The Metro Events Guide: Album release parties, art markets and more to do this weekend in Detroit

This week, we’ve got album release parties, art markets, festivals and dance parties so you can take full advantage of these late-summer weekends.

Plus, your last chance to see “What’s So Funny About Detroit?” this year. Read on to learn more.

Festivals

The 4th annual SW Fest returns to Detroit’s Senate Theater on Saturday, Aug. 24. This free festival celebrates music, art and community in Southwest Detroit, featuring live performances, diverse vendors and local resources. Performers include Kemba, Tiny Jag, Gabriel Duran, Ruby Flwrs, Terri Shu, WDET Sounds Like Detroit finalist Marqu3tte and more. Plus, the first 100 kids at the festival will receive a free backpack and supplies courtesy of Detroit Southwest Pride. For more information, visit SW Fest Detroit on Facebook.

Then, the Detroit Bourbon and Blues Festival returns to Eastern Market’s Shed 5 on Sunday, Aug. 25 from noon to 6:30 p.m. featuring whiskey tastings, live music, food trucks and more. This year’s blues performers include Free Style Detroit, Shaun Booker Dammit and the Detroit Queen of Blues, Thornetta Davis. Entrance to the music festival is free, and tasting tickets range from $45-$95. For more information, visit detroitbourbonandblues.com.

Album release parties

Detroit-based post-punk quintet Double Winter is doing a record release party for their new album Hourglass on Friday, Aug. 23 at the newly re-opened UFO Bar, with special guests CC Nobody and Mutual Heaven. Doors open at 8 p.m. and tickets are $10. For more information, visit Double Winter on Facebook.

Read more: Post-punk band Double Winter previews new album on MI Local

Also releasing an album this weekend is #CoOwnaz, a Detroit-based hip-hop collective comprised of Eddie Logix, Mister, SelfSays, 2 Planes, Doc Waffles and more. To celebrate, Snow Global Records is throwing a backyard boogie on Saturday, Aug. 24 featuring live music, food and vinyls of the collective’s new album, Portrait of a Prince. The pop-up will be open from 3-10 p.m. at Duck Pen Gardens in Corktown. For more information, visit Snow Global Records on Instagram.

Read more: Hip-hop collective #CoOwnaz to release new compilation

Dance parties

On Saturday, Aug. 24, Spot Lite is hosting “Disc Techno,” a celebration of Chicago and Detroit’s contributions to dance music. Mark Grusane and Eric Schwab will be DJing inside with Whodat, Scott Zacharias and Ryan Spencer playing on the patio. Tickets are $16-$22 online, and the event is 21+. For more information, visit ra.co.

Also on Saturday, Aug. 24 is “For All The Girls” DJ night at Northern Lights Lounge. Hosted by DJ Iza, For All The Girls is a new recurring event to create a safe space for women in the dance music scene. There will be photo ops and a lineup of all-women DJs starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are $15-$60 online, and the event is 21+. For more information, visit eventbrite.com.

Art markets

This weekend is the Hazel Park Art Fair, featuring over 100 local artists, family-friendly activities, food trucks and a charity beer tent. The fair is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24 and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25 at Green Acres park. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit hpart.org.

Read more: Hazel Park Art Fair returns this weekend

On Saturday, Aug. 24, Bloodroot Herb Shop is celebrating their first anniversary with a makers market at Ziggy’s. From noon to 5 p.m., there will be music, food and 20 local vendors offering artisanal goods and services from ceramics and jewelry to acupuncture and henna. For more information, visit Bloodroot Herb Shop on Facebook.

Comedy shows

Our last “What’s So Funny About Detroit?” comedy showcase of the summer is on Thursday, Aug. 29 in the beautiful backyard of The Old Miami. In The Groove’s Ryan Patrick Hooper will introduce you to comics Jacob Barr, Finn St. John, Ms. Joyce, Zach Martina, Kathy Ryan and headliner Josh Adams for a night of good times with good people. Tickets are $25 and directly benefit Detroit Public Radio and the city’s comedians. Doors open at 6 and the show starts at 7 p.m. For more information, visit wdet.org/events.