Friday, May 8
Music
Jennifer Castle Canadian singer-songwriter tours in support of her latest LP Pink City with special guests Louise Burns and Darcy Hancock. 7pm at Media Club. Tickets $12 at Red Cat and TicketFly.com
Sweet Alibi Winnipeg-based folk-pop trio of Jess Rae Ayre, Amber Nielsen and Michelle Anderson perform with special guests The Rakish Angles from the Sunshine Coast. 7pm at St. James Hall. Tickets $20 at Red Cat, Highlife, Prussin Music, Rufus’ Guitars and RogueFolk.bc.ca
Yes We Mystic Winnipeg art-pop quintet play an early show, on tour in support of their upcoming release Vestige. 6:30pm at Railway Club. Tickets $7 at the door.
Piggy Vancouver’s unstoppable, undignified punk rock ‘n’ roll juggernaut is out for a jaunt with special guests Thee Ayatollahs, Crummy and Schatzis. 8:30pm at Railway Club. Tickets $10 at the door only.
Comedy
Dan Quinn The natural born storyteller and weekly host of Comedy at the Biltmore, with appearances on CTV and the Comedy Network. 8pm & 10:30pm at The Comedy Mix. Tickets $18 at TheComedyMix.com
Theatre/Dance
Ballet BC’s RITE Widely considered to be one of the most influential and revolutionary works to shape 20th century art with its bold venturing, this program in two parts is inspired by The Rite of Spring, the ballet and orchestral work that premiered in 1913. 8pm at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Tickets at BalletBC.com. Runs until May 9.
6th Annual Balkan-Roma Spring Festival One of Vancouver’s most unique and exciting springtime festivals features two evenings, six bands, two dance troupes and special guest master trumpeter from Serbia, Demiran Cerimovic. 7pm at Grandview Legion Hall. Tickets $20 at Highlife Records or CaravanBC.com or $25 at the door. Runs until May 9.
Saturday, May 9
Music
A Night in Ancient and New China The final concert of the Chan Centre’s season features pipa virtuoso, Wu Man with the Shanghai Quartet featuring the great music of China, from its traditional roots to more contemporary expressions. 8pm at Chan Centre Concert Hall. Tickets at ChanCentre.com
TacoFest Live music, tacos, and pinatas, together at last. Day-long event features 15 bands, including Eric Campbell and The Dirt, Bog, Car 87, 88 Mile Trip, and Blacked Out, along with BIIPIIGWAN from Ontario and Dead Ranch from Winnipeg. Show starts at 5pm sharp and goes until 3am at the Taco Dome (aka The Harbour Event Centre, 750 Pacific Blvd.). Tickets $12 at the door, presale tickets available at Sal y Limon, Scrape Records, Neptoon Records, Redcat Records, Suna Studios.
Some Nights... by Sound Eclectic Vancouver vocal harmony ensemble of talented and spirited men and women present an evening of jazz, blues, swing and folk. 7:30pm at Waterfront Theatre. Tickets at SoundEclectic.ca
Griz American DJ and electronic music producer from Michigan brings his self described ‘future-funk’ to town in support of Say It Loud with special guests The Floozies and Muzzy Bearr. 9pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $25 at LiveNation.comor Ticketmaster.ca
Swollen Members Out of a dark period and back, sounding more revitalized than ever the Vancouver hip-hop trio appear in support of their 11th studio album Brand New Day with guests Alpha & Omega, Neph, Mugg Shot, B.O.S.S. and PSLCD. 9pm at The Imperial. Tickets $18.50 at Red Cat, Highilfe, Zulu, Netpoon, Dipt! And TicketWeb.ca
Crush: Hard Rubber Orchestra John Korsrud’s 18-piece jazz powerhouse performs with special guests Christine Jensen and Ingrid Jensen. 8pm at SFU’s Goldcorp Centre for the Arts. Tickets $25 at SFUWoodwards.ca
Among The Blind Local rockers release Long Time, a record of their eclectic synthesis of old school rock, soul and R&B with heavy roots influences tapping elements of Motown, Brit Rock and reggae with special guests The Milk Pipes and Whiplash Escalade. 8pm at Railway Club. Tickets $10 at ImuProductions.com/tix
Comedy
Marc Maron Legendary stand-up comedian, writer and podcast host swings through town on The Maronation Tour. 6:30pm at Vogue Theatre. Tickets $29.50 at TicketFly.com. All ages show.
