Thursday
Maybe it's a bit of an oddball pairing, but if you were born before 1970, you've probably enjoyed songs by both Rod Stewart and Cyndi Lauper. Whether you're more in the "Maggie May" or the "Time After Time" camp, these legends have enough hits to keep you entertained the whole night, although you can expect more recent projects to be in the mix. Stewart wrote and produced much of 2015's Another Country, and Lauper released a country album early last year. 7:30 Thursday at Hard Rock Live, 1 Seminole Way, Fort Lauderdale; 954-797-5531; seminolehardrockhollywood.com. Tickets cost $50 to $887.
For this month's edition of PAMM's Free Community Night, the Miami Music Club is bringing Rhode Island performance artist and musician RRLEW and Oakland electronica project Cube. The two will perform alongside Romulo Del Castillo of Schematic Music Company on the terrace while a screening of John Akomfrah's Handsworth Songs, presented by the Black Audio Film Collective, plays in the auditorium. Whether you're into lesbian utopian operas or the African diaspora experience, this eclectic night will range from the futuristic to the nostalgic and is sure to be anything but boring. 5 p.m. Thursday at Pérez Art Museum Miami, 1103 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 305-375-3000; pamm.org. Admission is free.
Friday
Following his first performance of "A Hard Day's Night" since 1965 and critically acclaimed shows across the United States, Paul McCartney is playing his first show in South Florida in seven years. The 75-year-old is still leaving audiences in awe while pulling from a career of music that has defined rock 'n' roll, and the energy and variety of his shows are evidence that he doesn't plan to stop anytime soon. If for some reason you need to be convinced to see this show, the historical significance of seeing a Beatle should be enough. 8 p.m. Friday at American Airlines Arena, 601 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 786-777-1000; aaarena.com. Tickets cost $30 to $250.
We can't tell you why the word "indie" seems to immediately summon opinionated men in skinny jeans touting the virtues of "raw" and "real" production, but we can say the Miami Independent Film Festival will be awesome. First, it's free — a lineup of 18 films shown over three days will be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Second, the fest spends all year receiving and selecting films submitted from all over the world, with monthly winners and jury feedback to filmmakers. All you have to do now is show up and enjoy. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at Miami Beach Cinematheque, 1130 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; 305-673-4567; miamindiefest.com. Admission is free.
Metallica's early fans are old enough to have grown children, but that doesn't stop the band from continuing to make the kind of metal that every teenage boy can angst to. Beyond that, these veterans are responsible for catapulting metal into the mainstream and remain one of the most commercially successful bands of all time. Avenged Sevenfold and Volbeat are joining the bill to make this a night of truly heavy, guitar-shredding glory, so throw on that black band shirt you haven't washed since 11th grade, and get to thrashing. 6 p.m. Friday at Hard Rock Stadium, 347 Don Shula Dr., Miami Gardens; 305-943-8000; hardrockstadium.com. Tickets cost $55 to $575.
Saturday
Not even a year after its inception last November, Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami has impressed ballet aficionados and novices alike with its innovative approach to classical movement. For the company's latest showcase, Fiebre, the troupe will perform three ballets for the first time in Miami, including the title piece by Vicente Nebrada, with accompaniment by Alain Garcia and his Latin Power Band. Two additional ballets will round out a program of international choreography from local masters of dance. 8 p.m. Saturday at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center Main Stage, 10950 SW 211th St., Cutler Bay; 786-573-5300; smdcac.org. Tickets cost $25 to $75.
Comedy used to be a boys' club before jokes about nagging wives and rape began to get old. Thanks to programs such as Comic Cure's Florida's Funniest Females, you have options now. If you missed the event in April, Gina G, Sheena Reagan, and Angela Nacca — the winner, runnerup, and finalist of that night, respectively — will take their talents to South Miami-Dade. CinCin Boisson will add some Caribbean style to a night of women-led laughs that range from deadpan humor to full-on ridiculousness. 8:30 p.m. Saturday at South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center Black Box Theater, 10950 SW 211th St., Cutler Bay; 786-573-5300; smdcac.org. Tickets cost $20.
