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Classical music is not a stuffy relic of the past, and ballet is more than inflexible tutus and dead composers. That’s the ethos behind “Kaleidoscope,” a collaboration between Austin Camerata and Ventana Ballet. Four local choreographers and seven living composers assemble their own musical Avengers team, fighting against boring stereotypes with an exhilarating mélange of movement and sound. There will be five performances over Memorial weekend, each one opening their doors early to offer a kaleidoscope of colorful cocktails at the KMFA bar. Get swept away with this spectacular showcase. – Cat McCarrey

An ATX Sketch Fest pass may be the best bargain for a guaranteed good time over Memorial Day weekend. Celebrating its 15th year, ATX Sketch Fest provides audiences with five days of scripted comedy acts from Austin, Portland, L.A., NYC, D.C., and Toronto. Headliners include Chris Grace of Superstore, PEN15, and Broad City, and Joan & Raft, who’ve written for Netflix, HBO Max, and Comedy Central. In addition to performing, Grace, Joan & Raft, and Woody Fu will lead workshops on musical improv, writing, and character development. Local favorites performing include Clara Blackstone, Juicebox, Big Fart, and The Floor Is Lava. Single-show tickets are available, but for this much talent, why not spring for the $69 (heh heh) pass? Check – or sketch – it out at atxsketchfest.com. – Valerie Lopez

Here in the land of tacos and margaritas, we don’t get enough chances to appreciate Greek food and culture. Rectify that at this fest with the theme “Livin’ the Greek Life,” offering live music from the Aegean Pulse, all the way from Greece, along with spirited dance groups of all ages. Frequent tours are available to showcase the gorgeous church and inform visitors about the faith, and a marketplace evokes a real Greek agora. Come hungry for spanakopita, baklava, gyros, dolmades, and more – but don’t forget your card, because the fest has adopted a cashless model this year. – Kat McNevins

Vessel: a container that holds things. Vessel: a person infused with a quality. What quality? Any. Feel free to interpret it yourself when basking in Diane Chiyon Hong’s exhibit “Vessels – Handle with Care.” Her architectural sketches, part function, part form, part object, part person, part humor but all thought-provoking, currently grace the halls of the Asian American Resource Center. It’s Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Month, so why not pay the AARC a visit. I mean, if not now, when? – Cat McCarrey

“What will you do with your one wild and precious life?” asks the poet Mary Oliver. So do the artists Amanda McInerney and Lana Waldrep Appl, taking inspiration from Oliver’s question to create works highlighting the small but important beauties in our lives. McInerney’s work presents bold, botanical elements through mediums from print to stitched mixed-media art, confident graphics speaking against the unknowns in the world. Appl is a perfect highlight with that, her object-based work (showing plants, toys, ceramics) begging us to consider what is useful and actually important in the small moments. – Cat McCarrey

You’re a reasonable person: Every day, you refrain from knocking over items around you in a dancing frenzy. But in your soul, you wish to knock those items down. You wish so bad. Great news: Wishes do come true, if’n you’re wishing to dance the night away among queer community members. Local BIPOC community org allgo presents a night featuring food, drinks, performers, and – no doy – dance. They promise to play “the hits that stick like grits,” so grab your partners and get ready to wear your boot soles down. – James Scott

Chaos in Tejas, Housecore Horror, and Austin Terror Fest live on in local metal lore, so Big Texas Metal Fest now stomps and snorts into the ring. Like last month’s Austin Death Fest at Mohawk, this three-day debut stirs the void of a heavy music capital historically trailing San Antonio in metallic worship yet second to none in extremity sophistication. Hatebreed headlines a metalcore tempest by marking 30 years of thrash/punk/death pits. Friday also marquees Power Trip nucleus Fugitive and excoriating ATX heroes Portrayal of Guilt. On Saturday, Californians Atreyu notch almost as many years and cap like-minded hammers including Austin’s At All Cost and Paleface all the way from Zurich. – Raoul Hernandez

