Friday, May 22
Music
Nothing and Merchandise American rock bands co-headlining, on tour to support their latest releases with special guests Cloakroom. 8pm at The Cobalt. Tickets $15 at Red Cat, Zulu and TicketWeb.ca
The Glitch Mob LA based electronic artists, on tour to support their latest release Love Death Immortality with special guests Eprom and Max Ulis. 8pm at Vogue Theatre. Tickets $35 at Red Cat, Zulu, Beat Street and TicketWeb.ca
Real Estate and Woods New Jersey indie rockers share the bill with the Brooklyn-based folk rockers. 8pm at The Imperial. Tickets $20 at Red Cat, Zulu and TicketWeb.ca
Comedy
Adam Ray With appearances in films like The Heat and on television, guest starring on Two Broke Girls, WORKAHOLICS and Arrested Development the Arkansas native also contributes internet sketches to Funny or Die and CollegeHumor. 8pm & 10:30pm at The Comedy Mix. Tickets $18 at TheComedyMix.com
Kyle Bottom’s Comedy Bucket Receive a slip of paper upon entry, anonymously write down anything you want and straight into the bucket it goes. What comes out is comedy gold, at the only show in town where comedians are guaranteed to talk about what’s on your mind. 9pm at Hot Art Wet City. Tickets $6 at HotArtWetCity.com or $10 at the door.
Theatre/Dance
Hell of a Girl A unique musical theatre experience, this cowboy-noir-opera, loosely based on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, is set in a timeless world of cowboys, nymphs and demons as told through original songs filled with obsession, perdition and love. 9pm at Historic Theatre. Tickets at TheCultch.com. Runs until May 24.
Saturday May 23
Music
Ruby & Smith Vancouver’s First Lady and Duke of Uke strip their love of jazz, folk and roots music to their core components – two ukeleles and Daphne’s haunting vocals to play tunes from their new release A Ukelele Album. 7pm at St. James Hall. Tickets $15 at EventBrite.ca
Exultate! Opera Opulena presents a concert of sacred music featuring selections from the great composers, Mozart, Faure, Bach, Schubert, Brahms, Liszt and more. 7pm at Pyatt Hall. Tikcets $25 at OperaOpulenza.ca
Little Dragon The Swedish electronic pop band returns in support of their latest release Nabuma Rubberband with special guest Andrew Power (Soulection). 5:30pm at Malkin Bowl. Tickets $35 at Red Cat, Zulu, Highlife, Beat Street and TicketWeb.ca
Kate Tempest The London rapper, playwright, novelist and poet plays an early show in support of her latest release Everybody Down. 7pm at Electric Owl. Tickets $13 at Red Cat, Zulu and TicketWeb.ca
Milky Chance German folk duo with reggae and electronic influences play the second of two nights with special guests FMLYBAND. 8pm at Commodore Ballroom. SOLD OUT.
Temples West coast psychedelic rockers return to play tunes from Sun Structures. 7pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $22 at LiveNation.com
Comedy
Ron Funches His easy going inventive style sounds the way fresh chocolate chip cookies taste with a signature unique comic delivery and lovable demeanor. 7pm 9:30pm at Yuk Yuk’s. Tickets $24 at YukYuks.com
Theatre/Dance
Monkey King One of the most enduring Chinese literary characters comes to life through mime, magic, jokes, stories and music to celebrate Asian Heritage Month with physical theatre artist Gerardo Avila and the Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble. 3pm at Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Tickets at Monkey-King-VCME.EventBrite.ca or at the door.
The Peaceful Sea A creative reimagining of the three year nautical adventure of Ferdinand Magellan, whose first circumnavigation of the globe changed the scope of cultural exchange, navigation and globalization. 7:15pm at Vancouver East Cultural Centre. Tickets at Tickets.TheCultch.com. Runs until May 24.
High Tea The deliciously delightful James & Jamsey serve up outrageous theatrical adventure when a catastrophic disaster floods the world in tea, and spectacular imagination, physical feats and uproarious humour keep them afloat. 2pm at Jericho Arts Centre. Tickets $12 at JamesAndJamesy.BrownPaperTickets.com. Runs until May 24.
