Live music

Vancouver indie rockers Said the Whale are set to headline Colwood’s Eats and Beats Beach Party on July 30. (Courtesy of Said the Whale/Facebook)

Said the Whale to headline Colwood’s Eats and Beats Beach Party

The event, set for July 30, brings thousands to the Esquimalt Lagoon each year

Vancouver indie rockers Said the Whale are set to headline Colwood’s Eats and Beats Beach Party on July 30. (Courtesy of Said the Whale/Facebook)
Emerald Specks, left, and Kendall Patrick covered John Mayer’s 2006 song ‘Waiting on the World to Change’ on June 10 during the Sounds of Summer outdoor concert series at Fitzwilliam Gate in Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)

Sounds of Summer outdoor series brings variety of music to Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter

Free mid-day hour-long concerts underway until mid September

Emerald Specks, left, and Kendall Patrick covered John Mayer’s 2006 song ‘Waiting on the World to Change’ on June 10 during the Sounds of Summer outdoor concert series at Fitzwilliam Gate in Nanaimo’s Old City Quarter. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)
French horn musician and Royal Canadian Navy Naden Band member Alliszon Zaichkowski, centre, plays one of her 20 conch shells at a competition in Key West, Fla., during March 2020. Zaichkowski went on to win the contest’s women’s division and perform on Canada’s Got Talent. (Courtesy of Alliszon Zaichkowski)

Greater Victoria musician toots conch shell on Canada’s Got Talent; gets Howie Mandel’s support

James Bay resident builds on 21 years of French horn training

French horn musician and Royal Canadian Navy Naden Band member Alliszon Zaichkowski, centre, plays one of her 20 conch shells at a competition in Key West, Fla., during March 2020. Zaichkowski went on to win the contest’s women’s division and perform on Canada’s Got Talent. (Courtesy of Alliszon Zaichkowski)
Kym Gouchie will perform at Parksville’s Knox United Church on June 9. (Red Works Photography)

Singer-songwriter Kym Gouchie to play at Parksville’s Knox United Church

Performer working on children’s album in ancestral languages

Kym Gouchie will perform at Parksville’s Knox United Church on June 9. (Red Works Photography)
Rebecca Haas, a member of the Answer2 Indigenous performance group, is part of the Pacific Opera Victoria-led Voices in Nature program, which visit Outerbridge Park in Saanich’s Royal Oak neighbourhood on June 1 and 2. (Pacific Opera Victoria/Courtesy District of Saanich)

Intimate musical performances await evening visitors to Saanich park

Pacific Opera Victoria’s Voices in Nature returns to Outerbridge Park June 1 and 2

Rebecca Haas, a member of the Answer2 Indigenous performance group, is part of the Pacific Opera Victoria-led Voices in Nature program, which visit Outerbridge Park in Saanich’s Royal Oak neighbourhood on June 1 and 2. (Pacific Opera Victoria/Courtesy District of Saanich)
Vancouver Island dance duo ‘Funkanometry’ perform at Family Day in the Qualicum Beach Community Park on May 29, 2022. (Kevin Forsyth photo)

VIDEO: Vancouver Island dance duo ‘Funkanometry’ perform in Qualicum Beach

Pair will compete on ‘America’s Got Talent’ on May 31

Vancouver Island dance duo ‘Funkanometry’ perform at Family Day in the Qualicum Beach Community Park on May 29, 2022. (Kevin Forsyth photo)
Jason Heit teaches a class at the Island MMA Training Centre in Victoria. Heit moved back to the Island in 2007 after spending four years as a security guard for various A-list celebrities. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Victoria man’s journey took him from the boxing ring to supplying security to the stars

Drew Barrymore, Nicholas Cage, Robbie Williams: Victoria’s Jason Heit was by their side

Jason Heit teaches a class at the Island MMA Training Centre in Victoria. Heit moved back to the Island in 2007 after spending four years as a security guard for various A-list celebrities. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Fred Penner returns to Nanaimo’s Port Theatre for a matinee performance Sunday, May 22, as part of the beloved entertainer’s 40th anniversary tour of his debut album, ‘The Cat Came Back.’ (Photo by Tyler Anderson)

Fred Penner returns to Vancouver Island for ‘The Cat Came Back’ 40th-anniversary tour

‘Catchy tunes and good times’ promised for May 22 matinee show at Nanaimo’s Port Theatre

Fred Penner returns to Nanaimo’s Port Theatre for a matinee performance Sunday, May 22, as part of the beloved entertainer’s 40th anniversary tour of his debut album, ‘The Cat Came Back.’ (Photo by Tyler Anderson)
The Islands Folk Festival will be back this summer at Providence Farm in Duncan on July 23, 2022. (Citizen file)

Islands Folk Festival back in Cowichan boasting big lineup

Festival coming Saturday, July 23

The Islands Folk Festival will be back this summer at Providence Farm in Duncan on July 23, 2022. (Citizen file)
Glen Foster will play the Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery, 444 Parkhill Terrace in Ladysmith, on May 20. In his upcoming recording project, he looks to raise further awareness to “hot topic issues” related to missing and murdered Indigenous women and residential schools. (photo by Doug Wortley of Arrowsmith Media)

Nanaimo musician takes on ‘heavier’ topics on upcoming album

Glen Foster will play the Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery on May 20

Glen Foster will play the Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery, 444 Parkhill Terrace in Ladysmith, on May 20. In his upcoming recording project, he looks to raise further awareness to “hot topic issues” related to missing and murdered Indigenous women and residential schools. (photo by Doug Wortley of Arrowsmith Media)
The musicians of the Sidney Concert Band under the conductorship of Bruce Ham will unleash their inner animals on May 29 during their annual spring concert at the Mary Winspear Centre, performing a series of animal-themed pieces. (Photo courtesy of Nicola Hestnes)

