Live music

Saanich residents Reb Stevenson (left) and Billy Reid are the duo behind Pancake Manor, a successful children’s YouTube channel. (Photo courtesy of Reb Stevenson)

B.C. duo drops new kids’ music as Youtube videos close in on 2 billion views

Duo behind Pancake Manor releasing their eighth children’s album this week

Saanich residents Reb Stevenson (left) and Billy Reid are the duo behind Pancake Manor, a successful children’s YouTube channel. (Photo courtesy of Reb Stevenson)
Katherine Simons and Will Richards make up The Co-Conspirators. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Acoustic duo brings musical tales to Char’s Landing

The Co-Conspirators recently released their second album, The Unreliable Narrators

Katherine Simons and Will Richards make up The Co-Conspirators. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Lead singer Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragon performs during the 2017 Much Music Video Awards in Toronto. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press file photo)

Imagine Dragons adds Vancouver Island concert date in April

Pop-rock band best known for songs Believer, Thunder and Radioactive

Lead singer Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragon performs during the 2017 Much Music Video Awards in Toronto. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press file photo)
Avril Lavigne’s newly released song, Bite Me, precedes more music and a new album by the same name in the new year. (Warner Music Canada)

Avril Lavigne announces final tour stop will bring her to Vancouver Island

Concert set for May 25 in in Victoria, Bite Me tour the pop-punk artist’s first in more than 10 years

Avril Lavigne’s newly released song, Bite Me, precedes more music and a new album by the same name in the new year. (Warner Music Canada)
Foothills Brass Quintet has joined the Alberni Classical Concerts Society’s 2022 season. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

Classical concerts return to Port Alberni after COVID-19 break

Subscriptions for the 2022 season are now available

Foothills Brass Quintet has joined the Alberni Classical Concerts Society’s 2022 season. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Since launching as a duo in 2017, Rick Scott (right) and Nico Rhodes have amazed audiences with their musical alchemy in theatres, festivals and folk clubs around B.C. Photo contributed

‘It’s a wonderful collaboration’

Roots and Grooves’ Rick Scott discusses partnership with Nico Rhodes prior to Campbell River show

Since launching as a duo in 2017, Rick Scott (right) and Nico Rhodes have amazed audiences with their musical alchemy in theatres, festivals and folk clubs around B.C. Photo contributed
The late Dusty Hill (left) and ZZ Top founder Billy F Gibbons are seen on stage at the band’s show in Penticton in 2009. The Tres Hombres will perform at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre April 22, 2022, with special guests Cheap Trick. (Black Press Media file photo)

ZZ Top to rock Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre April 22

Online ticket sales open Friday at 10 a.m., with tickets starting at $49

The late Dusty Hill (left) and ZZ Top founder Billy F Gibbons are seen on stage at the band’s show in Penticton in 2009. The Tres Hombres will perform at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre April 22, 2022, with special guests Cheap Trick. (Black Press Media file photo)
The Stone Poets will be performing at Char’s Landing in Port Alberni on Oct. 8, 2021. (PHOTO COURTESY MICAH GARDENER)

In-person music returns to Char’s Landing with Stone Poets

Concert will also be streamed live via Zoom

The Stone Poets will be performing at Char’s Landing in Port Alberni on Oct. 8, 2021. (PHOTO COURTESY MICAH GARDENER)
Johnny Cash, June Carter and others pictured on a page from “Memories From the Mountain,” a new book that documents the history of Merritt Mountain Music Festival in photographs by Surrey’s Dee Lippingwell. (Photos: Dee Lippingwell)

Merritt country music festival’s ‘crazy-ass scene’ recalled in photographer’s new book

Campground C party zone and more remembered in Dee Lippingwell’s third book

Johnny Cash, June Carter and others pictured on a page from “Memories From the Mountain,” a new book that documents the history of Merritt Mountain Music Festival in photographs by Surrey’s Dee Lippingwell. (Photos: Dee Lippingwell)
Helen Austin performing with Trent Freeman at the 2018 Vancouver Island MusicFest. Austin is one of the many performers listed for the 2021 event.

