Local Entertainment

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 announced as Sunfest headliner

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

Michaelangelo and Candice Woodward celebrating the announcement of the 2019 Capital City Comic Con. (Black Press Media file photo)

Future uncertain as Capital City Comic Con on hiatus for 2023

Resources required to plan the event for its traditional spring dates deemed too onerous

The Viano String Quartet is playing the opening concert for this year’s Victoria Summer Music Festival, which kicks off July 28. (Courtesy Viano String Quartet)

Victoria Summer Music Festival opens Thursday at UVic recital hall

Viano String Quartet makes Greater Victoria debut with July 28 concert

Artists perform at Cirque du Soleil Ovo at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria. (Arnold Lim/Black Press Media)

VIDEO: Cirque du Soleil wows Victoria audience with Ovo

Black Press Media takes you behind the scenes

Artists perform at Cirque du Soleil Ovo at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria. (Arnold Lim/Black Press Media)
Rebecca Haas, a member of the Answer2 Indigenous performance group, is part of the Pacific Opera Victoria-led Voices in Nature program, which visit Outerbridge Park in Saanich’s Royal Oak neighbourhood on June 1 and 2. (Pacific Opera Victoria/Courtesy District of Saanich)

Intimate musical performances await evening visitors to Saanich park

Pacific Opera Victoria’s Voices in Nature returns to Outerbridge Park June 1 and 2

Rebecca Haas, a member of the Answer2 Indigenous performance group, is part of the Pacific Opera Victoria-led Voices in Nature program, which visit Outerbridge Park in Saanich’s Royal Oak neighbourhood on June 1 and 2. (Pacific Opera Victoria/Courtesy District of Saanich)
Victoria-born and based singer-song writer Leeroy Stagger says he sees the area through a new lens. (Piper Ferguson/Submitted)

Sidney to hear environmental messages from singer-songwriter Leeroy Stagger

Fatherhood, sobriety has given Stagger a new lens on Greater Victoria

Victoria-born and based singer-song writer Leeroy Stagger says he sees the area through a new lens. (Piper Ferguson/Submitted)
Host and comic Steve Patterson, flanked by comics Derek Seguin and Erica Sigurdson, brings the hilarious spontaneity of The Debaters Live on Tour to the Royal Theatre on May 13. (Photos, from left, by Joep Hovens, John Hryniuk and courtesy Erica Sigurdson)

The Debaters offers Victoria audience a fun escape from the day’s news

People have to learn to laugh again, says Steve Patterson, host of May 13 show

Host and comic Steve Patterson, flanked by comics Derek Seguin and Erica Sigurdson, brings the hilarious spontaneity of The Debaters Live on Tour to the Royal Theatre on May 13. (Photos, from left, by Joep Hovens, John Hryniuk and courtesy Erica Sigurdson)
Rifflandia returns to Victoria for the first time in four years Sept. 15-18. (Photo courtesy of Rifflandia)

Lorde, Charli XCX to headline 2022 Rifflandia festival

September lineup unveiled for the first Victoria fest in four years

  • May 4, 2022
Rifflandia returns to Victoria for the first time in four years Sept. 15-18. (Photo courtesy of Rifflandia)
Newcombe Singers perform Celtic Reflections on Mother’s Day, May 8 in Oak Bay’s St. Mary’s Church. (Black Press Media file photo)

Celtic song and dance storm Oak Bay stage for Mother’s Day performance

Newcombe Singers explore music from the old world and new on May 8

Newcombe Singers perform Celtic Reflections on Mother’s Day, May 8 in Oak Bay’s St. Mary’s Church. (Black Press Media file photo)
Shrek and Fiona, Elijah Bell and Gracie Vanthuyne, rehearse a scene from the CCPA production of Shrek the Musical, starting May 6 at the Dave Dunnet Community Theatre in Oak Bay High. (Courtesy CCPA)

Oak Bay performing arts students tackle 40 unique characters of Shrek

Canadian College of Performing Arts’ new musical opens at Dave Dunnet theatre May 6

Shrek and Fiona, Elijah Bell and Gracie Vanthuyne, rehearse a scene from the CCPA production of Shrek the Musical, starting May 6 at the Dave Dunnet Community Theatre in Oak Bay High. (Courtesy CCPA)
Rehearsals are underway in Greater Victoria, and going well as Current Swell prepares for its North American tour in May when fellow local musician Jesse Roper fills in on guitar. (Current Swell/Facebook)

Greater Victoria musicians hit the road to cure pandemic blues

Current Swell adds Jesse Roper to the lineup for May tour in Canada-U.S.

