7 things to do in Vancouver this week: June 7–13
Jim Jefferies brings stand-up to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre; The Cat Empire and Superheaven anchor the live-music slate; the weekend clears just in time.
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This week the weather does you a favour: Monday and Tuesday are wet and cool, Wednesday dries out, and by Friday the city opens up into genuine blue sky and warmth. Plan indoor nights early, save the patios and long walks for the back half.
Start the week with By Storm, an experimental hip-hop duo from Arizona, at The Fox Cabaret on Monday at 8 p.m. From 2012 to 2023, rapper Nathaniel "RiTchie" Ritchie and producer Parker Corey were members of the Tempe-based trio Injury Reserve before striking out on their own. Tickets run $32. Tuesday night—heavy rain is forecast—is the night to catch Superheaven at the Hollywood Theatre at 6:30 p.m., the Pennsylvania alt-rock band whose 1990s grunge-adjacent sound has built a loyal following. Modern Color opens.
The real draw this week lands Friday and Saturday. Jim Jefferies, the Australian stand-up comedian and FX sitcom creator (Legit, The Jim Jefferies Show), plays two shows at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Friday at 7 p.m.—a venue big enough and a name recognizable enough to pull a real cross-section of the city. If comedy is your lane, Naomi Watanabe follows Saturday at the Vogue Theatre at 7 p.m., performing two shows. The Japanese comedian rose to fame with her Beyoncé imitation and has built a global reputation as an actress and fashion designer.
Jazz and funk lovers should catch The Cat Empire, the Australian ensemble, at the Commodore Ballroom on both Thursday and Friday nights (June 11–12), playing at 8 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. respectively. The Melbourne outfit has anchored the live-music calendar for two decades and rarely plays Vancouver. Tigers Jaw, the Pennsylvania rock band, takes the Rickshaw Theatre on Friday at 7 p.m. Em Beihold plays The Pearl on Thursday at 8 p.m.
Beyond the stage, the city's food world has moved. On The Other Hand, the Denman Street restaurant that made its name on steak and frites, has reopened under new ownership and a broadened menu—worth a visit before or after a show in Kits. For a wet Monday or Tuesday night, grab a booth at The Templeton, the diner that never goes out of style. By Friday, when the sun shows up, Bellaggio Cafe on Commercial Drive is the spot to sit outside with an espresso and watch the Drive come alive.
One more thing: FIFA World Cup 2026 arrives in Vancouver this summer. Matches will play at BC Place Stadium starting mid-June. The city is already feeling the shift. Check the full schedule at /vancouver/fifa-world-cup to plan your summer around it.
If I had one night this week, I'd take Jim Jefferies on Friday at the Queen Elizabeth—a genuine headliner, two shows to choose from, and the clearest night of the week to get downtown without regret.