Since its inception, the Union Gallery has struck a harmonious balance between showcasing student and professional works in a tiny space in Stauffer Library. Conflux, which runs now until Aug. 7, is a massive collaboration between 10 different artists.

Why you should go: The Wolfe Island Grill is the ideal place to start the weekend. The Grill is a local hangout and a truly charming venue. The lineup features some very chilled out folk bands and will feature Kingston’s own The Gertrudes.

Manchester Orchestra have finally taken the bull by the horns with the release of their powerful sophomore project Mean Everything to Nothing. Instead of singing poignant yet fun-vacuum tunes like ‘Sleeper 1975’ from their first official release, I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child, Manchester Orchestra instead introduce a completely overhauled operation ­­—a sound almost indistinguishable from their earlier work.

Beyond offering expertly rendered, stupefying and artful entertainment, the 3-D Up provided the added bonus of big black glasses to hide the embarrassing fact that I cried within the first few minutes of the film.
However, after experiencing Pixar’s latest addition to their already impressive and treasured collection of studio-animated pictures like Finding Nemo and Wall-E, I challenge you not to do the same.

artist in profile
Who: The Silt
Who’s in the band: Doug Tielli: singing, guitar, trombone, bass, drums. Ryan Driver: singing, analogue synth, guitar, flute, drums. Marcus Quin: singing, bass, drums, bass clarinet, guitar, erhu. (Not all at the same time of course, but Marcus is quite handy with simultaneous bass and drums).

It’s not often I can easily perk up in the morning without a rather substantial dose of caffeine. That’s why when I arrived at Carruthers Hall at 10 a.m. for an interview last week, I was shocked that all I really needed was a good dose of fun—easily achieved by spending an hour with Queens Theatre’s Barefoot Players.

Remember high school? Or have we already (thankfully) put all those fun memories out of our heads? Reading a book about the high school experience may not be your first choice of summer literature, but after reading a few sentences of Courtney Summer’s new young adult novel Cracked Up To Be, you’ll be happy you picked it up.

Love or hate the indie film, we’re continually surprised at its hip style and eccentricities. The truth is, “indie” films rake in big bucks at the box office and have quickly become just as tailored to financial success, and by extension, cliché, as any other genre of popular film.

The Union Gallery has been engulfed by the voyeuristic work of Toronto-based artist Luis Jacob. His exhibit “Without Persons”, featured in Toronto’s Nuitblanche in 2008, may offer sharp contrast with the blasé relaxation of summer student life, but it’s one that probes a deeply challenging take on social interaction.

Sarah Slean has cut her ties and excess cargo. The Juno nominated singer-songwriter has recently slid away from the turbulence of her twenties and is following her art into new alleyways of expression.

The whole ’80s thing is getting a little exhausted, in my opinion.

The only thing worse than being in the naughty section of the bookstore while taking notes down in a little notebook for a book review was being caught doing it.

This week Queen’s Musical Theatre launches Man of La Mancha, which finds its inspiration in the story of Don Quixote.

Guitar, keyboard, bass and drums ring out in basic rock style on the FemBot’s latest release Calling Out.

Who: The Queen’s Improv Team—Paul Atkins, Dave Babin, Laurel Dault, Adam DiSimine, Sam Driscoll, Galen Flynn, Raili Lakanen, Fanny Rabinovitch-Kuzmicki, Emily Richardson, John Sparks and Josh Wilson.

I put my jacket back on, buttoning up with numb fingers and shuffle out of the theatre.

Sitting in the dimly lit silence of the Wellington Street Theatre, I noticed the old cathedral windows are covered with black tapestry, save for a thin beam of fading sunlight that glows red through a sliver of cloth.

Being the odd band out at rock shows gives Bell Orchestre a strange appeal.