1. Celebrating its 40th year, the Powell Street Festival is Metro Vancouver’s longest running community arts festival. The annual showcase of contemporary and traditional Japanese culture runs July 30 to 31 and includes everything from music and dance to sumo-wrestling and a street party. For a list of events and venues, go to powellstreetfestival.com.
2. Giving the Bard a kick in the tush, Fringe Festival favourites Awkward Stage Productions Society launches its own “Fakespeare Festival” Aug. 3 to 28 at the York Theatre. Plays include TITUS: The Light and Delightful Musical Comedy of Titus Andronicus and Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet). Tickets at thecultch.com. Details at awkwardstageproductions.com.
3. The Vancouver Folk Music Festival Society presents the return of Rising Appalachia. Led by multi-instrumentalist sisters Leah and Chloe Smith, the group combines folk and world music with plenty of harmonies and promotes sustainable touring. Ask them all about it when they play the Biltmore Cabaret July 28 with guests the Mae Trio. Details at biltmorecabaret.com.
4. Those party animals at Early Music Vancouver unleash the fury and present the inaugural Vancouver Bach Festival Aug. 2 to 12 at Christ Church Cathedral and the Chan Centre for Performing Arts. Upon further review, something tells me this has nothing to do with the leader singer of Skid Row. Details and tickets at earlymusic.bc.ca.
