music festivals

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

 

Freeze Frame, from left, Steve Moyer, Paul McLellan, Lisa McLellan and Steve Hansen perform at a Saanich Music in the Park event in 2019. The band performs this Thursday (July 21) at Willows Park. (Courtesy of Lisa McLellan)

Greater Victoria band checkers Willows stage with timeless hits July 21

Freeze Frame, on stage July 21, fuses friendship with a love for ’80s music

 

Festival goers leave Worthy Farm in Somerset, England, Monday June 27, 2022, following the Glastonbury Festival. Organizers at Canada’s summer music festivals say even as pandemic restrictions lift and live concerts return to some semblance of normalcy, it’s anything but normal behind the scenes. (Photo from the Canadian Press)

From travel woes to inflation, music festivals face most unpredictable summer yet

Several factors make putting together a festival more tumultuous, costly and unpredictable

 

Zach Stevenson's Buddy Holly Tribute is one of many highlights of the Mid-Island Co-op Rock the Park Music Festival, Aug. 5 to 7.

Rock the Park: Music fest to light up Parksville’s brand new outdoor stage

Aug. 5 to 7 festival joins 5-week Parksville Beach Fest, with activities for all ages

  • Jul 4, 2022
Zach Stevenson's Buddy Holly Tribute is one of many highlights of the Mid-Island Co-op Rock the Park Music Festival, Aug. 5 to 7.
Laura Jayne’s work, “SHE,” has been unveiled as the Vancouver Island MusicFest’s official poster for the 2022 event.

Island artist Laura Jayne designs 2022 Vancouver Island MusicFest poster

With the return of its live festival this July, Vancouver Island MusicFest…

Laura Jayne’s work, “SHE,” has been unveiled as the Vancouver Island MusicFest’s official poster for the 2022 event.
A colourful float makes its way down Ste. Catherine St. during the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Montreal, Sunday, March 22, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Students, festival organizers make masks a choice as Canada nears St. Patrick’s Day

Return of the Irish holiday doesn’t come without risks, even though provinces have lifted mandates

A colourful float makes its way down Ste. Catherine St. during the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Montreal, Sunday, March 22, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Tim McGraw sings “Something Like That” in a video posted to Youtube.com. The American artist is booked to perform during the 2022 Rockin River Fest in Merritt, B.C.

Tim McGraw, Darius Rucker headline summer’s Rockin River Fest in flood-hit Merritt

‘Now more than ever, we need things to be excited about,’ city’s mayor says

Tim McGraw sings “Something Like That” in a video posted to Youtube.com. The American artist is booked to perform during the 2022 Rockin River Fest in Merritt, B.C.
Cecile Doo Kingue, from Montreal, will be playing guitar along with singing. Photo supplied

All-star blues women to headline Vancouver Island MusicFest on first night

Shakura S’Aida is bringing many friends to the Comox Valley to sing and play the blues

Cecile Doo Kingue, from Montreal, will be playing guitar along with singing. Photo supplied
Bass Coast raised $21,100 for disaster relief; music festival is back for 2022 (Photo - basscoast.ca)

Merritt’s Bass Coast raises more than $20,000 for flood relief; festival back for 2022

The festival will run from July 8-11

Bass Coast raised $21,100 for disaster relief; music festival is back for 2022 (Photo - basscoast.ca)
Wolf Edwards working on his piece ‘Civilian Death’ with the Tsilumos Ensemble ahead of the Salt New Music Festival and Symposium, being livestreamed Jan. 7 and 8 from the University of Victoria. (Facebook/Salt New Music Festival and Symposium)

UVic-led SALT Music Festival challenges music conventions virtually, Jan. 7 and 8

Online performances premiere works of composers from Greater Victoria and around the world

Wolf Edwards working on his piece ‘Civilian Death’ with the Tsilumos Ensemble ahead of the Salt New Music Festival and Symposium, being livestreamed Jan. 7 and 8 from the University of Victoria. (Facebook/Salt New Music Festival and Symposium)
Darius Rucker is the headliner for Sunfest 2022. (Photo courtesy of dariusrucker.com)