Born in New York and raised in the MIA, Eric Dasilva is a comic of Brazilian descent known for his work on the festival circuit. His son and daughter, dating tips, and weight are all topics in a routine that's a lot like sitting at a bar with your oldest friends competing for who can come closest to being offensive without pissing anyone off. Before you see Dasilva's Have-Nots show this weekend, you can check him out on Hulu or Pandora. 8 p.m. Saturday at Open Stage Club, 2325 Galiano St., Coral Gables; havenotscomedy.com. Tickets cost $15 to $40.
A robust culture surrounds the tradition of tango in Argentina, where the world-famous dance was born. To celebrate Argentine Independence Day, Tango Times Dance Company will present Beyond Tango, a multifaceted program of folk dance, bombos drumming, boleadora performances, and poetry to encompass this South American country's history and soul. The night will culminate in a tango performance by 14 dancers accompanied by an instrumental quartet and vocals by Cristina Longo. 8:30 p.m. Saturday at Manuel Artime Theater, 900 SW First St., Miami; 305-960-4680; tangotimes.us. Tickets cost $25 to $45.
If you haven't had the chance to hit up the summer music festival circuit, have no fear: You can get your fill of fire spinners, hula-hoopers, and fuel for your LSD trip at the Bluetech show. Ovoid, Shanti, and Miami natives Afro Monk and Optical Delusion will be there to support another night of electronic dub-bass-sub-psych-uhntz-uhntz-ness. Guided meditation and yoga will be on the docket, so don't be afraid to let your freak flag fly. 10 p.m. Saturday at Armando Records, 30 NE 14th St., Miami; 786-450-2260; facebook.com/phreequency. Tickets cost $15 cost $50.
The Smiths' songs will feel just as deliciously emotional when you have an AARP card as they did when you first heard them as a teenager, steamy tears streaming down your zits. So no matter how many times the band's bassist, Andy Rourke, comes to town, you will be there to worship him. The old-school goth night, Kitchen Club, is bringing Rourke to Churchill's for a DJ set and meet-and-greet. The night will be hosted by occasional New Times contributor Notorious Nastie and feature DJs 16 Bit and South Beach legend Tommy Gunn. A punk stage and a "Dungeon Room" stage will provide a platform for local acts to show off for the former Smith. 9 p.m. Saturday at Churchill's Pub, 5501 NE Second Ave., Miami; 305-757-1807; churchillspub.org. Admission costs $5 to $10.
Click "next" for more things to do in Miami this week.
Sunday
Sade turned you on to the "Sweetest Taboo" in the '80s, and the Sweet Taboo R&B Party is bringing that goodness back into your life. Instead of saving the slow jams to seduce early attendees of the hip-hop party LoveHate Classic Sundays, Cafeina gave them their own night. Promoters Good Vibes Ent., Mark G., and DJ Big Giz suggest you take sensuality and sophistication to the next level and get decked out right for this new monthly party. Other acts scheduled to hit the decks include Ghostrider, Tamera James, and the Star Bird, Fly Guy. Russian Standard Vodka is sponsoring the event, so there will be plenty of liquid assistance to get you in the mood. 6 p.m. Sunday at Cafeina, 297 NW 23rd St., Miami; 786-651-1101; cafeinamiami.com. Admission costs $10.
Miami's drag diva with a talent for brash bingo is six-foot-five in heels, and because her day job is personal training, she has bulging biceps the size of that tiny canine whose name she shares. Miss Toto's 13th Birthday Party at Gramps will celebrate our favorite gender-bending goddess with an all-day affair. The theme is Y2K, so dust off that old millennium bug outfit you've been waiting to rehash since 1999. The birthday queen will host memorable performances by gender-fluid artist Poomie Persephone and space clown Jupiter Velvet. Noon Sunday at Gramps, 176 NW 24th St., Miami; gramps.com. Admission is free.
