Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival returns to its roots

When it came time for those involved in the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival (GVSF) to plan how they were going to celebrate their 25th anniversary, they decided to celebrate the present by looking to the past. So they decided that two of the first productions they ever performed will be performed again. GVSF artistic director […]

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Comedian Brian Regan on his long road to laughter

There is exactly one comedian who has appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman 28 times: Brian Regan. The American has explored his talent in various avenues, including TV specials, corporate gigs, and film, but it’s his stand-up that really stands out as being the defining aspect of his career. All the while, Regan […]

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New Music Revue: Seafair show promise with The Querencia

Seafair The Querencia (Independent) 3.5/5 Cleveland-based six-member indie-rock ensemble Seafair show promise with their sprawling 13-track album The Querencia. Developing a sound similar to early Paramore, Seafair lend an extensive classical background to fill out tracks, creating a cinematic soundtrack to rural life in Ohio. The album’s production is clean, with each melody easily isolated […]

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New Music Revue: Husky use Australian suburbs for powerful inspiration on Rucker’s Hill

Husky Rucker’s Hill (Nevado Music) 4/5 Inspired by Australian suburbia, Rucker’s Hill is a tempestuous indie-rock EP that will tug your heartstrings. Upbeat vocals with a hint of melancholy drive abstract chord progressions, reminding one immediately of The Shins, with nostalgic and bittersweet lyrics similar to Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs. The album is refreshingly honest […]

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New Music Revue: Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten explores the lost rock and roll of Cambodia

Various Artists Don’t Think I’ve Forgotten: Cambodia’s Lost Rock and Roll (Dust-to-Digital) 3.5/5 This soundtrack to the film of the same name documents the history of rock and roll in Cambodia: it ain’t pretty. Cambodian rock musicians have been killed for being rock musicians, making both this album and the documentary fascinating and important looks […]

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Langford-based film studio aims big with new production

Just over a year ago, a dream was put into production. Alexander Panagopoulos and his team over at Langford’s Ragnarock Studios wanted to create a film project to get their company up and running. They had developed a story set in ancient Greece, and, as a fan of action movies like 300 and having Greek […]

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Shotgun Jimmie embraces lo-fi sounds for his latest album

When Manitoba-by-way-of-New Brunswick singer-songwriter Jim Killpatrick, better known by his stage name of Shotgun Jimmie, is asked what his musical influences are these days, he pauses a moment, then says emphatically, “Karaoke is my biggest inspiration right now.” To anyone familiar with Jimmie’s easy-going character and down-to-earth songwriting, the answer is not all that surprising. […]

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New Victoria gallery aims to change minds about media

On Flux Media Art Gallery’s opening night, dozens of attendees gathered in the 600-square-foot office space to reflect on the work of artist Terry Haines, mingle over edibles, and greet the furry dog meandering through clusters of people. This is not your typical art gallery. Programming director Catlin Lewis has had almost a decade of […]

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