Entertainment

Charlie Walls, Katelyn Da Silva, Anny Qin and Lily Edgell make up part of the cast in Mountain Dream Productions' latest offering, Freaky Friday, starting June 23 at the Mary Winspear Theatre. (Image provided)

Freaky Friday, June 23 at Mary Winspear Theatre, a journey of empathy and laughs

Mountain Dream Production cast up to the task

  • Jun 8, 2023
Mo Moshiri is appearing as a solo headliner at Ska and Reggae Festival for the first time in 2023. (Zenon Kai)

The rhythm of the human heart

Victoria’s Ska and Reggae Festival June 21-25 a cause for celebration

  • Jun 7, 2023
Visitors can see short unexpected spectacles every year at the SKAMpede outdoor performing arts festival. (Sam Duerksen)

SKAMpede and new festival Between Words promise spectators a “sampler platter” of Victoria’s local community theatre

The two summer festivals, happening in June and July, showcase theatre all in one-act

  • Jun 6, 2023
Toronto-based East African singer-songwriter Witch Prophet creates a soundscape of vocal layers, loops, raps, and harmonies on a bed of hip-hop, jazz, and soul-inspired beats produced by her wife and business partner, SUN SUN. She will be performing Tuesday, June 27 at Victoria Event Centre as part of JazzFest 2023. (Francesca Nocera)

‘Ethereal, mystical’ Witch Prophet a standout act at JazzFest 2023

The Kenyan-born artist’s music explores lived experiences as an East African, queer, and a mother

  • May 30, 2023
Toronto-based East African singer-songwriter Witch Prophet creates a soundscape of vocal layers, loops, raps, and harmonies on a bed of hip-hop, jazz, and soul-inspired beats produced by her wife and business partner, SUN SUN. She will be performing Tuesday, June 27 at Victoria Event Centre as part of JazzFest 2023. (Francesca Nocera)
Beyond Van Gogh when it was in Calgary in 2021 (1/2) (Ella Matte/News Staff)

Much-anticipated Beyond Van Gogh exhibit opening in Victoria

The captivating experience will open on June 20 at Bayview Place in Vic West

Beyond Van Gogh when it was in Calgary in 2021 (1/2) (Ella Matte/News Staff)
Rich Aucoin is an indie alt-pop and electronic musician based in Halifax. He is the winner of SiriusXM Indie Awards’ Emerging Artist of the Year Award, Eastern Canadian Music Awards and is known for his crowd-karaoke multimedia live shows. (Riley Smith photo)

Rich Aucoin lighting up Lucky Bar with sea of confetti and crowd karaoke June 2

Direct from his Japan and South Korea tour, Rich Aucoin brings the Is This Real Life Tour to the West Coast

  • May 30, 2023
Rich Aucoin is an indie alt-pop and electronic musician based in Halifax. He is the winner of SiriusXM Indie Awards’ Emerging Artist of the Year Award, Eastern Canadian Music Awards and is known for his crowd-karaoke multimedia live shows. (Riley Smith photo)
“This show feels like a moment of reclamation for them to enjoy the fun and adventure of camp but this time on their own terms in a safe and supportive environment,” said Tala Small Wolf. (Marissa Lyn Photography)

Campy Cabaret raising money for Trans Lifeline

Local production company owner responds to “active crisis against trans lives” with SUMMER CAMP, June 17 at the White Eagle Polish Hall

  • May 31, 2023
“This show feels like a moment of reclamation for them to enjoy the fun and adventure of camp but this time on their own terms in a safe and supportive environment,” said Tala Small Wolf. (Marissa Lyn Photography)
The Seaside Folkn’Fiddle Festival returns to Sidney June 9 to 11. (Seaside Folkn’Fiddle Festival/Facebook)
The Seaside Folkn’Fiddle Festival returns to Sidney June 9 to 11. (Seaside Folkn’Fiddle Festival/Facebook)
Performers and crew members get ready for Cirque du Soleil’s production of Corteo in Victoria in 2018. (Black Press Media file photo)

Cirque du Soleil, Billy Talent coming to Victoria

Canadian punk rockers to be joined by special guest GOB

Performers and crew members get ready for Cirque du Soleil’s production of Corteo in Victoria in 2018. (Black Press Media file photo)
Melissa Taylor and Kholby Wardell are starring in Miss Julie, directed by Mercedes Batiz-Benet. (Jam Hamidi)
Melissa Taylor and Kholby Wardell are starring in Miss Julie, directed by Mercedes Batiz-Benet. (Jam Hamidi)
Pierre Schryer and Adam Dobres are a Vancouver Island-based folk duo who have won awards and nominations from the JUNOS, Canadian Folk Music Awards, Western Canadian Music Awards and Grammy Awards. They been playing together since 2008 and will play together at the Folk ‘N Fiddle Festival in June. (image supplied)

Folk ‘n Fiddle Festival Q & A: Pierre Schryer & Adam Dobres speak to the revival of traditional folk music

The award-winning Canadian folk duo play the Seaside Folk ‘n Fiddle Festival in Sidney, June 9-11

  • May 18, 2023
Pierre Schryer and Adam Dobres are a Vancouver Island-based folk duo who have won awards and nominations from the JUNOS, Canadian Folk Music Awards, Western Canadian Music Awards and Grammy Awards. They been playing together since 2008 and will play together at the Folk ‘N Fiddle Festival in June. (image supplied)
Galactic, a funk band from New Orleans, will be playing at Vancouver Island MusicFest this summer. Photo by Josh Brasted Photography.

