Things to do in Vancouver this weekend, May 15 to 17

by Steve Newton on May 15th, 2015 at 9:00 AM

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From the heady guitar-rock of U2 (above) to the contemporary chamber music of Standing Wave, there's plenty happening in Vancouver this weekend.

TONIGHT, MAY 15

BONO: Irish rock legends U2 perform the second of two shows at Rogers Arena to kick off their iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE 2015 tour.

BONDAGE: explore the reality of kink at the Astoria with seminars, fetish nights, a naked art party, and a photo safari through the streets. Event features Liam Helmer, BDSM technical advisor on Fifty Shades of Grey (above), and Ashlee Jayne, North America's first virtual-reality porn star.

BUDDHISM: at a forum at the UBC Asian Centre, Zen teacher David Robert Loy argues that there is an important parallel between what Buddhism says about our personal predicament and our collective predicament today in relation to the rest of the biosphere.

Stephen Pariser

BYRON & BOB: Jeff Tyzik conducts vocalists Byron Stripling (above) and Marva Hicks, drummer Bob Breithaupt, and the VSO in a performance of hit songs by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong at the Orpheum.

SATURDAY, MAY 16

TOVE: Swedish electropop singer-songwriter Tove Styrke (above) plays tunes from new album Kiddo at the Media Club, with guests Lany.

TOMMY: Australian guitar wizard Tommy Emmanuel performs at the Vogue Theatre, with guests Frank Vignola & Vinny Raniolo.

TABOO: the Screaming Chicken Theatrical Society (above) presents an evening of comedy, dancing, and striptease at the WISE Hall. Recognized as "The Best Place to Holler at Performers Without Feeling Like a Jackass" in the Georgia Straight's Best of Vancouver 2014.

TAKE ACTION: help clean up English Bay and the Burrard Street Bridge at a Surfridervan Foundation event. Bring your own work gloves, safety shoes, and a reusable mug.

TOUR DE FORCE: Opera Mariposa presents a night of hit Broadway songs at Marpole United Church in support of Chronic Neuro-Immune Disease Awareness Week and the National ME/FM Action Network.

SUNDAY, MAY 17

DARREN: X-rated standup comedian Darren Frost (above) performs at Yuk Yuk's, with guests Patrick Maliha, Rob Mailloux, Alex Sparling, DavidDj Roy, and Carl Turnbull.

DJ: Moldovan trance-music producer and DJ Andrew Rayel plays the Commodore Ballroom.

DRINKING: celebrate the Blarney Stone's 43rd anniversary with a whiskey tasting that includes canapes and music by DJ Rob Steel and the Pat Chessell band.

DRUMMING: Cheondoong Performing Arts Society presents a Korean drumming performance at Massey Theatre in New Westminster.

DYNAMIC: Standing Wave (above) presents contemporary chamber music infused by thrash metal, horror movies, and obsessive behaviour at Pyatt Hall. Program includes Nicole Lizée's shocking Hitchcock Études, Edward Top's arrangement of Jeff Hanneman's staggering Angel of Death, and Philip Glass's seminal work Music in Similar Motion.

DARING: Kitty Nights presents a burlesque tribute to the music of James Bond films at the Biltmore, featuring Burgundy Brixx, Veronica Vex, Cass King, Little Darling, Vivienne Rose, Mz. B Haven, Androsia Wilde, and Shaboobie Boobarella (above).

DELISH: the Chefs’ Table Society of B.C., in partnership with the Pacific Prawn Fishermen’s Association, presents the ninth annual Spot Prawn Festival. The event takes place at False Creek Fishermen's Wharf and Includes live entertainment, kids' activities, cooking demos by local chefs, a prawn boil, and prawns for sale.