Live music

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 coming to Vancouver Island as Sunfest headliner

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

 

Juno award winner and CCMA winner Jess Moskaluke will perform two shows in one night at the Queen’s in Nanaimo on Nov. 25. (Submitted photo)

Country star Jess Moskaluke plays three Vancouver Island shows

Award-winning artist nearing end of cross-Canada tour

 

Syl Thompson and band Ground Control will bring back ‘the definitive Bowie experience’ to Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on Sunday, Nov. 20. (Submitted photo)

Tribute act unpacks David Bowie experience across Vancouver Island

Syl Thompson and band Ground Control perform in Victoria, Nanaimo and Campbell River

 

Bruce Coughlan, left, Nolan Murray and Laurence Knight of the Celtic roots trio Tiller’s Folly will perform alongside special guests Valdy and Gary Fjellgaard at Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on Nov. 18. (Submitted photo)

Celtic roots trio celebrates 25 years with Valdy, Gary Fjellgaard and Irish dancers

Tiller’s Folly performs at Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on Friday, Nov. 18

Bruce Coughlan, left, Nolan Murray and Laurence Knight of the Celtic roots trio Tiller’s Folly will perform alongside special guests Valdy and Gary Fjellgaard at Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on Nov. 18. (Submitted photo)
Victoria Levesque poses during a concert featuring ZINNIA at The.Victoria.House on Sunday, Nov. 6. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

Victoria resident hosting shows in her home before deal inked on Dragons’ Den

Victoria Levesque has been hosting concerts at her home since 2019

Victoria Levesque poses during a concert featuring ZINNIA at The.Victoria.House on Sunday, Nov. 6. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
Tom Wilson, left, Colin Linden, Stephen Fearing of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings will play Nanaimo’s Port Theatre Nov. 12. (Photo by Mark Maryanovich)

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings set to make 2 Island stops on 25th anniversary tour

Folk rock-alternative country act released its 11th studio album, ‘O Glory,’ this past summer

Tom Wilson, left, Colin Linden, Stephen Fearing of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings will play Nanaimo’s Port Theatre Nov. 12. (Photo by Mark Maryanovich)
Hospital employee Shannon Bower (left) is hoping to give a special gift to Sir Elton John at his concert Friday evening. Her co-workers Berni Russell, who made Elton-style safety glasses, Kavita Dabla and manager Janine Lapierre, along with hospital foundation staff Terra Scheer, Andrea Woo, Tim Staunton, and Gabriella Matute are backing her ambitious goal. (Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance Times)

Hey, Elton John, can you give Shannon a wave in the fourth row?

Langley woman’s last minute offer for a friend’s concert ticket has her hoping for the musician’s help

Hospital employee Shannon Bower (left) is hoping to give a special gift to Sir Elton John at his concert Friday evening. Her co-workers Berni Russell, who made Elton-style safety glasses, Kavita Dabla and manager Janine Lapierre, along with hospital foundation staff Terra Scheer, Andrea Woo, Tim Staunton, and Gabriella Matute are backing her ambitious goal. (Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance Times)
Nanaimo singer Laura Kelsey at Westwood Lake during the shooting of the cover image for her yet-to-be released single ‘Your Stormy Ways’. (Photo by Van Isle Portraits)

Nanaimo singer opening for Matthew Good on his Island tour

Laura Kelsey also set to release first single from debut album at tour start

Nanaimo singer Laura Kelsey at Westwood Lake during the shooting of the cover image for her yet-to-be released single ‘Your Stormy Ways’. (Photo by Van Isle Portraits)
In one of only three B.C. shows, Steven Page will play Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on Sept. 28. (David Bergman photo)

Former Barenaked Ladies frontman to play pair of Vancouver Island dates

Steven Page poised to released Excelsior, his first album since 2018

In one of only three B.C. shows, Steven Page will play Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on Sept. 28. (David Bergman photo)
Blue Rodeo has added a stop in Victoria to their Many a Mile tour and will be at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre Nov. 24. (Courtesy of Dustin Rabin/Blue Rodeo)

Blue Rodeo adds fall Victoria date to Western Canada tour

Band added the stop at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre to their Many a Mile concert series

Blue Rodeo has added a stop in Victoria to their Many a Mile tour and will be at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre Nov. 24. (Courtesy of Dustin Rabin/Blue Rodeo)
Colin James plays at Nanaimos Port Theatre Sept. 27. (J. OMeara Photo)

Colin James takes ‘Open Road’ toward Vancouver Island

Musician to performs songs from Juno Award-winning new album in Nanaimo and Victoria

