Live music

George Millar and Ian Millar, lead singers of The Irish Rovers. Millar, an Irish Rover all his life, wrote the song Hey Boys Sing Us A Song as a response to the Covid-19 years, and includes the refrain “We all need some happiness back in our lives!” The song is nominated Canadian Folk Music Awards, SINGLE OF THE YEAR. (Hamish Burgess)

‘Absolutely wonderful’: Victoria Irish Rovers co-founder celebrates nomination

Popular Irish-Canadian band rings in 60 years of uplifting spirits with a tour, award nomination

George Millar and Ian Millar, lead singers of The Irish Rovers. Millar, an Irish Rover all his life, wrote the song Hey Boys Sing Us A Song as a response to the Covid-19 years, and includes the refrain “We all need some happiness back in our lives!” The song is nominated Canadian Folk Music Awards, SINGLE OF THE YEAR. (Hamish Burgess)
Carmanah performs at the Capital Ballroom on Feb. 16. (Black Press Media file photo)

Beloved Victoria band Carmanah calls it quits

Carmanah’s final show will be on May 20 at the McPherson Playhouse

Carmanah performs at the Capital Ballroom on Feb. 16. (Black Press Media file photo)
Children’s entertainer Will Stroet brings his symphony show to Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on Sunday, March 26, performing alongside the Vancouver Island Symphony. (Photo by Carla Elaine Hedges)

Multilingual children’s entertainer to play with the Vancouver Island Symphony

Will Stroet will perform his symphony show at Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on March 26

Children’s entertainer Will Stroet brings his symphony show to Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on Sunday, March 26, performing alongside the Vancouver Island Symphony. (Photo by Carla Elaine Hedges)
Angelique Francis (seen here in concert with her sister, Kira, playing trombone) won the 2023 Juno for Blues Album of the Year on March 11. Francis and her family will be playing at Vancouver Island MusicFest this summer. Photo via Doug Cox

Vancouver Island MusicFest scheduled performers bring home Juno hardware

When Vancouver Island MusicFest executive director Doug Cox announced Angelique Francis as…

Angelique Francis (seen here in concert with her sister, Kira, playing trombone) won the 2023 Juno for Blues Album of the Year on March 11. Francis and her family will be playing at Vancouver Island MusicFest this summer. Photo via Doug Cox
Trumpet legend Herb Alpert performs at the Tidemark Theatre Wednesday, April 5 with his wife Lani Hall joning him and their band on vocals. Photo by Dewey Nicks

Tijuana Brass trumpet legend Herb Alpert is always moving forward

Canadian tour rolls into four B.C. dates, including Nanaimo, Campbell River, Victoria and Vancouver

Trumpet legend Herb Alpert performs at the Tidemark Theatre Wednesday, April 5 with his wife Lani Hall joning him and their band on vocals. Photo by Dewey Nicks
Nanaimo Sings community choir group members during rehearsal for the ‘Made in Nanaimo’ concert at the Port Theatre on March 5. (John Collison-Baker photo)

More than 200 singers from 15 choirs coming together for ‘Made in Nanaimo’ concert

March 5 show will feature guest appearances by Joëlle Rabu, Buwa and Fiddelium

Nanaimo Sings community choir group members during rehearsal for the ‘Made in Nanaimo’ concert at the Port Theatre on March 5. (John Collison-Baker photo)
Siblings Solon McDade, left, Shannon Johnson and Jeremiah McDade will perform at Nanaimo’s Unitarian Hall on Feb. 22 as part of their West Coast tour. (Photo by Dustin Delfs/Laughing Dog Photography)

Celtic-folk family band makes Vancouver Island its first stop in West Coast tour

The McDades play Nanaimo, Courtenay, Victoria and Quadra Island

Siblings Solon McDade, left, Shannon Johnson and Jeremiah McDade will perform at Nanaimo’s Unitarian Hall on Feb. 22 as part of their West Coast tour. (Photo by Dustin Delfs/Laughing Dog Photography)
James Wood is performing in and putting on the Indie Rock in the River festival on Feb. 25. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror

Psychedelic, punk and folk music coming to Indie Rock in the River festival

Campbell River producer hopes festival boosts local indie music scene

James Wood is performing in and putting on the Indie Rock in the River festival on Feb. 25. Photo by Marc Kitteringham/Campbell River Mirror
Regina blues master Jack Semple returns to MusicFest in 2023; this time plugged in, with his band. Photo by Terry Farrell

Jack Semple will plug in for return to Vancouver Island MusicFest

It’s by design that Vancouver Island MusicFest artistic director Doug Cox rarely…

Regina blues master Jack Semple returns to MusicFest in 2023; this time plugged in, with his band. Photo by Terry Farrell
Cosette Justo Valdés, left, and Marion Newman will guest as the conductor and mezzo-soprano singer, respectively, during the Vancouver Island Symphony’s next concert in Nanaimo on Feb. 11. (Submitted photos)

