Music

Serena Ryder is excited to be able to present her music in an outdoor setting for a Greater Victoria audience. She'll play Butchart Gardens on July 25, one of three special event concerts the tourist attraction has planned for this summer. Photo by Kayla Rocca

Serena Ryder brings The Art of Falling Apart to Vancouver Island

Seven-time JUNO Award-winner schedules 5 September dates on the Island

  • Sep 7, 2022
Serena Ryder is excited to be able to present her music in an outdoor setting for a Greater Victoria audience. She'll play Butchart Gardens on July 25, one of three special event concerts the tourist attraction has planned for this summer. Photo by Kayla Rocca
The City of Victoria is hosting the first-ever Victoria Music Symposium in partnership with Rifflandia this fall. (File photo courtesy of Rifflandia)

Victoria hosting first-ever music symposium

The three-day event aims to help local professional artists further their careers

The City of Victoria is hosting the first-ever Victoria Music Symposium in partnership with Rifflandia this fall. (File photo courtesy of Rifflandia)
Members of South Korean K-pop band BTS, V, SUGA, JIN, Jung Kook, RM, Jimin, and j-hope from left to right, pose for photographers ahead of a press conference to introduce their new single “Butter” in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 21, 2021. South Korea may conduct a public survey to help determine whether to grant exemptions of the mandatory military service to members of the K-pop superstar boyband BTS, officials said Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

South Korea may conduct survey on BTS members’ military duty

Band’s oldest member, Jin, faces enlistment in December, when he turns 30

Members of South Korean K-pop band BTS, V, SUGA, JIN, Jung Kook, RM, Jimin, and j-hope from left to right, pose for photographers ahead of a press conference to introduce their new single “Butter” in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, May 21, 2021. South Korea may conduct a public survey to help determine whether to grant exemptions of the mandatory military service to members of the K-pop superstar boyband BTS, officials said Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2022.(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)
Members of Choral Evolution began fall rehearsals on Sept. 7 in Sooke. (Contributed - Choral Evolution)

Choral Evolution launche season with new director, accompanist

Bruce Ruddell leaves choir to pursue other musical opportunities

Members of Choral Evolution began fall rehearsals on Sept. 7 in Sooke. (Contributed - Choral Evolution)
Cowichan Valley rapper Switch. (Citizen file photo)

New song has Cowichan rapper Switch focused on ‘Memories’

Cowichan Valley rapper Switch has written a song about coping with the…

Cowichan Valley rapper Switch. (Citizen file photo)
Residents at Legion Manor Retirement Living in Saanichton spent the pandemic learning to play the ukulele and held their first concert on Aug. 2. (Courtesy of Paula Hosking)

‘It’s just lovely’: Saanichton seniors take up the ukulele

Legion Manor Retirement Living residents held their first concert Aug. 2

Residents at Legion Manor Retirement Living in Saanichton spent the pandemic learning to play the ukulele and held their first concert on Aug. 2. (Courtesy of Paula Hosking)
Musician Jesse Thomas Brown performs on Oak Bay’s sixth painted piano, in Estevan Village on a recent Friday afternoon. Community members of all ages decorated the instrument by collaging mandalas they painted. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)

VIDEO: Musician brings sixth Oak Bay piano to life in Estevan Village

Musician unites community with pop hits in instrument’s inaugural public act

Musician Jesse Thomas Brown performs on Oak Bay’s sixth painted piano, in Estevan Village on a recent Friday afternoon. Community members of all ages decorated the instrument by collaging mandalas they painted. (Evert Lindquist/News Staff)
Arts and Music in the Gardens takes over the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific in Saanich on Aug. 6 and 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Courtesy of Horticulture Centre of the Pacific)

Arts and Music in the Gardens returning to HCP in Saanich

Horticulture centre hosting family-friendly festival for a 26th year, Aug. 6 and 7

Arts and Music in the Gardens takes over the Horticulture Centre of the Pacific in Saanich on Aug. 6 and 7 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Courtesy of Horticulture Centre of the Pacific)
Freeze Frame, from left, Steve Moyer, Paul McLellan, Lisa McLellan and Steve Hansen perform at a Saanich Music in the Park event in 2019. The band performs this Thursday (July 21) at Willows Park. (Courtesy of Lisa McLellan)

Greater Victoria band checkers Willows stage with timeless hits July 21

Freeze Frame, on stage July 21, fuses friendship with a love for ’80s music

Freeze Frame, from left, Steve Moyer, Paul McLellan, Lisa McLellan and Steve Hansen perform at a Saanich Music in the Park event in 2019. The band performs this Thursday (July 21) at Willows Park. (Courtesy of Lisa McLellan)
Langley guitarist and producer Mitch Merrett, on the right with his band Black Mountain Whiskey Rebellion, recently had a guitar missing for 15 years, a gift from his parents, recovered. (Special to the Langley Advance Times)

B.C. country musician recovers guitar stolen in Surrey 15 years ago

The Telecaster was a gift from his parents when he was starting out

Langley guitarist and producer Mitch Merrett, on the right with his band Black Mountain Whiskey Rebellion, recently had a guitar missing for 15 years, a gift from his parents, recovered. (Special to the Langley Advance Times)
April 26, 2022 - Aaron Gray photographed in Nanaimo with his bass guitar for Boulevard magazine. Don Denton photograph.

