NEXTFEST 10 TO DO
It may be hitting the grand old age of 23 this year, but the Nextfest Emerging Arts Festival isn’t resting on its laurels, oh no. The 11-day celebration of young local talent has added a number of new events to the festival, which shines a spotlight on emerging artists in music, theatre, dance, poetry, visual art, film, design, comedy, and much more. You can look forward to the Nextfest Workshop Series and Collaboration Project as fun additions to the festival, which boasts a roster of 500 artists presenting more than 40 works across a wide range of disciplines. Check the website for a full schedule.
When: Thursday, May 31 to Sunday, June 10
Where: Various venues
Admission: $40 festival pass, available at the Roxy on Gateway, 8529 Gateway Blvd., or from the Nextfest website. Day and individual show tickets also available.
Info: nextfest.org
DONNA KANE
She’s best known as a poet, but B.C.-based writer Donna Kane is changing things up with the release of her memoirs. Kane will be at Audreys Books on Thursday night for a reading, Q&A, and book signing for Summer of the Horse. Set in the Meskwa-Kechika area of the Northern Rockies, the memoir is a tale of self discovery, as well as a look at one of the most diverse wilderness areas in North America.
When: Thursday, May 31 at 7 p.m.
Where: Audreys Books, 10702 Jasper Ave.
Admission: Free
Info: facebook.com
VICTORIA SCHOOL FESTIVAL
An Evening of Jazz kicks off this year’s Victoria Festival of the Arts, running Thursday to Saturday at the Victoria School of Performing Arts. Friday and Saturday sees performance activities by students from kindergarten to Grade 12, while pop-up galleries and stages show off the school’s large pool of talent. Local food trucks will be on hand to sate whatever hunger you might be feeling after seeing the next generation of Edmonton artists.
When: Thursday, May 31 to Saturday, June 2
Where: Victoria School of the Arts, 10210 108 Ave.
Admission: $15 festival pass available at the door
Info: victoria.epsb.ca
USHA GUPTA
The Brian Webb Dance Company is closing out its 39th season with a visit from Usha Gupta’s Dance Entourage. The local dance company is presenting Gupta’s latest work, KHOJ, with a crew of locals, Riya Mittal and Marla Palakkamanil Gill, as well as four dancers from India. Added bonus on June 3 at 2 p.m. is a concert of classical Kathak solos by Mittal with featured musicians Anuj Mishra and Souvik Chabraborty.
When: Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2 at 8 p.m.
Where: Timms Centre for the Arts, 87th Avenue and 112th Street
Admission: $35, adults; $25, seniors and students, available at the door or in advance from Tix on the Square
Info: tixonthesquare.ca
THE KING(S)
We live in remarkable times. While many of us will never know the joy of seeing Elvis Presley perform live, we do have the option of seeing many different Elvises, young and old, perform at the same concert. Like Friday and Saturday night at the Century Casino, where Presley tribute artists Pete Paquette and Chris Connor have teamed up to give you, the audience, a chance to see all sides of the multi-faceted singing legend, accompanied by an 11-piece band. If you’re a real fan of the King you’ll make sure to scream for Yoga Is As Yoga Does.
When: Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2 at 7 p.m.
Where: Century Casino, 13103 Fort Road
Admission: $45, available at the door or in advance from Ticketmaster
Info: ticketmaster.ca
CARMEN FUNDRAISER
You could never accuse Mercury Opera of taking the safe route. The Edmonton-based company recently made waves by staging La Traviata at Chez Pierre’s, and now they’re upping the ante by bringing a production of Bizet’s Carmen to the Badlands Amphitheatre in Drumheller. Carmen in the Badlands needs some financial support, however, which is why they’re having a pierogi dinner and silent auction at London Villas Hub, with live entertainment and food by Brad and Cindy Lazarenko of Culina.
When: Friday, June 1 at 5 p.m.
Where: London Villas Hub, 9620 109th Ave.
Admission: $25, adults; $12 for children; free for kids aged 5 and under. Available from Tix on the Square
Info: tixonthesquare.ca
WEIRD AL
He’s been around longer than some of the musicians he’s parodied, and odds are he’ll outlast most in the public imagination. Accordion master Weird Al Yankovic has tackled Queen (Another One Rides the Bus), Michael Jackson (Eat It), Lorde (Foil), and Pharrell Williams (Tacky), while also penning an impressive number of squeezebox led tunes as well. Lately he’s been setting his sights on musical theatre, penning The Hamilton Polka, a medley of tunes from the Broadway hit.
When: Saturday, June 2 at 9 p.m.
Where: River Cree Casino and Resort, 300 East Lapotac Blvd., Enoch
Admission: $63 to $209, available at the door or in advance from Ticketmaster
Info: tixonthesquare.ca
HEART OF THE CITY
Is it possible to find as much talent stuffed on one stage as the Heart of the City festival. The answer to that would be no, as this year’s edition features performances by the likes of John Guliak, The Confusionaires, Cory Danyluk, Karimah, Paula Eve Kirman, and Rooster Davis & the All Stars. In addition, there’ll be a Youth Stage and Spoken Word Stage, bringing to light such artists as Althea Cunningham and DJ a.k.a. Dyliverance. Check the website for more info as it becomes available.
When: Saturday, June 2, and Sunday, June 3
Where: Giovanni Caboto Park, 9425 109A Ave.
Admission: Free
Info: heartcityfest.com
FLORA AND FAWNA
They’ve had sold out runs at Northern Light Theatre, Calgary’s Lunchbox Theatre and the Fringe Festival, and now Flora and Fawna (as well as Fleurette) are returning for a one night show at the Queen Alex on Saturday night. The topics? Why, surviving bears, beavers and bullies, of course. This sequel to the Sterling Award-winning production of Flora and Fawna’s Field Trip is a rehearsed reading by Darrin Hagen, Trevor Schmidt, and Brian Dooley. When: Saturday, June 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Queen Alexandra Community League, 10425 University Ave.
Admission: $30, available at the door or by calling Northern Light Theatre
Info: (780) 471-1586
PRO CORO
Music by British composers Joby Talbot and Benjamin Britten are among the a cappella treasures to be found in Pro Coro’s latest concert at All Saints’ on Sunday afternoon. Add to that works by R. Murray Schaefer and Latvian composer Eriks Esenvalds and you’ve got Saints, Legends, and Magic Songs, a journey through folklore, with stops to look at musical saints and familiar fairy figures. Also of interest is a premiere by emerging Canadian composer Ben Sellick, as well as pieces by three young composers from MacEwan University.
When: Sunday, June 3 at 3 p.m.
Where: All Saints’ Anglican Cathedral, 10035 103 St.
Admission: $25 to $35, available at the door or in advance from the Pro Coro website
Info: procoro.ca