CRITICS’ PICKS
FILM
What: Free-B Film Festival Where: Cameron Bandshell, Beacon Hill Park When: Aug. 9-24 Admission: Free Why: One of the highlights of the summer season is this well-loved series, which screens Hollywood hits in Beacon Hill Park on Friday and Saturdays in August. The festival’s 20th season opens Aug. 9 with the Reese Witherspoon romcom Legally Blonde — with free cake from Thrifty Foods — followed by Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Aug. 10), Hook (Aug. 16), Jurassic Park (Aug. 17), Mrs. Doubtfire (Aug. 23) and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Aug. 24). Screenings start at 9 p.m. each night and will proceed rain or shine. For more information, visit freebfilmfest.com.
MUSIC
What: J.D. Rich Where: Hermann’s Jazz Club, 753 View St.
When: Thursday, 7:30 p.m. (doors at 6)
Tickets: $12 Why: Music from View Royal composer Jared Richardson was showcased at Symphony Splash in 2011, when the upstart musician was just 18. The acclaimed prodigy spun that accomplishment into studies at Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music, from which he graduated in 2016. In the time since, the piano-playing Richardson has been working on a fusion of pop, jazz and funk that will finally be unveiled under his J.D. Rich banner at Hermann’s Jazz Club tonight. He will be joined for a set of originals and unique arrangements of popular songs by bandmates Heidi Woods (vocals), Peter Dowse (bass) and Jon Miller (drums).
MUSIC
What: Tough Customer, Regular Fantasy, Pink Charcoal and Sister Blanche Where: Centennial Square When: Wednesday, 6 p.m.
Admission: Free Why: Girls Rock Camp Victoria is turning the spotlight on the hard work of its community of women, girls and gender-expansive persons with a curated showcase at the Eventide Music Series next week. The non-profit society will celebrate the conclusion of its annual camp with a night of music from camp alumni and their current musical projects. Joining Vancouver acts Tough Customer and Regular Fantasy are Victoria groups Pink Charcoal and Sister Blanche, the latest in a long line of bands to come out of the school for girls and gender-expansive youth between the ages of eight and 18.