Rehearsals are underway in Greater Victoria, and going well as Current Swell prepares for its North American tour in May when fellow local musician Jesse Roper fills in on guitar. (Current Swell/Facebook)
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria announces seasoned veteran as its new director

Nancy Noble will take the reins as gallery continues plan to move downtown

Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.
Australian comic Jim Jefferies is coming to Victoria’s Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Sept. 22. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/Washington Post)

Jim Jefferies brings his standup show to Victoria in September

Australian’s Moist Tour stops at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Sept. 22

Australian comic Jim Jefferies is coming to Victoria’s Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on Sept. 22. (Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/Washington Post)
Legendary country blues guitarist David Essig brings his talents to The Oaks in Oak Bay on May 14 for a show benefitting Ukrainian refugees. (davidessig.com)

David Essig playing fundraiser show in Oak Bay for Ukrainian refugees

Legendary country blues guitarist brings his talents to town for May 14 show

Legendary country blues guitarist David Essig brings his talents to The Oaks in Oak Bay on May 14 for a show benefitting Ukrainian refugees. (davidessig.com)
Artist Logan Ford, leasing agent for Rockslide Studio, works on a piece at the grassroots arts organization’s new home at 780 Blanshard St. Rockslide supports artists in the region by providing affordable studio and showcase space. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Victoria arts hub open house to showcase variety of styles

Rockslide Studio Gallery hosting public April 23 at new downtown home

Artist Logan Ford, leasing agent for Rockslide Studio, works on a piece at the grassroots arts organization’s new home at 780 Blanshard St. Rockslide supports artists in the region by providing affordable studio and showcase space. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
Cirque du Soliel returns to Victoria with OVO this June. (Courtesy Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre)

Cirque du Soleil returns to Victoria this spring with OVO

Seven performances will transform Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre in June

Cirque du Soliel returns to Victoria with OVO this June. (Courtesy Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre)
Christine Reimer has been a practising artist for over 40 years and will soon have her most recent works on display at the Arts Centre at Cedar Hill in Saanich. (Photo christinereimer.ca)

New colourful art exhibit coming to Saanich’s Cedar Hill Rec Centre

Art Centre at Cedar Hill features works by Christine Reimer, April 19 to May 9

Christine Reimer has been a practising artist for over 40 years and will soon have her most recent works on display at the Arts Centre at Cedar Hill in Saanich. (Photo christinereimer.ca)
Drawing by Ke Ma, one of the 32 graduating students from the University of Victoria’s fine arts department. (Courtesy Ke Ma via Subject to Change website) Drawing by Ke Ma, one of the 32 graduating students from the University of Victoria’s fine arts department. (Courtesy Ke Ma via Subject to Change website)

Graduating visual arts students prepare for year-end exhibit at UVic

Opening night April 14, exhibit on display to public through April 24

Drawing by Ke Ma, one of the 32 graduating students from the University of Victoria’s fine arts department. (Courtesy Ke Ma via Subject to Change website) Drawing by Ke Ma, one of the 32 graduating students from the University of Victoria’s fine arts department. (Courtesy Ke Ma via Subject to Change website)
Art pieces produced by some of the members of Fibres and Beyond include (from left) a jacket by Gail Erickson; Whispers, a doll by Linda Danielson, and Kusaki Zome, Misty forest by Elizabeth Tanner. (Courtesy of Fibres and Beyond)

Fibres and Beyond celebrates 20 years of shows with Metchosin exhibition

The textile artists group has been meeting every month since 2002

Art pieces produced by some of the members of Fibres and Beyond include (from left) a jacket by Gail Erickson; Whispers, a doll by Linda Danielson, and Kusaki Zome, Misty forest by Elizabeth Tanner. (Courtesy of Fibres and Beyond)
Canadian musician George Zukerman, who won numerous awards for playing the bassoon, leads a musical celebration of Beethoven at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney this Saturday (March 26). The concert is part of an extended marking of the 250th anniversary of the composer’s birth, delayed by COVID. (Courtesy of George Zukerman)

Sidney rolls on with Young Beethoven in celebrating composer’s 250th birthday

March 26 show features all-star ensemble with commentary from bassoonist George Zukerman

Canadian musician George Zukerman, who won numerous awards for playing the bassoon, leads a musical celebration of Beethoven at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney this Saturday (March 26). The concert is part of an extended marking of the 250th anniversary of the composer’s birth, delayed by COVID. (Courtesy of George Zukerman)