Remember when summer camp meant having to trudge along to the science center, wave pools, waterparks and other local attractions with a bunch of kids that you really didn’t like? For the girls of this century, that is no longer necessary. They have Girls Rock, a summer camp where young girls can learn to rock out on an instrument, write songs, learn management and promotion techniques, and become little rocking powerhouses.

This Saturday, August 15, you can catch the fine tunes these young ladies have put together at a daytime showcase at the 9:30 Club. Think School of Rock coming to you live.

Here are the details:

All are welcome to celebrate the 2nd Annual

Girls Rock! DC Camper Showcase!
Saturday, August 15th, 2009
Doors 10:30AM, Showcase 11AM-1PM
Located at the 9:30 Club
815 V Street NW, Washington DC

I received this information from La Maison Française and thought I would share:

French organist Sister Anne Laurent will perform a rare all-French program at the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in DC, on Saturday, July 25 at 3:30 p.m.
PROGRAM
Louis-Nicolas CLÉRAMBAULT / Suite du deuxieme ton: selections
François COUPERIN / Messe pour les couvents: selections
Eugène GIGOUT / Toccata in C Minor
Léon BOËLLMANN / Suite gothique
Jehan ALAIN / Liturgies
WHAT: All-French organ concert with Sister Anne Laurent - details below
WHEN: Saturday, July 25, 2009 at 3:30 p.m.
WHERE: Franciscan Monastery, 1400 Quincy St., N.E. (Parking available; Metro: Red Line to Brookland-Dua)
ADMISSION: Free
MORE INFORMATION: www.myfrranciscan.org

Sister Anne was born in Nantes, Brittany (France). She is a religious sister of the Congregation of the Beatitudes. She has studied music since the age of 8 and received her certificate in organ and organ composition from the A. Pedrollo Conservatory in Vicenza, Italy. Sister Anne has taught music theory at the Magnificat Institute in Jerusalem since 2003 and is currently Assistant Organist at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Yes, those fun, quirky and talented performers, Bonjour Ganesh will be playing at the Rock & Roll Hotel in the Atlas District. You can see all 13 (or is it 14? 12? 11? I don’t know) members of the band take the stage for the low, low price of $10. When they played a sold out crowd to The Red and The Black, it was a great time. These guys and gals seem to just spread good cheer.

How do they do it? Take a rocking female vocalist, a few guitars and a bass, a horn section, two drummers, and a guest flutist, and you have the formula. But the certain je ne sais quoi they bring cannot be imitated. My favorite song was called “Talking about my dog.” Okay, enough of my Billy Mays-style (he is missed) gushing….just go see Bonjour Ganesh for yourself!

The second annual DC Hip Hop Soul Fest will be taking place this Saturday, July 25 starting at 11 a.m. at Marvin Gaye Park. All day, the free show will feature local talent and up-and-comers. These are people with some real pipes. Get an early preview: you can check out some of the tunes on the website. Sounds like a fabulous day of lounging and listening to some great music. Gather some people together, bring a blanket, and let the music move you. While you’re there, enjoy some Lonella’s Home Cooking and Veg to Go.

While the show is free, you can help support the artists by buying the CD for the show. Check the website for metro and driving directions to Marvin Gaye Park in DC’s Deanwood area.