10 Things Going on in Cleveland this Weekend (August 15 - 17)

Catholics party too! Immerse yourself in Italian culture at the Holy Rosary Church’s Feast of the Assumption. For those unfamiliar with Catholic lore, the festival celebrates the assumption of Mary into heaven after her death, as well as Italian heritage as a whole. You don’t have to be religious to enjoy the fun the fest has to offer, though; take this chance to sample Italian cuisine and listen to live music. If you are more religiously inclined, you can also participate in a candlelight procession in honor of the Holy Virgin. The festival itself starts on Thursday, and continues through Sunday in Little Italy. (Cortni Dietz)

While the organizers are incorporating more of a multimedia vibe at this year’s installment of WMC, the three-day festival still brings together a really dynamic line-up of bands and artists. This year, they’re hooking up attendees with sets from Mr. Gnome, Hawkeye, Smoke Noises, These Knees and plenty more. The whole thing takes place at Cleveland Public Theatre, and tickets for all three days (you must do all three days) run $100. “Entering its fifth year, WMC has generated comparisons to TED and SXSW, but it’s truly one of a kind,” organizers say, and we couldn’t have drawn a finer class of apt comparisons. (We profiled fest creator Jeff Finley earlier this read. Read that here.)(Eric Sandy)

Nelson Ledges’ annual SummerDance has become such a hit, organizers have decided to spin it off earlier into August with this weekend’s inaugural FireDance. Grab your camping gear and set course for the forest. Telesma and Shrub play tonight; Tropidelic, Aliver Hall, Dead Ahead Ohio and Vibe & Direct play tomorrow night. Fiery stuff! The organizers add: “Workshops include building two geodesic domes with a 30-year dome-building veteran, the Ohio Burn Unit teaching fire spinning, as well as workshops for flow, yoga and tie-dyes on Saturday.” Sounds like another good time from the fine folks at the Quarry. And SummerDance takes place in two weeks! (Sandy) $40-$60

It’s a rare season indeed when the Baltimore Orioles are considered a powerhouse, but there you go. The Orioles have perched atop the AL East and now fly to Cleveland for the weekend series — are you picking up on all these bird verbs? — with games at 7:05 tonight, 7:05 tomorrow night and 1:05 p.m. on Sunday. Corey Kluber continues his dominance for the Indians. He hasn’t lost a game since June, and he’s the likely starter tomorrow. Otherwise, Francona and the boys will have to rouse their bats to overcome the hard-hitting Os, who lead the majors in total home runs. (Allard)

As Games Week comes to a close, gather with old and new friends to celebrate the memories made, the personal-best victories and get energized about what’s to come when the Gay Games goes to Paris in 2018. Enjoy the special Andrew Christian fashion show and dance the night away under the Cleveland sky. It all happens on Saturday from 5 - 10 p.m. at Mall C, Lakeside Avenue across from Convention Center. Tickets are $15 (cash only at door).

Jimi Hendrix once said “Heaven is lying at Buddy Guy’s feet while listening to him play guitar,” and Eric Clapton has even called Buddy the best guitarist ever. He’s too modest to admit it, but Buddy could very well live up to those claims. Buddy Guy has been playing with style and grace since 1953 and has only become better with time. In 2012 he released two albums, I Suffer with the Blues and Live Legends, proving that the 76-year-old artist can still keep up with the best of them. Unlike Bob Dylan’s rancidly scratchy vocals from years of smoking, Guy’s voice has a clarity and enthusiasm that simply soars over the rhythm section, validating his dedication to the blues in every moving falsetto tone. The guitar is an extension of his own body, running through impossible licks, effortlessly switching between the soaring screeching style of a modern Eric Clapton and the minimalist soft style of B.B. King. And you can’t deny the man has style as he performs in a decked-out white pinstripe suit and his signature polka-dot guitar. Age has only made this legendary artist more talented, outspoken and risky. (William Hoffman) $35-$65

An international sensation, DJ Scotty Thomsom spins at tonight's official after party for the Gay Games. Real Housewives star Carole Radziwill will be on hand as well. The theme is "7 Deadly Sins" and go-go boys will bring each one to life. The event begins at 10 p.m. at House of Blues and tickets start at $60. (Niesel)

Give the kids one last hurrah before school starts at the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Back to School Bash. You’ll have a chance to experiment with offbeat printmaking techniques in the style of artist Corita Kent’s new exhibit, Someday is Now. Kids will also have a chance to create their own mini sets for shooting short, artsy films, and those videos will be uploaded to MOCA’s website. The fun continues with a performance by the students from the Rhapsody Hip-Hop Summer Arts Camp, and a chance to learn how to work a turntable yourself. The party runs from noon to 5 p.m. and admission is free. (Trenholme) 11400 Euclid Ave., 216-421-8671, mocacleveland.org.

Formed in Cleveland, the Sidekicks take a jaunty lackadaisical punk aesthetic and mesh it well with sentimental indie-rock sounds. Frontman Steve Ciolek’s vocals have an endearing squeal that cries high over the band’s crunchy guitars. After moving to Columbus, the Sidekicks released Awkward Breeds, and the album shows a leap in maturity from previous recordings, allowing the band to branch out into a newfound sincerity. The high energy is present on “DMT,” a song that features some nice vocal harmonies that roll over the swiftly moving rhythms. Ciolek writes some beautifully somber songs like “1940’s Jet” and “Looker” on which his lonely sounding voice is accompanied by minimal acoustic guitar to a tragic effect. Welcome these guys back to Cleveland and keep an ear out for some new tunes. (Gonzalez) $8

Canton-born classical violinist Enoch Light was one of the first musicians to create records that made the most of stereo effects. On his albums, he tried to ping-pong his music from the left to right channels. In 1959, he founded Command Records and issued a series of albums recorded in quadraphonic sound. He died in 1978 but to honor his birthday, the Beachland Ballroom is hosting a Memorial Go-go Happening tonight at 8 p.m. The event will include a variety of live performances and mash-ups. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. VIP tickets that include a custom show poster and T-shirt will set you back $35 (Niesel)