Music

Nanaimo singer Elise Boulanger releases her new single, ‘Cigarettes et rosé’ on Oct. 11. (Photo courtesy Laura Baldwinson)

Nanaimo singer releasing new single inspired by overheard conversations

Elise Boulanger to unveil ‘Cigarettes et rosé,’ accompanying ukulele tutorial video to come

Nanaimo singer Elise Boulanger releases her new single, ‘Cigarettes et rosé’ on Oct. 11. (Photo courtesy Laura Baldwinson)
Joëlle Rabu and Nico Rhodes present No Regrets, a live-streamed and in-person show featuring the songs of French singer Édith Piaf at the Port Theatre on Oct. 17. (Photo courtesy Vital Image)

Nanaimo mother-son duo pay tribute to Édith Piaf in Nanaimo

Vocalist Joëlle Rabu and pianist and arranger Nico Rhodes present ‘No Regrets’ show Oct. 17

Joëlle Rabu and Nico Rhodes present No Regrets, a live-streamed and in-person show featuring the songs of French singer Édith Piaf at the Port Theatre on Oct. 17. (Photo courtesy Vital Image)
Nanaimo psychedelic rock band Moths and Locusts – Angus Barter, Dave Bean, Valentina Cardinalli, Mike Breen, Dave Read and Samantha Letourneau (from left) – is marking its 10th anniversary with the release of its latest album ‘Exoplanets.’ (Photo courtesy Dave Bean)

Nanaimo psychedelic rock band marks 10th anniversary with new release

Moths and Locusts’ new LP ‘Exoplanets’ includes recordings made over the last 10 years

Nanaimo psychedelic rock band Moths and Locusts – Angus Barter, Dave Bean, Valentina Cardinalli, Mike Breen, Dave Read and Samantha Letourneau (from left) – is marking its 10th anniversary with the release of its latest album ‘Exoplanets.’ (Photo courtesy Dave Bean)
The Vancouver Island Symphony recently announced its 2020-21 ‘Symphony from your Sofa’ live-streaming concert series. (Photo courtesy Heydemann Art of Photography)

Vancouver Island Symphony announces 2020-21 live-streaming concert series

‘Symphony from your Sofa’ series features small in-person theatre shows broadcast online

The Vancouver Island Symphony recently announced its 2020-21 ‘Symphony from your Sofa’ live-streaming concert series. (Photo courtesy Heydemann Art of Photography)
This month Nanaimo musician Paul Bezooyen released his latest record, ‘Another World.’ (Photo courtesy John Grodzki)

Nanaimo guitarist puts decades-old tunes on tape on new instrumental album

Paul Bezooyen’s ‘Another World’ includes compositions dating back to the ’80s

This month Nanaimo musician Paul Bezooyen released his latest record, ‘Another World.’ (Photo courtesy John Grodzki)
Voces Intimae includes, left, Yariv Aloni on viola; Pamela Highbaugh-Aloni on cello; and David Stewart and Paule Préfontaine on violin. The quartet will perform in a Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra online concert on Oct. 5. (Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra photo)

Sooke Philharmonic introduces new quartet

SPO presents first online concert Oct. 5

Voces Intimae includes, left, Yariv Aloni on viola; Pamela Highbaugh-Aloni on cello; and David Stewart and Paule Préfontaine on violin. The quartet will perform in a Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra online concert on Oct. 5. (Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra photo)
Nanaimo musician Jamie Penner is releasing his debut album, ‘Out of Curiosity,’ on Oct. 1. (Photo courtesy Mike Bonkowski)

Nanaimo musician plays all instruments on DIY debut album

Jamie Penner releasing guitar-centric instrumental record ‘Out of Curiosity’

Nanaimo musician Jamie Penner is releasing his debut album, ‘Out of Curiosity,’ on Oct. 1. (Photo courtesy Mike Bonkowski)
Nanaimo-based country singer Joel Lee (right) has released a music video for his latest single, ‘Adrenaline.’ (Photo submitted)

Nanaimo country singer releases new music video

‘Adrenaline’ is the second single from Joel Lee’s upcoming debut EP

Nanaimo-based country singer Joel Lee (right) has released a music video for his latest single, ‘Adrenaline.’ (Photo submitted)
Old School House Arts Centre on Fern Road in Qualicum Beach. (Mandy Moraes photo)

Qualicum Beach ‘Music on Sundays’ concert series to continue this fall online

Classical pianist Leslie Dala first featured artist for all-new The Old School House performances

  • Sep 9, 2020
Old School House Arts Centre on Fern Road in Qualicum Beach. (Mandy Moraes photo)
The Port Theatre, which closed in March in response to COVID-19, is reopening and recently announced the lineup of its fall 2020 Spotlight Series. (Bulletin file photo)

Live performance returning to Nanaimo’s Port Theatre

Venue announces fall Spotlight Series linuep

The Port Theatre, which closed in March in response to COVID-19, is reopening and recently announced the lineup of its fall 2020 Spotlight Series. (Bulletin file photo)
The Vancouver Island Symphony’s Noteworthy Kids children’s choir program will take place online this year due to COVID-19. (Photo courtesy Heydemann Art of Photography)

