Image courtesy of the artist

Steel Pulse comes from Birmingham, an industrial city on the other side of the pond that also spawned popular music ensembles like UB40, Electric Light Orchestra and metalcore maniacs Oceans Ate Alaska. Unlike the bands mentioned above, Steel Pulse performs a type of music known as roots reggae, a subgenre of the main form that first became popular in the US during the late '70s. Steel Pulse follows the lead of outfits like Bob Marley and the Wailers as well as Black Uhuru in its musical exploration of African and Afro-Carribbean culture and spirituality. In addition, the band jams heartily under the direction of founding member and lead vocalist David Hinds. His nickname is “Dread” just in case you want to know about the cred this outfit brings to a type of music that is still very popular with Americans—particularly white college students—after all these years. Steel Pulse performs at the Historic El Rey Theater on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 8pm. Santa Fe's Brotherhood Sound System and Burque's own Revíva open for this upbeat, age 13-and-over music fest, and just $30 gets you in. (August March)

Image courtesy of Russian Ballet Theatre

Swan Lake, a ballet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, is one of the most enduring and popular works of 19th century romanticism in art. Besides the music, choreography, costuming and narrative bind Swan Lake into a great work that makes for an unforgettable theatrical experience. The Russian Ballet Theatre performs this timeless and tragic tale of temptation and transformation—newly choreographed by Nadezhda Kalinina and designed with hand-painted sets by Sergei Novikov—at Popejoy Hall on the UNM main campus on Sunday, Oct. 13. Olga Kifyak stars in the production as Princess Odette—and as Odile, the Black Swan. The curtain rises on Prince Siegfried's coming of age party at 6:30pm, and this recital of the work includes the rarely seen “Waltz of the Black Swan.” Admission to Swan Lake ranges in price from $25 to $79. All ages are welcome. (August March)

Image courtesy of Santa Fe Independent Film Festival

The Santa Fe Independent Film Festival returns Wednesday, Oct. 16 through Sunday, Oct. 20 at a number of venues around The City Different including Lensic Performing Arts Center, Center for Contemporary Arts, The Screen and more. Night one kicks off with a 60th anniversary screening of Billy Wilder's Some Like It Hot at 3pm at Jean Cocteau Cinema and caps off with opening night film, Just Mercy at 7pm at Violet Crown. Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx, O'Shea Jackson Jr. and Brie Larson star in this dramatic true story of Harvard grad Bryan Stevenson, who heads to Alabama to defend people who were wrongly condemned because they could not afford legal proper representation. Dozens more thought-provoking features, documentaries and shorts from filmmakers around the world follow. Tickets for the opening night film and party are $30. Learn more at santafeindependentfilmfestival.com (Devin D. O'Leary)

Shutterbugs gather up your best pieces and pick some to submit for hanging in the new Bernalillo County headquarters when the gov-peeps move to Alvarado Square, happening now until Monday, August 31. The selected photographs will be printed in a large scale and format. They will be used to create a welcoming environment for county customers, county employees and the general public. Some will be used on the windows of the new Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office suite. The photographs should represent the history and character of Bernalillo County and its people, places, landscapes and unique events in our county. There are some big bucks involved as chosen photographers will receive $1,500, with a limit of one photograph per artist. The chosen photos will become part of the public art program’s permanent collection. There is no fee or age limit required to submit. For more information, visit bernco.gov/community-services/current-call-for-entries.aspx. Ends August 31. (Carolyn Carlson)

Looking for a little chile? The 2020 Bosque Chile Festival, a celebration of food, art, and culture on the Rio Grande, is happening Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16, with times waiting to be officially announced. But due to COVID-19 and the State of New Mexico public health order, the festival will be presented virtually! There will still be entertainment, art activities, a virtual artisan market, chile-chef demonstrations, educational workshops and more. This free, all-ages event is meant to give those stuck at home a chance to see what the state has to offer. If you are a high-quality chile-inspired and authentic New Mexican business with an e-commerce website and want to be a vendor, there is still time. Applications are being accepted until Wednesday, August 5. For more information email bosquechilefestival@bernco.gov.