TALES FROM MUSICFEST: A showcase of ‘Americana’ royalty

BY ROBERT MOYES Special to Black Press The Americana genre encompasses traditional…

  • May 26, 2023
Galactic, a funk band from New Orleans, will be playing at Vancouver Island MusicFest this summer. Photo by Josh Brasted Photography.
Victoria JazzFest 2023 will take place at venues across the city, including free performances at Bullen Park, and ticketed performances at Hermann’s Jazz Club, McPherson Playhouse, Tom Lee Music, and more. (Victoria Jazz Society)

Here’s some upcoming highlights of 2023 JazzFest in Victoria

In its 40th year, JazzFest has headliners Snarky Puppy, Molly Johnson, Sona Jobarteh, Chris Botti, and BADBADNOTGOOD

  • May 31, 2023
Victoria JazzFest 2023 will take place at venues across the city, including free performances at Bullen Park, and ticketed performances at Hermann’s Jazz Club, McPherson Playhouse, Tom Lee Music, and more. (Victoria Jazz Society)
Roman Vishniac, The Jewish Street, Warsaw, 1939, silver gelatin print, Collection of the Vancouver Art Gallery, Gift of Claudia Beck and Andrew Gruft

The Street examines urban life at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria June 3 to Sept. 3

With more than 50 works, The Street includes painting, photography, sculpture and video ranging in date from the eighteenth century to the present

Roman Vishniac, The Jewish Street, Warsaw, 1939, silver gelatin print, Collection of the Vancouver Art Gallery, Gift of Claudia Beck and Andrew Gruft
FILE - A Thursday, May 31, 2012 photo from files showing U.S. singer actress Tina Turner arriving for the Giorgio Armani fashion show held in Beijing. Legendary rock singer Tina Turner has married her longtime German beau, Erwin Bach, in a Swiss civil ceremony. The mayor of Kuesnacht, the wealthy Zurich-area community where Turner lives, says that she and Bach, a music executive, were married several weeks ago at the registry office. Markus Ernst told The Associated Press on Thursday, July 18, 2013, it was a routine ceremony, ahead of a private celebration on Sunday at the couple’s home. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

Unstoppable superstar Tina Turner dead at 83

Turner died Tuesday, after a long illness in her home in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland

FILE - A Thursday, May 31, 2012 photo from files showing U.S. singer actress Tina Turner arriving for the Giorgio Armani fashion show held in Beijing. Legendary rock singer Tina Turner has married her longtime German beau, Erwin Bach, in a Swiss civil ceremony. The mayor of Kuesnacht, the wealthy Zurich-area community where Turner lives, says that she and Bach, a music executive, were married several weeks ago at the registry office. Markus Ernst told The Associated Press on Thursday, July 18, 2013, it was a routine ceremony, ahead of a private celebration on Sunday at the couple’s home. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)
A bone in the office of Dr. Victoria Arbour at the Royal BC Museum. (Ella Matte, Black Press Media)

SUE set to show what she’s made of

Royal BC Museum hosts the best T-Rex ever found

  • May 24, 2023
A bone in the office of Dr. Victoria Arbour at the Royal BC Museum. (Ella Matte, Black Press Media)
Jacob Tremblay and Millie Davis attend the Canadian Premiere of The Little Mermaid held at TIFF Bell Light Box in Toronto on May 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - George Pimentel **MANDATORY CREDIT**

Teenage Jacob Tremblay reflects on revisiting ‘The Little Mermaid’

The Vancouver-raised child star burst onto the scene as a pint-sized phenom in 2015’s ‘Room’

Jacob Tremblay and Millie Davis attend the Canadian Premiere of The Little Mermaid held at TIFF Bell Light Box in Toronto on May 18, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - George Pimentel **MANDATORY CREDIT**
Daniel Romano. (image supplied)

Daniel Romano gears up for Victoria showcase of unique genre of music

Ontario musician, poet & visual artist plays the Capital Ballroom on June 16

  • May 19, 2023
Daniel Romano. (image supplied)
This image released by Peacock shows Rainn Wilson, left, in a taxi in Bulgaria in a scene from "Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss." (Peacock via AP)
This image released by Peacock shows Rainn Wilson, left, in a taxi in Bulgaria in a scene from "Rainn Wilson and the Geography of Bliss." (Peacock via AP)
Coast Salish artist Charlene Johnny from the Quw’utsun Tribes, is one of the 10 Indigenous artists that will benefit for the recent launch of Spark’s Indigenous Augmented Reality five-week incubator program in partnership with Meta and Slow Studies Creative. (Submitted photo)

Duncan woman 1 of just 10 Indigenous artists in national augmented reality program

Charlene Johnny is thrilled with Spark Indigenous Augmented Reality Creator Accelerator

Coast Salish artist Charlene Johnny from the Quw’utsun Tribes, is one of the 10 Indigenous artists that will benefit for the recent launch of Spark’s Indigenous Augmented Reality five-week incubator program in partnership with Meta and Slow Studies Creative. (Submitted photo)