LAist gets a lot of event announcements, and we comb through them all to bring you a curated list of what’s happening in LA this weekend—from two shows by Lord Huron to The Lampshades' lounge show on Saturday, PLUS these 21 other events. Now, no more excuses...forget the rain...get out there and play. Read on for all the details.

FRIDAY, FEB. 28

MUSIC: Josh Epstein and Daniel Zott—better known as Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. play the El Rey on Friday. The Detroit-based duo are on a headlining North American tour to promote their sophomore album, The Speed of Things. Chad Valley opens. Doors at 8 pm. Tickets: $20.

TALK: On Friday at 7:30 pm, the Library Foundation of Los Angeles presents the program Lost & Found at the Movies: Love is a Many Splendored Thing. The event is an exploration of love at the movies, with a discussion of romance and filmography by John Nein, senior programmer at Sundance, and Stacie Passion, the filmmaker behind the feature Concussion. Admission is free and space is limited.

SCOTCH + ART: There’s a private Scotch tasting followed by a conversation with German artist Manfred Muller at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery in Barnsdall Park. The Scotch tasting is curated by Silverlake Wine and begins at 5:30 pm. The artist talk immediately follows at 7 pm. General admission for the tasting: $40, but free to Barnsdall Art Park Foundation Members. The artist talk with Muller is free.

PARTY Gimme Gimme Records in Highland Park is throwing itself a little first year anniversary party on Friday night from 5-10 pm, with the help of the Sunset Beer Co. DJs will be spinning the tunes, and there’s giveaways and pizza, too.

: Gallery1988 (East) opens the show I'm Not Hungry, featuring the work of Cuddly Rigor Mortis. The gallery is holding an opening reception from 7-10 pm with the artist in attendance. The show runs through March 22.

MUSIC: The Haden Triplets—(Tanya, Rachel & Petra, daughters of jazz great Charlie Haden)—hold their self-titled record release show at the Bootleg Theater. You know the vocal harmonies have to be killer on this album. They promise special guests, too. Maybe their brother Josh Haden or Tanya’s hubby Jack Black? You’ll just have to go to find out. The show is 21+. General admission tickets: $15.

ART FUNDRAISER: On Friday at Night Gallery, there’s a benefit auction and party for X-TRA and Project X, which have provided platforms for art dialogue in Los Angeles. The festivities begin at 6:30 pm with an Early Bird Preview with Herradura tasting. General admission begins at 7:30 pm with the silent auction beginning at 8:45 pm. DJ sets by Dave Muller and Jan Tumlir and the evening culminates with 10:15 pm live performance by John Doe of X. Tickets for the early preview are $100 each / $150 for pair (includes Herradura tasting and subscription to X-TRA). General admission: $50.

VARIETY: Elixir - The Show is a free variety show that debuts at its new location, The Federal Bar in North Hollywood at 8:15 pm. The show includes live music by the funk band Funky Munky. The show also features burlesque, cabaret, vocalists, comedy and audience participation games with prizes. Comedy tonight by Lady Scoutington (Upright Citizens Brigade). Dress to impress. Doors at 7:30 pm. Free. 21+.

MUSIC: Morgan Page takes over Avalon on Friday and Saturday, spinning his style of progressive house music. Tickets: $50 (but are getting scarce).

MUSIC: Singer-songwriter Emily Kinney is probably more recognizable in her role as Beth Greene on AMC’s The Walking Dead. On Friday for an early show at 7:15 pm at The Mint, Kinney sings her indie folk tunes from her EP, Expired Love. Doors at 6 pm. Tickets: $15. VIP tickets: $40 (includes an artist meet-and-greet).

SATURDAY, MARCH 1

ART: William Turner Gallery opens two art shows on Saturday: abstract works by Curtis Ripley: Here and Now and Michel Tabori: In Search of Lost Time. The artists reception will be held from 6:30-8:30 pm.

ART: New exhibitions open at TAG Gallery in Bergamot Station, Santa Monica featuring the work of artists Don Adler, Brigitte Schobert and Betty Sheinbaum. The shows runs through March 22. The artists’ reception is on March 1 from 5-8 pm.