In 1941's Sullivan's Travels, John L. Sullivan (played by Joel McCrea) dabbles in Method directing, pretending to be a homeless man so he can craft a socially conscious film. Instead, he ends up in a chain gang with no memory of who he is. Also starring Veronica Lake, the movie follows Sullivan as he learns the value of a good laugh through many trials. As part of the Backseat Cinema Film Series, the Wolfsonian is offering a 5 p.m. tour of "North and South" — a photography exhibit depicting midcentury middle America — to contextualize the 6 p.m. screening across the street at MB Cinema. 5 p.m. Sunday at the Wolfsonian-FIU, 1001 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; wolfsonian.org. 6 p.m. Sunday at the Miami Beach Cinematheque, 1130 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; mbcinema.com. Admission costs $11 for adults and $9 for students and seniors.
There are still people ready to shine light into the darkness. They often do so with their art and good vibes. At Little Havana's nautical-themed Bar Nancy, More Light is a unifying showcase of bright up-and-coming artists who want to connect with one another and you through their work. Expect live jams by Fari DiFuture, as well as musical selections by Shacia Payne, Fiyah Yout, and Zoodid Lion. Momo Penelli's Afrocentric fashions will be on display, and plant-based cuisine will be provided by Chef Kofi. As far as the visual arts are concerned, pick up crafts by Ntr.SOL and photography by Radiant Sun and 9Ether King, AKA RA Eye Vision. 7 p.m. Sunday at Bar Nancy, 2007 SW Eighth St., Miami; 305-397-8971; raeyevision.com. Admission is free with RSVP.
Monday
You love baseball, but the pleasure centers in your brain have been reprogrammed by years of internet-induced instant gratification. Skip all the boring downtime and enjoy only the sounds of the smacking bat against a flying ball at Major League Baseball's Home Run Derby. It's not one, two, three strikes you're out at this old ball game sponsored by T-Mobile. The annual home-run-hitting contest debuted in 1985 and is held the day before the All-Star Game. It's also Gatorade All-Star Workout Day, so you'll have plenty to ogle as you gear up to watch the players hit it outta the park. 8 p.m. Monday at Marlins Park, 501 Marlins Way, Miami; mlb.com. Tickets cost $250 to $360.
Tuesday
Even if the only baseball players you've ever heard of are Jackie Robinson and Babe Ruth, chances are you'll enjoy watching the cream of this sport's crop play at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Sponsored by MasterCard, it has been a baseball tradition for the past 88 years, and if ever there was a game that valued tradition, it's this one. You can either learn about the sport by watching its best players take the field, or simply enjoy the talents of athletes whom fans seem to love more than their own mothers. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Marlins Park, 501 Marlins Way, Miami; mlb.com. Tickets cost $280 to $363.
Wednesday
This isn't the first time Slava's Snowshow has blown into town, but its return will be a cool reprieve from the steamy summer. The international show will run through August 6 at the Arsht Center's Ziff Ballet Opera House. Slava, the creator, was actually the original Cirque du Soleil clown before crafting this theatrical experience, so expect that impressive, over-the-top, acrobatic clown energy, but with a tweaked vision. 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami; 305-949-6722; arsht.org. Tickets cost $30 to $75.
In 1503, Leonardo da Vinci painted a small and simple portrait of a woman known as the Mona Lisa. Her hint of a smile has inspired generations of art admirers to obsess about the reason behind that smirk. This Wednesday, the Actors' Playhouse will debut Michael McKeever's Finding Mona Lisa, a play about the history of the painting. The story includes the meeting between the assumed subject, Señora del Giocondo, and the master painter; the artwork's theft; and even its trip stateside at the request of Jackie Kennedy. It's a funny take on an old subject that will help you better understand why this picture has inspired so many people. 8 p.m. Wednesday through August 13 at Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables; 305-444-9293; actorsplayhouse.org. Tickets cost $30 to $40.
Pompano Beach's Bailey Contemporary Arts offers exhibitions, workshops, and residencies for artists. That's a lot of resources, space, and time allotted to a group of folks not used to on-the-clock excess. The museum has now added to its roster the weekly program Lunch With Art, presumably to feed the starving artists out there. You can either bring your own lunch or grab some food at BAC's café, which offers Blooming Bean Coffee, while spending time in the galleries. Each week will feature speakers, hands-on activities, or music plus a chill space to gather your thoughts. 12:15 p.m. Wednesday at Bailey Contemporary Arts, 41 NE First St., Pompano Beach; 954-295-2225; baileyarts.org. Admission is free.