Damonde Tschritter The first Canadian winner in the 27 year history of the Seattle International Comedy Competition has been hailed by the Globe & Mail as comedy’s new superhero. 7pm & 9:30pm at Yuk Yuk’s. Tickets $20 at YukYuks.com
Theatre/Dance
BC Buds Festival Thirty different music, theatre, dance, interdisciplinary artists take over every conceivable nook and cranny of the Firehall, turning it into a giant arts factory for four days of inventive and innovative live site-specific performances from BC artists. Various performance times at Firehall Arts Centre. Admission is free! Runs until May 10.
Events
Across The Top of the World The Maritime Museum debuts a new long-term exhibit chronicling the quest for the Northwest Passage, centered on one of the greatest stories of exploration and discovery based upon James Delgado’s book of the same name. 10am-5pm at Vancouver Maritime Museum. Exhibit included with admission.
Sunday, May 10
Music
Kodaline Irish rockers formerly known as 21 Demands appear on their Ones To Watch tour in support of Coming Up For Air. 8pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $20 at LiveNation.comand Ticketmaster.ca
Gonzalo Bergara Quartet A modern variant of 1930s Django Reinhardt-inspired sound featuring Bergara with Leah Zeger on fiddle, Jeffrey Radaich on rhythm guitar and Brian Netzley on acoustic bass. 7pm at St. James Hall. Tickets $24 at Red Cat, Highlife, Prussin Music, Rufus’ Guitars and RogueFolk.bc.ca
Theatre/Dance
TRACKS: 7th Annual Canadian Community Play & Arts Symposium A six-day national symposium that brings together community engaged Indigenous and settler/immigrant artists, thinkers and educators collaborating to make art with, for and about community. 10am-7pm at Roundhouse Community Centre. Tickets at TracksSymposium.com. Runs until May 15.
Events
Mother’s day Brunch at Hycroft Celebrate the most important women in life with style and taste at the historic mansion indulging in a gourmet brunch buffet designed by executive chef Walter Messiah. 11am-1:30pm at Hycroft Manor. Tickets $45 at UWCVancouver.ca
VBT Celebrates Mother’s Day Or take Mom for some delicious craft brew! Let Vancouver Brewery Tours shuttle you around, visiting Brassneck, Strange Fellows and Odd Society, departing from Waterfront Station at 1pm. Tickets $79 at VancouverBreweryTours.com
Cheap & Fun
Main Street Vinyl Fair Come check out the record event of the year with 50 independent vendors, a vinyl donation program, vintage audio market and DJ’s The Knights of the Turntable. 11am-5pm at Heritage Hall. Admission is $4.
Monday, May 11
Music
Ravel and Falla Kazuyoshi Akiyama conducts pianist Angela Hewitt and the VSO in a program of Marquez, Falla and Ravel. 8pm at Orpheum Theatre. Tickets at VancouverSymphony.ca
Joe Bonamassa Blues-rock guitar hero from New York plays the first of two nights in support of his latest release Different Shades of Blue. 8pm at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Tickets at Ticke tmaster.ca
Borodin’s Quartets All 15 of Dimitri Shostakovich’s string quartets in concert, a rare chance to hear a triumph of modern Russian music, presented by Friends of Chamber Music. 8pm at Vancouver Playhouse. Tickets $45 at FriendsOfChamberMusic.ca
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
Theatre/Dance
Nathan the Wise Blackbird Theatre presents a reading of Gotthold Lessing’s profoundly relevant 1793 play – never performed in the playwright’s lifetime after a Nazi ban – a plea for racial and religious tolerance with a dose of humour, compassion and reason. 7:30pm at Temple Sholom (7190 Oak). Admission by donation.
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 May 12
Music
Reel Big Fish Southern California ska-punk band behind the hit single "Sell Out" with guests. 7pm at Venue. Tickets $20 at BPLive.Electrostub.com
Trade Your Children Vancouver four-piece punk band appear with special guests The Remedials and I’m Not Chris. 9pm at The Astoria. Tickets $5 at the door only.