Carnival of the Animals in town when Sidney Concert Band performs May 29

The Lion King among the selections to be performed at the Mary Winspear Centre

The musicians of the Sidney Concert Band under the conductorship of Bruce Ham will unleash their inner animals on May 29 during their annual spring concert at the Mary Winspear Centre, performing a series of animal-themed pieces. (Photo courtesy of Nicola Hestnes)
Victoria-born and based singer-song writer Leeroy Stagger says he sees the area through a new lens. (Piper Ferguson/Submitted)

Sidney to hear environmental messages from singer-songwriter Leeroy Stagger

Fatherhood, sobriety has given Stagger a new lens on Greater Victoria

Victoria-born and based singer-song writer Leeroy Stagger says he sees the area through a new lens. (Piper Ferguson/Submitted)
Dan Mangan will perform in Nanaimo at the Port Theatre on May 17 at 7:30 p.m., with special guest Georgia Harmer. (photo submitted)

Juno award winner will play Nanaimo’s Port Theatre

Dan Mangan and special guest Georgia Harmer perform May 17

Dan Mangan will perform in Nanaimo at the Port Theatre on May 17 at 7:30 p.m., with special guest Georgia Harmer. (photo submitted)
Jane Lytvynenko’s family outside their rental property in Nanaimo’s University District. From left: Luka Lytvynenko, Oksana Lytvynenko, Yevheniia Koval, Tetiana Malashta, Victoria Breznytska (her children, Sofia and Arsen), Jane Lytvynenko and her son, David. Not pictured is Volodymyr Malashta, Tetiana Malashta’s husband. In partnership with the OV Arts Centre, Youth 20/20 Can will hold a benefit concert to help support the family on Saturday, May 7. (Mandy Moraes/Nanaimo Bulletin)

Benefit concert will help recently immigrated Ukraine family in Nanaimo

‘Stand With Ukraine’ show to be held Saturday, May 7, at the OV Arts Centre

Jane Lytvynenko’s family outside their rental property in Nanaimo’s University District. From left: Luka Lytvynenko, Oksana Lytvynenko, Yevheniia Koval, Tetiana Malashta, Victoria Breznytska (her children, Sofia and Arsen), Jane Lytvynenko and her son, David. Not pictured is Volodymyr Malashta, Tetiana Malashta’s husband. In partnership with the OV Arts Centre, Youth 20/20 Can will hold a benefit concert to help support the family on Saturday, May 7. (Mandy Moraes/Nanaimo Bulletin)
Newcombe Singers perform Celtic Reflections on Mother’s Day, May 8 in Oak Bay’s St. Mary’s Church. (Black Press Media file photo)

Celtic song and dance storm Oak Bay stage for Mother’s Day performance

Newcombe Singers explore music from the old world and new on May 8

Newcombe Singers perform Celtic Reflections on Mother’s Day, May 8 in Oak Bay’s St. Mary’s Church. (Black Press Media file photo)
Long-time CBC host Grant Lawrence joins musicians Kathryn Calder, Jay Malinowski and Ashleigh Ball on stage in Sidney on May 4 to celebrate the release of Return To Solitude, the long-awaited follow-up book to Lawrence’s bestselling debut. (Courtesy of Mary Winspear Centre)

Grant Lawrence to regale Sidney audience with colourful tales of Desolation Sound

Musical guests Kathryn Calder, Jay Malinowski and Ashleigh Ball join longtime CBC host

Long-time CBC host Grant Lawrence joins musicians Kathryn Calder, Jay Malinowski and Ashleigh Ball on stage in Sidney on May 4 to celebrate the release of Return To Solitude, the long-awaited follow-up book to Lawrence’s bestselling debut. (Courtesy of Mary Winspear Centre)
Several music-themed events are returning to Sidney’s Beacon Park for 2022, but the costs of portable toilets has led some organizers to withdraw applications. (Black Press Media file photo)

Special events set to return to Sidney parks starting in May

Cost, availability of portable toilets a roadblock for some smaller events

Several music-themed events are returning to Sidney’s Beacon Park for 2022, but the costs of portable toilets has led some organizers to withdraw applications. (Black Press Media file photo)
Rehearsals are underway in Greater Victoria, and going well as Current Swell prepares for its North American tour in May when fellow local musician Jesse Roper fills in on guitar. (Current Swell/Facebook)

Greater Victoria musicians hit the road to cure pandemic blues

Current Swell adds Jesse Roper to the lineup for May tour in Canada-U.S.

Rehearsals are underway in Greater Victoria, and going well as Current Swell prepares for its North American tour in May when fellow local musician Jesse Roper fills in on guitar. (Current Swell/Facebook)
Legendary country blues guitarist David Essig brings his talents to The Oaks in Oak Bay on May 14 for a show benefitting Ukrainian refugees. (davidessig.com)

David Essig playing fundraiser show in Oak Bay for Ukrainian refugees

Legendary country blues guitarist brings his talents to town for May 14 show

Legendary country blues guitarist David Essig brings his talents to The Oaks in Oak Bay on May 14 for a show benefitting Ukrainian refugees. (davidessig.com)
Canadian band Our Lady Peace will tour to B.C. cities this spring. (Submitted photo)

Holograms help power Our Lady Peace tour that includes Vancouver concert this spring

Alt-rock band touts ‘intersection of music and technology’ in partnership with ARHT Media

Canadian band Our Lady Peace will tour to B.C. cities this spring. (Submitted photo)