The Big Fall Arts and Culture Preview

THE BIG MUSIC PREVIEW CALENDAR

1. Making Waves: Future Islands

WHEN September 10 and 11

WHERE Malkin Bowl

COST From $83

The indie new wave synth-pop quartet is set to bring their dreamy vocals and mesmerizing dance moves to the great outdoors, joined by pals Oh, Rose.

2. Wiz Kids: King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard

WHEN September 12

WHERE Pacific Coliseum

COST From $60

The Australian rock band known for its experimental style, microtonal tuning and energetic live shows is coming to offer just that.

3. A Howl: Remi Wolf

WHEN September 14

WHERE Orpheum Theatre

COST From $58

It’s quirky pop infused with soulful vibes and infectious energy that will have you howling at  the moon.

4. Beach Vibes: Allah-Las with Maston

WHEN September 20

WHERE The Pearl

COST $40

As summer fades, ride the cool waves of Allah-Las’s vintage surf rock and psychedelic beats—pretend the sunny season will last forever and ever.

5. GlobeTrotter: Tems

WHEN September 22

WHERE Queen Elizabeth Theatre

COST From $82

Tems is your new musical obsession from Nigeria, blending soulful R&B with Afrobeat and deep lyrics. You’ll swear she’s singing right to you.

6. Breathless: Air

WHEN September 25

WHERE Queen Elizabeth Theatre

COST From $103

Catch a breath of fresh French air with the ultra-cool electronic duo from Versailles and live your best new-wave life.

7. Group Therapy: Faye Webster

WHEN September 30

WHERE Orpheum Theatre

COST From $105

It’s actually cheaper than therapy. Head to the Orpheum Theatre for a night of smooth indie folk and cool R&B and get ready to cry over all your exes.

8. Clam Jam: Shannon and the Clams

WHEN October 15

WHERE Rickshaw Theatre

COST $30

Dive into a ’60s beach party with a punk twist, serving up pure nostalgia for an era most of us missed. Don’t go ham; go Clam!

9. Horned Up: Kokoroko

WHEN October 22

WHERE Hollywood Theatre

COST $42

If your high school band skills never felt hip, here’s your validation. Led by the trumpet-wielding Sheila Maurice-Grey, the explosive eight-piece group mixes Afrobeat with jazzy twists and a splash of London cool—stretch first, because you’ll be dancing the night away.

VISUAL ARTS CALENDAR

1. Intersecting Identities: The Sum of All: Afro-Indigenous Art

WHEN Until September 8

WHERE Bill Reid Gallery

COST From $13

Get ready for film, dance and even jewellery that explore Indigeneity and Blackness through visual and performance art, delving into ideas of identity.

2. Work It: Zoe Leonard: View from Below

WHEN Until September 8

WHERE Contemporary Art Gallery

COST Free

Strike a pose at the CAG… in front of a piece of fashion photography to really soak it in. The photo exhibit tackles not only ‘90s catwalks but also the politics of gender, representation and display.

3. Apokalyps Now: Anti-Icon: Apokalypsis

WHEN Until September 29

WHERE The Polygon Gallery

COST $20 (or pay-what-you-can)

This photography series from internationally renowned American artist Martine Gutierrez features 17 self-portraits of the artist posing as legendary characters, re-imagined with challenging, “anti-iconic” interpretations.

4. Slice World: Collective Chaos End of Summer Social

WHEN September 7

WHERE Slice of Life Gallery

COST $5 (or pay-what-you-can)

The indie gallery’s ongoing Collective Chaos project features 20 artists with a new theme each month. Come rub elbows with the creative collaborators as they toast the season’s end.

5. Scratch It: Shelley Niro: 500 Year Itch

WHEN Opens September 28

WHERE Vancouver Art Gallery

COST $29

The VAG pulls together 50 years of work for the first major retrospective of multidisciplinary artist Shelley Niro, who uses humour and pop culture to explore her connection to her Six Nations Kanyen’kehá community.

6. Think Ink: True Tribal: Contemporary Expressions of Ancestral Tattoo Practices

WHEN Until September 7

WHERE Museum of Vancouver

COST From $22

Got sleeves you can’t roll up? This exhibit is for you. Explore 30-plus years of Indigenous tattooing and modern works, and get inspired for that last patch of skin.

THEATRE AND PERFORMING ARTS CALENDAR

1. Twinning: Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival: The Comedy of Errors

WHEN Until September 21

WHERE Vanier Park

COST From $30

Hit the beach for The Comedy of Errors—which isn’t just a fun working title for our autobiography, but also a wild ride of mistaken identities and hilarious mishaps.

2. Valli of the dudes: Jersey Boys

WHEN September 5 to October 20

WHERE Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage

COST From $39

The Tony and Grammy award-winning Broadway musical about The Four Seasons—not the hotel, but the 1960s quartet that made “Grease” the word and declared “Big Girls Don’t Cry” long before Fergie.

