See Hear Do: Tempo Change

Local classical music fans and NPR diehards may recognize this trio; it’s played a couple of times at The Smith Center. But this time, they're making waves in a headlining gig at Artemus Ham Hall at UNLV. And that's not the only way they're mixing things up. The makeup of the band is also unique (pop, classical, or otherwise) in that there are two violinists and a double-bassist. Did I mention they also sing? Upping the cool-factor is the fact that they perform from and merge multiple genres, like country, folk, classical, jazz, and the full range of modern pop music genres. To wit: They’ve covered Kanye West. So be prepared to be caught off guard!

Those familiar with A Public Fit know that the Vegas-based theatrical company doesn't shy away from serious social issues (exhibit A: its last play, the excellent Indecent). Its current offering, Pipeline, gets its name from what’s commonly referred to as the school-to-prison pipeline that sees so many young men of color incarcerated. The main character, Nya, a Black teacher in an inner-city school and single mother to a teenage son, Omari, is trying to maintain both her middle-class status and integrity within her community. The playwright, Dominique Morriseau, also is unafraid of difficult conversations that occasionally point fingers at main characters you’d normally empathize with. Directed by Jason Nious, who is no stranger to Morrisseau’s work (Skeleton Crew).

Okay, touché — Orlando: My Political Biography doesn't have a sexy title, but wait — it does get better. Inspired and anchored by Virginia Woolf’s satirical novel Orlando, about a character who transitions and then observes 300 years of history, the film's director Paul B. Preciado clearly knows what he's doing. With more than 20 trans and non-binary folks portraying Orlando in their various episodes and stages, in a way that hearkens back to their own experiences, the movie itself is a Venn diagram of sorts of both the book and the politics currently affecting the trans/non-binary community.

The current iteration of The Mountain Goats embodies the second act of principal member John Darnielle's indie-rock career — which is to say, Darnielle has fully rounded out his sound in studio and on stage, a far cry from his lo-fi beginnings. His music is centered mostly on concepts: He uses lyrical elements such as personal stories, Bible verses, and recurring characters to give the numerous Mountain Goat albums their focus. Last performing here at the Brooklyn Bowl in 2019 — almost 30 years after the band started — they're back at the more intimate 24 Oxford at the Virgin Hotel. Bonus: Crain Finn of The Hold Steady is an opening act, which really sweetens the deal for indie and literary rock heads.

“The world through my eyes” is how award-winning filmmaker and photographer Shahab Zargari describes his first solo film photography exhibition, All Film All the Time. More than 200 of Zargari’s photographs show his passion for shooting on film over his decades-long career. In addition to still images, visitors will also be treated to a continuous loop of the artist’s short films, meaning this exhibit can either provide a quick art hit or a full day’s worth of entertainment — depending on your schedule. And, if a full day isn’t enough, then take home one of the photography prints, stickers, posters, books, or movies on sale related to Zargari’s work to keep the film party going. This exhibit runs through Feb. 29.

Oliver Messiaen’s life and work make the case that music and faith, when synthesized, can bring people through the darkest valleys. His most famous composition, Quatour pour la Fin du Temps (Quartet for the End of Time), was created in a Nazi prisoner-of-war camp. Given a pencil, music paper, and access to just four instruments by his German captors, he composed an homage to the Book of Revelation that was reportedly first performed by Messiaen and three other French POWs to a gathering of about 400 prisoners and Nazi officers on January 15, 1941. Now, 83 years later, the UNLV Chamber Music Society brings to life Messiaen’s dark and foreboding quartet for current generations of Las Vegans.