Last week was so much fun! Highlights included the Writers of Color Showcase at Writespace, the Tiffany Gouche and JMSN show at Walter’s, and the Mayer Hawthorne show pictured below. Sorry about the glare but he was bare-chested and really pale. Here’s what’s happening this week.

Thursday, May 26: AlunaGeorge and Kiiara, two rising acts in the electronic pop scene are at Warehouse Live for what’s sure to be a fun show. It’s in the Studio which means it’ll actually be a fun show! $25 with doors at 7pm. The Motown Revue at Miller Outdoor Theatre also kicks off on this day. This event runs all weekend. It’s free, outdoors and always packed starting at 8pm. Also that night is the launch of the new crowdfunding platform NextSeed. They’re promising bites, drinks, and music all for free starting at 6:30 and RSVP is required. Last but certainly not least is the Grate Americun Grown-Up Spelling Bee at White Oak Music Hall after a watch party for the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Free entry and they have some great prizes!

Friday, May 27: Trini artist Christopher Cozier will be speaking at Project Row Houses on open spaces artists are fiddling with in the Caribbean. The lecture is free and starts at 6pm. For the Yogis who love Rihanna, Yoga EADO is combining the two for Rhi-Asana for $15 kicking off at 7pm. The PlatformIT Show is continuing their entrepreneurship panel discussion series at the Aloft Houston. These are free and this time they’re focusing on Successful Failure. They usually have a good local band and free Remy Martin to sample kicking off at 7:30pm.

Saturday, May 28: For the early risers Mayor Turner and other local leaders are convening at 9am around the Status of Black Women in Houston Politics at HCC. Immediately afterward at 11am you should head to Project Row Houses for Kenneth Bailey’s Art Thinking v2 games on art and activism. That night Third World TV is putting on a warehouse party featuring BK DJ Celestial Trax and lots of guests. It’s $6, kicks off at 9pm, and goes LATE. Seems like I’m just going to send you to every performance/exhibit Autumn Knight does since this week she and Robert Pruitt are collaborating at BOX13 Artspace for the Chromatic Saturation Social Club which opens at 7pm.

Sunday, May 29: Free Yoga at Raven Tower again at 10am. You should check it out. Alley Kat is keeping their Sunday day party going with DJ Sly Foxx spinning and free fried chicken with no cover starting around 3pm. Local legends The Suffers (aka Kam n’em) are playing a free show the Tia Panchas Flea Market along with Liberación starting at 3pm. There’s a pop-up Pizza Box Art Show at Cutthroat Eastside helping celebrate their 1 year anniversary with free pizza and vodka at 4pm.

Monday, May 30: Enjoy your memorial day. Hang out with friends, eat some food, and get some rest before going back to work the next day. Unless you’re a teacher and finished for the school year!

Tuesday, May 31: Local label Roologic is having a free show at the Nightingale Room downtown featuring singer Lyric Michelle, Arthur Yoria, and DJ Miss Champagne. The showcase will be hosted by Roologic emcee Genesis Blu and kicks off at 7pm. Also the sci-fi VHS glory that is VHS M4t1n33: 2099 is happening at Walter’s where they’ll be showing classic cinema like Johnny Mnemonic, Tron, and Ghost in the Shell beginning around 6pm completely free. And almost forgot that there’s a new Whole Foods opening in Westchase so if you’re on that side of town go eat free food and drinks at the sneak peek!

Wednesday, June 1: Check out the weekly TV Dinner Night with Point Break at Lowbrow that kicks off at 8pm.

Thursday, June 2: The Afro-Latin Fest at Rice kicks off and runs through the weekend featuring workshops, performances, and parties!

RSVP now: June 22 is an exciting day for music in Houston, with Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals (with Little Simz opening) and The Foreign Exchange both performing that same night. Pick which you’ll be attending and get tickets now! I’m currently undecided as I’ve seen both acts multiple times and loved their shows. 

As always, these events and more can be found in the Merlex Picks calendar!