Chor Leoni Idol Karaoke supremacy is on the line as eight of Chor Leoni’s most entertaining singers vie for the title in the return of this popular fundraiser favourite. 6-10pm at The Lamplighter. Tickets $18.25 at TicketsTonight.TicketForce.com
Theatre/Dance
Gastown Cabaret: A-May-Zing! The monthly variety show birthed by the incomparable April O’Peel sees you through three sets of belly dancers, drag performers, comedy, contortionists, burlesque and random hilariousness. Start the long weekend on Tuesday! 8pm at Gastown Cabaret. Suggested donation of $10, all proceeds to the artists.
Miss Shakespeare/J. Caesar Tracey Power (Chelsea Hotel) is re-imagining Shakespeare and redefining gender roles in this saucy, new, original musical, playing in repertory with an all-female, futuristic adaptation of J. Caesar. 8pm at Performance Works. Tickets at TicketsTonight.ca. Runs until May 29.
Art
Heaven, Hell & Somewhere In Between: Portuguese Popular Art This extraordinary collection, premiering in North America includes an eclectic mix of graffiti and mural paintings, puppets, figurines, carnival masks and more reflecting the national identity, history and creativity of Portugal. Opening party and preview, 7pm at Museum of Anthropology at UBC. E xhibit included with admission. Runs until Oct. 12.
Wednesday, May 13
Music
The Jesus and Mary Chain The Scottish rockers celebrate the 30th anniversary of their debut album Psychocandy with special guest The Black Ryder. 8pm at Vogue Theatre. Tickets $49.50 at TicketFly.com. All ages welcome.
Other Lives Indie rockers out of Stillwater, Oklahoma on tour to support their upcoming album Rituals with special guests Riothorse Royale. 8pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $17 at Red Cat, Zulu and TicketWeb.ca
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion NYC rock n’ rollers perform tunes from their new album Freedom Tower: New Wave Dance Party 2015 with special guests We Are Hex. 8pm at The Imperial. Tickets $25 at red Cat, Zulu, Highlife and TicketWeb.ca
Theatre/Dance
The Graduate Based on the iconic 1967 movie, a disillusioned college graduate, Ben Braddock tries to avoid the one question everyone keeps asking while an unexpected diversion crops up in the form of a bored housewife named Mrs. Robinson. 8pm at Metro Theatre. Tickets at MetroTheatre.com. Runs until May 23.
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. 2pm & 8pm at Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. Tickets at ArtsClub.com. Runs until June 7.
Into The Woods The Brothers Grimm hit Broadway with an epic fairytale where worlds collide when everyone’s favourite storybook charact ers meet in this timeless, yet modern classic. 8pm at Jericho Arts Centre. Tickets at TicketsTonight.ca. Runs until May 16.
Thursday, May 14
Music
AK-747s Blistering local rock band celebrates the release of their second full-length album, War Is A Force That Gives Us Meaning. With guests Still Spirits, Soulsucker, and R.d. Cane. 8:30pm at the Red Room. Tickets $10 at the door.
Needs Vancouver post-hardcore outfit plays in support of their debut self-titled album with special guests Brass, Low Levels and Flowers & Fire. 8pm at Fortune Sound Club. Tickets $10 at Red Cat, Zulu, Highlife, Beat Street and FortuneSound.com
The Rezillos A punk/new wave band from the ‘70s Edinburgh scene appear in support of their new album ZERO with special guests Kid Congo & the Pink Monkey Birds and Fashionism. 8pm at Rickshaw Theatre. Tickets $22 at Red Cat, Highlife, Neptoon and RickshawTheatre.com
Comedy
Improv Fight Club A fundraiser to benefit Aprons For Gloves features an improv performance of some hard-shitting comedy, 50/50 draw, a Battle Royale and more as The Fictionals’ celebrate their four year anniversary. 7pm at Joe’s Apartment. Tickets $10 at the door.
Theatre/Dance
Discover Dance! The popular noon hour series features the spectacular dances and music of Brazil with a performance by the dynamic Ache Brasil, BC’s foremost Brazilian music and dance troupe. 12 noon at Scotiabank Dance Centre. Tickets at TicketsTonight.ca
Cheap & Fun
Friends Trivia Night What is the actual name that appears on Joey & Chandler’s copy of the TV guide? Answer this and other tricky trivia at the NY-inspired evening hosted by IQ 2000 Trivia. 7:30pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Admission is $7. Register your team at [email protected]. Pivot!
