Live music

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

 

Deborah Sumner has been named the composer in residence for the Encore! Women’s Choir. (Submitted photo)

Cowichan’s Encore! choir names new composer in residence

Deborah Sumner recently retired as a music teacher and librarian in the Duncan area

  • Nov 21, 2022

 

Juno award winner and CCMA winner Jess Moskaluke will perform two shows in one night at the Queen’s in Nanaimo on Nov. 25. (Submitted photo)

Country star Jess Moskaluke plays three Vancouver Island shows

Award-winning artist nearing end of cross-Canada tour

 

Syl Thompson and band Ground Control will bring back ‘the definitive Bowie experience’ to Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on Sunday, Nov. 20. (Submitted photo)

Tribute act unpacks David Bowie experience across Vancouver Island

Syl Thompson and band Ground Control perform in Victoria, Nanaimo and Campbell River

Syl Thompson and band Ground Control will bring back ‘the definitive Bowie experience’ to Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on Sunday, Nov. 20. (Submitted photo)
Victoria Levesque poses during a concert featuring ZINNIA at The.Victoria.House on Sunday, Nov. 6. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

Victoria resident hosting shows in her home before deal inked on Dragons’ Den

Victoria Levesque has been hosting concerts at her home since 2019

Victoria Levesque poses during a concert featuring ZINNIA at The.Victoria.House on Sunday, Nov. 6. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
Tom Wilson, left, Colin Linden, Stephen Fearing of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings will play Nanaimo’s Port Theatre Nov. 12. (Photo by Mark Maryanovich)

Blackie and the Rodeo Kings set to make 2 Island stops on 25th anniversary tour

Folk rock-alternative country act released its 11th studio album, ‘O Glory,’ this past summer

Tom Wilson, left, Colin Linden, Stephen Fearing of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings will play Nanaimo’s Port Theatre Nov. 12. (Photo by Mark Maryanovich)
Hospital employee Shannon Bower (left) is hoping to give a special gift to Sir Elton John at his concert Friday evening. Her co-workers Berni Russell, who made Elton-style safety glasses, Kavita Dabla and manager Janine Lapierre, along with hospital foundation staff Terra Scheer, Andrea Woo, Tim Staunton, and Gabriella Matute are backing her ambitious goal. (Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance Times)

Hey, Elton John, can you give Shannon a wave in the fourth row?

Langley woman’s last minute offer for a friend’s concert ticket has her hoping for the musician’s help

Hospital employee Shannon Bower (left) is hoping to give a special gift to Sir Elton John at his concert Friday evening. Her co-workers Berni Russell, who made Elton-style safety glasses, Kavita Dabla and manager Janine Lapierre, along with hospital foundation staff Terra Scheer, Andrea Woo, Tim Staunton, and Gabriella Matute are backing her ambitious goal. (Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance Times)
Nanaimo singer Laura Kelsey at Westwood Lake during the shooting of the cover image for her yet-to-be released single ‘Your Stormy Ways’. (Photo by Van Isle Portraits)

Nanaimo singer opening for Matthew Good on his Island tour

Laura Kelsey also set to release first single from debut album at tour start

Nanaimo singer Laura Kelsey at Westwood Lake during the shooting of the cover image for her yet-to-be released single ‘Your Stormy Ways’. (Photo by Van Isle Portraits)
In one of only three B.C. shows, Steven Page will play Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on Sept. 28. (David Bergman photo)

Former Barenaked Ladies frontman to play pair of Vancouver Island dates

Steven Page poised to released Excelsior, his first album since 2018

In one of only three B.C. shows, Steven Page will play Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on Sept. 28. (David Bergman photo)
Blue Rodeo has added a stop in Victoria to their Many a Mile tour and will be at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre Nov. 24. (Courtesy of Dustin Rabin/Blue Rodeo)

Blue Rodeo adds fall Victoria date to Western Canada tour

Band added the stop at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre to their Many a Mile concert series

Blue Rodeo has added a stop in Victoria to their Many a Mile tour and will be at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre Nov. 24. (Courtesy of Dustin Rabin/Blue Rodeo)
Colin James plays at Nanaimos Port Theatre Sept. 27. (J. OMeara Photo)

Colin James takes ‘Open Road’ toward Vancouver Island

Musician to performs songs from Juno Award-winning new album in Nanaimo and Victoria

Colin James plays at Nanaimos Port Theatre Sept. 27. (J. OMeara Photo)
Lorde dances on stage Sunday, Sept. 18, during the final day of Rifflandia 2022 at Royal Athletic Park. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Lorde sends off Victoria’s Rifflandia music festival in style

