Thursday, June 18
Music
Agalloch Metal-progressive rock band from Portland, OR, bring their explosive and emotional stage show to town in support of their latest release The Serpent & the Sphere, with special guest Helen Money. 8pm at Venue. Tickets $18 at Red Cat, Scrape, Neptoon and TicketWeb.ca or $20 at the door.
Comedy
Vancouver Comedy Competition Every Thursday until August 27, come watch the best and the worst of our local comics duke it out for comedy glory and some cold hard cash. 8pm at Yuk Yuk’s. Tickets $10 at the door.
Theatre/Dance
Godspell Stephen Schwartz’s Tony Award-nominated exuberant pop musical about Jesus and his apostles will raise your spirits in a timeless tale of friendship, loyalty, and love. 8pm at Granville Island Stage. Tickets at ArtsClub.com. Runs until August 1.
The Way Back To Thursday Inspired by Hollywood films and Rock Hudson, Theatre Passe Muraille brings us the story of a grandmother and her gay grandson as they struggle to connect through his coming of age. 8pm at Arts Club Revue Stage. Tickets at VancouverTix.com. Runs until June 21.
Art
Melancholy Bay A variety of artistic perspectives that illustrate how the port of Vancouver and its environs have been represented over several decades in this project that began as a response to the recent oil spill in English Bay. Opening reception 6-9pm at Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery (UBC). Free event. Runs until Aug. 23.
Friday, June 19
Music
Phonix Funk Train A Soul Train Revival with all the amazing 70s music and dance from Vancouver’s 9-piece funk, soul, and R&B band with special guests David Ward and Project Soul. 9pm at The Imperial. Tickets $15 at TicketWeb.ca
Lamontasaurus The all-star line-up of members from The Unknown Soldiers, Themasses, Slow Nerve Action and Red Eye Empire mix rock, funk, country and pop with special guests Japanese Cowboy. 9:30pm at Fairview Pub. Tickets $10 at the door.
Buddy Guy Coastal Jazz presents the Grammy-winning blues-guitar legend from Chicago as part of Jazz Fest. 7pm at Orpheum Theatre. Tickets at NorthernTickets.com. All ages show.
Comedy
Toby Hargrave Improv and sketch comedian, turned stand-up comic with appearances on Corner Gas, and his one-hour Comedy network special. 8pm & 10:30pm at The Comedy Mix. Tickets $18 at TheComedyMix.com
Theatre/Dance
Bard on the Beach Love’s Labour’s Lost opens the season on the Howard Family Stage with a musical adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s early comedies, set in the roaring 1920’s Chicago. 7:30pm at Vanier Park. Tickets at BardOnTheBeach.org. Runs until September 20.
Events
Hands Across The Rainbow Rainbow Refugee Vancouver Womyn’s Caucus invites you to an evening of fundraising to support their successful sponsorship of lesbians at risk of persecution because of their sexual identities. 8pm at The Wise Hall. Tickets at Sophie’s Pet Palace, Little Sister’s and BrownPaperTickets.ca
Point Grey Fiesta A family-friendly start-of-summer celebration with carnival rides, pancake breakfast, parade, lawn bowling and live entertainment. 3pm at Trimble Park (Trimble & West 8th). Runs until June 21.
Saturday, June 20
Music
Death Grips American hip hoppers from Sacramento on tour in support of their latest release The Powers That B. 8pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $24 at LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.ca
Locals Only A new showcase featuring local artists, this week Chesto, Laberge, Kinship and Solitaire take the stage. 11pm at Electric Owl. Tickets $10 at the door only.
A Tribe Called Red Changing the sound of the electronic scene with their pow wow vocals and drumming, the native producer/DJ crew is back in support of their second full-length album Nation II Nation. 6:30pm at Malkin Bowl. Tickets $35 at Red Cat, Highlife, LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.ca
Algiers Experimental post-punk band from Atlanta, on tour in support of their self-titled debut release. 8:30pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $13 at Red Cat, Zulu and TicketWeb.ca
Comedy
Story Stack Instant Theatre Company celebrates the infinite possibility of a child’s imagination with this improv show hosted by puppets who whip up a show based on the kids’ suggestions, resulting in a wonderfully unexpected silly stack of stories. 4pm at Havana. Tickets $5 at EventBrite.ca and kids under 12 are free.
Doug Stanhope American stand-up comedian, actor and author brings his brand of controversial cynicism to town. 8pm at Rickshaw Theatre. Tickets $40 at RickshawTheatre.com
Theatre/Dance
How to Bury A Millionaire The story of a deceased millionaire’s family and friends who learn upon his death, that his estate comes with a very unexpected condition. 8pm at Waterfront Theatre. Tickets at OnceUpon.org. Final performance.
Events
National Aboriginal Day Celebration A traditional Coast Salish welcome is followed by a day of storytelling, live performances, traditional carving, drum-making and dance workshops and Tee-Pee Theatre. 11am-5pm at Canada Place.
