Local Entertainment

Passengers stand on the top outside deck of the BC Ferries’ vessel Coastal Celebration in Active Pass during a sailing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay. (Black Press Media Photo File)

8 sailings a day cancelled on Swartz Bay-Tsawwassen route after boat breaks

Coastal Celebration sailings won’t return until late next week, says BC Ferries

Passengers stand on the top outside deck of the BC Ferries’ vessel Coastal Celebration in Active Pass during a sailing from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay. (Black Press Media Photo File)
Lead singer and guitarist of the Jack Semple Band performed on the last night of the Vancouver Island Musicfest at the venue’s main stage. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)

‘A huge success’: a wrap-up of Vancouver Island Musicfest 2023

Over 9,000 concertgoers and volunteers attended this year’s festival

Lead singer and guitarist of the Jack Semple Band performed on the last night of the Vancouver Island Musicfest at the venue’s main stage. (Olivier Laurin / Comox Valley Record)
Bianca Blakney, also known as Pinup Pixie, left, and photographer Sarah Bowman during a photoshoot at Bowman’s studio. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)

Vancouver Island TikToker aims for the stars with ‘retro-futurism’ aesthetic

Bianca Blakney’s style has amassed nearly 12 million followers

Bianca Blakney, also known as Pinup Pixie, left, and photographer Sarah Bowman during a photoshoot at Bowman’s studio. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)
Lauren Spencer-Smith’s debut album ‘Mirror’ will be released on Friday, July 14. (www.laurenspencersmith.com)
Lauren Spencer-Smith’s debut album ‘Mirror’ will be released on Friday, July 14. (www.laurenspencersmith.com)
Victoria-based extreme metal band will bring their sound to the Armstrong Metal Festival stage on July 15. (Courtesy of @_prdxvisuals)

Victoria band bringing existentialistic extreme metal to Okanagan festival

Liminal Shroud’s songs of personal struggle hitting new audiences

Victoria-based extreme metal band will bring their sound to the Armstrong Metal Festival stage on July 15. (Courtesy of @_prdxvisuals)
Aqua was one of the headline acts at Laketown Shakedown in Youbou on the Canada Day long weekend, 2023. (Rob Porter/RMS Media photo)

Laketown Shakedown turns it up on Canada Day weekend

Music lovers of all genres, travelled from all over to take in the jam packed annual music festival

Aqua was one of the headline acts at Laketown Shakedown in Youbou on the Canada Day long weekend, 2023. (Rob Porter/RMS Media photo)
Black Press Media photographer Don Denton has a showcase of his work documenting the early punk music scene in Vancouver July 13 to Aug. 13 in New York. (Flyer design by Rich Jacobs)

Greater Victoria photographer puts the punk back in NYC neighbourhood

View Royal resident showcases images shot of the Vancouver punk music scene 45 years ago

Black Press Media photographer Don Denton has a showcase of his work documenting the early punk music scene in Vancouver July 13 to Aug. 13 in New York. (Flyer design by Rich Jacobs)
Vince Strem lines up the Our Lady Of the Rockies marching band at the Waterwheel Park Bandshell. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Our Lady Of The Rockies strikes up the band for Chemainus visit

Impressive sight and sound spectacular with nearly 80 students performing on stage

Vince Strem lines up the Our Lady Of the Rockies marching band at the Waterwheel Park Bandshell. (Photo by Don Bodger)
The Timebenders will be back at Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre on Aug. 26. (Courtesy Mary Winspear Centre)

Fan favourites return to Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre this summer

Iconic classics will have audiences dancing in their seats

The Timebenders will be back at Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre on Aug. 26. (Courtesy Mary Winspear Centre)
Marian van der Zon, under the stage name Of the Sun, is hosting a CD release party for her debut solo album ‘Still Rising,’ which was created over years of rehabilitation from injuries she sustained from a 2013 vehicle collision. (Submitted photo)

Island folk artist rises from injury that robbed her ability to enjoy music

Yellow Point’s Marian van der Zon’s ‘Still Rising’ focuses on themes of rehabilitation

Marian van der Zon, under the stage name Of the Sun, is hosting a CD release party for her debut solo album ‘Still Rising,’ which was created over years of rehabilitation from injuries she sustained from a 2013 vehicle collision. (Submitted photo)
Suksham Shan, left, Matt Garvey, Pluto Hall, Sam Follis and Nate Jackson in downtown Victoria last summer while filming Joe Rule’s independent film ‘A Reel Heist.’ (Submitted photo)

Nanaimo filmmaker creates small-budget film with a ‘meta twist’

