What’s up

Grotoko

• Park Alleys, 730 Osborne St.
• Saturday, 9:30 p.m.
• Tickets: $12

One month after donning witch hats at Public Domain for their first gig as a full band, Grotoko — the former solo project of Winnipeg songwriter Blue McLeod — will keep on rolling at Park Alleys, a revitalized bowling alley that forms a veritable South Osborne venue trifecta along with the Park Theatre and Sidestage.

Known for its cynical, yet routinely optimistic lyrics — a necessary specialty for post-pandemic indie dirges — and McLeod’s clear-eyed, diaristic delivery, Grotoko is gearing up for its third album, a followup to 2022’s Periwinkle.

For those looking to get acquainted, Periwinkle sees McLeod’s lyrics floating atop jaunty baroque rock air, with the panflute and the glockenspiel joining as occasional passengers. Alongside Veronica Blackhawk’s project Tinge, Grotoko is one of the city’s top contemporary interpreters of the grunge era, with McLeod frequently decorating their tunes with Celtic mysticism. Grotoko is the main event on Saturday night, with midwest emo rockers On Purpose greeting audiences at 9:30 p.m. sharp.

— Ben Waldman

Philipp Schott book launch

• McNally Robinson Booksellers, 1120 Grant Ave.
• Wednesday, 7 p.m.
• Free

He may have hung up his stethoscope, but Philipp Schott has shown no signs of slowing down when it comes to writing books.

The retired Winnipeg veterinarian started his writing career in 2019 with The Accidental Veterinarian, in which Schott shared stories of his time in practice and some of the more unusual experiences as a vet. He wrote two followup volumes in that series before his debut novel, The Willow Wren, was published in 2021.

Schott then combined fiction and vet stories in his Dr. Bannerman series of books, in which a Manitoba vet helps solve mysteries. The series kicked off with Fifty-Four Pigs, followed by Six Ostriches and Eleven Huskies.

The latest Peter Bannerman mystery, Three Bengal Kittens, sees Peter’s brother Sam take in the title’s trio of furry felines after their owner, Sam’s neighbour, is found dead. With a growing number of signs pointing to murder, Sam is taken into custody as his sleuthing brother tries to determine who else in the North End apartment building might have committed the crime.

Schott launches Three Bengal Kittens Wednesday at 7 p.m. at McNally Robinson Booksellers’ Grant Park location, where he’ll be joined by RRC Polytech journalism instructor Joanne Kelly.

— Ben Sigurdson

Seasonal flower-arranging workshop

• The Floral Fixx, 9B-1585 Kenaston Blvd
• Today, 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m.
• Fee: $85

There still might be snow on the ground, but don’t let that stop you from indulging in dreams of days to come when icy-white surfaces melt into the lush greens of spring and the air is filled with the scent of flowers.

That day is on the horizon, but until it arrives satisfy your need for colour and beauty with this flower arranging workshop focusing on natural movement, texture and timeless floral styling.

Guided by an expert floral design team, you and three other participants will be taught how to create a garden-style arrangement using in-season blooms and thoughtfully selected foliage. Each session runs 60 to 75 minutes.

Admission includes all materials and supplies (vessels, seasonals blooms and greenery and design tools). Tickets must be purchased online to reserve your spot. For more details visit the website or email info@thefloralfixx.com. This specific workshop is for adults and older teenagers. Check the website for details of child-friendly workshops on offer this month.

— AV Kitching

Dirty Dancing in Concert

• Burton Cummings Theatre, 364 Smith St.
• Wednesday, April 8, 7:30 p.m.
• Tickets $41 to $122

Experience one of the most iconic movies of the 1980s in a whole new way.

Produced by Lionsgate and GEA Live, Dirty Dancing in Concert features a screening of the 1987 dance romance accompanied by a live band and vocalists who will perform hit songs from the soundtrack — be honest, you’re already humming (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life — in sync with what’s on screen, not dissimilar to the format of the live movie score concerts put on by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

Written by Eleanor Bergstein and directed by Emile Ardolino, Dirty Dancing tells the story of Frances (Baby) Houseman (Jennifer Grey) who falls in love with dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) on vacation during the summer of 1963.

Stick around for an afterparty where the audience is encouraged to sing and dance along, although maybe leave The Lift to Swayze. Limited tickets remain.

— Jen Zoratti

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