Shine on this weekend as Stars arrives at The Marquee with its best album in years, The Villain's Theatre talks climate change with a feminist play, a lipstick-inspired art show opens at the Corridor Gallery, Cory Bowles curates a screening of Black shorts and more! 

Black on Both Sides
Thursday
Actor/director Cory Bowles (whose excellent Black Cop wowed at FIN last fall) curates a collection of short films highlighting emerging voices in Black cinema at the Central Library. more deets

The Blazing World
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Colleen MacIssac of The Villain's Theatre writes and stars in The Blazing World, a story about a researcher in the Rocky Mountains who embarks on a desperate journey to help fight the climate change crisis. Based on work by the philosopher-poet Margaret Cavendish, it's a feminist, futuristic play you can catch at the Neptune Scotiabank Stage. more deets

Anastasia
Saturday, Sunday
The 100-year-old mystery of Russia’s 17-year-old Grand Duchess gets the luxe treatment as Symphony Nova Scotia pairs with Canada’s Ballet Jörgen to give the tale a romantic  ballet redux at the Rebecca Cohn. more deets

Geequinox
Saturday, Sunday
Nerds, get your geek on at this two-day celebration of gaming, cosplay, comics and art filled with panels, vendors and costume contests at the Forum. more deets

New Materialism
Thursday, Friday, Saturday
The Anna Leonowens Gallery describes this must-see show of reused, discarded plastic by Arianna Richardson best: "Exploring themes of consumer culture, plastic, craftivism, absurdity and spectacle, Richardson’s work creates a maximalist, immersive environment." more deets

Matte, Satin, Gloss
Thursday, Friday
Kate Grey's ceramic renderings of household items at The Corridor Gallery are inspired by the types of finishes in lipsticks, exploring how we view objects and women. "Comedian Iliza Shlesinger describes lipstick as 'war paint' and this comparison made me consider feminine art also as war paint," her artist's statement adds. more deets

Transitions
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
A textile art show at The Craig contemplating changes in life, landscape, seasons and more sees transitional episodes rendered in embroidery floss, wool, found items and lace. more deets

Hiroshige: The 53 Stations of the Tokaido
Friday, Saturday 
Opening this Friday, the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia's epic, sprawling retrospective show on one of Japan's greatest Ukiyo-e artists celebrates the vision of Utagawa Hiroshige and the middle-class people his work catalogued.  more deets

Stars w/Jenn Grant
Friday
For almost 20 years, Stars has been building lush sonic castles of sad-core, indie pop that makes you feel all the glorious feels. See the band at The Marquee as it celebrates its latest, a return-to-form record. more deets

Ray Reaves w/Jody Upshaw, Guesswho, NOx
Saturday 
Sadboi rapper Reaves says this is his last all-ages gig in Halifax, so fans better make a move to The Pavilion, stat. more deets

The Stanfields album release show
Friday
The east coast's answer to The Dropkick Murphys (that is, loud, raw rock strained through a sieve of Celtic stylings) return for a headbanging, face-melting Casino Nova Scotia show to celebrate their latest effort, the rough-and-rumble Limboland. more deets

The Splendour of Venice: Music for San Marco
Sunday
Paul Halley directs the University of King’s College Chapel Choir, a 15-piece baroque band, plus soloists and the boy sopranos of Capella Regalis Men & Boys Choir in this sweeping sonic saga of works from Monteverdi's Selva morale e spirituale. more deets