Weekend fun in Olympia includes a Queen tribute, martial arts on film and a pre-Procession party
Mercury Rising returns
Mercury Rising, Olympia’s own Queen tribute act, will rock the Washington Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, March 29. The band, which sold out the center in 2023, now has four vocalists paying homage to Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury — Bruce Haasl, Stephanie Layton, Jerod Nace and Christie Murphy Oldright — and a repertoire of 30 of Queen’s songs. Playing the tunes are guitarist Michael Hemming, drummer Andy Garness, Layton on keyboards and Mark Layton on bass. Comedian Sam Miller, who wowed the audience at the Center Salon last week, is the opening act. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at the Washington Center, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $15-$30.
Meta martial-arts movies
The Olympia Film Society is celebrating the groundbreaking martial-arts film “Dragon Inn” March 28-30. Those three days, the Capitol Theater will host screenings of not only King Hu’s critically acclaimed 1967 film but also “Goodbye, Dragon Inn,” a 2003 homage about a screening of “Dragon Inn” that’s the final screening at a beloved theater. (The Chicago Tribune’s Michael Wilmington called it “a weird, funny, melancholy tribute to movies and movie-going, an opus for film geeks that rang my personal bell.”) “Dragon Inn” will be shown at 4 p.m. all three days, with “Goodbye, Dragon Inn” following at 7 p.m. at the theater at 206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia. On Friday, March 28, only, the film society’s Joaquin de la Puente will introduce both films. Tickets are $10-$13 per screening.
Procession dance party
The folks powering the Procession of the Species are having a party Saturday, March 29, at the Olympia Armory. The Global Studio Dance Party, meant to celebrate community art spaces near and far, will feature music by Pumphouse, a performance by the Amira Belly Dance Troupe and tours of the Procession Community Art Studio at the armory. The party will start at 7:30 p.m. in the main hall of the armory at 515 Eastside St. SE, Olympia, with music beginning at 8. The party is open to all ages, but minors must be accompanied by an adult. Admission is $10 in advance or at the door, with kids admitted free.
Freelance writer Molly Gilmore is looking forward to the Procession of the Species, happening Saturday, April 26. She talks with DJ Kevin the Brit about what’s happening around town on KGY-FM’s “Oly in a Can,” airing at 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Fridays.