FILM: Cinefamily screens the silent film Three Women, a “saucy melodrama” by famed director Ernst Lubitsch. The film stars May McAvoy (The Jazz Singer, Ben-Hur) as an 18-year-old in a “dizzying, whirlwind triangle between her estranged socialite mother and her weasel-like suitor who, after getting a whiff of May's trust fund, stays true to his cad nature by wooing the young dame.” In the film Lubitsch relied more on facial expressions and acting rathan than the usual use of intertitles. Tickets: $12/free for members. Screening at 4:45 pm.

ART+MUSIC: Funk You Very Much—a mini-festival featuring underground music, art and installations—happens Saturday night at the Bootleg. Playing live are Supreme Cuts, Navid Izadi, Falcons, Evan Mellows, Dead Times and others. The event is 21+. Tickets: $15. Doors at 8:30 pm.

ART : Known Gallery on Fairfax opens two shows with a reception on Saturday night from 8-11 pm. This Too Shall Pass features the work of Richard J. Oliver and Slaying Giants features the works of Drew Merritt. Both shows will remain on view through March 15.

DERBY: Los Angeles Derby Dolls has a bout on Saturday starting at 6:30 pm at the Doll House Factory in DTLA that pitts the LA Riettes vs. the Pennsylvania All Stars.( Afterward, stop by the Short Stop in Echo Park for the after party and a chance to meet some of your fav skaters, too.) Advanced tickets: $20-$40 (VIP). Prices higher at the door.

DRIVE-IN: Electric Dusk Drive-In near DTLA’s Fashion District screens Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather (1972) with Marlon Brando and Al Pacino leading the cast. There’s also BBQ, popcorn, candy and beverages available for sale 90 minutes before showtime. Plus, there’s trivia and prizes before the screening, too. Gates at 5:30 pm, screening at 7 pm. Only single tickets left: $9.

DOCS SCREENING: On Saturday and Sunday, The Paley Center in Beverly Hills offers free screenings of the Academy Award-nominated documentary features. On March 1 at 3 pm, the Paley Center screens 20 Feet from Stardom. On Sunday, March 2, The Act of Killing screens at 12:10 pm, followed by The Square at 3 pm. Free.

SUNDAY, MARCH 2

MILLION DOLLAR SCREENING: The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation, in association with Grand Central Market, presents Hollywood’s Biggest Night at the Million Dollar Theatre. It’s a special telecast of the “Most Famous Awards Ceremony” that happens at 5 pm on Sunday (wonder what that is?) along with games and no-host cocktails. Attendees are encouraged to dress formally or in vintage attire, circa 1918, which is when the theater was built. Grab a bite at the Grand Central Market next door beforehand for a real DTLA experience. Tickets: $20.

VEGAN CHILI COOK-OFF: Five teams compete on Sunday at noon in the annual Vegan Chili Cook-Off at Tony’s Darts Away. The chef lineup this year includes Randy Clemens author of the Sriracha Cookbook series; Erick Simmons of Mohawk Bend; Greg Daniels of Haven Collective; Chili John’s and Zel and Ruben Allen of Vegetarians in Paradise. Judges include Tal Ronnen of Crossroads Kitchen; Caroline Pardilla of CarolineonCrack.com and Cathy Chaplin of GastronomyBlog.com. Admission: $10 and includes five 3oz tastes of chili plus a ballot to a vote for the People’s Choice winner.

FOOD+MUSIC : BEATS+EATS: Beats Bistro is a new series at The Troubadour that pairs LA chefs and LA bands, with each show exploring a different theme. The continues on Sunday with a little Rock&Roll, featuring music by The Moth & The Flame, Rachel Goodrich & the GRRRLS, Breach the Summit, and a post-headliner party set by Black Crystal Wolf Kids. Meanwhile Tickets are $20 and include a complimentary small bite prepared by Starry Kitchen. If you want more bites plus a pre-show reception to watch the Oscars, go VIP with $50 tickets. Music begins at 8:30 pm.

Related: Your Ultimate Guide To February: 20 Cool Events Happening In Los Angeles

Want the 411 on additional events and happenings in LA? Follow @LAist or me (@christineziemba) on Twitter.