What’s up

Manitoba Metalfest

• Park Theatre, 698 Osborne St.
• Sidestage, 700 Osborne St.
• Friday and Saturday

This South Osborne tandem has already been rocking this week, with the legendary Black Flag stopping by last night at the Park for two action-packed sets. But the energy continues into the weekend at the 112-year-old entertainment venue with the arrival of the 20th annual Manitoba Metal Fest. Friday night’s show — featuring headliners Cancer Bats and Louisiana icons Crowbar — is sold out, but tickets ($66) are still available for Day 2, with a seven-act lineup on the docket at the Park.

Didn’t swing a stub for either night? Head two doors down to Sidestage for the afterparty. On Friday at 11 p.m., the neighbourly venue hosts a free karaoke event. On Saturday, Cancer Bats — a Toronto hardcore band that’s been kicking since 2004 — will take the stage as Bat Sabbath, playing their favourite Black Sabbath tunes after Gatecreeper’s set at the Park winds down. Doors for Bat Sabbath are at 10:30, with the first notes expected at 11:30. Tickets ($15) for the all-ages show are available at sidestagewpg.com.

— Ben Waldman

 

Scattered Seeds

• Exhibition Place, 3977 Portage Ave.
• Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Tickets $10 at thescatteredseeds.com.

The mother of all markets makes a return to the city this weekend featuring more than 150 vendors under one roof.

Whether you’re there to browse or to buy, you’ll be sure to find something among the plethora of products on offer — from handmade soaps, creams and cosmetics to jewelry, woodwork and ceramics.

Makers coming back this year include McK Indigenous Design, Little Wing Oddbirds and Stephanie Smith Clothing, who will be joined by first-time vendors Mozzie Moss Art, Long Way Homestead, Butter Bloom by Ade and Fabled Bakery.

Keep little hands busy at the drop-in craft bar for kids and adults, and perhaps even take home a Mother’s Day gift.

Tickets allow re-entry over both days, and the last two hours of each day feature half-price admission. Free entry for under 12s.

— AV Kitching

 

The Bonaduces

• With Greg Rekus and the Inside Job, Mise En Scene
• West End Cultural Centre, 586 Ellice Ave.
• Friday, 8 p.m.
• Tickets $25 to $30 at wecc.ca

The Bonaduces are back — but then, did they ever really leave?

The Winnipeg punks have been around — “at various levels of function,” as they put it — since 1994, and promise they are hard at work on their long-awaited fourth album.

In the meantime, you can catch them on the WECC stage Friday alongside Winnipeg folk-punk artist Greg Rekus and grunge-pop outfit Mise en Scene, which is hot off the release of its latest, Drive-Thru Confessional.

The show is all-ages.

— Jen Zoratti

 

Threads of Gold: James Ehnes

• Manitoba Chamber Orchestra
• Knox United Church, 400 Edmonton St.
• Friday, 7:30 p.m.
• Sold out

Manitobans love to brag about outpunching our weight culturally, though sometimes get grumpy when Torontonians and others don’t know our local celebrities.

But in Brandon-born James Ehnes we have a true global star — widely recognized as one of the world’s top violinists. The two-time Grammy winner is “one of the most respected violinists on the planet,” says Violinist.com. “The Jascha Heifetz of our day,” says Classical Voice San Francisco. A big, big deal.

Having cut his teeth here musically — performing, for example, with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and MCO as a young virtuoso — periodically, he returns to regional stages. This time, he’s playing a recital, so all on his own, with a program that includes Brahms, Sinding, Bartok and a new work by Carmen Braden.

While somewhat unconventional for Ehnes — best known for the megahits of the romantic tradition — it promises to deliver fireworks.

— Conrad Sweatman