An Evening with Kem

Self-taught musician Kem has beaten the odds, fighting his way through his darkest days with music. The R&B singer-songwriter-producer was in and out of drug rehab and shelters before hitting bottom and deciding to clean up his act. He waited tables and sang at any gig he could before independently releasing his first CD in 2002, which piqued the interest of Universal Motown. Kem now can boast to winning a Billboard Music Award for Top Adult R&B Single of the Year (“I Can’t Stop Loving You”) and netting nominations for two Grammy Awards (Best R&B Male Performance and Best R&B Song for “Why Would You Stay”). Kem will perform at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center, 5001 Coliseum Drive. Ticket prices range from $49.50-$69.50. For more info, go to northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com.

Shark, Rattle & Roll

Are you ready for Shark Week? The South Carolina Aquarium is kicking things off Friday with Shark, Rattle & Roll. From 7:30-11 p.m., watch several local bands perform in a waterfront concert on the Riverside Terrace. A DJ will be rocking things inside. And some favorite local restaurants will be serving up nibbles. A cash bar, including drink specials, will be available. Attendees must be 21 or older. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door; $20 for members. 100 Aquarium Wharf. For more info, call 577-3474. For more on Shark Week programs, check out scaquarium.org/SharkWeek.

Marley Lion Music Festival

Break out your best straw hat to wear in honor of slain local teen Marley Lion at this inaugural music festival. This family-friendly event will be Sunday at James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Drive. Live music will be performed by Sarah Cole and the Hawkes, Robert Paige and His More Talented Friends, Rohan Shirali and others. Food and drinks will be available from Taco Boy, Hubee D’s, King of Pops and T&T Kettle Corn. Cost is $5 plus the park entrance fee of $1; kids under 12 get in free. Proceeds from the show and a silent auction will benefit “The Heart of the Lion Fund,” which is held by the Coastal Community Foundation and will make grants to nonprofits that restore lives. Bring a blanket and/or chairs. Gates open at 3 p.m. and music will begin at 4 p.m. Go to www.marleylionmusicfestival.com.

Discover the Dinosaurs

It’s not often you’re encouraged to touch the exhibit. This hands-on showcase is all about mixing education and fun with more than 60 animatronic and museum-quality dinosaur reproductions. On display at the North Charleston Convention Center, 5001 Coliseum Drive, this program runs noon-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. In addition to the exhibit, other activities include a dig, a play area, a coloring area, scavenger hunt and theater. Admission is $15, $10 for those over 65 and ages 2-12, kids under 2 get in free. Several other attractions are available for an additional charge. Find out more at discoverthedinosaurs.com.

Hip-Hop Humans For Cancer

Head over to the Music Farm, 32 Ann St., on Saturday and catch Dancefx’s fourth annual cancer benefit concert. This hip-hop festival boasts crews from all over the Charleston area and the East Coast, including Slow Jamz, Swiftbeatz, Phuz3d Cr3w, The Missing Links and more. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door. For more, check out www.musicfarm.com or www.dancefxcharleston.com.

Sundown on the Wando

Daniel Island’s free Friday riverfront concert series will come to a close this week 6-9 p.m. with a performance by the Mighty Kicks. Held at the Children’s Park on the banks of the Wando River at the end of River Landing Drive, enjoy the tunes and the view. A dance floor will be set up and kid’s activities will be on site. Taco Boy and The Magic Cheese Truck will sell food items and non-alcoholic beverages while The Happie Truck will be offering up frozen treats. The DIG RIG will be selling beer and wine. Or bring your own picnic. Pets must be leashed and supervised. For more information, go to www.dicommunity.org.

Summer Lowcountry Soiree

Suede Supper Club, 816 Johnnie Dodds Blvd., in Mount Pleasant will be hosting 12 local artists and their works at this all-about-art soiree. Art will be available for purchase, and pieces will be auctioned off for Smile of a Child’s assistance program, which provides children in need with lightweight, affordable electric wheelchairs. From 7-10 tonight, there also will be an art-themed buffet, an open bar, door prizes, entertainment and more. Admission is $20. For more info, call 606-2940 or go to suedesc.com.

Coonfest

The fourth annual Coonfest, a boating aficionado’s party that includes live music, DJs, tiki bars and plenty of food, will be held Saturday on Lake Moultrie near Raccoon Island. Live music will be performed by No Exit Strategy while Jazzy J will be spinning from noon-6 p.m. Only accessible by boat, organizers are expecting 5,000-7,000 people, so why not be one of them!

Aquapalooza

This boat-only concert noon-5 p.m. Saturday is hosted locally by Sea Ray Scout of Charleston. Live music will be provided by The Blue Dogs, The Marc Collins Band and Two 3 Ways. To join in on the “ultimate summer boating event,” which is celebrated at dozens of locations around the U.S. and internationally, go to www.aquapalooza.com. The event will be held on the Wando River near the Daniel Island boat ramp. For more info, call 747-1889.

