Until Saturday, December 20
Human nature examined through art
Adam Davis, a Los Angeles-based artist known for his sculpting, videography, and photography work, is bringing a four-channel video installation to the Deluge Contemporary Art gallery at 636 Yates Street. The 33-minute piece encompasses audio, video, and manipulated images inspired by quantum physics, religious devotion, and atheism. Beyond the Tangible Universe As You Understand It looks into the nature and diversity of human beliefs, hopes, and skepticism. The exhibit is open Wednesday through Saturday from 12 to 5 pm. Go to adamhdavis.com for more information about the artist.
Until Saturday, December 27
West Coast Art Show
The Plenty of Art: Passions and Pleasures art show opens to the public at 7 pm at Cenote Restaurant and Lounge, located downstairs from Lyle’s Place at 768 Yates Street. The art show will feature various works of differing styles by 16 artist members of the Art Meet-up Group of Victoria. The pieces will be on display until December 27.
Wednesday, November 26
Buggin’ Out
Camosun Anthropology students are hosting Pestival, a chance for fellow students and the public to have a taste of and learn about insect protein foods (see last issue’s feature story). This oddly intriguing event will run from 7–9 pm at the Lansdowne campus in room 300 of the Young Building.
Wednesday, November 26
Canadian rock, some old, some new
Toronto-based hard rock band The Trews are headed west on their Canadian Rise in the Wake tour. Being the Canadian music scene veterans that they are, The Trews are travelling with The Glorious Sons of Kingston, Ontario. The Sons, who recently released their debut album, The Union, will be opening the show at Sugar Nightclub; doors will open at 8 pm. Opportunities for band meet and greets as well as VIP packages can be found at thetrewsmusic.com, and tickets can be purchased in person for $26.50 at Lyles’s Place and Ditch Records.
Thursday, November 27 and Friday, November 28
Vinyl Café Christmas Special
Vinyl Café is once again coming to Victoria for two nights of old-fashioned Canadian storytelling with CBC Radio host Stuart McLean. This special Christmas-time show will feature two new Dave and Morley stories, as well as musical performances by Chic Gamine, a Winnipeg band who has performed at the Olympics and for the Queen. Both show times at the Royal Theatre will begin at 7:30 pm, with tickets for the shows starting at $56.75. Tickets are available in person at the Royal Theatre Box Office or by phone at 250–386–6121.
Friday, November 28
Band of the month
This is your chance to see part two of The Zone 91.3’s Band of the Month winners from all of 2014: Zerbin, Isobel Trigger, The Carlines, and Thieves. These west coast artists will bring a mixture of alternative/indie pop rock to Distrikt Nightclub. Advance tickets can be purchased at The Strathcona Hotel, Ditch Records, and The Zone for $10, or at the door for $12. All proceeds from the event, which runs from 7 to 11 pm, will go to The Zone’s TLC Fund for Kids.
Friday, November 28 to Sunday, November 30
Out of Hand artisan fair
The Out of Hand art fair at Crystal Gardens has celebrated veteran and emerging artists, designers, and food producers in Victoria for 26 years. The fair showcases art and expression with an emphasis on green living, specifically up-cycling and repurposing. There will be live music, cocktails, and a pop-up beauty salon, as well as chances to win prizes throughout the entire weekend. Tickets are $8 for the day or $9 for a weekend pass, except for Friday between 5–7 pm, when tickets will be $5 for “happy hour” (students and seniors get $1 off). This is an opportunity to check out local creations and pick up unique gifts for the holiday season. Crystal Gardens is located at 713 Douglas Street. The fair hours are Friday from 10 am to 9pm, Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm, and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. Check out outofhand.ca for more information.
Saturday, November 29
The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer
Vancouver blues band The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer have recently released their third album, A Real Fine Mess. Their modern take on classic blues is uniquely infused with folk, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll. The band will be performing an early show (doors at 7 pm) at Distrikt Nightclub in the basement of the Strathcona Hotel. Tickets are $18 and can be purchased in advance online at ticketweb.ca or in person at Lyle’s Place, Ditch Records, or the Strathcona Hotel.
Saturday, November 29
Fair Trade Fair
The First Metropolitan Church is hosting the Victoria International Development Education Association’s annual fair trade show from 10 am until 4 pm. The event will feature 35 local vendors, including Level Ground and Ten Thousand Villages, with chances to chat with representatives of each. There will be music, door prizes, and food provided by the International Women’s Catering Coop. The First Metropolitan Church is located at 932 Balmoral Road and admission is by donation.
Wednesday, December 3
The only time you’ll hear live banjo all month
Banjo-playing singer-songwriter Lisa Leblanc from New Brunswick, now based in Montreal, is bringing her show to the Canadian west coast after playing an impressive 400-plus shows since hitting the road in 2013. Leblanc recently released her mini album, Highways, Heartaches and Time Well-Wasted, featuring five original songs all in English (something new for the 23-year-old Acadian-Canadian artist). Tickets to see Leblanc perform at Lucky Bar are $18 and are available at Lyles Place, Ditch Records, and at www.ticketweb.ca.