This ain’t a beautiful cathedral or stained-glass stations of the cross or even those c*nty little vestments priests be wearing at your grandma’s funeral. (Shout out to Father Felix!) Collaborators Elissa Ussery and Beth Schindler recreate the traditionally straight space of a church – an American, particle-board-filled church – as a continuation of their interactive art-environment series. “Acknowledging the prevalent trauma and shame associated with conventional religious and spiritual settings, especially for queer individuals,” they relate on Instagram, “Carpet Church offers a platform to rediscover and empower oneself through play.” Expect: dunking booth baptisms, Sunday school, bake sales, reconciliation, live music, a full bar, and plenty of delicious Lynny’s. – James Scott

Memorial Day weekend’s hottest ticket, Hot Luck 2024 promises yet another heady blend of live music and top-shelf eats. Highlights for those coming hungry include exclusive bites from the Taco Mafia at Thursday’s Giddy Up, comfort food from fest founder Aaron Franklin and others at Friday’s Supper Club, cheffy backyard eats at Al Fuego, and a camp-themed brunch at Sunday’s Camp Sunnyside. Those looking to nourish their eardrums can enjoy the spicy sounds of Calexico, Mind Spiders, Big Business, and more. As ever, Hot Luck Fest benefits the Southern Smoke Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping connect service industry workers to health care and relief funds in times of crisis. – Melanie Haupt

Don’t underestimate Seth James. The songwriter steps onstage like an unassuming guitar cowboy but unloads an absolutely grooving mix of Texas honky-tonk, Memphis rockin’ soul, and New Orleans funk. This year’s fourth LP Lessons aptly digs deep cuts from Delbert McClinton’s catalog, homage from the student to the master, but James’ horn-blasted, keyboard-licked romps kick swampy-rocking goodness somewhere between Little Feat and Shinyribs. “River Girl” Kelley Mickwee follows with some of the richest vocals in Central Texas and new songs from Everything Beautiful, her first album in a decade expected later this summer. – Doug Freeman

OK, we realize the summer solstice is still a month off, but who wants to wait? Kick off summer with “a celebration of life and love” – and hopefully no Swedish cult weirdness like in Ari Aster’s unsettling follow-up to Hereditary. No no, what we have here is all the pretty floral fun such as maypole dancing, flower crowns, and prize packages on a Midsommar theme. VIP tables get Swedish bites and champagne included with a decorated table for five besties. Dressing on theme is highly encouraged! – Kat McNevins

Who knew that pop princesses and ring warriors make a great combination? Slam Portal, that’s who. They’re bringing the (probably) first Taylor Swift-themed wrestling event to a beer garden near you. Watch Austin’s premier intergalactic pro wrestlers tackle the Swifties in the “Blank Space” between the ropes. You’ll know you’re in for trouble the moment the wrestlers walk into the ring. It’s the Tortured Wrestling Society, heavy emphasis on physical torture. Swift smackdowns guaranteed, this Saturday, Saturday, Saturday! – Cat McCarrey

Pop-emo pioneers Taking Back Sunday have been on the road consistently for the past five years, but October marked the first time since 2016 that they are touring behind new music. Eighth studio album 152 showcases a melange of sensibilities honed over the outfit’s quarter-decade, showing a band still finding fresh angles and sounds. But don’t worry, elder emos: The set lists behind this tour are still chock-full of the early-Aughts hits that made them mix CD mainstays.: – Abby Johnston

The Glass Coffin is a bastion of the creeptastic macabre, but their coffin lid officially closes Aug. 11. Pay your respects and pour out the wine you don’t drink (Dracula reference!) at their last undead gathering, fittingly celebrating the King of Shadows – Count Dracula. Hang out with your fangs out at a bloodsoaked celebration of the greatest monster in history. Wrestle in a pool of blood, gothic groove to howls from horror band the Immortalz, and thank every angel and demon below that the Glass Coffin existed. – Cat McCarrey