Smart Bets

Vampyre

If you think goth and ballet make strange bedfellows, then A) You haven't read enough Edward Gorey and B) You have yet to experience Terpsicorps' newest production, Vampyre. This "gothic tale of love, death and immortality,” choreographed by Heather Malloy, takes its inspiration from Lord Byron, Mary Shelley, Percy Shelley and John Polidori, whose ghost story evenings led to Polodori's short story, "The Vampyre." The ballet is performed at Diana Wortham Theatre Thursday-Saturday, June 23-25. Gala night is June 23, 7 p.m. with pre-show champagne and backstage tour at 7 p.m., $75. Other shows are at 8 p.m., $30 adults/$25 students and seniors/$20 teens/$12 children. dwtheatre.com.

Nikki Talley

Local songstress Nikki Talley returns to Jack of the Wood on Friday, June 24. Talley's had a big year so far: She performed at Shakori Hills in April but instead of taking the stage with her band (which includes drummer Richard Foulk and guitarist/husband Jason Sharp), she went with an all-female trio including fiddler/vocalist Lyndsay Pruett (also a member of Talley's regular band) and stand-up bassist/vocalist Ashleigh Caudill. Talley, who is a former member of female harmonies group The Swayback Sisters, says this latest trio of ladies wasn't intended as a new direction. But she did add Caudill to her band. "Her harmonies are spot-on and compliment my songs so well," says Talley. See for yourself — 9:30 p.m., jackofthewood.com.

Holcombe Waller with Daniel Martin Moore and Haley Bonar

Oregon-based composer/performance artist Holcombe Waller is described as a "genius, both gifted and cursed with the voice of a seraph and perfect pitch." He also makes a heck of a video — one certain to leave the viewer amazed and conflicted with his combination of excellent musicianship and sheer oddity. (Go ahead, watch "Hardliners.") Waller shares a bill with Minneapolis singer/songwriter Haley Bonar, who recently released her new album, Golder. Singer/songwriter Daniel Martin Moore also performs — he worked on the album Dear Companion (which raised awareness about mountaintop removal in his native Kentucky) with Jim James and Ben Sollee (read more about that album in this this week's feature on Sollee). The show takes place at The Grey Eagle on Sunday, June 26. 8 p.m., $8 advance/$10 day of show. thegreyeagle.com.

The Witches Quorum

The “comic outrage” of The Witches’ Quorum has created quite the buzz at The Magnetic Field. Billed as, by turns, a quasi-historical romance, an aspiring political tract, intentionally offensive and thoroughly entertaining, this weekend is your last chance to catch it. Shows through June 25, Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays at 10 p.m. as well. Tickets $12 to $14. More at themagneticfield.com/witches, or 668-2154.

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