Happening Friday

BOOKS

Greil Marcus In his new book, “When That Rough God Goes Riding: Listening to Van Morrison,” formidable cultural critic Marcus waxes reverential on the Celtic bluesman’s initially ignored, now-iconic “Astral Weeks,” yet dismisses 16 albums’ worth of Morrison’s music from 1980 to 1996 as “characterless” and forgettable. Fighting words, to be sure, for Van Morrison’s legion of devotees; but the author of “Lipstick Traces” and “The Old, Weird America” is nothing if not willfully idiosyncratic when it comes to writing about the legends of rock ‘n’ roll he adores. He’ll be at Skylight Books, 1818 N. Vermont Ave., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Free. (323) 660-1175. https://www.skylightbooks.com.

POP MUSIC

Peter Gabriel Gabriel brings his signature brand of soaring, globe-trotting pop to the Hollywood Bowl with a concert that forgoes his traditional world guitar and exotica drum beats for the use of an epic orchestra. His new album, “Scratch My Back,” is a collection of covers by indie heroes including Arcade Fire and Magnetic Fields. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., L.A. 7 p.m. Ticket prices vary. (323) 850-2000. https://www.hollywoodbowl.com

MOVIES

“Die Nibelungen” As part of the citywide Ring Festival, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art will screen “Die Nibelungen,” Fritz Lang’s two-part silent film adaptation of the medieval German epic poem that also inspired Richard Wagner’s opera cycle. The films, “Siegfried” and “Kriemhild’s Revenge,” are full of painterly cinematography, imaginative sets and mythological intrigue. LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd., L.A. 7:30 p.m. Fri. and Sat. $10 per screening. (323) 857-6000. https://www.lacma.org.

EVENTS

Anatolian Cultures & Food Festival More than 100 dancers and musicians will gather at the Anatolian Cultures & Food Festival to celebrate the rich cultural traditions of this region in modern-day Turkey. Highlights include whirling dervishes, an all-female Assyrian church choir from the city of Mardin and craftsmen demonstrating ancient arts such as weaving, calligraphy and carving. Orange County Great Park, 6990 Marine Way, Irvine. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sun. One-day pass, $12 adult, $6 children, Multi-day pass, $20 adult, $9 children. (310) 208-7290. https://www.anatolianfestival.org.