10 To do
Cat EmpirE
If a civilization was to be built by felines, would they be anything like Cat Empire from Melbourne, Australia? Maybe, but only if they interspersed ska, reggae, funk and Latin music among their yowls, as well as alt-rock and the occasional hip-hop beat. The antipodean six-piece are eight albums into an international career; their latest effort is 2019’s Stolen Diamonds.
When: Thursday at 8 p.m.
Where: Winspear Centre
Admission: $37 and up, available at the Winspear box office or website
Info: winspearcentre.com
Small mouth SoundS
How do you speak your mind when you can’t say a word? That’s the tag line for Bess Wohl’s poignant and humorous Small Mouth Sounds, playing until March 24 at the Roxy on Gateway. Six strangers on a silent retreat are led by a guru through personal crisis and existential pain. Directed by Jim Guedo, with a cast that includes Amber Borotsik, Belinda Cornish, Nathan Cuckow.
When: Until March 24. Evening performances are Tuesday to Saturday at 8 p.m., with Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. No shows on Mondays.
Where: Roxy on Gateway, 8529 Gateway Boulevard
Admission: $22, adults; $18, seniors and students
Info: theatrenetwork.ca
lungS
Bringing a child into a very uncertain world is something that plenty of people grapple with. In Duncan MacMillan’s Lungs, a young couple are mulling that very issue, as well as questions of “family, change, hope, betrayal, and luck.” This Shadow Theatre production is directed by Jon Lachlan Stewart, starring Beth Graham and Chris Bullough. When: Until Sunday, March
31. Evening performances are Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with matinees at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. No matinee on Sunday, March 17, no shows on Mondays.
Where: Varscona Theatre, 10329 83 Ave.
Admission: $38, regular; $36, students and seniors; $22, under
18. Available at the door or in advance from the Varscona Theatre website
Info: varsconatheatre.com
amy nElSon
Amy Nelson wears more hats than the one on her head. The Calgary native is a blogger, a poet and most importantly for this blurb, an old-timey banjo player dedicated to many of the precepts of that particular scene. Nelson will be in town with both vinyl and CD copies of her hotoff-the-presses release, Educated Woman.
When: Friday at 8:30 p.m.
Where: The Blue Chair, 9624 76 Ave.
Admission: $15; call in advance for reservations at 780-989-2861
Info: bluechair.ca
FEStival City WindS
It’s always nice to have friends along for the ride, right? That’s why the First Presbyterian Church Choir, Duo Majoya, soprano Betty Kolodziej and tenor Ron Long are among the guests performing at the Festival City Winds concert City of Winds at First Presbyterian on Saturday night. You’ll hear plenty of Gershwin, a nod to Tony Bennett, some traditional tunes and much, much more.
When: Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Where: First Presbyterian Church, 10025 105 St.
Admission: $12, regular; $5, children 12 and under
Info: festivalcitywinds.ca
War oF thE ButtonS
The French novel La Guerre des Boutons is the basis for 1994’s The War of the Buttons. Set in Ireland in the ’60s, the comedy/ drama looks at the escalating war between town kids intent on stealing the buttons from each other’s clothes. Starring Colm Meaney, Liam Cunningham, and Greg Fitzgerald.
When: Saturday at 1 p.m.
Where: Metro Cinema, 8712 109 St.
Admission: $13, adults; $8, students and senior citizens. Free admission for children 12 years of age and under
Info: metrocinema.org
BEll Biv dEvoE
Everyone eventually reunites, right? Except for Bell Biv Devoe; the New Jack Swing legends never got around to breaking up, instead weathering trends through the years, riding chart-toppers like Poison, Do Me, and She’s Dope further and further into nostalgia land. The trio, who branched off from New Edition and still continue to tour with the mother group, have a relatively new album in 2017’s Three Stripes.
When: Saturday at 9 p.m.
Where: River Cree Resort & Casino,
Admission: $64 and up, available at the door or in advance from Ticketmaster
Info: ticketmaster.ca Are they a black metal band? A death metal band? A symphonic Goth metal band? Does it really matter? Cradle of Filth have carved out their own particular metal genre over nearly three decades, with original singer Dani Filth the only constant member. The always-evolving six-piece are in town with their latest effort, 2017’s Cryptoriana — The Seductiveness of Decay. With Butcher Babies and Ne Obliviscaris.
When: Saturday at 8 p.m. Where: Starlite Room, 10030 102 St.
Admission: $34.95, available at the door or in advance from Ticketfly
Info: ticketfly.com
variEty punCh
He’s been back in town for a while now, so it was inevitable that Joe Gurba get back into the entertainment business. The Old Ugly head honcho and rapper is teaming up with Grindstone’s Joses Martin for a variety show featuring comedy, music, poetry, dance, DJs and much more. Guaranteed to be an amazing time.
When: Wednesday, March 20 at 8 p.m.
Where: Grindstone Theatre, 10019 81 Ave.
Admission: $15, available at the door or in advance from the Grindstone website
Info: grindstonetheatre.ca
guyS & dollS
Gamblers, gangsters and other Noo Yawk characters are the basis for Guys & Dolls, playing at the Triffo Theatre from March 20 to 30. Damon Runyon characters, to be precise, include gamblers Nathan Detroit and Sky Masterson, who are attempting to set up the biggest craps game in town in this musical production by the MacEwan Theatre department.
When: Wednesday, March 20, to Saturday, March 30. All evening performances at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee performance on Sunday, March 24 at 2 p.m. No shows on Mondays.
Where: Triffo Theatre, Allard Hall, 11110 104 Ave.
Admission: $15 to $25, available at the door or in advance from the MacEwan website
Info: macewan.ca