It's a long weekend, which means extra time to get and out play. And there is no shortage of live music and theater options for you to take in pre- or post-backyard barbeques.
The Tallest Man on Earth, the stage name for Swedish singer-songwriter Kristian Matsson, performs his intimate folk songs Sunday, Sept. 2, at the Birch North Park Theatre in North Park. Matsson, 29, continues to rack up rave reviews from critics, who compare him to Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie, and recently played the Newport Folk Festival. See him now so you can say you knew him when.
A musical classic, “Les Miserables,” celebrates its 25th anniversary with an all new production inspired visually by the paintings of Victor Hugo. But you only have a few nights to catch it: "Les Miz" runs now through Sunday, Sept. 2, at the San Diego Civic Theatre in downtown San Diego. (U-T San Diego theater critic Jim Hebert goes backstage for a sneak peek.)
French electronic music band M83 create dreamy, synth-laden soundscapes that channels '90s shoegaze. And you've most likely heard the band's big 2011 hit "Midnight City" in various films, TV shows and commercials (ahem, Victoria's Secret). See M83 perform Friday, Aug. 31, at SOMA on Sports Arena Boulevard. (Local electro duo Hyena opens.)
The Intrepid Shakespeare Company reinvigorates one of the Bard's classic comedies, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream," turning it into a musical featuring 1960s pop favorites by The Four Tops, The Temptations, Sam Cooke, The Turtles and more. Previews begin tonight (Aug. 30). "A Midsummer Night's Dream" opens next Friday, September 7 and runs through September 23 at the Intrepid Shakespeare Company in Encinitas. (Read this preview by U-T San Diego theater critic Jim Hebert.)
Former San Diego-based songwriter Jimmy LaValle is the man behind The Album Leaf, which San Diego CityBeat music editor Peter Holslin describes as "somnambulant dream-conjurers." Hear the band perform its signature brand of ambient-tinged post-rock Saturday, Sept. 1, at The Casbah in downtown San Diego, and get a sneak preview of new songs from its soon-to-be-released seven-song EP, "Forward/Return," out on Sept. 18. Local band Tiny Telephones open, along with ANA/ and DJ Velvet Touch.
Looking ahead to next weekend, The Old Globe's much-anticipated new musical “Allegiance," begins previews next Friday, September 7. Set against the historical backdrop of the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II, "Allegiance" features a star-studded cast including "Star Trek" icon George Takei, Tony-winner Lea Salonga and "Glee" star Telly Leung, among others. "Allegiance" opens September 19 and runs through October 21 at The Old Globe in Balboa Park. (Get an insider's peek at rehearsals.)
