Live music

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)

Musician with a message playing show in Ladysmith

Nanaimo’s Glen Foster will play the Ladysmith Waterfront Gallery on May 20

 

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)

Island 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

 

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

 

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)
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)
Rock band Dear Rouge performs at Surrey’s Party for the Planet festival in 2014, in celebration of Earth Day. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C.’s new ARC program aims to give musicians the tools to build sustainable careers

Applications from B.C.-based musicians now welcomed, with 15 to be picked for program’s first round

Rock band Dear Rouge performs at Surrey’s Party for the Planet festival in 2014, in celebration of Earth Day. (Black Press Media file photo)
Taylor Hawkins, the longtime drummer for the rock band Foo Fighters, died on Friday (March 25) at age 50. The band has since cancelled its 2022 tour, which included a Victoria show in October. (Photo by Al Wagner/Invision/AP)

Foo Fighters cancel Vancouver Island tour date following longtime drummer’s death

Taylor Hawkins died at the age of 50 on March 25

Taylor Hawkins, the longtime drummer for the rock band Foo Fighters, died on Friday (March 25) at age 50. The band has since cancelled its 2022 tour, which included a Victoria show in October. (Photo by Al Wagner/Invision/AP)
Tim McGraw sings “Something Like That” in a video posted to Youtube.com. The American artist is booked to perform during the 2022 Rockin River Fest in Merritt, B.C.

Tim McGraw, Darius Rucker headline summer’s Rockin River Fest in flood-hit Merritt

‘Now more than ever, we need things to be excited about,’ city’s mayor says

Tim McGraw sings “Something Like That” in a video posted to Youtube.com. The American artist is booked to perform during the 2022 Rockin River Fest in Merritt, B.C.
Ashley Wey, Hermann’s Jazz Club’s booking manager and longtime performer at the Victoria venue. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Victoria’s Hermann’s Jazz Club makes first and only pandemic plea amid struggles

Recent capacity restrictions have been the hardest yet on Island music institution

Ashley Wey, Hermann’s Jazz Club’s booking manager and longtime performer at the Victoria venue. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
Jesse Roper is a popular Victoria-based musician whose performances in Greater Victoria were widely attended prior to the pandemic. (Photo courtesy of Jesse Roper/Facebook)

COVID shifts perspective for Vancouver Island performing artists

Studio owner/performer wants more clarity; guitarist/songwriter enjoys slower pace

Jesse Roper is a popular Victoria-based musician whose performances in Greater Victoria were widely attended prior to the pandemic. (Photo courtesy of Jesse Roper/Facebook)
Canada’s Drag Race comes to Victoria’s Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre for a July 16 performance winding up its nationwide tour. (Facebook/Canada’s Drag Race)

Second season of Canada’s Drag Race ending tour with Victoria finale

Fans can attend July 16 at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre

Canada’s Drag Race comes to Victoria’s Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre for a July 16 performance winding up its nationwide tour. (Facebook/Canada’s Drag Race)
The Vancouver Island country music festival Sunfest has been postponed the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Citizen file)

Canadian Live Music Association aims for clarity with live event regulations guide

Each province’s rules for live event gatherings is explored in detail in online guide

The Vancouver Island country music festival Sunfest has been postponed the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Citizen file)
Saanich residents Reb Stevenson (left) and Billy Reid are the duo behind Pancake Manor, a successful children’s YouTube channel. (Photo courtesy of Reb Stevenson)

B.C. duo drops new kids’ music as Youtube videos close in on 2 billion views

Duo behind Pancake Manor releasing their eighth children’s album this week

Saanich residents Reb Stevenson (left) and Billy Reid are the duo behind Pancake Manor, a successful children’s YouTube channel. (Photo courtesy of Reb Stevenson)
Lead singer Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragon performs during the 2017 Much Music Video Awards in Toronto. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press file photo)

Imagine Dragons adds Vancouver Island concert date in April

Pop-rock band best known for songs Believer, Thunder and Radioactive

Lead singer Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragon performs during the 2017 Much Music Video Awards in Toronto. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press file photo)
Avril Lavigne’s newly released song, Bite Me, precedes more music and a new album by the same name in the new year. (Warner Music Canada)

Avril Lavigne announces final tour stop will bring her to Vancouver Island

Concert set for May 25 in in Victoria, Bite Me tour the pop-punk artist’s first in more than 10 years

Avril Lavigne’s newly released song, Bite Me, precedes more music and a new album by the same name in the new year. (Warner Music Canada)
The Cowichan Camerata Orchestra will perform at Oceanview Community Church in Ladysmith on Dec. Dec. 12. (Photo courtesy of the Cowichan Camerata Orchestra)

Cowichan Camerata String Orchestra to perform in Ladysmith

Orchestra excited to be back after being unable to perform indoors early in pandemic

The Cowichan Camerata Orchestra will perform at Oceanview Community Church in Ladysmith on Dec. Dec. 12. (Photo courtesy of the Cowichan Camerata Orchestra)
The late Dusty Hill (left) and ZZ Top founder Billy F Gibbons are seen on stage at the band’s show in Penticton in 2009. The Tres Hombres will perform at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre April 22, 2022, with special guests Cheap Trick. (Black Press Media file photo)

ZZ Top to rock Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre April 22

Online ticket sales open Friday at 10 a.m., with tickets starting at $49

The late Dusty Hill (left) and ZZ Top founder Billy F Gibbons are seen on stage at the band’s show in Penticton in 2009. The Tres Hombres will perform at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre April 22, 2022, with special guests Cheap Trick. (Black Press Media file photo)
Johnny Cash, June Carter and others pictured on a page from “Memories From the Mountain,” a new book that documents the history of Merritt Mountain Music Festival in photographs by Surrey’s Dee Lippingwell. (Photos: Dee Lippingwell)

Merritt country music festival’s ‘crazy-ass scene’ recalled in photographer’s new book

Campground C party zone and more remembered in Dee Lippingwell’s third book

Johnny Cash, June Carter and others pictured on a page from “Memories From the Mountain,” a new book that documents the history of Merritt Mountain Music Festival in photographs by Surrey’s Dee Lippingwell. (Photos: Dee Lippingwell)
Helen Austin performing with Trent Freeman at the 2018 Vancouver Island MusicFest. Austin is one of the many performers listed for the 2021 event.

Vancouver Island MusicFest goes virtual for 2021

Black Press to stream 25 hours of programming July 9-11

Helen Austin performing with Trent Freeman at the 2018 Vancouver Island MusicFest. Austin is one of the many performers listed for the 2021 event.
Live concerts could return to venues such as Blue Frog Studios in White Rock by year’s end - provided immunizations make a diference and COVID variants are held in check - according to a recent round table including provincial health officer Dr Bonnie Henry and reprsentatives of performing arts groups. (Submitted photo)

B.C. performing arts groups could see gradual return of live events

Round table between Dr. Bonnie Henry and arts groups gives rise to cautious optimism

Live concerts could return to venues such as Blue Frog Studios in White Rock by year’s end - provided immunizations make a diference and COVID variants are held in check - according to a recent round table including provincial health officer Dr Bonnie Henry and reprsentatives of performing arts groups. (Submitted photo)