history of zines and how they address diversity and self-worth among youth, and how to recruit allies to start your own zine at school or with a group. This could be a really informative event for anyone wanting to start a zine, with a group or alone.
Olympia People’s Mic Send-off Show for Kina Wolfenstein
Saturday 10/1. Ben Moore’s Restaurant. 6 pm. $3-7.
The Olympia People’s Mic is a weekly poetry reading hosted at Ben Moore’s restaurant. The Olympia People’s Mic is an Old Growth Poetry Collective Event held every Thursday. If you are interested in the local poetry scene, this is the event for you. This week the featured poet is an Olympia favorite Kina Wolfenstein, a poet who originally hails from Portland, OR. Wolfenstein’s work is queer centric and is a great example of a Greener in the community. Wolfenstein is a 2016 Individual World Poetry Slam, an international poetry competition held in Flagstaff, AZ, representative. Sign-ups are at 6 p.m. so get there early for the opportunity to read your own work for the audience.
Fall Arts Walk 2016: Live Music by Stay Grounded Band + Local Art & Photography
Friday 10/7. The Society. 5 pm. Free before 8 pm, $5 after 8 pm. 21+
The Society presents a Fall Art Walk 2016 showing of live music from the Stay Grounded Band with local art and photography from artists Eric Austin Art, Jacob Spriggs, CM Focus, and Alex England. Eric Austin is a figurative artist whose work is mostly acrylic painting on canvas. His work mostly consists of figures accompanied by symbolism and imagery taken from his personal study in eastern religion. Jacob Spriggs and Alex England will both be showing photography. Stay Grounded is a reggae group who boast a long list of A-Listers that they have shared the stage with. They cite traditional Hawaiian influences and traditional ukulele training as their signature sounds that pull you into their funky mix of jazz, R&B, indigenous, and reggae based tunes. VIP tables are available for this event if you contact the venue ahead of time, so if you want to impress your back to school crush you can snag one and lay on the charm while listening to these island inspired beats.
Swym, Soul Juice, The Celestials, Vervex
Sunday 10/9. Substation (Seattle). 11 pm. $5
Mystic Liquid Records presents Vervex, the Celestials, Soul Juice, and SWYM live at the Substation. The Celestials hail from Olympia and are a town favorite who play shoegaze synth pop that will make you feel like you smoked a joint, even if you are stone cold sober. These dreamy pop peddlers will make you reminisce about the naiver days of youth while reminding you that we have all grown up at the same time. Want to see what happens when an Olympia band makes the jump to the Seattle scene? Check out the Celestials and friends at the Substation on Oct. 9.
2nd Annual Indigenous People’s Day
Monday 10/10. Heritage Park. 4 pm.
On Monday, October 10, the second annual Indigenous People’s day sponsored by Bones Media will be taking place in downtown Olympia at Heritage Park. In August of 2014, the City of Olympia proclaimed that the second Monday in October, formerly Columbus Day, would from then on be Indigenous People’s Day. Come celebrate and learn about the indigenous people of the Olympia area and beyond. Last year’s celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day included speeches by indigenous leaders and members of local tribes about issues affecting the indigenous community as well as music, singing, and celebration. Not much has been released about this year’s programming yet, but schools and businesses are encouraged by the city to recognize Indigenous People’s day, and there will be an event in Heritage Park for the public to participate.
