Alt-J: The bookish English alt-rock quartet, which takes its name from the Mac keyboard manipulation that creates the Delta symbol, won the 2012 Mercury Prize for its stylish debut album An Awesome Wave. Less known on this side of the Atlantic, on Wednesday the sexy nerds play Toronto’s Sound Academy, a step up in size from the venue originally scheduled – a sign of a wave catching on. (March 27) -Brad Wheeler (Jory Cordy)
The Voice: Everybody south of our border still thinks they can sing. Back for a fourth season, NBC’s version of American Idol returns with two new judges – Usher and Shakira – and a tighter format. Opener highlights: A knockout audition by a Chinese teen adopted by U.S. parents and Shakira’s heretofore unknown harmonica skills. The lowlights: Shameless product placement (hello, Starbucks!) and Carson Daly still exudes smarm as host. NBC, CTV Two, 8 p.m. (March 25) -Andrew Ryan (Adam Taylor/AP)
Spring Breakers: From director Harmony Korine, that aging enfant terrible, this is a tangerine nightmare of a movie, guaranteed to stir the pots of controversy. Even as he flaunts the bikinis-and-booze look of your typical spring-break flick, Korine tramples all over the content, defying expectations and aggressively reversing stereotypes – beware of the fierce coeds, pity the poor guys. (March 29) -Rick Groen
Governor-General’s Awards for Visual and Media Arts: Opening this weekend at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa: an exhibition of representative works by the 2013 laureates of the GGs. Featured artists include Calgary ceramicist Greg Payce, winner of the 36th annual Saidye Bronfman Award for excellence in fine crafts; pioneering Montreal abstract painter Marcel Barbeau; and interdisciplinary Anishinaabe artist Rebecca Belmore, now based in Winnipeg. (Through June 23) -James Adams (Lipman Still Pictures)
The Voyage: No company in Vancouver does better full-immersion theatre than Boca Del Lupo. In Voyage, which details the high drama of human trafficking, audiences file into the unlit interior of an actual shipping container and are put through a 20-minute “sonic journey.” This production is a reprisal of their sold-out Micro Performance Series presentation. 1405 Anderson St., Granville Island, Vancouver. (March 27-30) -Michael Harris
to get it and come back to see the ad in front of this gallery.
