Free This Week

Literary to film to the longest piano piece in history, this week's events cover it all

  • Price: Free

School’s back in and the schedule is exploding. Want to stretch your dollar? There are concerts, film parties, and loads of literary events. Here’s what we’re checking out:

ProArts@Noon Presents Bruce Petherick

September 7, 2016, 12:10pm
Cathedral Church of the Redeemer (604 1st St. SE)
Free

Bruce Petherick has performed music around the world playing various styles from classical and jazz, to musical theatre. Having always distrusted the idea of the technical virtuoso, his music has matured into a more subtle yet still complex style. Hear him perform at this free lunch hour concert.
proartssociety.ca

Woolf’s Voices

September 7, 2016, 7:00pm
Shelf Life Books (100, 1302 4th St. SW)
Free

Head to Shelf Life Books for an evening of music, poetry, writing and spoken word! Presented by Adrienne Adams of Feminine Voice, invite your friends for a howling good time.
facebook.com

Honens: Vexations

September 8, 2016, 4:30am – 12:00am
Contemporary Calgary (117 Stephen Ave. SW)
Free

A chance to celebrate composer Erik Satie’s 150th birthday and Calgary’s Year of Music, this performance can only be described as legendary. Hear the longest piano piece in history, Vexations, over 18 hours and played in shifts by 40 pianists dubbed Esther’s Piano Relay Team. Swing by for a short stint or stay for a few hours.
honens.com/vexations

In Person: Amanda Lindhout

September 8, 7:00pm
Indigo, Signal Hill (5570 Signal Hill Centre SW)
Free

Albertan and humanitarian Amanda Lindhout hosts a talk and book signing to celebrate three years as a bestselling author.
chapters.indigo.ca

Single Onion #134

September 8, 2016, 7:00pm
Shelf Life Books (100, 1302 4th St. SW)
Free

The Single Onion kicks off its fall season with three great poets, Sheri Benning, Cassy Welburn, and Calgary Poet Laureate and Author in Residence for the Calgary Public Library, Micheline Maylor.
facebook.com

CIFF 2016 Trailer Party

September 9, 2016, 4:00 – 7:00pm
Globe Cinema (617 8th Ave. SW)
Free, 18+

Calgary International Film Festival is taking over the Globe Cinema this Friday to show off all the trailers for this year’s festival lineup! The first 100 attendees will get a festival Survival Pack, stocked full of some necessary supplies for long days of movie-watching.
calgaryfilm.com

What’s On Tonight Exhibition & Movie Night

September 9, 2016, 6:00pm
IDAS’ Optimist Gallery (8038 Fairmount Dr. SE) & Flavelle Park (45 Flavelle Rd. SE)
Free

Join In-Definite Arts and Fairview Community Association as they partner to bring you a night of art and film. What’s On Tonight features work from 16 member artists whose art is influenced by entertainment media, mainly each artist’s favourite movie or TV show. Then head out to Flavelle Park for the Fairview Family Festival and Film Night featuring Finding Dory.
indefinitearts.com

National TYA Playwriting Competition Readings

September 9 & 10, 2016
Beddington Heights Community Art Centre (375 Bermuda Drive NW)
Free, registration required

Join StoryBook Theatre for free readings featuring three winners of its National TYA Playwriting Competition—Falling Hands by Marilyn Anne Campbell, TY Rex King of Third Grade by Jeremy Mason, and The Tooth Ferries by Kiel Fredrickson.
storybooktheatre.org

Stephen Avenue Walk #IAMDOWNTOWN Summer Stage

September 10, 2016, 12:00pm
Stephen Avenue Summer Stage (Centre Street & 8th Ave. SE)
Free

Downtown Calgary’s daily stage programming is over for the summer, but you can still check out some interesting music to the avenue while the weather holds. This week features Styles of Music – A Capella Barbershop Harmony, Chinook Winds Show Chorus.
calgarydowntown.com

Japan Film Festival

September 10, 2016
Globe Cinema (617 8th Ave. SW)
Free

Created with the aim of promoting Japanese film and culture to the public, join the Consulate-General of Japan in Calgary and the Japan Foundation for this year’s Japan Film Festival. Free admission to all shows, general seating, no reservations required.
calgary.ca.emb-japan.go.jp

El Grito Mexican Fiesta

September 10, 2016, 4:00 – 8:00pm
Chinese Cultural Centre (197 1 St. SW)
Free

Join in and celebrate Mexican Independence Day with this fun evening complete with traditional dancing, activities and food.
casamexico.ca

Honens: Open Air

September 11, 2016, 2:00pm
Central Memorial Park (1221 2nd St. SW)
Free

Once again bringing the world’s best chamber music to Central Memorial Park, this free concert continues Honens’ tribute to Erik Satie’s 150th birthday. Minsoo Sohn, Artem Yasynskyy, and members of Kensington Sinfonia will be performing.
honens.com/openair

Gisèle Villeneuve’s Rising Abruptly

September 13, 2016, 7:00pm
Shelf Life Books (100, 1302 4th St. SW)
Free

Gisèle Villeneuve’s short stories test the elastic pull between passion and terror. And here’s your chance to celebrate seven enigmatic and compelling stories about women, and the myth and mystery of mountains.
facebook.com