Why these are the 5 best Vancouver concerts to see in May

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If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the upcoming concerts in May, you should be. The sheer number of shows being announced has become somewhat disconcerting to even casual fans of local musical acts.

This raises some questions: Do we have enough venues to host so many shows? How many of them can I reach and still get up to work in the morning? And do banks offer loans for the purchase of tickets?

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The answer, in order: Barely; up to you; and you want. But another solution is to check out this carefully curated list of choice shows over the next 31 days.

Remember: pace yourself. The festival season hasn’t started yet.

The Harpoonist: Did we come here to dance?

When: May 1, 7 p.m.
Where: The WISE, 1882 Adanac St.
Tickets/information: $27.96 in eventbrite.com

Nanaimo musician The harpooner is harmonica virtuoso Shawn Hall. For the past 17 years, he has been one half of the Juno-nominated blues rock duo, The Harpoonist and the Ax Murderer. He has now teamed up with Big Sugar’s Gordie Johnson for a new electronic-tinged boogie record on an album titled Did We Dance.

Why should you go?: They’re two proven artists coming together on a new project with their considerable back catalogue, so it’s a pretty safe bet that this will be a spectacular show. Hall is a fine, fearless vocalist with great skills on the blues harp and the new material is a fresh mix with hints of dubby pop on songs like Good People.

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IDLES: Love is the Fing Tour

When: May 2 and 3 (sold out), 7 p.m.
Where: PNE Forum
Tickets: From $49.50 at ticketleader.ca

Punk is alive and well again in the UK, with a host of bands bringing innovative ideas to an often tired genre and making it vital. Among the main acts of this new wave is the one in Bristol. inactive, whose latest album, TANGK, is a team production with former Radiohead affiliate Kenny Beats and Nigel Godrich. This new release finds the quintet at their most sonically expansive on tracks like Gift Horse, Dancer and latest single Pop Pop Pop.

Why should you go?: IDLES gained a reputation as one of the best live groups of the UK’s burgeoning new punk scene for almost a decade before including any music on a recording. This means that manic Welsh frontman Joe Talbot and his team can and do destroy a show.

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Brothers Osborne: it could well be a tour

When: May 22, 8 p.m.
Where: Downtown Abbotsford, Abbotsford
Tickets/information: From $45 at Ticketmaster

On tour in promotion of his fourth album, the self-titled Osborne Brothers, John and TJ Osborne are one of the most hyped acts in contemporary country music. The Grammy/CMA-winning vocal duo has a knack for finding the kind of hooks that keep you wanting to put them in the combine forever. The band’s latest release is one of their highest-rated releases, which is saying a lot given their acclaimed career. With songs like Nobody’s Nobody heralding a message of universal acceptance and inclusion, the duo is also working in different territory than many of their contemporaries. There is new material to present as the Break Mine EP was recently released.

Why you should go: Having earned the CMA Award for Vocal Duo of the Year this year, a category they’ve won six times before, you can be sure to hear some tight harmonies in the concert. Plus, John can play some serious lead guitar when the time comes. Additional opening act Madeline Edwards and this is an almost certain win.

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bbno$ presents Baby’s Bonanza charity

When: May 26, 5:30 p.m.
Where: Malkin Bowl, Stanley Park
Tickets/information: From $87 in ticketmaster.com

Vancouver independent rapper bbno$ (pronounced baby no money) is adored by trend-setting media sites like Pitchfork and has built an impressive gaming career under the bbnogames label. His old-school style is funky, fun, and, above all, strangely cool. In this show, he plays the court jester to a cast of established and up-and-coming talent, ranging from Yung Gravy, Freddie Dredd, Yung Bae, Joost Klein, Eric Repid and Jungle Bobby, as well as the owner of the award-winning microphone Polaris , Haviah. Powerful.

Why you should go: Lineups of so many indie rap aces are rare and all proceeds from this show will be donated to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Center. Great melodies and a worthy cause. It’s hard to argue with that package.

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Kamasi Washington: Fearless Movement Tour

When: May 30, 7 p.m.
Where: Vogue Theater, 918 Granville St.
Tickets: From $49.50 at admitone.com

Saxophonist Washington He is one of the true stars of contemporary jazz music. A fixture on the Los Angeles scene since the early 2000s, his work on rapper Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 hit To Pimp a Butterfly earned him further recognition, which he cemented with his excellent album The Epic. In addition to his own avant-garde solo work, her work with artists such as Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Snoop Dogg, Run the Jewels and Thundercat has made him the type of artist who can never be pigeonholed. Her latest album is one of the most lively since she had a vision of dance during the composition.

Why you should watch the show: Washington is an artist who moves freely between the underground and the mainstream, and never seems to hit a wrong note on either side. His band includes equally skilled musicians who cut their teeth playing live shows across continents and oceans as lead or supporting musicians. This has made his previous concerts in Vancouver amazing. If you think you don’t like jazz, think again.

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