Two high-voltage fuzz bandsplay the Rickshaw Feb. 17. California’s Best Coast performs bubblegum love-ballad beach-bum garage-rock. San Diego-based Wavves, who just wrapped a tour with Phoenix, gels garage-rock with experimental/psychedelic pop. No Joy opens.
Chelsea Handler » Creator of TV show Chelsea Lately, and author of three books, including Are You There Vodka, It’s Me Chelsea, with Brad Wollack. Orpheum, Feb. 19, 8 p.m., $69.50/89.50, 604-280-4444
Bridal Swap » Vancouver’s first bridal swap connects past brides and brides to be in a fun atmosphere to buy and sell gently used wedding items including table settings, dresses and more. Heritage Hall, 3102 Main, Feb. 20, $10/12, bridalswap.ca
Inuit Gallery » 206 Cambie, 604-688-7323. » CURRENT VISION: Kenojuak Ashevak, Feb. 19 -March 11.
Spirit of Africa Festival » African music and dance festival features H’SAO and dancer Etienne Cakpo, from Benin, WISE Hall, 1882 Adanac, Feb. 19, 8 pm, and Guinean Pacific Northwest group Africa Wali, Ache Brasil, and Kanaka, St. James Hall, Feb. 20, 7:30 pm; $15 (with daytime workshops) caravanbc.com.
Pop eclectics Mother Mother play a free show with guests Said the Whale at John Lawson Park, West Vancouver, Feb. 11, 6 p.m.
Elliott Louis Gallery » 258 E. 1st, 604-736-3282. » Modern Times: Andrew Tong, opens Feb. 10, 6:30 pm; to Feb. 26.
Son of Frankenstein Valentine’s Party celebrates four letter words (love, punk, rock, roll), featuring Texas Tombstone, Cover Girl, Tresspassers, and Bonitos. Railway Club, 579 Dunsmuir, Feb. 11, 604-681-1625.
Tom Russell » American singer-songwriter performs songs from new CD, Blood and Candle Smoke. St. James Hall 3214 W. 10th, Feb. 11. 8 pm,$28, roguefolk.bc.ca, 604-736-3022.
The Baltimore Consort » Musick’s Silver Sound features songs and instrumental music of Shakespeare’s time. Kay Meek Centre, 1700 Mathers, W Van, Feb. 16, 8 pm, $32/35, earlymusic.bc.ca or 604-732-1610.
Chromeo, the thrilling electro-funk duo from Montreal, performs material from latest opus Business Casual, Feb. 10 and Feb. 11, at the Commodore Ballroom.
Alexandra Cousteau Her legendary grandfather explored the world’s ocean wonders; today Alexandra Cousteau explores new ways to save them. “Water will be the defining crisis of our century,” she says, in lectures delivered around the world. Centre for the Performing Arts, 7:30 p.m.
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra » Armenian pianist Nareh Arghamanyan is featured in works by Liszt, Wagner and Strauss. Orpheum, Feb. 5, 8 pm, Feb. 6, 2 pm and Bell Centre, Surrey, Feb. 7, 8 pm, 604-876-3434.
Catriona Jeffries Gallery » 274 E. 1st, 604-736-1554. » Alex Morrison, sculpture, film, opens Feb. 3, 7 pm; to March 12
Motorhead » British rock band performs songs from three-decade career, with Clutch and Valient Thorr. Vogue Theatre, 918 Granville, Feb. 7, 7 pm, $48.50, 604-569-1144.
Ra Ra Riot at the Biltmore Cabaret, Jan. 29: Syracuse, New York indie-rockers Ra Ra Riot bring their unique brand of party-ready chamber pop to the Biltmore with guest Givers. This tour is their first with new drummer Kenny Bernard, who picks up sticks from Gabriel Duquette, who played his swan song with the band on Jimmy Kimmel Live last week.
Richmond Art Gallery » 7700 Minoru Gate 604- 247-8300. » Last Riot: Video installation by Russian artist collective AES+F, opens Feb. 3, 7 pm; to April 3.
Sound Machine » Company Drift gathers found sounds and mixes them with dance, theatre, audio and video to create a dreamlike world. Scotiabank Dance Centre, Jan. 27-29, 8 pm. Tickets $28/20, pushfestival.ca
ArtStarts on Saturdays » Khac Chi ensemble shows kids all the music that bamboo instruments can make. ArtStarts (gallery for young people’s art), 808 Richards, Jan. 29, 11 am and 1 pm, artstarts.com.
Cake » Post-alt-rock band from California. Centre for Performing Arts, 777 Homer, Feb. 1, 8 pm, $46.50, 604-280-4444.