Entertainment

Many B.C. festival favourites return this summer, including Laketown Shakedown, Sunfest, Shambhala and Nanaimo Blues Festival. (Courtesy Laketown Shakedown)

Road trip? Here’s some B.C. festivals to visit this summer

This festival preview features music and art festivals, from day trips to full-on camping weekends

Many B.C. festival favourites return this summer, including Laketown Shakedown, Sunfest, Shambhala and Nanaimo Blues Festival. (Courtesy Laketown Shakedown)
Pianist-comedienne Sarah Hagen one of many performers at this year’s Summer Recital Series. (Courtesy Sarah Hagen Facebook)

Christ Church Cathedral brings free summer concerts to Victoria

Summer Recital Series returns July 27 - Aug. 5 with by-donation concerts

  • Jun 29, 2023
Pianist-comedienne Sarah Hagen one of many performers at this year’s Summer Recital Series. (Courtesy Sarah Hagen Facebook)
Taken at Wonderment 2021 in Banfield Park with LongWalkShortDock's equipment in foreground. (David Bodrug)

Wonderment Festival Aug. 4-7 showcases marriage between tech & art

Wonderment artistic director, David Bodrug, is confident the 2023 edition of the…

  • Jun 29, 2023
Taken at Wonderment 2021 in Banfield Park with LongWalkShortDock's equipment in foreground. (David Bodrug)
“We love to immerse audiences, allow them to see a public space in a totally new way, and invite them to get in on the action. There’s a scavenger-hunt feel to our outdoor spectacles,” said SNAFU co-artistic director, Kathleen Greenfield. SNAFU debuts New Earth Bandits, a revolutionary outdoor theatrical production, at the Victoria Fringe Festival from Aug. 23-Sep. 3. (Helene Cyr)
(Cover photo by Helen Cyr)

It’s a SNAFU summer with eclectic Victoria theatre productions

Hilarious and uninhibited, SNAFU brings spectacular theatre productions to Victoria’s SKAMpede and Fringe this summer

“We love to immerse audiences, allow them to see a public space in a totally new way, and invite them to get in on the action. There’s a scavenger-hunt feel to our outdoor spectacles,” said SNAFU co-artistic director, Kathleen Greenfield. SNAFU debuts New Earth Bandits, a revolutionary outdoor theatrical production, at the Victoria Fringe Festival from Aug. 23-Sep. 3. (Helene Cyr)
(Cover photo by Helen Cyr)
Adem Tepedelen has co-authored a grunge memoir with Steve Turner, guitarist for Seattle band Mudhoney. (Courtesy of Dave Skilling)

Victoria writer part of grunge memoir with legendary Mudhoney guitarist

The book features a foreword by Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard

Adem Tepedelen has co-authored a grunge memoir with Steve Turner, guitarist for Seattle band Mudhoney. (Courtesy of Dave Skilling)
Originally from Kitamaat Village, B.C. and currently based in Vancouver, Snotty Nose Rez Kids are a First Nations hip hop duo composed of Haisla rappers Darren "Young D" Metz and Quinton "Yung Trybez" Nyce. They are performing at Tilt! July 8. (Kaylee Smoke)

Here’s why Tilt!, Phillips Backyard, is Phillips largest production to date

The three day event will see live music from DJ Pee .Wee, Bahamas, Lord Huron and more

Originally from Kitamaat Village, B.C. and currently based in Vancouver, Snotty Nose Rez Kids are a First Nations hip hop duo composed of Haisla rappers Darren "Young D" Metz and Quinton "Yung Trybez" Nyce. They are performing at Tilt! July 8. (Kaylee Smoke)
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
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)
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
Mo Moshiri is appearing as a solo headliner at Ska and Reggae Festival for the first time in 2023. (Zenon Kai)
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
Visitors can see short unexpected spectacles every year at the SKAMpede outdoor performing arts festival. (Sam Duerksen)
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)
“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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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.
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)