Local Arts

- Saint Etienne - Words and Music by Saint Etienne (Heavenly Records) Rating: 8 (out of 10) Saint Etienne, the conceptual U.K. pop trio featuring Sarah Cracknell on vocals, return after a sevenyear absence with songs about getting older.

ONE up-and-coming Vancouver musician is getting ready for the biggest shows of her career to kick off the summer. Kaylee Johnston will be performing at the PNE's 2012 Summer Playland Festival on July 6 and 8.

IGNITE! arts panel selects Jocelyn Pettit to play in showcase concert

- The Dictator. Directed by Larry Charles. Starring Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris and Ben Kingsley. Rating: 6 (out of 10) SACHA Baron Cohen is at it again, serving his trademark shock-schlock cinema from a slightly altered recipe.

Endless trails, spectacular scenery just part of two-wheeled paradise

Kathy Daniels wins Best Actress award for fourth year in a row

- Beach House - Bloom (Sub Pop Records) Rating: 9 (out of 10) Baltimore duo Beach House (Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand) have produced a perfect summer record with their fourth studio release Bloom.

Juno Award winner ready for next phase

- GONG! The Gamelan Festival, SFU Woodward's Goldcorp Centre for the Arts, Fei & Milton Wong Experimental Theatre May 18-20. Gamelan Gita Asmara, May 18 - 19, 8 p.m. Contemporary Music for Javanese and Sundanese Gamelan May 20, 8 p.m.