DANCE
On the Boards’ first edition of Solo: A Festival of Dance explores the artform in singular bursts of creativity with four different lineups across four days. This includes lots of local performers (Wade Madsen, Dani Tirrell, and many more), but also ones from across the U.S. and Canada. GAVIN BORCHERT On the Boards, ontheboards.org. $20. 8 p.m. Oct. 4–7.
VISUAL ARTS
Haein Kang’s interactive audiovisual installation Illusion integrates percussion instruments, video projection, and electroencephalography signals. Put on the headset and see what music your alpha brain waves conjure up. Storefront Media screenings include Matthew Keff’s Pie in the Sky and Aubrey Nehring’s New Growth. (See page 13 for dozens more gallery openings.) GB Gallery 4Culture, 4culture.org. Opening reception 6 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 4. Ends Oct. 25.
At Linda Hodges Gallery, Samuel Blatt’s paintings are based on photos from the homefront during the Korean War—not just copied on canvas, but edited and manipulated in the process. Also: landscapes by Gayle Bard and in the BLUR Gallery, work by Iain Mangum. GB lindahodgesgallery.com. Opening reception 6 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 4. Ends Oct. 27.
The fifth annual “100 under $100” art show at ‘57 Biscayne invites you to grab a bargain from participating Pioneer Square artists: original drawings, small paintings, photographs, lithographs, mixed-media constructions, tin collages, and more. GB Good Arts Building, 57biscayne.com. 5:30 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 4.
With Ballast, Quenton Baker looks to connect survival tactics of slaves and modern black Americans through erasure poems made from Senate documents of the 1841 revolt on the slave ship Creole and additional invented-form poems. SETH SOMMERFELD Frye Art Museum, fryemuseum.org. Oct. 6–Feb. 3.
CLASSICAL, ETC.
Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra is its 10th anniversary with an American miscellany: music by Barber, Bernstein, and Higdon, and Randall Woolf’s Blues for Black Hoodies with Seattle-based rapper Wanz. GB Benaroya Recital Hall, smcomusic.org. $15–$25. 7:30 p.m. Thurs., Oct. 4.
Music for modular synthesizers and Japanese koto—“processed extensively though modular DSP effects to create a lush, atmospheric electro-acoustic experience”—in surround sound: There’s something you don’t hear every day. Kasson Crooker will happily remedy that for you. GB Music Center of the Northwest. $10. 7:30 p.m. Fri., Oct. 5.
Pianist Ana Cervantes commissioned 16 composers to write works “inspired by women who had transcendental roles in Mexican history.” (If Frida Kahlo is the only name coming to mind, this is the concert for you.) GB Chapel Performance Space, Good Shepherd Center, waywardmusic.com. $5–$15. 8 p.m. Fri., Oct. 5.
Total Experience Gospel Choir is both celebrating its 45th anniversary and disbanding. Pastor Patrinell “Pat” Wright leads a tribute to Aretha Franklin and much more at its farewell concert. GB The Moore, totalexperiencegospelchoir.org. Free. 3:30 p.m. Sun., Oct. 7.
BOOKS & SPEAKERS
The Color Purple author Alice Walker graces Seattle with poems from her new book, Taking the Arrow Out of the Heart. GB Benaroya Hall, lectures.org. $20–$80. 7:30 p.m., Thurs. Oct. 4.
For Eric Idle, really the only possible title for his memoir (or as he’s dubbed it, a “sortabiography”) was Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. The ex-Python—probably the most visible of the six since his Spamalot conquered Broadway—talks about it with improv comedian Ryan Stiles. GB University Temple United Methodist Church, ubookstore.com. $28.94 (includes copy of book). 7 p.m. Mon., Oct. 8.
MUSIC
Oct 7–Nov 4
Sure, jazz is not the mainstream taste, but anyone who says it isn’t still a thriving genre hasn’t been to Earshot Jazz Festival,the annual city-spanning celebration of the art form. Plan out your Earshot experience with our preview of the fest. SS Oct 7–Nov 4, earshot.org.
Rainer Brewing Company’s R Day turns Georgetown’s Airport Way into a evening-long block party featuring the art, beer, and free music from The Helio Seuqence, The Moondoggies, and Smokey Brights. SS Airport Way. Free. 4–11 p.m. Sat., Oct. 6
With Halloween quickly approaching, it’s hard to pass up a chance to hear Alkaline Trio’s always catchy and delightfully macabre punk. After singer/guitarist Matt Skiba took time away to join Blink-182, the band returns with a new album (Is This Thing Cursed?) and plenty of dark, emotionally cathartic fan favorite howl-alongs about love, death, catching fire, and dropping radios in the bathtub. SS Showbox SoDo, showbox presents.com. $25 and up. 7 p.m. Tues., Oct. 9.
THEATER
Oct 9–Nov 4
After getting its feet wet at Seattle Rep in 2014, Come From Away—the joyous musical about the human spirit in the tiny Canadian town of Gander, where planes were forced to divert after the 9/11 attacks—became a Broadway hit. Welcome its return landing at the 5th Avenue Theatre. SS 5th Avenue Theatre, 5thavenue.org. $30 and up. Oct. 9–Nov. 4.
FILM
Chief curator Carl Spence’s lineup for this year’s Orcas Island Film Festival includes major releases like What They Had, Ben Is Back, The Sisters Brothers, and much more. GB Oct. 4–8, orcasfilmfest.com.
Didn’t you miss the threat of nuclear armageddon? Aren’t you glad it’s back to give our lives point and purpose? The Atomic Cafe, the grotesquely hilarious 1982 collage of Cold War propaganda and government educational films, is newly remastered. As are we all. GB Grand Illusion. $5–$9. Oct. 5–11, grandillusioncinema.org.
A focus on Spain highlights the 2018 edition of the Seattle Latino Film Festival. GB Oct. 5–13, slatinoff.org.
With 37 films that tackle progressive issues, the Social Justice Film Festival is the wokest film fest around. SS Oct. 5–14,socialjusticefilmfestival.org.