Thousands filled Royal Athletic Park for the final day of the festival

Lorde dances on stage Sunday, Sept. 18, during the final day of Rifflandia 2022 at Royal Athletic Park. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
The Crash Test Dummies bring their international tour to Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre for two shows, Aug. 22 and 23. (Crashtestdummies.com)

Twice the ‘90s fun as the Crash Test Dummies collide with Vancouver Island

Band with roots in Winnipeg reintroducing the hits to longtime fans and newbies in 2 Island cities

The Crash Test Dummies bring their international tour to Sidney’s Mary Winspear Centre for two shows, Aug. 22 and 23. (Crashtestdummies.com)
Shawn Mendes performs “Summer of Love” at the MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in New York. Mendes is one of several musicians to cancel Canadian concert dates in recent weeks.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Charles Sykes-Invision-AP

From Mendes to New Kids, concert cancellations prove a costly gamble for fans

Fans sometimes stuck with hefty travel, hotel expenses

Shawn Mendes performs “Summer of Love” at the MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in New York. Mendes is one of several musicians to cancel Canadian concert dates in recent weeks.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Charles Sykes-Invision-AP
Vancouver indie rockers Said the Whale are set to headline Colwood’s Eats and Beats Beach Party on July 30. (Courtesy of Said the Whale/Facebook)

Said the Whale to headline outdoor Esquimalt Lagoon Eats and Beats Beach Party

The event, set for July 30, brings thousands to the Esquimalt Lagoon each year

Vancouver indie rockers Said the Whale are set to headline Colwood’s Eats and Beats Beach Party on July 30. (Courtesy of Said the Whale/Facebook)
Classic Canadian rock band Chilliwack will play Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on June 29 at 7:30 p.m. (submitted photo)

Legendary Canadian rock band Chilliwack playing Vancouver Island twice this week

David Gogo to appear as special guest in June 29 performance

Classic Canadian rock band Chilliwack will play Nanaimo’s Port Theatre on June 29 at 7:30 p.m. (submitted photo)
French horn musician and Royal Canadian Navy Naden Band member Alliszon Zaichkowski, right, plays one of her 20 conch shells during a jam session with her aunt, front left, and mother. Zaichkowski originally learned about the conch from William Golding’s Lord of the Flies and jokingly ordered her first one off eBay. (Courtesy of Alliszon Zaichkowski)

B.C. musician toots conch shell on Canada’s Got Talent; gets Howie Mandel’s support

James Bay resident builds on 21 years of French horn training

French horn musician and Royal Canadian Navy Naden Band member Alliszon Zaichkowski, right, plays one of her 20 conch shells during a jam session with her aunt, front left, and mother. Zaichkowski originally learned about the conch from William Golding’s Lord of the Flies and jokingly ordered her first one off eBay. (Courtesy of Alliszon Zaichkowski)
Vancouver Island dance duo ‘Funkanometry’ perform at Family Day in the Qualicum Beach Community Park on May 29, 2022. (Kevin Forsyth photo)

VIDEO: Vancouver Island dance duo ‘Funkanometry’ perform in Qualicum Beach

Pair will compete on ‘America’s Got Talent’ on May 31

Vancouver Island dance duo ‘Funkanometry’ perform at Family Day in the Qualicum Beach Community Park on May 29, 2022. (Kevin Forsyth photo)
Jason Heit teaches a class at the Island MMA Training Centre in Victoria. Heit moved back to the Island in 2007 after spending four years as a security guard for various A-list celebrities. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Island man’s journey took him from the boxing ring to supplying security to the stars

Drew Barrymore, Nicholas Cage, Robbie Williams: Victoria’s Jason Heit was by their side

Jason Heit teaches a class at the Island MMA Training Centre in Victoria. Heit moved back to the Island in 2007 after spending four years as a security guard for various A-list celebrities. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Fred Penner returns to Nanaimo’s Port Theatre for a matinee performance Sunday, May 22, as part of the beloved entertainer’s 40th anniversary tour of his debut album, ‘The Cat Came Back.’ (Photo by Tyler Anderson)

Fred Penner returns to Vancouver Island for ‘The Cat Came Back’ 40th-anniversary tour

‘Catchy tunes and good times’ promised for May 22 matinee show at Nanaimo’s Port Theatre

Fred Penner returns to Nanaimo’s Port Theatre for a matinee performance Sunday, May 22, as part of the beloved entertainer’s 40th anniversary tour of his debut album, ‘The Cat Came Back.’ (Photo by Tyler Anderson)