The week ahead features several National acts coming to Western New York, as well as culturally diverse theater experiences. Get out there and soak up as much as you can!

Here are 11 Editor's Picks of cool and interesting events going on in the area for the week of Feb 17 - 23.

Be sure to check out our events calendar for much more of what's going on in WNY, and check back every Friday for a "Best Bets" for the weekend.

Hopsin
Town Ballroom
Tue Feb 18
Los Angeles born rapper, record producer, director, and actor brings his positive rhymes to The Town Ballroom for a high energy show sure to keep your head bobbing. Click here for more. 

Lettuce
Tralf Music Hall
Fri Feb 21
Celebrating their 20th anniversary as modern day rulers of old school funk, Brooklyn-based juggernaut Lettuce drops their third studio album FLY - a decidedly raging slab of relentless groove, hyper-charged syncopation and psychedelicized soul anthems. More info here.

Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles
Shea’s Performing Arts Center
Wed Feb 19 – Thu Feb 20
Be amazed by this live multi-media spectacular that takes you on a musical journey through the life and times of the world’s most celebrated band. Going further than before, this new RAIN adds even more hits that you know and love from the vast anthology of Beatles classics such as “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “Hard Day’s Night,” “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” “Let It Be,” “Come Together” and “Hey Jude.” This stunning concert event takes you back in time with the legendary foursome delivering a note-for-note theatrical event that is the next best thing to the Beatles. Don’t miss the Broadway smash that’s taking the world by storm…RAIN - A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES. Official site.

SPANK! Harder: The Sequel
UB Center for the Arts
Thu Feb 20
The country’s #1 LADIES’ NIGHT OUT returns with an ALL NEW SHOW! The phenomenon of SPANK! THE FIFTY SHADES PARODY took the world by storm, delivering a night of naughty and hilarious fun to women in over 150 cities across the globe. Now, SPANK! HARDER picks up where the original left off, parodying not only Fifty Shades but also taking aim at a variety of women’s pop culture. Our “author,” E.B. Janet, pens her next novel and takes the audience on her newest wild adventure fantasy in the sexy, satirical style that audiences have come to love. Find more info here.

Rusted Root
Buffalo Iron Works
Tue Feb 18
Coming to fame in the 90’s, the Pittsburgh based band brings their fusion of acoustic, rock, world and other styles of music to Buffalo Iron Works for one show only. Click here for more.

M&T THIRD FRIDAYS Sabres Exhibit Opening & Historic Characters Come to Life!
Buffalo History Museum
Fri Feb 21
A LIVELY NIGHT AT THE HISTORY MUSEUM (One Museum Court) A Night at The Buffalo History Museum. Admission is free all day and a full program of history related activities and entertainment will take place from 6 – 9 p.m. The celebration also includes museum tours, artifact scavenger hunts, crafts, and more.
Seven exhibits in the museum will be represented by actors and re-enactors portraying historic story- telling characters:
Millard Fillmore (Peter Wolfe) in the Street of Shops
Erastus Granger (Tom Shobert) in the The John R. Oishei Pioneer Gallery
George Pierce (Billy McEwen) in the Bflo Made Exhibit
Mary Talbert (Mary Craig) in the Neighbors Exhibit
Red Jacket (Al Parker) in the The John R. Oishei Native American Gallery
Abe Lincoln (David Krutiz) in the State Court Room
War of 1812 Soldiers (Volunteers from Old Fort Niagara) in the By Fire & Sword: The War in the Niagara Frontier Theatre, 1812-1814 Exhibit. Official site.

Justin Timberlake
First Niagara Center
Sat Feb 22
The music icon brings his 20/20 Experience World Tour to the First Niagara Center. More info here.

SonReal
Waiting Room
Sat Feb 22
SonReal is a new school leader. With a 2013 Juno and MMVA nomination, this young artist has independently put all eyes on him through consistently putting out interesting innovative material. Notorious for releasing mixtapes that have an album feel, it is easy to see why SonReal is at the forefront of not only Vancouver's hip hop scene, but the Canadian music industry as a whole.
With a number of successful releases under his belt, SonReal began 2012 with the release of the final two singles from 2011's Where's Waldo?. Both reaching 100,000 views within their first few weeks online, SonReal kept the buzz alive with the release of an 18 track mixtape titled, Words I Said in April 2012. Directed at the promotion of his summer release, Good News, Words I Said spread across the Internet quickly. With support from some of the largest hip hop blogs such as, 2dopeboyz.com, NahRight.com, HipHopDX and more, Words I Said developed an awareness and anticipation for SonReal's upcoming Good News. Up Up Up was the first single from Good News and the driving force leading into its release. A video accompanied the single and was an instant smash once Much Music awarded it "heavy rotation" on their TV network. Good News was released July 25th and has been labeled the largest stepping stone in SonReal's career. Read more here.

Branches from the Same Tree
African American Cultural Center
Recurring weekly on Sunday, Friday, Saturday Through March 9
Written by Marjorie Eliot Directed by Paulette D. Harris
Every family has its deep, dark secrets – but how well are they concealed? And what happens when that dark past comes back to haunt us? There’s an old adage that “what’s done in the dark will soon come to light.” When the light shines on this family’s secrets, will it divide them or make them stronger? Further details here.

The World Champion Judah Friedlander
Helium Comedy Club
Thu Feb 20 – Sat Feb 22
Judah was nominated for Supporting Actor at the Independent Spirit Awards. Judah's countless TV appearances include VH1's Best Week Ever, HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm, MTV's Wonder Showzen, The Tonight Show, other late night talk shows & Comedy Central shows. Judah also starred as the Hug Guy in the classic Dave Matthews Band music video Everyday. With 18 years of stand-up experience, Judah is a comic's comic and a crowd-pleaser. In his stand-up act, Judah is the World Champion. He's a great athlete, gets tons of chicks & is a role model to children. And he's better than you at everything. Official site.

Joe Pug with David Ramirez
Babeville
Tue Feb 18
It’s been years since Joe Pug quit his day job as a carpenter, but his remarkable rise in the music world has been driven by the same hard-worn work ethic. His path has been an unusual one, which has often challenged the traditional rulebook of the music industry, but even now after the release his second album “The Great Despiser”, it has always been characterized by one prevailing idea: Find a way. More info here.