Sure, there's always plenty to do around here on the weekends, but not all of these activities are necessarily ... constructive. Yeah, you over there. That's a guilty face. Here's how you can redeem yourself. The Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls is throwing its 2nd Annual Benefit Concert Series this weekend in Brooklyn and Manhattan, spreading 25 bands over 6 shows in 4 nights. A quick rundown on this awesome org: the Willie Mae Rock Camp for Girls is a non-profit summer arts program for girls ages 8-18, where girls learn to play instruments and write their own songs. Based on the original Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls in Portland (founded in 2000), the NYC version kicked it off in 2005 at the New York Society for Ethical Culture in Manhattan. Named after Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton, one of the first female blues/rock musicians, the NYC Rock Camp for Girls is dedicated to female youth empowerment through some good old-fashioned guitar-slinging. In an effort to make sure girls from all over the city get a chance to rock out, all proceeds from the Willie Mae-rathon will go to camp scholarships.

The shows cover a wide range of venues, from Union Pool to the Cake Shop, and some of the big-hearted bands include Vivian Girls, Adam Matta, Each Other's Mothers, and Magnolia. Plus, face-painting and trapeze artists don't seem to be out of the question, according to the Rock Camp's website. A full list of bands, venues and dates can be found under the cut.

Thursday, May 8th - 9PM
Union Pool
484 Union Ave., Brooklyn
$10 Suggested donation, 21+
Kissy Kamikaze
Dark Room
Slaywhore
Members of The Trapeze Loft Players in between sets

Friday, May 9th - 8PM
The Glasslands Gallery
289 Kent Ave., Brooklyn
$10 Suggested donation, 21+
Mercat
Omega Jarden
3 Adam Matta

DJs from the ladies of UBIQUITA!

Saturday, May 10th - 8PM SHARP
Pete’s Candy Store
709 Lorimer St., Brooklyn
Cover is free, donations to tip bucket 21+
Lisa Kasimow
The World Collective
The Minetta!
(loiter)

Saturday, May 10th - 8PM

Sponsored by Horse+Dragon NYC
The Silent Barn
915 Wyckoff Ave., Queens/Brooklyn (no one's really sure about Ridgewood)

Price TBA
Kate Ferencz
The Vandelles
The Mad Scene
Samara Lubelski

Sunday, May 11th - 2PM

The Cake Shop
152 Ludlow St., Manhattan

ALL AGES, $10 suggested donation

Pandora's Box
Honeychild
Magnolia
Aquila
Each Other's Mothers

Sunday, May 11th at 8PM
The Cake Shop
152 Ludlow Street

21+, $10 Suggested donation

Renminbi
Wild Yaks
Vivian Girls
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson

The NYC Rock Camp for Girls is also launching a new campaign called the Willie Mae Top 100: Get Your Band on the Charts! NYC-area bands and solo performers are invited to donate the profits from a single show in 2008 to benefit the camp. Bands who decide to throw down will be listed on williemaerockcamp.org in order of their donation amounts, with links to their own websites and short reviews of the donated shows. Let's see who gets responsible, shall we?