THREE TO SEE
LAURELLE & C-NOTE
This sparkly singer-songwriter joined every choir possible through school before venturing solo, forming a band called the Red Deers, then recording and touring with Bill Bourne.
She plays acoustic guitar beside longtime collaborator Carl Stretton (that'd be C-note), and you can't miss the pretty monarch butterfly painted on her suitcase. While the forecast says it's time for our reliable new fifth season, “smoke,” you still have plenty of N95 masks kicking around, right? Bring your own chair and vittles!
Details: 2 p.m. at Riverbend United Church (14907 45 Ave.), by donation
BRIGADIERS
I once got to interview John Cleese in front of 2,500 people and asked him the very important question, “Tell us about your cats.” One of them was named Brigadier, and if Sean Brewer and Darrek Anderson's band isn't named after that furball, perhaps they're both deep Doctor Who U.N.I.T. fans? 1970s BBC has to be involved somehow … Anyway, it's also Brewer's birthday celebration, so why not hit the patio and enjoy even more Saturday roots and twang? These two talented and dedicated musicians are always worth a listen. Prepare for banjo, mandolin and guitar, and the show runs a couple hours to take you into the early evening.
Details: 4 p.m. at Cask & Barrel (10041 104 St.), free
BLACK WIDOW (2021)
Cate Shortland's tale of Natasha Romanoff set after Avengers: Civil War and before Infinity War may seem generally unnecessary at first glance, but it's actually great they filled out the details in the least superhuman Avenger besides tedious Hawkeye. Florence Pugh, David Harbour and Rachel Weisz as Natasha's “family” — I can say as a Russian — are a delightfully realistic mix of utilitarian, capricious and overall just cut-to-the-chase brutal, so a complete Tetris to the cultural/ emotional accuracy here. Ray Winstone aside, the plot is a bit dumb — but it's a Marvel movie, after all, and I'm looking forward to the things hinted at in the final scene, set after End Game. And, oh, yeah: the return of in-person theatre popcorn is simply magnificent.
Details: Now playing widely in theatres and on Disney+