Monday, Sept. 17 – Sunday, Sept. 23
A Great Unbridgeable Distance
There’s something grounding about repetitive handiwork. Textile artist Mandy Greer extends the meditative practice of weaving into contemplative, ritualistic environments. Each night this week she offers a different durational performance in Bellevue’s Formal Gardens, collaborating with ritualist Timothy White Eagle and movement artists Consuelo Gonzalez, Alyza DelPan-Monley and Lorraine Lau. Make space for reflection and even try your hand at weaving. —Kaitlin McCarthy
Bellevue Downtown Park
Tuesday, Sept. 18
The Zombies, Liz Brasher
The dusky tenor of Colin Blunstone, original lead singer for British Invasion vets The Zombies, remains one of the most haunting, soulful things you’ll ever hear live. Original keyboardist Rod Argent can still swing like a motherfucker. And their backup band delivers. Don’t let this chance to see legit rock legends pass you by, for God’s sake. —Tony Kay
Neptune Theatre
Tuesday, Sept. 18 – Sunday, Sept. 23
Skylight
Not much “happens” in David Hare’s quiet, melancholy play, but so much happens it’s almost overwhelming. In one moment, it seems impossible that Keira and Tom would love one another; in the next, it seems unimaginable they wouldn’t. Hare was written a masterfully complex love story that also gently teases apart massive social issues, and John Langs’ production is exceptional. Runs through Sept. 30. —Gemma Wilson
ACT Theatre
Thursday, Sept. 20 – Sunday, Sept. 23
Kremfest
In the last couple of years Kremwerk has established itself as the go-to spot for electronic music in Seattle. This Thursday through Sunday, the club hosts the second annual Kremfest, four days of forward-thinking electronic music and further proof that its reputation is well-deserved. Don’t miss it, and especially don’t miss Detroit techno master Mike Huckaby’s set on Saturday night. —Gabe Pollak
Kremwerk, Timbre Room
Thursday, Sept. 20 – Sunday, Sept 23
Westerlies Fest
The Westerlies are a New York-based jazz quartet, but their roots lie here in Seattle. The band’s sophisticated, atmospheric, playful sonics should flourish amidst four days of collaborative performances, sharing stages with the likes of Grammy nominee Theo Bleckmann, NYC-via-Portland singer and multi-instrumentalist Kate Davis and Seattle poet Azura Tyabji. —Tony Kay
Various Venues
Thursday, Sept. 20
Raven Hollywood, DoNormaal, Kreea, Salt Lick
Sleeping on local collective 69/50 is ill-advised. The experimental hip-hop crew creates some of the most invigorating music emerging from Seattle today. 69/50’s Raven Hollywood is a captivating performer with a genre-skewering sound, just as likely to play a Cat Stevens-sampling love song as a brooding track about God and depression. Who knows what he’ll do this week. —Gabe Pollak
Chop Suey
Friday, Sept. 21
Kate Neckel: Stories
There’s a simplicity to Kate Neckel’s giant abstract paintings that’s almost off-putting: Such straightforward mark-making mapped out in black and white should grow tiresome, but these works seem to hint at some kind of ineffable message, like a pictogram vignetted, leaving us breathlessly hanging. —Amanda Manitach
Winston Wächter Gallery
Friday, Sept. 21
Richard Bishop, Lori Goldston, Tashi Dorji, Aaron Turner
In a homecoming of sorts, guitar wizard Richard Bishop of Sun City Girls fame returns to the Girls’ old Ballard compound (currently incarnated as Woodlawn Theater) to dazzle and beguile with time and space-traversing stringed explorations. With Seattle uber-cellist Lori Goldston also on the bill, one can only hope for a mini-supergroup collaboration before the night is over. —Dan Paulus
Woodlawn Theater
Sponsored
Saturday, Sept. 22
Seattle Childrens Festival
Presented by Northwest Folklife and Seattle Center, Seattle Children’s Festival is a multicultural festival of music, dance and arts for the whole family. Come ready for performances by Caspar Babypants, hip-hop with 206 Zulu and storytime with drag queen Aleksa Manila. Plus traditional dances and stories with Grupo Folklórico Nuestras Raíces and Para Los Niños, highlighting this year’s cultural focus: Echoes of Aztlan and Beyond.
Seattle Center Armory, Fisher Pavilion
Saturday, Sept. 22
Bellwether 2018
The second weekend of the reinvented Bellevue arts festival closes out in picturesque Downtown Park with live music by Ben Von Wildenhaus and Joel Cuplin and performances by Margie Livingston, Calie Swedberg, PDL and Vis-à-Vis Society. If poetry is more your taste, readings by City Arts faves like Sarah Galvin, Yonnas Getahun and Johnny Horton at Bellevue Arts Museum will sate your cravings. —Amanda Manitach
Downtown Park, Bellevue Arts Museum