Cheap Thrills: ArtBeat, Red Rose Club & Free MFAs

Cheap Thrills on the Thursday print platter, offering the finest in Free this weekend around the city.

BEAT GOES ON
Somerville ArtBeat Festival in Davis Square
Friday, 5 to 9:30 p.m., and Saturday, noon to 5:30 p.m. FREE
With apologies to the blossoming folk scene in Union, Davis remains Somerville’s coolest Square. And any neighborhood that proudly boasts a Museum of Bad Art must be confident in the creative works of its inhabitants, which are on full display in this weekend’s ArtBeat. The theme is Somerville of the future, meaning participants will explore art through futuristic eyes, with a Robot Island interactive exhibit, an environmentally aware parade and more than 100 vendors and art activities. Live music is provided by some of Boston’s most up-and-coming, from the indie shake of Magic Magic to the retro bomp of Jenny Dee & the Deelinquents. And any festival that has Beat in the title and isn’t about Michael Jackson automatically gets a gold star.
Info: 617-625-6600, Ext. 2985, somervilleartscouncil.org

EVERY ROSE HAS ITS PARTY
Red Rose Soul Club launch at the Rosebud Bar & Grill
Behind the Rosebud Diner, 184 Summer St., Somerville. Friday, , 10 p.m., 21-plus. FREE
Jordan Valentine wants to give her neighbors a break. Her late-night, living-room dance parties were starting to become a nuisance on her quiet residential street, so Boston’s queen of soul decided it was time to take the party public. The former frontwoman of the World’s Greatest Sinners and current voice of the Sunday Saints launches the Red Rose Soul Club on Friday night, a dance party offering up Valentine’s choice selections of ’60s soul, funk, rare r & b, boogaloo and other forgotten vinyl floor-fillers. And don’t fret about not knowing the music - Valentine promises free mix CDs, weekly play lists and podcasts on the party’s Web site, all designed to get you in the know. Doesn’t get any cooler than that.
Info: jordanvalentine.com/redrose

FINE ART FINE PRICE
Free Community Day at the Museum of Fine Arts
465 Huntington Ave., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. FREE
A silver lining in this whole recession nonsense is that the city’s museums and theaters are really stepping up with some affordable (read: free) programming and promotions. Among them is the MFA, which continues its 9 in ’09 series, offering free admission days to the general public. This Sunday is one of them, and it’s one of only four that do not fall on a major holiday, meaning the crowds are lighter and the halls more navigable. Catch the MFA’s permanent collections or check out such special exhibitions as “Viva Mexico: Edward Weston and His Contemporaries.”
Info: 617-267-9300, mfa.org