EVENTS
PECHA KUCHA NIGHT VOL. 33: Latest edition of popular idea-sharing event features Christopher Gaze, Sandra Singh, David Pay, and nine other speakers. July 3 at Vogue Theatre (918 Granville). $11 at NorthernTickets.com.
INDIAN SUMMER FESTIVAL: Annual celebration of South Asian arts features exhibitions, lectures, culinary experiences, workshops, and dance and music performances. Highlights include a delectable feast curated by chef Vikram Vij and an evening of jazz, poetry and visual art inspired by the Komagata Maru incident. July 3-12 at various Vancouver venues. Free and ticketed events; more at IndianSummerFestival.ca.
FRESH AIR CINEMA: Settle into your favourite lawn chair and enjoy classic and contemporary films in a glorious outdoor setting. July 8: The Lego Movie. July 15: Pretty in Pink. July 22: Footloose. July 28: Mean Girls. Second Beach in Stanley Park (Ceperley Meadow). Free. Details at FreshAirCinema.ca/SummerCinema.
GLOBAL RELAY GASTOWN GRAND PRIX: Cyclists from all over the world gather to compete in one of the most exhilarating bike races in North America. Part of BC Superweek. Free to attend, July 9 in Gastown.
QUEER ARTS FESTIVAL: Artists from more than 20 countries navigate queer identity through dance, music, theatre, literature, workshops, and visual arts. July 23-Aug. 9 at Roundhouse Community Centre (180 Roundhouse). Tickets at QueerArtsFestival.com.
THE DEIGHTON CUP: This sophisticated day at the races includes craft cocktails, Southern-style canapés, live jazz, fashion and julep competitions, a cigar lounge, and eight adrenaline-pumping horse races. July 26 at Hastings Racecourse (Exhibition Park). $65-$150 at DeightonCup.com.
HONDA CELEBRATION OF LIGHT FIREWORKS: The largest offshore fireworks competition in the world features displays from the United States (July 26), France (July 30), and Japan (Aug. 2). Best viewed from English Bay. Reserved seating in VIP areas can be purchased at HondaCelebrationOfLight.com.
THEATRE
RED ROCK DINER: Set in 1957, this infectious musical captures the excitement and innocence of our city’s burgeoning rock ‘n’ roll scene. Until Aug. 2 at Granville Island Stage (1585 Johnston, Granville Island). From $29 at ArtsClub.com.
TRIP IMPROVISER: Highlights and lowlights of travel are brought to life by Vancouver Theatresports improvers. July 3-Aug. 30 at The Improv Centre (1502 Duranleau, Granville Island). $17-$22 at VTSL.com.
LAUGH YOUR SEXY ASS OFF!: Modern-day re-imagining of classic burlesque shows features local burlesque performers and comedian Scott Thompson (The Kids in the Hall). July 11 & 12 at Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway). $39.25-$49.75 at TicketsTonight.ca.
THEATRE UNDER THE STARS: Enjoy theatrical adaptations of two blockbuster films in an open-air theatre: Shrek: The Musical, about an ogre, a talking donkey, and a beautiful princess with a shocking secret; and Legally Blonde: The Musical, in which sorority girl Elle Woods follows her boyfriend to Harvard Law School. Plays run alternate nights July 11-Aug. 23 at Malkin Bowl (610 Pipeline Road, Stanley Park). $25-$40 at TUTS.ca.
THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN: Set in a small island community off the coast of Ireland in 1934, this dark comedy follows a lad eager to escape poverty by way of show business. July 11-Aug. 16 at Jericho Arts Centre (1675 Discovery). $20-$25 at EnsembleTheatreCompany.ca.
THE DUCHESS OF MALFI: A revenge plot takes shape when a widowed Duchess secretly marries her steward. July 12-Aug. 16 at Jericho Arts Centre (1675 Discovery). $20-$25 at EnsembleTheatreCompany.ca.
THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY: Music, comedy and dance converge in this pantomime featuring 21 young performers from Vancouver’s Eastside. July 13 at Goldcorp Centre for the Arts (149 West Hastings). $10-$15 at ProjectLimelight.ca.
CAPITAL, ALICE!: Satirical show takes liberty with Lewis Carroll’s classic tale in a complex and often hilarious musical comedy creation. July 18-20 at Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright, Granville Island). $15 at CapitalAlice.com.
THE NORMAL HEART: Largely autobiographical account of the rise of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York in the early 1980s. July 18-Aug. 16 at Jericho Arts Centre (1675 Discovery). $20-$25 at EnsembleTheatreCompany.ca.
THESE THREE THINGS: Three short comedies about life and love. July 24-27 at Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright, Granville Island). $15-$20 at TheseThreeThingsProduction.com.
MUSIC
BARRINGTON LEVY & DETOUR POSSE: Dancehall superstar is joined by DJ Scovie of Blacktusk Sound and other guests. July 3 at Rickshaw Theatre (254 East Hastings). $29.50 at RickshawTheatre.com.
