Arts

The Golden Dogs 3 1/2 (Independent) 3.5/5 For 3 1/2, their fourth studio release, Toronto-based The Golden Dogs’ original dynamic duo of Dave Azzolini and Jessica Grassia, along with new blood Alejandro Cairncross and Stefanie McCarrol, give a fresh take on some familiar sounds. The dynamic, multi-genre album opens to a straight, funky bass line […]

For nearly two years, the Copper Owl has been a go-to music venue for emerging bands performing in Victoria. Since opening their doors in early 2013, the venue has hosted hundreds of performances by artists of all different genres, including folk, metal, electronic, and indie rock. Jzero Schuurman and Renee Crawford took over the venue, […]

Canadian indie rock bands Hey Rosetta! and Stars are stopping in Victoria during their upcoming North American tour. With both bands busy promoting new albums, it seemed natural for them to team up. “We both had records that came out at the same time and we were both planning a pretty extensive tour,” says Hey […]

On a clear winter’s day at the end of North Park Street in Victoria, Marco Bermudez stands in a circle of people who are freestyling rap verses. Sharing stories with each other, everyone in the group is in the moment, getting lost to the rhythm of the beat, and letting their feelings be expressed with […]

It’s the classic story of love and hate, and the beautifully tragic opera Lucia Di Lammermoor will soon be wowing Victoria audiences. The opera, based on a book by Sir Walter Scott, is a familiar story of heartbreak and tragedy. “A young woman falls in love with a young man who is the enemy of […]

Spoken-word poetry doesn’t have to be awkward or unapproachable, especially when you have artistic director of the Victoria Spoken Word Festival, Missie Peters, on the job. Five years ago, Peters wanted to help this discipline grow, change, and continue to be innovative, so she developed this festival that gives spoken-word poets opportunities that have nothing […]

Reservoir Cicurina Vol. 1 (Glory Kid Records) 4/5 Pennsylvania’s Reservoir are about to remind you of what the word “emo” once meant. Once upon a time, bands like Sunny Day Real Estate and Mineral actually embraced heart-on-sleeve emotion in music and delivered it to an energetic rock soundtrack that wasn’t overly slick or pandering in […]

Ange Hehr learned to play the drums at age six, the guitar at age 15, and she made it into the top 100 for Canadian Idol at the age of 23. In two years, she has become a staple in the Victoria music scene, playing weekly at pub gigs at the Irish Times, Swans, and […]

That Went By Fast By Frank White (Harbour Publishing) Author Frank White is, at this particular point in time, 100 years old. One hundred years on planet Earth isn’t something I can contemplate. One hundred anything is hard to contemplate; if I had an extra $100, my mind would likely implode. Regardless of my ability […]