Wednesday, May 18

Chat Room The latest installment in this arts-oriented conversation series about the Internet age is especially fun—delving into the world of Net Art aesthetics. Attendees can expect an interview with the creators of 2014’s fluke web fashion trend Health Goth; a South African web artist who wonders if “the Internet is a colonized space”; and a number of net-scholars. Tumblr phenoms, New Hive weirdos, and meme masters, take note. Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave., 329-2629, nwfilm forum.org/chatroom.vision. $8. All ages. 7 p.m. KELTON SEARS

The Furnace The Furnace reading series features a local writer reading a single story with audio effects from the good folks at Hollow Earth Radio. This month, Christine Texeria reads “Immanent Ghosthood,” the story of a father, a daughter, and Mortal Kombat. Chapbooks of the story will be available for sale at this live broadcast. Hollow Earth Radio, 2018 E. Union St., 617-1683, hollowearthradio.org. Free. All ages. 8 p.m. PAUL CONSTANT

Chuck Hawthorne Singer/songwriter Chuck Hawthorne comes to his blue-collar ballads honestly. His career as a musician began only after he retired from the Marine Corps, a 21-year stint that didn’t leave much time for cutting records and touring (unless you count tours to Iraq). Last year, at 43, he released his first album, Silver Line, which earned a spot on The (UK) Telegraph’s list of best country albums of the year. Hawthorne tonight brings his working-class tunes to one of the last working-class haunts in Ballard. Hattie’s Hat, 5231 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-0175, hatties-hat.com. Free. 21 and over. 8 p.m. DANIEL PERSON

Beyoncé The comic series The Wicked + The Devine is predicated on the concept that every so often, the gods come down to Earth and live among us as our most celebrated pop stars. In the case of Beyoncé, this fiction is indisputable reality—she’s clearly a demigod at the very least. In her latest visual album/tour de force Lemonade, she straight-up takes on the guise of the Yoruba god Oshun; she’s completely done pretending she’s a mere mortal. Experience unrelenting divinity at her show tonight—if her last jaw-dropping appearance in town was any indication, there will be world-class dancing and giant shafts of flame. CenturyLink Field, 800 Occidental Ave. S., centurylinkfield.com. $45 and up. All ages. 7:30 p.m. KS

Thursday, May 19

Where the House Was Hugo House co-founder Frances McCue reads from a long poem about the House that will be incorporated into a documentary about the writing center’s closure, transition, and eventual reopening. She’ll be joined by Rebecca Brown, cellist Lori Goldston, and former House students Cali Kopczick and Jack Chelgren. Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., 322-7030, hugohouse.org. Free. All ages. 7 p.m. PC

HARPS There are no harps in HARPS. It is generally a keyboards-and-drums operation. But for this performance, the Seattle group’s soaring electro-pop will be accompanied by strings, courtesy of the Passenger String Quartet. Led by Andrew Joslyn, who is recently returned from a European stint with Macklemore, the foursome will somehow add even more drama to the emergent trio’s electric, beat-heavy live show. With NAVVI. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9442, neumos.com. $12. 21 and over. 7:30 p.m. MARK BAUMGARTEN

Friday, May 20

Writing on the Wall Here it finally is: The last event at Richard Hugo House’s current incarnation is an outing of their Literary Series, in which novelists Jenny Offill and Laura van den Berg, artist Dawn Cerny, and poet Maged Zaher all produce new work on the theme “writing on the wall.” Hugo House, 1634 11th Ave., 322-7030, hugohouse.org. $25. All ages. 7:30 p.m. PC

Belladonna of Sadness This never-released-in-America 1973 film by Eiichi Yamamoto is a psychedelic X-rated anime with a controversial feminist rape-revenge plotline that’s “based on an 1812 French history of witchcraft and the occult.” There are gorgeous hallucinogenic watercolors, demons, vast fantasy landscapes, boatloads of yonic imagery, and an incredibly groovy soundtrack. Think Yellow Submarine meets Japan meets Satan. If all that doesn’t sell you, I just don’t think we’re going to be friends. Northwest Film Forum, 1515 12th Ave., 329-2629, nwfilmforum.org. $11. 8 p.m. Runs through May 26, showtimes vary. KS

Racism in Education Maze Come wind your way through an actual, physical, human-sized maze which purportedly explains how racism works in the education system. Will you find your way out? UW Liberal Arts Quad, 15th Avenue Northeast & Northeast Campus Parkway. Free. 9 a.m.–5 p.m. CASEY JAYWORK

Pacific MusicWorks The history of opera is a history of cycles of decadence and (attempted) reform, of mannered overelaboration and a (supposed) return to dramatic directness. Gluck’s 1774 opera Orphée, based on the ur-myth of the singer who journeyed to hell and back, is a groundbreaking example of the latter. Meany Hall, UW campus, pacificmusic works.org. $10­–$65. 7:30 p.m.; also 7:30 p.m. Sat. & 2 p.m. Sun. GAVIN BORCHERT

Triple Six Showcase Tonight’s show, featuring artists from Fainting Room Collective’s recent Record Store day box set of 7” singles, is especially notable for the return of broken-up industrial punk band Haunted Horses, reuniting to play their spectral, drilling rippers one more time. With He Whose Ox Is Gored, Bali Girls, Transmissionary, The Family Curse. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., chopsuey.com. $10 adv./$12 DOS. 21 and over. 8 p.m. KS

Saturday, May 21

Transgender Children’s Book Reading Local author and activist Tobi Hill-Meyer reads from her new children’s book A Princess of Great Daring: “When Jamie is ready to tell people that she’s really a girl inside, she becomes a princess of great daring in a game she plays with her best friends to gather her courage. She’s pleased (but not surprised) that her questing friends turn out to be just as loyal and true as any princess could want.” Seattle Public Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., 386-4636. Free. All ages. 11 a.m. CJ

Sunday, May 22

Word Works Memoirist Domingo Martinez offers a craft talk on the topic of “Fearlessness.” Fans of his two books, The Boy Kings of Texas and My Heart Is a Drunken Compass, often ask if he’s afraid to hurt people in his life by writing about them. Tonight, he provides a comprehensive answer. Elliott Bay Book Company, 1521 10th Ave., 624-6600, elliottbaybook.com. $15. All ages. 3 p.m. PC

Monday, May 23

Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires This swift-rising screaming-soul star is absolutely James Brown reincarnate. At 67, he’s only just launched his musical career, and has already snagged huge performances at Coachella and SXSW and Bonnaroo, put out three albums, and topped all kinds of charts and “best of” lists. His performances are rippingly raw and full of love; in addition to a riveting voice and a killer backup band, he often gets offstage to give bear hugs. Neumos, 925 E. Pike St., 709-9467, neumos.com. $27 adv. 21 and over. 7 p.m. SARA BERNARD

Tuesday, May 24

Thunder Boy Jr. Reading Sherman Alexie is probably Seattle’s best-known author, and hands down our most entertaining reader. Tonight he debuts his very first picture book, Thunder Boy Jr., which is about the trouble with being a junior, of not even owning your own name. (Alexie’s full name is Sherman Alexie Jr., so he knows what he’s talking about here.) University Temple United Methodist Church, 1415 N.E. 43rd St., 634-3400, ubookstore.com. $17.99. All ages. 7 p.m. PC