Vancouver Island Symphony concert will showcase songs of winter

Cosette Justo Valdés will be guest conductor, Marion Newman will be guest singer

Cosette Justo Valdés, left, and Marion Newman will guest as the conductor and mezzo-soprano singer, respectively, during the Vancouver Island Symphony’s next concert in Nanaimo on Feb. 11. (Submitted photos)
Danny Davis Guitars are displayed in Huntsville, Ala. A groundswell of support for the Vancouver Folk Music Festival has its board of directors rethinking plans to cancel this year’s event and dissolve the society.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, The Huntsville Times, Matt Wake

Chorus of support has Vancouver folk fest board reviewing cancellation, letter says

Board has paused a motion to dissolve the society and looking at options to continue

Danny Davis Guitars are displayed in Huntsville, Ala. A groundswell of support for the Vancouver Folk Music Festival has its board of directors rethinking plans to cancel this year’s event and dissolve the society.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, The Huntsville Times, Matt Wake
In a cross-Island tour, Nanaimo’s ‘coastal folk’ singer songwriter Spencer Hiemstra continues his January tour through bars, cafes and breweries - playing the Nanaimo Bar on Jan. 27. (Submitted photo)

‘Coastal-folk’ singer-songwriter touring Vancouver Island all month

Spencer Hiemstra and Aaron Wylder co-headline Jan. 27 show at the Nanaimo Bar

In a cross-Island tour, Nanaimo’s ‘coastal folk’ singer songwriter Spencer Hiemstra continues his January tour through bars, cafes and breweries - playing the Nanaimo Bar on Jan. 27. (Submitted photo)
Cellist Ariel Barnes will guest with the Vancouver Island Symphony during their fourth seasonal concert ‘Appassionato’ at Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on Jan. 21. (Submitted photo)

Vancouver Island Symphony to play with great emotion in upcoming concert

Appassionato concert on Jan. 21 will feature guest cellist and guest conductor

Cellist Ariel Barnes will guest with the Vancouver Island Symphony during their fourth seasonal concert ‘Appassionato’ at Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on Jan. 21. (Submitted photo)
Music director Yariv Aloni presents the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra’s 37th season. (GVYO photo)

Youth shine in upcoming Victoria orchestra event

Barber of Seville will be part of upcoming event

  • Jan 10, 2023
Music director Yariv Aloni presents the Greater Victoria Youth Orchestra’s 37th season. (GVYO photo)
Casey Cawston and Dianne Clifton were invited up on stage by Kane Brown, with Cawston giving a shoutout to their hometown of Keremeos. (Facebook)

Video: B.C. couple get dance of a lifetime on stage at Kane Brown concert

The couple were invited up at the Vancouver show and gave their hometown a shoutout

Casey Cawston and Dianne Clifton were invited up on stage by Kane Brown, with Cawston giving a shoutout to their hometown of Keremeos. (Facebook)
Patrick Courtin, along with Drake Shoemaker and Adam Robertson, will perform ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ concert at the Unitarian Hall on Dec. 22. (Submitted photo)

Jazz trio brings iconic Charlie Brown Christmas music back to Nanaimo

The Patrick Courtin Trio will perform at Unitarian Hall on Dec. 22

Patrick Courtin, along with Drake Shoemaker and Adam Robertson, will perform ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ concert at the Unitarian Hall on Dec. 22. (Submitted photo)
From left to right, Grace Lelliot, her brother Griffin, AJ Lontayao, Kaylin Lagos and Roger Shi only met in Joe Shields' Basic guitar Class in September. Photo Edward Hitchins/Campbell River Mirror

Campbell River high school band makes CBC Youtube music contest

Carihi Students entry featured soulful cover of Tanika Charles ‘Tell me Something”

From left to right, Grace Lelliot, her brother Griffin, AJ Lontayao, Kaylin Lagos and Roger Shi only met in Joe Shields' Basic guitar Class in September. Photo Edward Hitchins/Campbell River Mirror
Ruby Waters performs at the Capital Ballroom on Nov. 26. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Victoria welcomes Ruby Waters with open arms for sold-out show

All proceeds from hat sales at the concert were donated to the Victoria Cool Aid Society

Ruby Waters performs at the Capital Ballroom on Nov. 26. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
Country superstar Blake Shelton has been announced as the headline for next summer’s Sunfest Country Music Festival, running Aug. 3 to 6, 2023. (Courtesy of Sunfest Country Music Festival)

Blake Shelton announced as Sunfest headliner

The Cowichan country music festival returns to Laketown Ranch Aug. 3 to 6, 2023

Country superstar Blake Shelton has been announced as the headline for next summer’s Sunfest Country Music Festival, running Aug. 3 to 6, 2023. (Courtesy of Sunfest Country Music Festival)
Belmont Secondary School music students Hongye Lin, Mac Johnston, Jay Lausman and Nihitha Pottumutu are gearing up for this year’s Winter Concert, set for Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Belmont students aim to hit the perfect notes at winter concert

Dec. 8 event showcases hard work of dozens of students in multiple bands

Belmont Secondary School music students Hongye Lin, Mac Johnston, Jay Lausman and Nihitha Pottumutu are gearing up for this year’s Winter Concert, set for Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)