Darius Rucker to headline Sunfest 2022

Cowichan Valley also welcomes Dallas Smith, Billy Currington Hardy, Kip Moore

Darius Rucker is the headliner for Sunfest 2022. (Photo courtesy of dariusrucker.com)
The Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park, where the Victoria Jazz Society will stage eight jazz performances Sept. 4 and 5. (Black Press file photo)

Free blues shows available online; jazz in Victoria’s Beacon Hill Park

TD Victoria International JazzFest arranges mini-festivals between Aug. 30 and Sept. 5

The Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park, where the Victoria Jazz Society will stage eight jazz performances Sept. 4 and 5. (Black Press file photo)
Nick Middleton and Duncan Smith, a.k.a. The Funk Hunters, will perform at Philips Backyard on Sept. 25. (Photo by Rob Campbell)

Funk Hunters making triumphant return to Victoria, Sept. 25 in Phillips Backyard

Tickets on sale Aug. 4 for show, also featuring Moontricks, Diamond Cafe and LIINKS

Nick Middleton and Duncan Smith, a.k.a. The Funk Hunters, will perform at Philips Backyard on Sept. 25. (Photo by Rob Campbell)
A two-week outdoor music festival will run in the grounds of St. Ann’s Academy this summer, with performances from the Victoria Symphony, Pacific Opera Victoria and others. (Photo courtesy Victoria Symphony/Pacific Opera Victoria)

Victoria Symphony, Pacific Opera announce outdoor festival of music

Two-week festival will include paid performances and free pop-up events

A two-week outdoor music festival will run in the grounds of St. Ann’s Academy this summer, with performances from the Victoria Symphony, Pacific Opera Victoria and others. (Photo courtesy Victoria Symphony/Pacific Opera Victoria)
The youthful exuberance is not limited to the on-stage performers. 16-year-old Devon Cox has been a wizard behind the scenes, doing the majority of the filming and editing for the upcoming festival. Photo supplied

Plenty new at the 2021 Vancouver Island MusicFest

Black Press to stream 25 hours of music July 9-11

The youthful exuberance is not limited to the on-stage performers. 16-year-old Devon Cox has been a wizard behind the scenes, doing the majority of the filming and editing for the upcoming festival. Photo supplied
Rita Coolidge played the main stage at Vancouver Island Musicfest in 2017. (Black Press file photo)

This year’s Vancouver Island MusicFest to virtually showcase beauty of Comox Valley

Returning July 9 through 11 with more than 25 hours of music performances

Rita Coolidge played the main stage at Vancouver Island Musicfest in 2017. (Black Press file photo)
Rita Coolidge played the main stage at Vancouver Island Musicfest in 2017. The three-day music festival has been cancelled for 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Black Press file photo.

Vancouver Island MusicFest cancelled for 2021

Vancouver Island MusicFest has been shelved for 2021, due to the pandemic.…

Rita Coolidge played the main stage at Vancouver Island Musicfest in 2017. The three-day music festival has been cancelled for 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Black Press file photo.
Shambhala Music Festival has been postponed to 2021. File photo

Virtual Shambhala Music Festival postponed due to allegations of sexual violence

Postponement announced following sexual violence allegations made against performer Billy Kenny

Shambhala Music Festival has been postponed to 2021. File photo
Cha Wa was one of the highlights onstage at last year’s MusicFest. On July 10, organizers are holding an online Facebook celebration to mark the weekend that was supposed to be this year’s festival. Record file photo

Annual music event in Comox Valley celebrates online instead

Vancouver Island MusicFest holds virtual celebration set for July 10

Cha Wa was one of the highlights onstage at last year’s MusicFest. On July 10, organizers are holding an online Facebook celebration to mark the weekend that was supposed to be this year’s festival. Record file photo
Laketown Shakedown and Sunfest have been rescheduled for 2021, with options for ticket holders to receive refunds or credit for future events. (File photo)

Shakedown and Sunfest rescheduled for summer 2021

Ticket holders can get refunds or credit for future events

Laketown Shakedown and Sunfest have been rescheduled for 2021, with options for ticket holders to receive refunds or credit for future events. (File photo)