Cheap & Fun
Vancouver Comic Arts Festival A weekend long celebration of comics, the non-profit behind VanCAF transforms Vancouver into a city of story-telling and comics featuring readings, panels, workshops and a two day exhibition for cartoonists from across the country and down the coast. 10am-6pm at Roundhouse Mews. Admission is free. Runs until May 24.
Sunday, May 24
Music
Father John Misty American folk singer-songwriter-guitarist and drummer returns to play from his sophomore album I Love You, Honeybear with special guest Courtney Marie Andrews. 7pm at Commodore Ballroom. SOLD OUT.
Ethos Collective Concert Vancouver Pro Musica presents an evening featuring original musical works by BC composers performed by the unique, improvisational ensemble spanning world music to jazz to electroacoustic. 7:30pm at Pyatt Hall. Tickets $20 at VancouverProMusica.ca
Spoon American rockers from Austin, Texas play tunes from They Want My Soul with special guests Future Islands. 5:30pm at Malkin Bowl. Tickets $35 at Red Cat and Ticketmaster.ca
San Fermin Brooklyn-based pop band fronted by Ellis Ludwig-Leone, appear in support of their latest release Jackrabbit with special guest Natalie Prass. 8pm at Electric Owl. Tickets $15 at Red Cat, Zulu and TicketWeb.ca
The War On Drugs Indie rockers out of Philadelphia appear in support of their latest Lost In The Dream. 8pm at Vogue Theatre. SOLD OUT.
Anchoress Post hardcore band from Vancouver takes the stage with special guests The Graceful, Floorboards and Leveler. 8pm at Media Club. Tickets $10 at the door.
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.
Cheap & Fun
Goldies Closet Vintage Sale Expect great deals, and find thousands of amazing vintage pieces and accessories from the closet of avid clothing collector Goldie, on sale for one day only. 11am-4pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Admission is free.
Kitsilano Farmers Market Shop and eat local at the temporary relocation of the Kits Farmers Market with all the same vendors you know and love. 10am-2pm at 30th Avenue and Ontario St. Admission is free.
Monday, May 25
Music
Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Coastal jazz presents the two American legendary superstars performing the first of two shows on their Cheek to Cheek tour. 8pm at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Tickets at NorthernTickets.com. All ages show.
Black Pistol Fire Toronto garage rock duo play tunes from their latest release Hush or Howl with special guests Colby Morgan & the Catastrophes. 8pm at The Cobalt. Tickets $13 at Red Cat, Zulu and TicketWeb.ca
Glass Animals Oxford indie rockers play tunes from their debut studio release Zaba with special guest Gilligan Moss. 7pm at Vogue Theatre. Tickets $20 at Red Cat, Zulu and NorthernTickets.com
Blistered Florida hardcore metal-punk rockers take the stage with special guests Discourse, Acquitted, Safe and Sound, and Throwing Bricks. 7pm at The Hindenburg. Tickets $10 at the door. All ages show.
Comedy
The Laugh Gallery with Graham Clark Legendary weekly stand up show of East Vancouver’s biggest and brightest comics. 9pm at Havana Theatre. Tickets $5 at Eventbrite.ca
Events
International Children’s Festival Granville Island provides the backdrop for the annual world renowned festival of performing arts for young audiences. Make a day of it, your show ticket includes access to over fifteen interactive arts activities taking place over six days of fun. 10:30am-8:30pm at various venues across Granville Island. Tickets at ChildrensFestival.ca. Runs until May 31.
Tuesday, May 26
Music
Tame Impala Psychedelic rock quintet from Perth, Australia return to town in support of their upcoming release Currents with special guests Kuroma. 5:30pm at Malkin Bowl. SOLD OUT.
Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Coastal jazz presents the two American legendary superstars performing the first of two shows on their Cheek to Cheek tour. 8pm at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Tickets at NorthernTickets.com. All ages show.
Speedy Oritz Indie rockers out of Massachusetts on tour in support of their new album Foil Deer with special guests Alex G and Dead Soft. 8pm at The Cobalt. Tickets $13 at Red Cat, Zulu and TicketWeb.ca
Amaranthe Modern pop-metal sextet from Gothenburg, Sweden appear with special guests Prevail and Santa Cruz. 8pm at Rickshaw Theatre. Tickets $28 at TicketFly.com
Crocodiles Noise-pop indie pop-rock outfit out of San Diego on tour in support of Boys with special guests Ford Pier Vengeance Trio. 8pm at Venue. Tickets $12 at BPLive.ca
Comedy
Kings Head Comedy Colin Sharp and James Kennedy present this weekly showcase of local comedians with a dash of the who’s who from LA, NY and Toronto. 9pm at King’s Head Pub. Admission is $5.
