COMEDY

Thur & Fri, July 16 & 17
Jim Gaffigan
If every father were as funny as Jim Gaffigan, the term “dad joke” wouldn’t have a groanworthy connotation. His perfectly honed bits about parenting (he has five munchkins of his own) play equally well in the conservative heartland and liberal coastal metropolitan hubs, and are only trumped by riffs about his true love—delicious, delicious food. McCaw Hall, $42–$52

Fri & Sat, July 17 & 18
Witty City: Emmett Montgomery and Brett Hamil
Two of Seattle’s favorite bearded comedians and collaborators take the stage this weekend as co-headliners for Comedy Underground’s Witty City series, a summer-long showcase of Seattle’s best comedic talent. Comedy Underground, $15

CONCERTS

Thur, July 16
The Decemberists
With Colin Meloy’s hyperliterate lyrical storytelling and his band’s baroque instrumentation, the Decemberists served as the stereotypical modern Portland band before the stereotype even formed. While things feel a touch more straightforward on the band’s new album, What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World, any act that’s good enough to play the Pawnee-Eagleton unity Concert (on Parks and Recreation) is worth seeing. Marymoor Park, $40–$45

July 16–18
Timber! Outdoor Music Festival
At long last, Timber! Outdoor Music Festival has escaped the shadow of the other fest it shares a weekend with, Capitol Hill Block Party. With a lineup that features punk jokers the Dead Milkmen and locals like Beat Connection, David Bazan, and Jon and Josiah of the Head and the Heart, the third edition of the fest strikes the perfect balance between rocking out and camping out. Tolt-MacDonald Park, Carnation, $30–$40; weekend pass $75

Fri, July 17
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Frontman Alec Ounsworth describes Clap Your Hands Say Yeah’s new record Only Run as a documentation of his life in music over the last ten years. Fittingly, the latest Clap Your Hands Say Yeah tour features the band performing tunes from it as well celebrating its own 10th anniversary by playing its self-titled debut album in its entirety. Sometimes things come perfectly full circle. The Crocodile, $20

Sat, July 18
The Both
Of course the pairing of singer-songwriters Aimee Mann and Ted Leo—aka the Both—produced a collection of warm, inviting rock numbers. What might surprise is how funny the Both’s live shows are, thanks to the pair’s flippant stage banter. It might be worth the price of admission even without the songs—though we’ll gladly take the intelligent and catchy power pop tunes. The Crocodile, $25

Sat, July 18
Aqueduct: Wild Knights Release Show
Eight years since the Aqueduct last studio album, David Terry reemerges with more of his twitchy weirdo electronic indie pop on Wild Knights. The new record sonically picks up where Aqueduct last left off: simple hooky pop melodies, off-kilter beats, and personal, emotional songwriting. Tractor Tavern, $10

Sun, July 19
Against Me!
Ferocious, frenetic, and fierce. When Against Me! swings through town, fans can always count on a completely unrelenting blast of punk rock aggression bolstered by Laura Jane Grace's screeching howl. The crowd is sure to be moshing and scream along with every line as the band rips through tunes from Transgender Dysphoria Blues and the rest of its impressive discography. Neptune Theatre, $21–$24

Sun, July 19
Rush
Between the stunning technical virtuosity and propensity to lyrically focus on science fiction and philosophy, Rush might be the nerdiest legendary rock group of all time. It’s a safe bet that more than a few D&D players–turned–tech workers will fill KeyArena when the Canadian prog-rock institution heads to town on its 40th anniversary tour. NW KeyArena, $46–$151

THEATER

Thru Aug 2
Grease
♫Grease is coming, it’s such a blast. / Classic style, young local cast. /Music by the Dusty 45s / ’Cause its sound totally jives. / Summer at 5th Avenue / with (uh-oh) this musical. / (Uh, well-ah, well-ah, well-ah, well-ah, huh) / Tell me more, tell me more. / Songs that burrow like mites. / Tell me more, tell me more. / Runs for 22 nights. / Check it out, if you’ve the time. / On (oh oh) those summer nights.♫ 5th Avenue Theatre, $29–$141

VISUAL ART

July 16–Sept 5
Angelina Nasso
On the brush of contemporary abstract painter Angelina Nasso, the beauty of natural landscapes becomes warped bursts of brilliant color. By mixing opaque and transparent paint, each image becomes a vivid, ethereal smear of wild vitality. Winston Wächter Fine Art, Free

THE SPORTING LIFE

Fri, July 17
Manchester United vs. Club América
The most supertalented soccer matchup at CenturyLink Field this summer won’t feature the Sounders. As part of the 2015 International Champions Cup, Premier League powerhouse Manchester United squares off with Mexican Liga MX contenders Club América in a battle for international bragging rights. CenturyLink Field, $34–$134

SPECIAL EVENT

Fri, July 17
Bootleggers Bash
South Lake Union Park turns into an illicit Prohibition-era party as MOHAI celebrates its American Spirits exhibition with the Bootleggers Bash. It’s a bang-up excuse to bust out the pseudo gangster gear and faux flapper fashion for a night on the town. South Lake Union Park, $20

July 17–19
Vashon Island Strawberry Festival
For its 106^th year running, Vashon Island is putting on a weekend for all ages. The festival boasts parades, live music, a pancake breakfast, kid-friendly games and activities, a Saturday night street dance, and the staple of Seattle summer festivals—a beer garden. Vashon Island, Free

BOOKS & TALKS

Thur, July 16
Ernest Cline: Armada
No author revels in nostalgia like Ernest Cline. With an unreal ’80s-reference-per-sentence ratio, his virtual-reality sci-fi epic Ready Player One might be the most pop culture-dense novel ever written. Cline returns with Armada, his new novel about a boy who must save humanity from an alien invasion using his video game skills. University Book Store, Free