Entertainment

The Isidore String Quartet are one of many talented chamber musicians who will perform at this year's Victoria Summer Music Festival at the Phillip T. Young Recital Hall. (Courtesy Victoria Summer Music Festival)

Victoria Summer Music Festival returns July 25 with chamber passionate musical offerings

This year’s concert schedule features Marion Newman, the Emily Carr String Quartet, Kimberley-Ann Bartczak, Jaeden Izik-Dzurko and more

  • Jul 21, 2023
The Isidore String Quartet are one of many talented chamber musicians who will perform at this year's Victoria Summer Music Festival at the Phillip T. Young Recital Hall. (Courtesy Victoria Summer Music Festival)
B-Movie Festival offers free movies under the stars. (Courtesy VFF)

B-Movie Festival a must-see freebie experience

Free films under the stars courtesy of the Victoria Film Festival

  • Jul 21, 2023
B-Movie Festival offers free movies under the stars. (Courtesy VFF)
Ziggy Alberts, an Australian singer-songwriter who has established himself as one of Australia’s leading independent artists, performs at Capital Ballroom July 26 & 27. (Janneke Storm)

Ziggy Alberts draws inspiration from Sunshine Coast

Alberts brings the spirit of the wildnerness to Victoria with his new album DANCING IN THE DARK

  • Jul 19, 2023
Ziggy Alberts, an Australian singer-songwriter who has established himself as one of Australia’s leading independent artists, performs at Capital Ballroom July 26 & 27. (Janneke Storm)
Gareth Gaudin at Legends Comics giving comic book recommendations. (Katharine Brynjolfson)

Five graphic novels you need to read

Owners of Legends Comics touch on the beauty of comics, becoming more mainstream, and why superheroes are fading

Gareth Gaudin at Legends Comics giving comic book recommendations. (Katharine Brynjolfson)
Black Press Media photographer Don Denton has a showcase of his work documenting the early punk music scene in Vancouver July 13 to Aug. 13 in New York. (Flyer design by Rich Jacobs)

Greater Victoria photographer puts the punk back in NYC neighbourhood

View Royal resident showcases images shot of the Vancouver punk music scene 45 years ago

Black Press Media photographer Don Denton has a showcase of his work documenting the early punk music scene in Vancouver July 13 to Aug. 13 in New York. (Flyer design by Rich Jacobs)
Hexennacht was chosen as the name of the festival because it is both reclaims the term ‘witch’ and the message of creativity associated with rebirth, according to festival organizers. (Courtesy Cabaret Voltaire Society website)

Hexennacht, a music festival with roots in Eastern European folklore, showcases the magic of feminine energy — cisgendered and otherwise

Femme musicians are celebrated at Victoria’s Hexennacht Festival, based on Western European folk traditions

  • Jul 10, 2023
Hexennacht was chosen as the name of the festival because it is both reclaims the term ‘witch’ and the message of creativity associated with rebirth, according to festival organizers. (Courtesy Cabaret Voltaire Society website)
The TD Art Gallery Paint-In is Vancouver Island’s largest summer art festival, bringing together more than 160 artists. (Courtesy Art Gallery of Greater Victoria)

Paint-In provides a canvas to our imagination

Annual festival at Art Gallery of Greater Victoria on July 15 gives platform to the Island’s creative talent

  • Jul 7, 2023
The TD Art Gallery Paint-In is Vancouver Island’s largest summer art festival, bringing together more than 160 artists. (Courtesy Art Gallery of Greater Victoria)
(Courtesy Gallery Merrick)

Gallery Merrick does things differently

Fresh new talent a hallmark of gallery’s approach

  • Jul 6, 2023
(Courtesy Gallery Merrick)
American country star Blake Shelton will appear at 2023’s Sunfest. Shelton has been a judge on the televised singing competitions Nashville Star, Clash of the Choirs, and a coach on NBC’s The Voice from 2011 to 2023. (Courtesy Sunfest)

Three Chords and the truth

Sunfest is the Island’s annual country celebration

  • Jul 4, 2023
American country star Blake Shelton will appear at 2023’s Sunfest. Shelton has been a judge on the televised singing competitions Nashville Star, Clash of the Choirs, and a coach on NBC’s The Voice from 2011 to 2023. (Courtesy Sunfest)
The Midnights are a 14-person Motown, soul and RB ensemble that mixes local seasoned musicians with Vic High School band alumni. (Courtesy The Midnights)

Inspired by the movie The Commitments, Victoria big band The Midnights drives ambitions of recent graduates

Motown, soul & R&B ensemble is a spin-off of the Vic High School band and play regularly at Hermann’s Upstairs

  • Jul 3, 2023
The Midnights are a 14-person Motown, soul and RB ensemble that mixes local seasoned musicians with Vic High School band alumni. (Courtesy The Midnights)
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)