CRITICS’ PICKS

CLASSICAL MUSIC

What: Handel and his Rivals When: Saturday 8 p.m. (pre-concert talk at 7:10 p.m.) Where: Christ Church Cathedral Tickets: $26 to $35 at earlymusicsocietyoftheislands.ca or 250-386-6121 Why: Grammy-winning soprano Amanda Forsythe joins Vancouver’s Pacific Baroque Orchestra for a concert featuring virtuosic arias (for soprano) composed by G.F. Handel. The performance also features arias penned by Handel’s “rivals,” such as Bononcini, Hasse and Porpora. The Boston Globe has described Forsythe’s voice as “marvellous — clear, florid and warm at the same time.”) — Adrian Chamberlain

BELL RINGING

What: Bell-ringing extravaganza When: Sunday, 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Where: Christ Church Cathedral Why: Bell-ringing devotees are in luck. On Sunday the bells will be rung from Christ Church Cathedral for two quarterpeal (one-hour) sessions at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. These extended bell-ringing performances are in addition to the usual Sunday bell-ringing before services. What makes this bell-a-thon extra special is the fact the cathedral’s bell-ringers will be joined by other ringers from across North America — all members of the North American Guild of Bell Ringers. — AC

ROCK ’N ROLL

What: Airbourne with The Wild! When: Tuesday, 8 p.m. Where: Sugar nightclub. Tickets: $25 at Lyle's Place and ticketfly.com

Why: In the absence of a fully functioning AC/DC, the high-volume boogie rock of Australian madmen Airbourne serves as an apt replacement. And with a slate of songs that recall the carefree party days of the 1970s — titles such as No Way But the Hard Way and Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast — there’s plenty to make stadium-rock fans salivate. Add to next weekend’s bill at Sugar nightclub a strong opening act in fellow bad boys The Wild!, a raucous Kelowna band making waves in North America, and Tuesday night is looking all right. — Mike Devlin