Vancouver Island MusicFest goes virtual for 2021

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

Helen Austin performing with Trent Freeman at the 2018 Vancouver Island MusicFest. Austin is one of the many performers listed for the 2021 event.
Live concerts could return to venues such as Blue Frog Studios in White Rock by year’s end - provided immunizations make a diference and COVID variants are held in check - according to a recent round table including provincial health officer Dr Bonnie Henry and reprsentatives of performing arts groups. (Submitted photo)

B.C. performing arts groups could see gradual return of live events

Round table between Dr. Bonnie Henry and arts groups gives rise to cautious optimism

Live concerts could return to venues such as Blue Frog Studios in White Rock by year’s end - provided immunizations make a diference and COVID variants are held in check - according to a recent round table including provincial health officer Dr Bonnie Henry and reprsentatives of performing arts groups. (Submitted photo)
Frequent buskers Johnny Bomblast, left, and Dave Harris perform in front of Munro’s Books on Government Street. The roommates recently completed a new album of original material entitled Clouds. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

VIDEO: Not even a pandemic can keep a good B.C. street musician down

Buskers ‘One Man Band’ Dave Harris and Johnny Bomblast team up to record pandemic-inspired album

Frequent buskers Johnny Bomblast, left, and Dave Harris perform in front of Munro’s Books on Government Street. The roommates recently completed a new album of original material entitled Clouds. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Vancouver’s Blonde Diamond is one of dozens of B.C. bands who received a SoundON grant during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Lauren Zbarsky photo)

$500,000 more funds available to struggling B.C. musicians amid COVID pandemic

Successful applicants will receive $5,000 SoundOn grants in as early as a month

Vancouver’s Blonde Diamond is one of dozens of B.C. bands who received a SoundON grant during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Lauren Zbarsky photo)
Singer Ken Lavigne will perform by live-stream from Tidemark Theatre in Campbell River on Feb. 7, starting at 7:30, playing romantic ballads and love songs. (Ken Lavigne/Submitted)

Get into the mood for Valentine’s Day with Vancouver Island’s Ken Lavigne

Singer will perform romantic ballads and love songs by livestream from Campbell River on Feb. 7

Singer Ken Lavigne will perform by live-stream from Tidemark Theatre in Campbell River on Feb. 7, starting at 7:30, playing romantic ballads and love songs. (Ken Lavigne/Submitted)
The band Spank the Plank performs at White Hart Pub in Surrey on Friday, June 12. (Photo: Tom Zillich)

Bar brings back live music as B.C.’s top doc warns singing spreads COVID-19

‘The hardest part is reminding people that they can’t dance, which isn’t easy,’ pub operator says

The band Spank the Plank performs at White Hart Pub in Surrey on Friday, June 12. (Photo: Tom Zillich)
Shambhala Music Festival has been postponed to 2021. File photo

Shambhala Music Festival postponed to 2021

The popular electronic music event near Nelson announced the news Tuesday

Shambhala Music Festival has been postponed to 2021. File photo
A performance during Tiny Lights Music Festival in the small Kootenay community of Ymir is seen here in 2017. The annual music festival has been postponed to 2021. Photo: Tyler Harper

Will the show go on? B.C. music festivals consider options over coronavirus

Summer events are running out of time to stay on schedule

A performance during Tiny Lights Music Festival in the small Kootenay community of Ymir is seen here in 2017. The annual music festival has been postponed to 2021. Photo: Tyler Harper
Canadian fiddler Natalie MacMaster has received a 2020 JUNO Award nomination for her newest release, Sketches. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

‘Queen of the Fiddle’ takes on ADSS Theatre in Port Alberni

Natalie MacMaster has received a 2020 JUNO Award nomination for her newest album

Canadian fiddler Natalie MacMaster has received a 2020 JUNO Award nomination for her newest release, Sketches. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Guitar ‘wizardry’ on display at Char’s Landing in Port Alberni

Guitar ‘wizardry’ on display at Char’s Landing in Port Alberni

Award-winning guitarist Don Alder to put on a show

Guitar ‘wizardry’ on display at Char’s Landing in Port Alberni
Bahamas will close the 2020 Vancouver Island MusicFest. Photo provided

Island MusicFest going to Bahamas to close show

Afie Jurvanen isn’t from the Bahamas. He’s a Finnish-Canadian from Barrie, Ont.…

  • Feb 11, 2020
Bahamas will close the 2020 Vancouver Island MusicFest. Photo provided