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5 things to do this weekend, including the Arlington Jazz Festival and David Sedaris at Symphony Hall

Boston, I have but five things on this wildly eclectic list. Whether you're into jazz or stand-up comedy, Australian jam bands, dry humor or dinosaurs, there's something for you here. The month is chugging along, and before we know it, it'll be April. We don't have time to waste, so let's dive right in.

Groove at Arlington Jazz Festival

Thursday, March 30-Sunday, April 2

Hep cats, beeline to the 12th annual Arlington Jazz Fest. The four-day festival brings jazz to various venues around town all weekend long. The headliner concert will take place at the Regent Theatre and features the John Patitucci Trio: three-time Grammy-winning bassist John Patitucci, saxophonist Chris Potter and drummer Obed Calvaire. Patitucci has worked with the who's who of jazz musicians, from Dizzy Gillespie to Wynton Marsalis. Potter has worked with legends like Herbie Hancock and Dave Douglas, and Calvaire has worked with Seal, Mary J. Blige and more. Sounds like a jazz dream team to me.

The fest kicks off on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. with a Jazz Vocal Showcase and includes a free concert from the Jesse Williams Group, a guitar showcase and a Brazilian-jazz drumming workshop.

 

April Fool's weekend at Prince Pizzeria

Friday, March 31-Saturday, April 1

Prince Pizzeria in Saugus will hold a special April Fool's weekend comedy event in its comedy club, Giggles, with "America's Got Talent" alum Tom Cotter. On Friday, the show will feature Boston native Robbie Printz. And on Saturday, Boston native Steve Sweeney will take the stage. All seating during this event is shared, so you might make a new friend or two in between laughs.


'Jurassic World' Live Tour

Friday, March 31-Sunday, April 9

So don't freak out. But a T-rex is headed toward Boston. Yeah. Along with — and again, don't freak — an Indominus rex, a raptor, a stegosaurus and a triceratops. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to join forces with a team of scientists to unravel a corrupt plan and save Jeanie, a Troodon dinosaur, from a terrible fate," according to the "Jurassic World" Live Tour website. The interactive show lands at Agganis Arena at Boston University this Friday. Viewers can expect full-sized dinosaurs, intense action scenes and a story rooted in the films we know and love. Kids, get your Jurassic on.

 

Berklee Ensemble Brunch Series: King Gizzard

Saturday, April 1

Pancakes, home fries and wild jams. Here's a unique collab: Boston's Berklee Ensemble will cover tunes by Australian jam-rockers King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard (billed by a PR team as "atom-splitting polymaths") over brunch. Head to City Winery on Saturday for the Berklee Ensemble's Brunch Series. Concert-goers can expect a funky, psychedelic mash-up of genres alongside their applewood smoked bacon, scrambled eggs, Impossible Burgers and beer.


David Sedaris at Symphony Hall

Sunday, April 2

David Sedaris is my favorite humor writer, hands down. If you've seen him read before, you know: it's like stand-up. If you've never been, go. And bring older teens — the wry, dry humorist can make a literature lover out of even the most reluctant readers. Since getting his big break by reading his now cult-classic "Santaland Diaries" on NPR 31 years ago, Sedaris has cemented himself as a Larry David-like social commentator with an ear for the absurd. While some authors are painfully staccato at readings, Sedaris is like an actor up there, and you can tell he revels in every minute. (Just writing about this is making me crave an audiobook re-listen of "Naked.”)

Headshot of Lauren Daley

Lauren Daley Culture Writer
Lauren Daley is a freelance culture writer for The ARTery.

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