Here we are, at the finish line.  The unofficial final weekend of summer.  It’s been fun, summer, but it’s now time for the Bears and TONS of XRT fall shows.  A lot of folks get out of town for Labor Day weekend, but if you’re sticking around and looking for something to do, no worries.  You’re covered with the one and only Annie Clark (aka St. Vincent) playing alongside some of the finest beers our city has to offer and an electronic music fest billed as “summer’s last stand.”

312 Urban Block Party featuring St. Vincent, Kelly Hogan and Maps & Atlases @ 312 Fulton Street Brewery, Saturday, September 1

The good folks at 312 decided to throw a party outside of their Fulton Street brewery and to get a bunch of people to show up and sample their wonderful product, they hired a few musicians that we like a lot for the day.  St. Vincent, Kelly Hogan, and Maps & Atlases will be playing and that’s a total bonus.  A bonus because we’d probably want to show up anyway if 312 was pouring their best beers at a block party, so you take what’s already a winning concept and add some of our favorite artists?  BONUS.  The only way to get into this event is to win tickets.  A block party holds a lot of folks, so your chances are pretty decent.  Win here and here.

North Coast Music Festival @ Union Park, Friday – Sunday, August 31 – September 2

Pitchfork isn’t the only music festival that takes over the conveniently located Union Park.  North Coast Music Festival is going on year three and if you’re looking for a few days of DJs and mostly electronic music with a few rock bands and hip hop acts sprinkled into the mix, then this is your spot.  Umphrey’s McGee is near the top of the bill, but this is not a festival for jam bands.  Girl Talk will be spinning/sampling, The Rapture will be there, Atmosphere, Paul Oakenfold, Felix Da Housecat, Digitalism, Dan Deacon, and we can’t forget about Mord Fustang or Com Truise (check out CT here).  If you’re not familiar with the work of every artist listed above, have no fear.  The NCMF website’s lineup page lets you click on any name, and a tidy, easy to use music player pops up and lets you sample the work of everyone on the bill.  Genius.  Check it out here and find tickets here.

North Coast Music Festival Aftershows @ The Congress Theater, Cobra Lounge, Bottom Lounge, Transit, House of Blues, The Mid, Friday – Sunday, August 31 – September 2

If getting down in the park all day and evening isn’t enough for you, well, you’re in luck.  Go all night long, every night with sixteen aftershows over three days.  Focus on these two…  Dan Deacon w/DJ La Jesus @ Cobra Lounge on Saturday night and Claude VonStroke & Maya Jane Coles @ Transit on Sunday night.  Sample Maya’s work here.