The Gathering Festival The 4th annual gathering to support Vancouver’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged inner-city populations includes a free pancake breakfast, hands on crafts, games, street poetry, stilt dancers, face painting, food and performances by Tom Lavin & the Legendary Powder Blues, Jim Byrnes, the Carnegie Jazz Band, Jack Garton’s Demon Squadron and more. All day at Emery Barnes Park (Davie & Seymour). All events are free.
Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival The annual race returns with a global tea lounge, marketplace with local vendors, family-friendly activities, beer garden and live entertainment at the World Beat stage. All day at False Creek. Admission is free. Runs until June 21.
Car Free Days The 11th anniversary of Vancouver’s infamous street parties celebrate the vibrancy of our neighbourhoods with performers, artisans, live music, food and fun! 12-6pm at Davie and Robson.
Cheap & Fun
Draw Down: Strathcona Drawing Party A collaborative community art project taking place at several locations throughout the day is an exploration of unique cultural spaces in Chinatown/Strathcona where folks are welcome to create and experiment at three separate drawing events. 11am-5:30pm at various locations. Admission is free. Visit ContemporaryArtGallery.ca for info regarding venues.
Sunday, June 21
Music
Willows Vancouver Festival d’ete francophone marks Canada’s Aboriginal Day with Metis folk-vocalist-pianist Genevieve Toupin from Manitoba. 12:45pm at Trout Lake Community Centre. Admission is free.
Cyrille Aimee French pop-jazz vocalist from Brooklyn performs with guitarists Michael Valeanu and Koran Agan, bassist Samuel Anning and drummer Rajiv Jayaweera as part of Jazz Fest. 7pm at Performance Works. Tickets $38.50 at NorthernTickets.com
Comedy
The Sunday Service Two halves of fast-paced, absurd and hilarious improv, favouring discovery over structure, to carry the audience through a kaleidoscopic trip. 9pm at Fox Cabaret. Admission is $9.
Theatre/Dance
Holmes & Watson Save The EmpireThe most famous super-sleuth and his faithful friend and sidekick are thrust into a mystery that could topple the British Monarchy, and the prime suspect is none other than Professor Moriarty. 4pm at Metro Theatre. Tickets at Tickets.MetroTheatre.com. Runs until June 28.
Events
Car Free Days The 11th anniversary of Vancouver’s infamous street parties celebrate the vibrancy of our neighbourhoods with performers, artisans, live music, food and fun! 12-7pm at Main Street (Broadway to 30th) and Commercial Drive (Venables to Grandview).
Cheap & Fun
Big Trees Weekend Venture into Stanley Park with Ralf Kelman to hear the story of the infamous Hollow Tree, then adventure deep to discover some of the park’s biggest trees you didn’t even know were there. 2pm-4pm at Hollow Tree Parking Lot (Stanley Park). Tickets $10 at StanleyParkEcology.ca
Monday, June 22
Music
Swervedriver English indie rockers on tour in support of their latest release, I Wasn’t Born To Lose You with special guests Did You Die. 8pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $20 at Red Cat, Zulu and TicketWeb.ca
Tor Miller Indie-pop singer-songwriter out of Brooklyn tours in support of his recent EP, Headlights with special guests Windmills. 8pm at Media Club. Tickets $12.50 at LiveNation.com
Ben Frost and Tim Hecker Electronica composer and sound artist, Frost from Iceland co-headlines with Montreal’s Hecker. 8pm at The Imperial. Tickets $22 at Red Cat, Highlife and TicketWeb.ca
Stanley Clarke Band American jazz bassist and his band play Jazz Fest in support of their latest release UP. 8pm at Vogue Theatre. Tickets $49 at NorthernTickets.com
Chor Leoni – Manely Canadian The showcase production at Bard on the Beach features a program of Canadian acts to close the season for Vancouver’s reigning men’s chorus. 3pm & 8pm at Vanier Park. Tickets $15/$40 at BardOnTheBeach.org
Comedy
The Laugh Gallery with Graham ClarkLegendary weekly stand up show of East Vancouver’s biggest and brightest comics. 9pm at Havana Theatre. Tickets $5 at Eventbrite.ca
Events
Velopalooza Vancouver’s two week festival of bikes kicks off the fun with over 70 cycling events, including group rides, maintenance workshops, wine tours, bbq’s, seawall cycles and an all ages bike decorating ride to Trout Lake. Various Vancouver venues. For more info visit Velopalooza.ca. Runs until June 28.
Cheap & Fun
Sick Boss Mondays at the Lido Every Monday night in Mount Pleasant there’s avant-garde, improvised jazz and rock accompanied by warped analogue visuals, good (craft) beer and German pretzels. 9pm at The Lido. Admission is always free.