CONQUERORS OF THE WORLD 2014: Septicflesh, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Black Crown Initiate, and Necronomicon. July 4 at Rickshaw Theatre (254 East Hastings). $30 at RickshawTheatre.com.
VIVA LA TRADICION: The sounds and colours of Mexico are celebrated with live Mariachi music. July 5-6 at Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright, Granville Island). $25 at LosDorados.ca.
Courtney Barnett: Australian singer-songwriter tours in support of her latest record The Double EP: A Sea of Split Peas and will be headlining Fortune Sound Club on July 4. Doors at 7pm, show at 8:30pm. $13 advance tickets available at Red Cat, Zulu and online at TicketWeb.ca.
SHARON VAN ETTEN: Brooklyn singer-songwriter sings from her latest release Are We There. With Jana Hunter. July 6 at Rickshaw Theatre (254 East Hastings). $18 at RickshawTheatre.com.
TONY MCMANUS & LAURA SMITH: Concert by Celtic guitarist and singer-songwriter. July 10 at St. James Hall (3214 West 10th). $24 at RogueFolk.bc.ca.
MOUTH MAGIC!: Improvised a cappella concert features Rhiannon (of Bobby McFerrin’s Voicestra) collaborating with musical friends. July 11 at Vancouver Community College (1155 East Broadway). $20 at BrownPaperTickets.com.
WEST 4th AVENUE KHATSAHLANO STREET PARTY: 50 of Vancouver’s top bands perform in the fourth edition of this annual street party. The 10-block fair also includes 40 food trucks and hundreds of merchants, vendors, artisans and street performers. July 12 on West 4th (Between Burrard and MacDonald). Free. More info at Khatsahlano.com.
PACIFIC CURLS + ROSS & JARLATH: New Zealand trio performs unique blend of Celtic music with Polynesian and Maori songs. Also on the bill: Traditional and original music on Scottish and Irish pipes. July 14 at Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright, Granville Island). $20 at RogueFolk.bc.ca.
THE ORPHEUS PROJECT: Timeless story of Orpheus is explored via a genre-spanning musical journey through the many rooms of The Cultch. July 17-20 at The Cultch (1895 Venables). From $20 at TheCultch.com.
VANCOUVER FOLK MUSIC FESTIVAL: The 37th Annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival presents 60 folk and world music acts, including Joan Baez, Andrew Bird, Ozomatli, and Frank Yamma. July 18-20 at Jericho Beach Park (4th Avenue, just west of Alma). $40-$75 at TheFestival.bc.ca.
THE WRECKTALS SAY GOODBYE: Final performance by local ska-punk band. Also Los Furios, Anchoress, Bone Daddies and Crime City. July 19 at Biltmore Cabaret (2755 Prince Edward). $5 at the door, includes free EP.
RUNWAY JUBILEE: I Am Mandrake revives vaudeville genre through dance, dance, circus, and electronic music performance. July 24 at Celebrities Nightclub (1022 Davie). $10 at Celebrities.Electrostub.com.
VANCOUVER EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL: Performances of music by J.S. Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, Jean-Philippe Rameau, G.F. Handel, and more. July 25-Aug. 15 at various venues. $20-$67.75 at EarlyMusic.bc.ca.
SHOREFEST: The Sheepdogs, 54-40, The Odds, Spirit of the West, Hey Ocean! and others perform before evening fireworks displays in English Bay. New this year: A Family Zone and an all-ages licensed alcohol section. July 26, 30 and Aug. 2 at Sunset Beach Park.
COLLEEN RENNISON WITH STEVE DAWSON: Soulful vocalist performs with multi-instrumentalist and The Black Hen Band. July 31 at St. James Hall (3214 West 10th). $24 at RogueFolk.bc.ca.
DANCE
DANCING ON THE EDGE: Yearly showcase of contemporary dance features performances from more than 70 local, national and international dance artists. July 3-12 at various Vancouver venues. $22-$28 at DancingOnTheEdge.org.
SMALL STAGE POINT 5: Five local independent musicians collaborate with five in-demand dance artists. July 4 & 5 at The Emerald (555 Gore). $20-$45 at Movent.ca.
ALL OVER THE MAP: Outdoor performances featuring cultural traditions from Canada and around the world. July 6: Jacky Essombe, Traditional African Dance; July 13: Caudillos del Sur, Mexican Folkloric Ballet; July 20: Alex Wells, Lil’Wat Nation Hoop Dancer. Ron Basford Park (Granville Island). All events are free to attend.
19th ANNUAL WRECK BEACH BUTOH: Kokoro Dance performs its distinctive blend of Eastern and Western choreography on Canada’s largest clothing optional beach. July 12 & 13 at Wreck Beach (#4 Trail, west of the UBC Museum of Anthropology). Entrance by donation.
SONIDAS GITANOS: Spontaneity, passion, music and song converge in this fiery performance by Sonidos Gitanos, a Flamenco group from a region in Spain considered to be the birthplace of Flamenco. July 19 at Norman Rothstein Theatre (950 West 41st). $30-$55 at VTixOnline.com.