‘A Reel Heist,’ shot mostly in Victoria and Nanaimo, was produced with only $15,000

Suksham Shan, left, Matt Garvey, Pluto Hall, Sam Follis and Nate Jackson in downtown Victoria last summer while filming Joe Rule’s independent film ‘A Reel Heist.’ (Submitted photo)
ABOVE: Jeremy Humpherville, artist and owner of Coastal Carvings Fine Art Gallery in Coombs. The gallery and its artists will be featured in an upcoming TV series on APTN. (Kevin Forsyth photo) 
BELOW: Levi Purjue carves while cameraman Taylor Hanley captures the moment for an upcoming docu-series featuring the artists of Coastal Carvings Fine Art Gallery. (Submitted photo)

Coombs gallery to gain national exposure with upcoming TV series

Coastal Carvings Gallery will be featured on show expected to air on APTN

ABOVE: Jeremy Humpherville, artist and owner of Coastal Carvings Fine Art Gallery in Coombs. The gallery and its artists will be featured in an upcoming TV series on APTN. (Kevin Forsyth photo) 
BELOW: Levi Purjue carves while cameraman Taylor Hanley captures the moment for an upcoming docu-series featuring the artists of Coastal Carvings Fine Art Gallery. (Submitted photo)
Three of Sharon Lennox’s artworks are seen at a Canadian Federation of Artists gallery on Granville Island in Vancouver.

PHOTOS: Royston woman recognized as one of Canada’s best artists

Knife-wielding artist known for painting animals in a realistic style

Three of Sharon Lennox’s artworks are seen at a Canadian Federation of Artists gallery on Granville Island in Vancouver.
Scene from Ghost The Musical, from left, includes: Jennie Neumann (Molly Jensen), Jacob Woike (Sam Wheat) and Madeleine Eddy (Oda Mae Brown). (Photo by Don Bodger)

Human spirit arises in Ghost The Musical

Chemainus Theatre summer blockbuster features the return of a larger cast to the stage

Scene from Ghost The Musical, from left, includes: Jennie Neumann (Molly Jensen), Jacob Woike (Sam Wheat) and Madeleine Eddy (Oda Mae Brown). (Photo by Don Bodger)
A Chemainus-based comic book artist and publisher is raising funds to publish the next instalment of his Monsterella series. (Image courtesy Nevin Arnold)

Chemainus comic book artist raising money to create new anthology of horror stories

Nevin Arnold independently publishes his own and other Vancouver Island artists’ stories

A Chemainus-based comic book artist and publisher is raising funds to publish the next instalment of his Monsterella series. (Image courtesy Nevin Arnold)
Valerie Frances Oliver (left) working with the crew on her new film Mary Two Bears. (Courtesy of Valerie Frances Oliver)

Indigenous short film shot in Greater Victoria calls for land preservation

First-time producer Valerie Frances Oliver shot the film in Langford and Sooke Potholes

Valerie Frances Oliver (left) working with the crew on her new film Mary Two Bears. (Courtesy of Valerie Frances Oliver)
New lighting will enhance the viewer’s experience at the Sooke Fine Arts Show this year. (File - Sooke News Mirror.com)

Sooke Fine Arts Show shines brighter with chandelier lighting project

New lighting will enhance art viewing experience

  • Jun 8, 2023
New lighting will enhance the viewer’s experience at the Sooke Fine Arts Show this year. (File - Sooke News Mirror.com)
Frank Ludwig with other former Trooper bandmates Tommy Stewart and Doni Underhill at the induction ceremony in Calgary. (Photo courtesy Robert Stewart & Ray Connell)

‘We’re Here For a Good Time’ suits Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee

Famous former member of Trooper from Chemainus still making music

Frank Ludwig with other former Trooper bandmates Tommy Stewart and Doni Underhill at the induction ceremony in Calgary. (Photo courtesy Robert Stewart & Ray Connell)
Officials at Ship Point on June 6 announced Victoria will host Hockey Day in Canada in January 2024. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Victoria nets Hockey Day in Canada to showcase city, highlight mental health

National broadcast, days of public events coming to Ship Point

Officials at Ship Point on June 6 announced Victoria will host Hockey Day in Canada in January 2024. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Koko Farion (left) and Justin Holmes are both starring in their first film, a short independent romance called Sandcastles. (Courtesy of Susan Ko)

‘I want to be a superstar’: Two Islanders make acting debut in indie film

Sandcastles is a romance between two characters with learning disabilities

Koko Farion (left) and Justin Holmes are both starring in their first film, a short independent romance called Sandcastles. (Courtesy of Susan Ko)