Tuesday, June 23
Music
Gaytheist Portland’s own fast, loud and heavy rockers play tunes from their upcoming release Gay*Bits with Vancouver’s War Baby, Anchoress and Ape War. 8pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $10 at Red Cat and TicketFly.com
Sax in the City The Saxalamode Quartet performs a program of music by Duke Ellington, Lennie Niehaus and Herbie Hancock. 7pm at Alice MacKay Room (VPL). Admission is free.
Adonis Puentes Cuban-Canadian vocalist performs with the Voice of Cuba Orchestra featuring tres player Pancho Amat, as part of Jazz Fest. 7pm at Performance Works. Tickets $35 at NorthernTickets.com
Naturally 7 New York City a capella group performs with David Ward, as part of Jazz Fest. 8pm at Vogue Theatre. Tickets $55 at NorthernTickets.com
Erykah Badu American R&B-soul singer-songwriter returns to Vancouver to play Jazz Fest. 8pm at Orpheum Theatre. Tickets $81 at NorthernTickets.com
Theatre/Dance
The Comedy of Errors Double trouble has never been more delightful as two sets of long-lost twins meet up unexpectedly, creating hilarious confusion for their loved ones – and themselves. 7:30pm at Bard on the Beach at Vanier Park. Tickets at BardOnTheBeach.org
Events
Industrial Furniture Debut Pop Up Local entrepreneur Kav Sahl arrives to Chinatown to share his line of imported furniture in this pop up shop where a portion of sales are sent to Jaipur to contribute to the construction of desks and chairs for school classrooms. 11am-7pm at This Open Space (434 Columbia St). Runs until June 28.
Wednesday, June 24
Music
Lindsay Ferguson Canadian musician born in Bermuda, raised in PEI and now living in Switzerland and Quebec brings her eclectic and captivating melodies to town in support of her album Chameleon. 8pm at Backstage Lounge. Tickets $10 at the door.
Khago Jamaican reggae artist comes to Vancouver for the first time with special guests DJs Hoppa, Able, and Matrix Sounds. 10pm at Alexander. Tickets $15 at Red Cat, Zulu and TicketWeb.ca
The Bad Plus Joshua Redman American jazz trio performs with Redman and Kneebody as part of Jazz Fest. 8pm at Vogue Theatre. Tickets $55 at NorthernTickets.com
Jaclyn Guillou & The James Danderfer Trio Classically trained vocalist from performs with the Canadian jazz trio under the direction of composer-clarinetist Danderfer. 8pm at Pyatt Hall. Tickets $23 at TicketFly.com
Theatre/Dance
The Taming of the Shrew A glamorous retelling of Shakespeare’s controversial battle of the sexes, told with an energetic 1950’s twist. 8pm at Pacific Theatre. Tickets at PacificTheatre.org. Runs until June 27.
Events
Make Music Vancouver Hundreds of musicians playing Water St. for free at this community-based live-music festival featuring performances by local artists including Woodshed Supply Co., Tie Blaske, The Spheres, The Roam Antics and many more. All day in Gastown. Admission is free.
Saint-Jean Baptiste Day Celebrate French-Canadian culture with food, kids’ entertainment, Frenchie the Clown and live music by Jocelyn Petit Band, Louis Riel Metis Dancers, and Le Destin du Jazz-Club. 11am-4pm at Canada Place.
Thursday, June 25
Music
Television American innovators of punk and alternative from NYC return to Vancouver 8pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $35 at Red Cat, Highlife, LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.ca
The Wicks Bi-coastal folk-rockers rip through town as part of their Canadian summer tour with special guests Spencer Winston and Echo Nebraska. 8pm at The Media Club. Tickets $8 at NorthernTickets.com
Eternal Husbands Vancouver indie rockers play tunes from their debut release Vesta with special guests Spectregates, Boy Breaking Glass and M. Lund. 8:30pm at Railway Club. Tickets $10 at the door.
Oka Australian folk-dance band performs with special guests Beats Without Borders, as part of Jazz Fest. 8pm at Fortune Sound Club. Tickets $22 at TicketFly.com
Louis Moholo Quartet South African drummer performs with his band, pianist Alexander Hawkins, bassist John Edwards and saxophonist Jason Yarde as part of Jazz Fest. 9:30pm at Ironworks. Tickets $25 at TicketFly.com
Comedy
Paul Myrehaug Internationally toured stand-up comic originally from Alberta, known for his appearances on CBC’s Ha!, The Comedy Network’sComedy Shorts and CBC’sThe Debaters. 8:30pm at The Comedy Mix. Tickets $20 at TheComedyMix.com
Theatre/Dance
Imaginary Invalid An aging hypochondriac with a miserly streak thinks he can get all the medical attention he craves, at no cost, by marrying off his daughter to a doctor but his gold-digging wife and rebellious offspring have other ideas. 8pm at Jericho Arts Centre. Tickets at fs7.FormSite.com. Runs until June 28.