Colin James plays at Nanaimos Port Theatre Sept. 27. (J. OMeara Photo)
Lorde dances on stage Sunday, Sept. 18, during the final day of Rifflandia 2022 at Royal Athletic Park. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Lorde sends off Victoria’s Rifflandia music festival in style

Thousands filled Royal Athletic Park for the final day of the festival

Lorde dances on stage Sunday, Sept. 18, during the final day of Rifflandia 2022 at Royal Athletic Park. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Ken Lavigne and Joëlle Rabu will headline the first two days of Nanaimo’s inaugural Big Band Festival at Maffeo Sutton Park, Sept. 2-4. (Anna Bullock and Angie Oh photos)

Nanaimo’s first-ever Big Band Festival on its way to the waterfront

Ken Lavigne and Joëlle Rabu headline event Sept. 2-4 at Maffeo Sutton Park

Ken Lavigne and Joëlle Rabu will headline the first two days of Nanaimo’s inaugural Big Band Festival at Maffeo Sutton Park, Sept. 2-4. (Anna Bullock and Angie Oh photos)
The Crash Test Dummies bring their international tour to Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre for two shows, Aug. 22 and 23. (Crashtestdummies.com)

Twice the ‘90s fun as the Crash Test Dummies collide with Vancouver Island

Band with roots in Winnipeg reintroducing the hits to longtime fans and newbies in 2 Island cities

The Crash Test Dummies bring their international tour to Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre for two shows, Aug. 22 and 23. (Crashtestdummies.com)
Willie Nile and his band will play Nanaimo’s Queen’s Hotel on Saturday, Aug. 12, from 7-9 p.m. (Cristina Arragoni photo)

New York rocker playing Nanaimo as part of rare West Coast tour

Willie Nile and his band performing at the Queen’s on Aug. 13

Willie Nile and his band will play Nanaimo’s Queen’s Hotel on Saturday, Aug. 12, from 7-9 p.m. (Cristina Arragoni photo)
Sarah Varro, left, James Vickers and Ezra Beaton play the Doors’ Roadhouse Blues at the Queen’s Hotel during the July 31 Sunday Blues Jam session. They’ll play the Nanaimo Summertime Blues Festival as the New Blues Showcase on Aug. 13 between 1-2 p.m. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)

Youth talent will get a share of the stage at Nanaimo Summertime Blues Festival

Festival happening Aug. 11-14 at Maffeo Sutton Park

Sarah Varro, left, James Vickers and Ezra Beaton play the Doors’ Roadhouse Blues at the Queen’s Hotel during the July 31 Sunday Blues Jam session. They’ll play the Nanaimo Summertime Blues Festival as the New Blues Showcase on Aug. 13 between 1-2 p.m. (Mandy Moraes/News Bulletin)
Shawn Mendes performs “Summer of Love” at the MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in New York. Mendes is one of several musicians to cancel Canadian concert dates in recent weeks.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Charles Sykes-Invision-AP

From Mendes to New Kids, concert cancellations prove a costly gamble for fans

Fans sometimes stuck with hefty travel, hotel expenses

Shawn Mendes performs “Summer of Love” at the MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in New York. Mendes is one of several musicians to cancel Canadian concert dates in recent weeks.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Charles Sykes-Invision-AP
Bluegrass Fever, the host band for the Chemainus Bluegrass Extravaganza. From left, Jan Norton (fiddle), Luann Burton (stand-up bass), and Barrie Hemmings (guitar and banjo). Unfortunately, mainstay Bob johns couldn’t be there due to illness. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Bluegrass music draws a huge following

Delightful array of bands entertain audience

Bluegrass Fever, the host band for the Chemainus Bluegrass Extravaganza. From left, Jan Norton (fiddle), Luann Burton (stand-up bass), and Barrie Hemmings (guitar and banjo). Unfortunately, mainstay Bob johns couldn’t be there due to illness. (Photo by Don Bodger)
Paolo Bortolussi, left, Calvin Dyck and Mark Beaty perform along the shore of Nanaimo’s Long Lake during Vancouver Island Symphony’s Pop-Up Concert Series last year. This year’s summer series will run July 7 until Aug. 20. (Photo courtesy Vancouver Island Symphony)

Vancouver Island Symphony planning series of pop-up concerts

Pop-Up Concert Series will see four groups play six locations from July 7 until Aug. 20

Paolo Bortolussi, left, Calvin Dyck and Mark Beaty perform along the shore of Nanaimo’s Long Lake during Vancouver Island Symphony’s Pop-Up Concert Series last year. This year’s summer series will run July 7 until Aug. 20. (Photo courtesy Vancouver Island Symphony)
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 outdoor Esquimalt Lagoon 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)