3. Homeward Bound: Broadway Across Canada’s Come from Away

WHEN September 10 to 15

WHERE Queen Elizabeth Theatre

COST From $77

The critically acclaimed musical tells the true story of the stranded air passengers after 9/11, starring the unlikely hero: the small town of Gander, Newfoundland.

4. Play Right: The Land Acknowledgement, or As You Like It

WHEN September 25 to 29

WHERE York Theatre at the Cultch

COST From $98

Written and performed by Lakota actor and playwright Cliff Cardinal, this mischievously funny one-man show tackles land acknowledgements and the Bard.

5. Dance Mom: Raven Mother

WHEN October 9 to 12

WHERE Historic Theatre at the Cultch

COST From $98

Making its world premiere, this  multimedia Indigenous performance by the Dancers of Damelahamid celebrates the legacy of the late Cree Elder Margaret Harris with movement, song, regalia, sculpture and design.

SPORTS AND THINGS TO GET YOU MOVING CALENDAR

1. Roll Call: Public Skate Nights with Rolla

WHEN Every Saturday

WHERE Rolla Skate Club, East Hastings Rollerland Building

COST From $22

Every Saturday, slap on your best eight-wheelers and dress to impress for a new theme each week—complete with a DJ and full bar, so you can party and exercise at the same time.

2. Dog Days of Summer: Corgi Races

WHEN September 6

WHERE Hastings Racecourse

COST Free

Starting at 7 p.m., come cheer on your favourite furry athlete as they dash across the track, vying for the title of Top Corgi. This cutest race ever will also include live music trackside which, we assume, will just be repeating “Who Let the Dogs Out.”

3. Swingers Club: Vancouver Canadians Baseball Game

WHEN September 7

WHERE Nat Bailey Stadium

COST From $22

The season is almost over—don’t miss our baseball boys as they take on the Eugene Emeralds at 7 p.m. Enjoy fireworks and bid farewell to your summer fling: the three-foot Yard Dog.

4. Surf the Pave Wave: West 49 Indoor Skate Park

WHEN Friday to Sunday

WHERE West 49, Tsawwassen

COST $15

Work on your kickflip, ollie or nollie to your heart’s content with fellow boarders at this indoor skate park. Maybe you’ll qualify for the 2028 Olympics in L.A.—you’ve got some time.

5. 100-Yarr Dash: Big Pirate Run

WHEN September 22

WHERE Garry Point Park, Richmond

COST From $22

A family-friendly (there are different distances) running event with a pirate theme—what more do you need to know? It’s a big pirate run!

6. Hello Moto: FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX) Series Opener

WHEN October 26

WHERE BC Place

COST TBA

B.C. Place is hosting the opening round of the FIM World Supercross Championship—catch the motorcycle mayhem before the tour heads to Australia and Abu Dhabi.

MORE FUN FOR YOUR FALL

1. Cut the Engine: Car Free Days

WHEN Sept 7 (Commercial Drive), Sept 15 (Main Street

WHERE Various streets across Vancouver 

COST Free

Take to the streets now that our four-wheeled oppressors have been banned (at least for the day) and snack hard as you shop local vendors. Pedestrians rule, cars drool!

2. Witch, Please: Tim Murray Is Witches!

WHEN September 10

WHERE Chill x Studio

COST From $23

Think: Bo Burnham but in drag and singing original comedy songs about pop culture’s most famous witches. Queer comed-ian Tim Murray, fresh off five-star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Fest, invites you to join his hilarious coven—if you dare.

3. Stomp and Clap: Vancouver International Flamenco Festival

WHEN September 12 to 22

WHERE Various venues

COST From $42

It’s fast, it’s furious, it’s flamenco: the festival celebrating the Spanish dance brings international pros to twirl and tap on Vancouver stages. Take a class of your own if you’re feeling inspired.

4. Full-Flavoured Funny: Seasoned Improv Comedy

WHEN September 19

WHERE Little Mountain Gallery

COST $15

Listen, it’s simple: Ronald, Ese and Kevin are friends who just want to do improv together, make people laugh, say weird stuff and call it a night! They happen to be hilarious, so it shouldn’t be hard.

5. Crystal Clear: The Cristál Ball Tour

WHEN September 5

WHERE Hollywood Theatre

COST From $35

Join the iconic drag queen Sapphira Cristál, RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 16 runner-up and Miss Congeniality winner, as she boots and belts the house down with her classically trained opera voice—now that’s fierce.

6. Yes, And: The 26th Vancouver Improv Festival

WHEN October 1 to 6

WHERE The Cultch

COST From $25

Some of the best improv artists from far and wide (and locals, obviously) come together in one festival to use your suggestions to make things up on the spot and make you laugh. And yet that guy you’re seeing can’t text you back?!