Vancouver Island Symphony’s children’s choir program goes online due to COVID-19

Registration now open for fall and winter sessions of Noteworthy Kids

The Vancouver Island Symphony’s Noteworthy Kids children’s choir program will take place online this year due to COVID-19. (Photo courtesy Heydemann Art of Photography)
Nelson Forest, 24, of Saanich, wrote an EP of songs inspired by his time in the Canadian Conservation Corps. (Courtesy of Nelson Forest)

Canadian wilderness inspires Saanich man’s first EP

Nelson Forest writes songs after time in Canadian Conservation Corps

Nelson Forest, 24, of Saanich, wrote an EP of songs inspired by his time in the Canadian Conservation Corps. (Courtesy of Nelson Forest)
Nanaimo folk singer Laura Kelsey has released a new EP entitled ‘From the Woods.’ (Photo courtesy Allan Webner)

Nanaimo folk singer reflects on life in the remote B.C. wilderness on new EP

Laura Kelsey finds catharsis on latest release ‘From the Woods’

Nanaimo folk singer Laura Kelsey has released a new EP entitled ‘From the Woods.’ (Photo courtesy Allan Webner)
Nanaimo blues rock band Big Pacific – keyboardist John Hannah, drummer Nick Dokter, guitarist Roly Sandoval and bassist Wayne Veillet (from left) – recently released their second album, ‘Welcome to the Party.’ (Photo courtesy Doug Fetherston)

Nanaimo blues rock group Big Pacific releases sophomore album

‘Welcome to the Party’ unveiled at sold-out concert at the Queen’s

Nanaimo blues rock band Big Pacific – keyboardist John Hannah, drummer Nick Dokter, guitarist Roly Sandoval and bassist Wayne Veillet (from left) – recently released their second album, ‘Welcome to the Party.’ (Photo courtesy Doug Fetherston)
Glen Foster’s bandmates Dwight Gray and Pat Shonwise play villains tying damsel in distress Jeanette McGonigle to the railroad tracks in the music video for Foster’s song Brains Brawn and Beauty. (Photo courtesy Glen Foster)

Nanaimo musician Glen Foster releases new music video

‘Brains Brawn and Beauty’ is the latest single from Foster’s album ‘Not Far Away’

Glen Foster’s bandmates Dwight Gray and Pat Shonwise play villains tying damsel in distress Jeanette McGonigle to the railroad tracks in the music video for Foster’s song Brains Brawn and Beauty. (Photo courtesy Glen Foster)
Joel Grenz shooting ‘My Homeland’. (Submitted photo)

Parksville filmmaker nominated for provincial Leo Award

Joel Grenz tabbed in ‘Best Music Video’ category

Joel Grenz shooting ‘My Homeland’. (Submitted photo)
Gabriola Island’s Kerplunks – Jojo Hallett, Phil Wipper, Dinah D and Aaron Cadwaladr (from left) – and the Vancouver Island Symphony are up for 2020 Western Canadian Music Awards. (Photos courtesy Lance Sullivan/Dirk Heydemann)

Vancouver Island Symphony, Kerplunks up for Western Canadian Music Awards

Winners to be announced via live stream on Sept. 25

Gabriola Island’s Kerplunks – Jojo Hallett, Phil Wipper, Dinah D and Aaron Cadwaladr (from left) – and the Vancouver Island Symphony are up for 2020 Western Canadian Music Awards. (Photos courtesy Lance Sullivan/Dirk Heydemann)
Nanaimo drummer Mike Harrison with one of Neil Peart’s backup cymbals from Rush’s 2012 Clockwork Angels tour. (Photo courtesy Ashley Harrison)

Vancouver Island drummers pay belated tribute to Neil Peart of Rush

Canadian Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummer died of cancer at age 67 in January

Nanaimo drummer Mike Harrison with one of Neil Peart’s backup cymbals from Rush’s 2012 Clockwork Angels tour. (Photo courtesy Ashley Harrison)
Nanaimo vocalist Elise Boulanger has put together an online playlist of local music. (Photo courtesy Laura Baldwinson)

Nanaimo singer creates online playlist for those missing local music

Elise Boulanger said project is in response to COVID-19’s impact on live concerts

Nanaimo vocalist Elise Boulanger has put together an online playlist of local music. (Photo courtesy Laura Baldwinson)
Nanaimo-based music therapist Graylen Howard has had to take social distancing measure into account when plying his trade at Eden Gardens long-term care home. (Photo courtesy Eden Gardens staff)

Music therapist plays socially distant concerts at Nanaimo long-term care home

Graylen Howard says music therapy is beneficial for those living with dementia

Nanaimo-based music therapist Graylen Howard has had to take social distancing measure into account when plying his trade at Eden Gardens long-term care home. (Photo courtesy Eden Gardens staff)