Saturday, February 8
Here’s looking at Q, kid
Have you heard that the new black is actually Arctic Blue? Well, it is, with Josh Q and The Trade-Offs, singing their soulful and brooding notes from the deep end of the northern tundra. In a blend of Inuktitut and English lyrics, The Trade-Offs sing the Arctic blues about universal themes of light and darkness and closeness and isolation. While the band is a staple of the Iqaluit music scene, they have also played all over Canada—big stages, little stages, and main stages, and now they’re coming to Victoria to play Lucky Bar. Doors are at 8 pm, and tickets are $12.50; see luckybar.ca for more details.
Thursday, February 13 until Saturday, February 22
You’ve got comic potential
If you’re a fan of the wacky and the weird, the new play at UVic’s Phoenix Theatre should be right up your mind-bending alley. Comic Potential, written by Alan Ayckbourn, is a delightful new sci-fi adventure that boasts love, robots, and daytime TV. It’s a dark satire about the art of comedy and the dangers of artificial intelligence—it really has it all, doesn’t it? Tickets are $28 unless you happen to go on a Tuesday, where you can bask in the light of robot love for only $15. There are also $16 student rush tickets 30 minutes before the show. See finearts.uvic.ca for more information on this and other upcoming events.
Friday, February 14
There’s something about Mary
“Jerusalem Pilgrimage Fundraiser: Unveiling a new portrait of Mary Magdalene”—what do you think when you see a title like that? I say great, it’s about time that someone did something about Mary’s bad rap; the poor woman has been misunderstood for centuries. Guest speaker Richard LeSueur, who is acting dean of St. George’s College in Jerusalem, will be speaking about how a recent archaeological discovery has changed 2,000 years of teaching about Mary Magdalene. The doors open at 6:30 pm, and it all goes down at St. George’s Anglican Church, located at 3909 St. George Lane. Suggested donation is $20, but you can pay what you can afford; see bc.anglican.ca for more information.
Friday, February 14
Bring your own booty
I always say that burlesque is the new black; what better way to celebrate it than at the Cheesecake Burlesque Revue’s Bump and Grind Valentine. Whether you’re with your sweetheart, your friends, or yourself, shaking our wiggliest bits is a fun, fabulous, and sexy way to ring in Valentine’s Day. The big performance is at Langham Court Theatre and contains comedy, dancing, singing, and a silent auction—the only silent part of the whole evening, I’m sure. Tickets are online or at the box office and range from $24 to $36, depending on the night. The doors open at 7:30 pm, and you must be 19; see langhamtheatre.ca for more details.
Friday February 14
A night at the museum
Are you in love and want to show your person that you are romantic and sensitive yet utterly creative and unique? The Royal BC Museum is throwing a night to beat all nights with Night Shift: Vintage Valentines. It’s a vintage-themed event where participants take a journey through time. This evening has it all: live music of all kinds—country, electronic, pop, indie; visual art; installation, photography, and performance art; live theatre; burlesque (yeah, baby); drag; sensuality (oh yes, baby); and a bit of cultural heritage thrown in! I mean, what’s not to love? Tickets are $49.95; see rbcm.ca/night for more information.
Friday, February 14
We love to laugh
We might as well keep going with the St. Valentine’s promotion. After all, what’s not to love about love? If you are like me and consider love to be not only confusing but also rather comic, then hop on over to Tinder Tales, the comedy show where people spill their silliest and steamiest online adventures. Although the stories are mostly embarrassing, they’re also hilarious, and Tinder Tales’ comedic storytelling has been sold out all over Canada. Featuring Canadian comedians like Rebecca Broome and Ira Adilman, and hosted by Jo Dworschak, this is a laughable love-fest fit for all skeptics, swingers, and sweethearts. Join all the smitten kittens at the Victoria Event Centre, 1415 Broad Street—the doors open at 7 pm, the show starts at 8 pm sharp, and tickets are $16 online or $20 at the door; see tindertales.ca for more details.
Sunday, February 16
Bring your own bud
What better way to celebrate the legality of everyone’s favourite greenery than seeing DJ/producers Stickybuds and Krafty Kuts at Distrikt? Doors open at 10 pm and tickets range from $15 to $22.50. See stickybuds.ca for more information.