1. Drawing comparisons to Tegan & Sara, Feist, Haim and Fleet Foxes, Montreal’s Motel Raphael bring their indie-pop stylings and charm offensive to the Rickshaw Theatre, July 21. Vancouver Island’s Alexandria Maillot opens. Details at rickshawtheatre.com.
2. More Canadian than dill pickle potato chips and Ed Broadbent’s gaunch, the Tragically Hip play two nights at Rogers Arena, July 24 and 26, as part of the venerable Kingston, Ont. band’s bittersweet farewell tour. Earlier this year, the band announced that lead singer Gord Downie had been diagnosed with an incurable form of brain cancer. Expect a sing-a-long for the ages.
3. Stand-up comic and New Yorker cartoonist Jacob Samuel hosts Teenage Dirtbag, a monthly event featuring comedians exploring the follies of their youth. This month’s dirtbags include David MacLean, Sophie Buddle, Stefan MacNeil and Devon Alexander. It all goes down July 23, 8 to 10 p.m. at Hot Art Wet City (2206 Main St.). Details at hotartwetcity.com.
4. Experience the sea of humanity that is Shorefest, Vancouver’s largest free community concert series July 23, 27 and 30. Coinciding with the Celebration of Light fireworks competition, the beachy keen festival features the likes of Loverboy, Trooper, the Matinee, the Gay Nineties and the Boom Booms among others. Details at hondacelebrationoflight.com.