A love of playing live and furniture

Aaron Gray, vice president of La-Z-Boy Vancouver Island

  • Jul 15, 2022
April 26, 2022 - Aaron Gray photographed in Nanaimo with his bass guitar for Boulevard magazine. Don Denton photograph.
FILE – Singer Adele and sports agent Rich Paul attend a game between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 19, 2021, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Allen J. Schaben (Los Angeles Times/AP)

VIDEO: Adele says she was a ‘shell of a person’ after canceling Vegas residency

Adele announced the cancellation of her residency one day before the concerts were to commence

FILE – Singer Adele and sports agent Rich Paul attend a game between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 19, 2021, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. Allen J. Schaben (Los Angeles Times/AP)
Victoria’s Inner Harbour was packed Friday as crowds gathered to celebrate the return of in-person Canada Day activities with live music, food, and vendors. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Music, food, and fun mark Canada Day in Victoria

The Inner Harbour was packed with hundreds of people ahead of the night’s fireworks display

Victoria’s Inner Harbour was packed Friday as crowds gathered to celebrate the return of in-person Canada Day activities with live music, food, and vendors. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Graham Blank, Lia Crowe photo

Life and style

Graham Blank, VP, Director for Tom Lee Music Canada and Steinway Piano Galleries of Canada

  • Jul 1, 2022
Graham Blank, Lia Crowe photo
Classic Canadian rock band Chilliwack will play Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on June 29 at 7:30 p.m. (submitted photo)

Legendary Canadian rock band Chilliwack playing Vancouver Island twice this week

David Gogo to appear as special guest in June 29 performance

Classic Canadian rock band Chilliwack will play Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on June 29 at 7:30 p.m. (submitted photo)
Drummers celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017. Courtesy of the CDD website.

They got the beat: Canada Day Drumming event aims to pound out world record

Event hoping to unite people through percussion, break own record for simultaneous online drum roll

Drummers celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday in 2017. Courtesy of the CDD website.
FILE - Boston Pops Conductor John Williams conducting the orchestra in Boston in 1980. Williams, 90, is devoting himself to composing concert music, including a piano concerto he’s writing for Emanuel X. This spring, he and cellist Yo-Yo Ma released the album “A Gathering of Friends,” recorded with the New York Philharmonic. (AP Photo, File)

Movie music maestro John Williams, 90, steps away from film, but not music

After more than six decades of making bicycles soar, sending panicked swimmers…

FILE - Boston Pops Conductor John Williams conducting the orchestra in Boston in 1980. Williams, 90, is devoting himself to composing concert music, including a piano concerto he’s writing for Emanuel X. This spring, he and cellist Yo-Yo Ma released the album “A Gathering of Friends,” recorded with the New York Philharmonic. (AP Photo, File)
Grace Bartha works on her mandala at Carlton House in Oak Bay. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)

VIDEO: Oak Bay piano brings generations together before the music even begins

Local artist leads community to create mandalas for intergenerational project

Grace Bartha works on her mandala at Carlton House in Oak Bay. (Christine van Reeuwyk/News Staff)
T. Patrick Carrabré, Métis composer and UBC Director of the School of Music, has worked with Indigenous artists for more than 20 years (Photo courtesy T. Patrick Carrabré).

‘Give them back their music, and the future is limitless’: B.C. Indigenous prof

Wave of mainstream popularity helps Indigenous communities reclaim music and educate other Canadians

T. Patrick Carrabré, Métis composer and UBC Director of the School of Music, has worked with Indigenous artists for more than 20 years (Photo courtesy T. Patrick Carrabré).
Nanaimo singer Lauren Spencer-Smith took the stage at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on Sunday, June 12, as part of the Summertime Ball show. (Lauren Spencer-Smith/TikTok image)

Nanaimo’s Lauren Spencer-Smith sings at Wembley Stadium

Teen performed at the Summertime Ball this past weekend in London, England

Nanaimo singer Lauren Spencer-Smith took the stage at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on Sunday, June 12, as part of the Summertime Ball show. (Lauren Spencer-Smith/TikTok image)