JIM BRYSON AND THE WEAKERTHANS
Ottawa folk-god Jim Bryson and Winnipeg band The Weakerthans are teaming up to bring the city the smooth, folksy tunes it’s come to expect from the band. The group will promote their songs from their newest album, the Falcon Lake Incident. Friday, Feb. 11. 8 p.m. Capital Music Hall, 128 York St. $19.50 advance + service charges. http://www.spectrasonic.com/
DEPARTURES: AN EXHIBITION OF NEW WORKS BY ANDREW KING (FREE!)
Local artist Andrew King is showing his latest collection at the Wall Space Gallery. The Carleton grad says his work is inspired by a year that changed his life, starting with the end of his marriage. Like his journey from hard times to new beginnings, King says Departures is a personal and artistic experiment. Until Feb. 21. 358 Richmond Rd. wallspacegallery.ca
PAINTED LIPS AND LOLLY LICKS: THE SEXY FILM FESTIVAL
If Sexapalooza ended too quickly for you, the Mayfair Theatre gets a little sexy on Friday night in this third installment of their annual sexy film fest. Adult film star Bree Olson will judge a competition between erotic short films from Ottawa and around the world (full line-up here). They’re sure heat things up. Friday, Feb. 11. 9:30 p.m. $6 members, $10 non-members. www.mayfairtheatre.ca
MELTING (FREE!)
Winterlude is still in full force this weekend, and it’s not just about ice carving and BeaverTails. Melting is a photography exhibit that captures the snowmen of Ottawa in all their asymmetrical, carrot-nosed glory. The images will be on display on the walls of the underpass at Rideau Street and Sussex Drive — until April, when the city says goodbye to its snowmen for another year. www.pinkslippersproductions.com
PROFESSIONAL BULL RIDERS CANADIAN CUP OTTAWA INVITATIONAL
The city gets a dose of wild west as professional bull riders compete for the title of toughest rider at the Ottawa Invitational. Watch the pros get tossed around by bulls in this daredevils-only sport. Saturday, Feb. 12. 7 p.m. Scotiabank Place, 1000 Paladium Dr. $40-$60. www.pbrcanada.com
MUSICALLY SPEAKING WITH ALEX ROSS
The New Yorker’s music critic, Alex Ross, will share his musical insights in a lecture titled, “The Lamento Connection: Bass Lines of Music in History.” The talk, which traces recurring motifs, riffs, and bass lines across almost a thousand years, is sure to enlighten even the most knowledgeable of music geeks. Sunday, Feb. 13, 1:30 pm. National Arts Centre, Panorama Room, 53 Elgin St. $10. www.nac-cna.ca
STEPHAN THOMPSON: DIRT PAINT (FREE!)
Visual art and environmentalism intersect in this exhibit of new works by Stephan Thompson. With a focus on making his artistic imprint as environmentally friendly as possible, Thompson gave up using traditional materials a few years ago; he now mixes his own paints and incorporates beeswax and recycled materials in his works. But he’s not just an eco-warrior — his art is touching and captivating, primitive and humbling. Vernissage Thursday, Feb. 10, 5:30. Show runs until March 6. Ottawa Art Gallery, Art Sales and Rentals Gallery, 2 Daly Ave. www.ottawaartgallery.ca