Theatre/Dance
God & The Indian Celebrated Aboriginal playwright Drew Hayden Taylor explores the complex process of healing with this heartbreaking and beautifully told story of the chance encounter between a Cree woman and a priest. 8pm at Firehall Arts Centre. Tickets at FireHallArtsCentre.com. Runs until May 30.
Ongoing
cesna?em, The City Before the City Musqueam First Nation, MOA and MOV partner on a transformative journey to explore ancient landscape and living culture right under Vancouver’s nose in a series of three unified exhibitions. Musqueam Cultural Education Centre and Gallery. Runs until Dec. 30.
Wednesday, May 27
Music
Ryan Adams American singer-songwriter-guitarist returns to takes the stage to play tunes from his latest self-titled release with special guests Wardell. 8pm at Orpheum Theatre. Tickets at LiveNation.com
Phox American six-piece folk-rock band from Wisconsin play tunes from their self-titled debut release with special guests yOya. 8pm at The Biltmore. Tickets $13 at Red Cat, Zulu and TicketWeb.ca
Shy Girls Portland based R&B singer returns to Vancouver to support his latest offering, 4WZ with special guest P. Morris. 8pm at Electric Owl. Tickets $13 at Red Cat, Zulu and TicketWeb.ca
Juicy J The American rapper, songwriter, producer and founding member of Three 6 Mafia on tour in support of Pure THC: The Hustle Continues. 8pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $49.50 at LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.ca
Theatre/Dance
Mr. Snortoose and the Machine-Children’s Machine An absurd nostalgia retelling a history that never really happened about a world missing all history, with a king who holds one single memory that disappears whenever he needs to recall it. 7pm at Vancouver East Cultural Centre. Tickets at Tickets.TheCultch.com
Events
Happy Futures How can we use our imagination to create the futures we want? A unique dialogue shares techniques for leveraging storytelling, experiential design, and the arts to solve complex challenges with social innovation. Presenters include Erika Gregory, Joe Tankersley and Christophe Gouache as part of Stefan Sagmeister’s ongoing exhibition, The Happy Show. 6:30pm at Museum of Vancouver. Tickets at HappyFutures.EventBrite.ca
Thursday, May 28
Music
AWOLNATION American electronic band fronted by Aaron Bruno return to support their sophomore release Run with special guests Family of the Year and Irontom. 7pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $29.50 at LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.ca
Road To Bestival Five free concerts across Canada exclusively for Fido customers, with Owen Pallett playing Vancouver. 8pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets at Fido.ca and RoadToBestival.ca. Free with promo code!
Theatre/Dance
Cocktails with Maria A sex-fuelled, live-singing, semi-operatic drag romp into the real lives of the modern West Coast gay – the result of a 4 year collaboration among Victoria composer Isaiah Bell, drag opera diva Maria Toilette, and concert pianist Karen Lee-Morlang. 9:45pm at Vancouver East Cultural Centre. Tickets at Tickets.TheCultch.com. Runs until May 30.
In The Heights The Tony Award winning musical about home, family and finding where you belong set in NYC’s vibrant and tough Washington Heights neighbourhood. 8pm at Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. Tickets at ArtsClub.com. Runs until June 7.
Events
City of Bhangra Festival Celebrating the joy of shared experience by connecting cultural communities worldwide through the vibrancy of bhangra music, song and dance featuring performances by Ustad Lal Singh Bhatti, DJ Lajit, Raju Johal, Shava, Lil India and many more. At various Vancouver venues, runs until June 6. Info at VIBC.org
Cheap & Fun
Open Show Organizing live social events worldwide where the public can experience compelling visual stories and interact directly with photographers, filmmakers and producers, the Vancouver edition showcases five presenters with projects based on narrative, topic or single visual style. 7:30pm at Chapel Arts (304 Dunlevy Ave.). Admission is $2-$5.
