Things to do in Vancouver this week: September 27 – October 3

This week splits cleanly between a wet Monday-Tuesday stretch and a clearing trend that peaks Friday through the weekend. Sunday is the sweet spot to catch an outdoor or early show without a jacket; use Monday's rain window for indoor theatre and comedy. By Friday, the clouds lift enough to plan dinner plans with some optimism.

Start Sunday with Peter Hook & The Light at the Commodore Ballroom. Hook was the bassist and vocalist for Joy Division and New Order, two of post-punk's defining bands, and this 19+ show brings his current ensemble—including his son Jack Bates on bass—through the archive. For comedy the same evening, Nikki Glaser is at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, a stand-up comedian with five televised specials and a sharp presence on high-profile roasts. If you want a lower-key option, Cult Member plays Fortune Sound Club at 7 PM—Liam Hayden's outsider house and lo-fi acid techno will draw the late-night crowd.

Monday brings two major headliners despite the rain forecast. The B-52s arrive at Rogers Arena at 7 PM, the Athens, Georgia rock band formed in 1976 with their original lineup intact, still running on their campy, high-energy rock template. Lily Allen plays the Orpheum Theatre the same night at 8 PM—the British singer-songwriter with a Brit Award and Grammy nominations. The Malkin Bowl hosts oskar med k at 6 PM outdoors, so skip that one if rain bothers you; the Norwegian electronic producer's breakthrough single "Make Me Feel" earned a Khalid remix and a solid following.

Tuesday brings heavy rain and the &Juliet touring production opens at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre through October 2, running eight performances across the week. This is your indoor anchor if you want theatre without competing for seats.

By Wednesday and Thursday the rain clears to overcast conditions. Dua Saleh, a Sudanese-American singer and actor, plays the Biltmore Cabaret Thursday at 7 PM—their debut album dropped in 2024 after three EPs building their sound. Friday sees ALOK at the Vogue Theatre at 8 PM; details on this artist are limited, so treat it as a name-check rather than a must-see.

Beyond the stages, several new spots deserve a visit this week. Torafuku on the Drive remains a draw for Chef Steve Kuan's pan-Asian cooking—Taiwanese heritage meets local ingredients, from matcha cocktails to wagyu and uni. It's the kind of place worth a return trip. Straight Outta Brooklyn, a New York-style pizzeria, reopens Friday on Kingsway after a year away with the same menu and a $5 opening-day slice deal—time it right and grab dinner before a show. If you want refined Italian, C|Prime Modern Italian Steak and Wine offers a solid setting for a pre-theatre meal, especially Wednesday through Friday when the weather clears.

Just Giulia in Gastown runs three-hour pasta classes with Prosecco and Aperol Spritzes if you want an active evening; Chef Giulia Lombardo teaches fresh tagliatelle making at Conscious Lab for $135, with classes October 17 and 30 booked already.

If I had one night this week, I'd catch The B-52s Monday at Rogers Arena—a band that invented their own fun 50 years ago and hasn't stopped, rain or not.