Get Your Roll On

In its second year, this judged competition will highlight Charleston’s finest chefs, restaurants and their signature sushi roll recipes. Competing restaurants include J.Paul’z, O-Ku, Tsunami, Sushi Ninja, Tasti Thai and Local’s. In addition to sushi, there will be other food options, beer, wine, specialty sake drinks and entertainment. Sponsored by Snyder Event Rentals, Southern Wine & Spirits, Absolut and Red Bull, this event will be held 7-11 p.m. Wednesday at the South Carolina Aquarium, 100 Aquarium Wharf. Tickets are $10-$20 for general admission, $40-$50 for VIP. A portion of the proceeds will go to Darkness to Light. Find out more at www.asnappyevent.com.

Beer Revolution

Head over to The Coastal Cupboard, 644 Long Point Road, in the Belle Hall Shopping Center in Mount Pleasant for “the ultimate beer tasting event.” Held at 7 p.m. today, the event features five rounds of beer tasting, appearances from beer experts and free Spiegelau glassware for all guests (a $50 value). The first four rounds at Beer Revolution will include a pilsner, IPA, wheat and stout followed by a fifth-round mystery beer. Tickets are $50. For more info, call 856-4321 or go to www.thecoastalcupboard.com or www.facebook.com/TheCoastalCupboard.

Wall Crawl

This second annual self-guided walking tour has a new route that includes interactive stops at The Powder Magazine and The Old Exchange Building. Held 7-9 p.m. Friday, “Walk the Walls” begins at The Shops of Historic Charleston Foundation, 108 Meeting St., and benefits the foundation’s preservation efforts. Admission is $15, free for Friends of HCF. The crawl will take place rain or shine. For more info, call 724-8497 or go to www.historiccharleston.org.

Alice in Wonderland’

Follow Alice down the rabbit hole and into the mysterious and magical world of Wonderland. The students of this year’s SummerStage Musical Theatre Camp will present “Alice in Wonderland,” complete with sets, lights and costumes, at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 3 p.m. Saturday at Dock Street Theatre, 135 Church St. Tickets are $20.50. For more info, call 577-7183 or go to www.charlestonstage.com/home.html.

Playwright’s Festival

Celebrate of art of play writing at this two-day festival. Watch staged readings of selected scenes from each of the three finalist plays from the Playwrights Competition. And this competition is all about audiences participation as attendees will vote and help select the winner, which will be produced in the 2013 season. Live music, dancing, wine and nibbles, along with surprises, are all in store. Head over to Threshold Repertory Theatre, 84 Society St., at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Admission is $12. For more info, call 793-1972 or go to www.whatifproductions.org.

Moonlight Mixer

Charleston County Park and Rec’s Moonlight Mixer on the Folly Beach Fishing Pier, 101 E. Arctic Ave., is back Friday. Dust off your dancing shoes, breathe in the ocean breeze and dance the night away to the sounds of oldies and beach music provided by DJ Jim Bowers of 1340 The Boardwalk. Held 7-11 p.m., beverages will be available for purchase. A limited number of tickets are available, so advance purchase is recommended. Tickets are $10, $8 for Charleston County residents. Go to www.ccprc.com or call 795-4386.

Y’all Entertainment Launch Party

Join Joel Frank (music promoter) and Ben Bounds (music promoter of Follywood Productions) as they kick off their joint venture Y’all Entertainment, which will help artists, festival coordinators, venues and other people in the music and entertainment industry find creative ways to organize and promote their events and careers. Starting at 8 p.m. Sunday at Fiery Ron’s Home Team BBQ, 1205 Ashley River Road, in West Ashley, the launch coincides with Frank’s 30th birthday and his 10-year anniversary of being a Charlestonian, so they’re going all out. Expect live music from The Tarlatans and an All-Star Jam Session featuring Mac Leaphart, Tyler Mechem of Crowfield, Luke Cunningham, John Wesley Satterfield, Matt Mackelcan, Danielle Howle, Reid Stone and many more. For more info, email follywoodrocks@gmail.com and JoelFrankus@yahoo.com.

‘Patriocracy’ film and discussion

Sponsored by the League of Women Voters of the Charleston Area, catch a showing of the film “Patriocracy” at 4 p.m. Sunday and stay after for a discussion. The film explores the dysfunction in American politics and offers hope and a clear way out when America needs it most, now. This is part of a series that will continue next week. Beer, wine and other beverages and snacks available for purchase. The event is free and will be at the Hippodrome, 360 Concord St. For more information, go to lwvcharleston.org.