Thursday, December 4 to Saturday, December 20
Alice has been drinking in Wonderland
The one and only master of the drunken piano, Tom Waits, has created a musical based upon Lewis Carroll’s classic tales Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Alice through the Looking Glass. This musical version of the children’s classic has been given an adult edge with Waits’ music and Paul Schmidt’s script. Theatre Inconnu and musical renegades The Party on High Street have teamed up to bring this production to the Victoria stage. There will be both matinee and evening showings of the production at Theatre Inconnu, located at 1923 Fernwood Road. On Tuesday, December 9 admission is pay what you like, but regularly tickets are $14 or $10 for students, seniors, and the unwaged. Ticket info is at ticketrocket.org or by phone at 250–590–6291.
Friday, December 5
Hunky Wrench
The four-piece, harmonic, queer-sass-bluegrass band Hunky Wrench will be playing a show downtown on Pandora Street at the Solstice Café. Elder Sister Plum will be opening the night with acoustic renditions of eerie folk tales, and Tooth and Claw customized jewellery of the cruelty-free variety, made by Gorn, will be on display and for sale alongside this night of queer music and happy times. The sliding-scale admission fee is suggested at $5-$10.
Saturday, December 6
Holiday festivities kickoff with the lighted ships
The holiday season will kick off with the 25th Annual Lighted Ship Parade, put on by the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority at the Ship Point Pier from 5–9 pm. There will be hot apple cider, artisan creations, festive tunes, and, of course, beautifully lit ships. All proceeds from this event go to the Cool Aid Society’s Every Step Counts Running program, which facilitates runs/walks for individuals in Victoria experiencing difficulties with housing, addictions, and mental illness.
Saturday, December 6
Free Christmas concert
A free Christmas concert will be held in Market Square from 1–3 pm with donations being accepted in support of Our Place Society. The Greater Victoria Concert Band’s junior, intermediate, and senior bands will all be performing at this free family event.
Tuesday, December 9 to Thursday, December 11
Oh my, Mother of Mother
Due to a rather large number of people wanting to see Mother Mother perform in Victoria, two nights of shows have been added to their Very Good Bad Thing tour. The British Columbian indie group, who have garnered some worldwide success, clearly have a lot of fans. Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker (or USS), an alternative dance duo born out of Toronto, will join Mother Mother for all three shows at the Royal Theatre. Tickets, starting at $32.75, can be purchased in person at the Royal McPherson box office or online over at rmts.bc.ca.
Thursday, December 11
Epic art battles of Victoria
At 7 pm on December 11 the Victoria Event Centre will transform into a live competitive art-creating space for Victoria’s 196th Art Battle. Painters have 20 minutes to create a piece in front of an audience using acrylic paint, brushes, palette knives, or non-mechanical implements. Once the 20 minutes are through, it’s up to the audience to vote democratically on the winner and bid on their favourite pieces. Apply to paint at artbattle.ca/register, or simply show up and watch the talent unfold with every stroke. Tickets are $15 at the door, or $10 for early birds, students, and seniors. Tickets are also available online at artbattle.ca/196-victoria. The Victoria Event Centre is located at 1415 Broad Street.
Saturday, December 13
A very West Coast Holiday Special
Jon and Roy, the folk rock/reggae group whose hometown is Victoria, will be playing their sixth annual Holiday Special show at Alix Goolden Hall. The show, which has sold out five of six years, will consist of multiple musical guests, including Vince Vaccaro, Carmanah, Luca Fogale, and alternative pop artist Old Man Canyon. Tickets are $22-$25 and are available at Lyle’s Place, Ditch Records, and online at ticketweb.ca. Doors for this all-ages show are at 7 pm.
Saturday, December 20
Punk rock Christmas
Tired of all the reindeer games and milk and cookies crap? Get a load of this: the yuletide punk band Angry Snowmans, with guests Orange Krush, will be playing their festive punk rock at Logan’s Pub starting at 9 pm. This is your chance to get a little festive without all that sappy shit that comes with the season. Cover charge to be announced.
Sunday, December 21
Young filmmakers wanted
The FilmCAN online competition is looking for Vancouver Island or Gulf Island middle-school and high-school student filmmakers to submit their two- to five-minute films for the chance to be screened at the 2015 Victoria Film Festival. Previous winners have won scholarships to the Gulf Island Film and Television School, as well as computer equipment and creating and editing software. Entries must be uploaded to Vimeo and added to the FilmCAN group by midnight on December 21. Go to vimeo.com/groups/filmcan for more information.
Sunday, December 21
A little Kandle for a winter’s night
Victoria native and indie swamp-rock singer/songwriter Kandle Osbourne, daughter of 54–40 frontman Neil Osborne, is returning to her home city with musical partner Sam Goldberg Jr. of Broken Social Scene and the rest of The Krooks. The musicians will be playing Lucky Bar (doors at 8 pm) with opening guests to be announced. Advance tickets are available for $12 at Lyle’s Place and Ditch Records.
Thursday, December 25 to Thursday, January 1
Campus shutdown
Both Camosun Lansdowne and Interurban campuses will be shut down for the holidays between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Student services, such as administration, libraries, bookstore, gym, etc., will all be unavailable during this time.