Dracula scares at castle

As we walked up the driveway of Craigdarroch Castle we heard haunting noises and voices surrounding the fortress. Entering into the castle, we cleaned our shoes, hung our jackets, and were escorted by a distressed Dr. John Seward to the second floor with the rest of the interactive audience waiting for further instruction. It was […]

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Antimatter exposes film experimentalism

For 15 years, Victoria’s Antimatter Film Festival has screened the weirdest and most eclectic collection of short films. But those outside the short filmmaking circle (like, hello, 99 percent of us) might not realize that our little festival that could has made quite a name for itself, especially amongst participating filmmakers. “Antimatter is the most […]

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Staging the lost art of letter writing

What better coincidence than for the beloved local Langham Court Theatre to be starting off its 84th season with a production of 84 Charing Cross Road. Based on a best-selling and cult classic novel, it’s the true story of the 20-year correspondence spanning the 1940s to 1960s between New York City author Helene Hanff and […]

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Concert review: Fogerty never fails

The recent John Fogerty concert at Save-on-Foods Memorial Arena brought out a mass of regular guys. Many in ball caps, their AC/DC t-shirts stretched across big, comfy-looking chests. Across the aisle to my right, 20 rows of wage-earning soldiers lounged for two solid hours with crossed arms, synchronized jumping knees, and broad, happy grins. The […]

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Antimatter exposes film experimentalism

For 15 years, Victoria’s Antimatter Film Festival has screened the weirdest and most eclectic collection of short films. But those outside the short filmmaking circle (like, hello, 99 percent of us) might not realize that our little festival that could has made quite a name for itself, especially amongst participating filmmakers. “Antimatter is the most […]

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Hot Water Music keep the positivity train rollin’

Florida melodic punk institution Hot Water Music have raised spirits and gotten fists in the air, off and on, since 1993. Despite a number of hiatuses over the years and what seemed like an outright breakup in 2006, the band is back with their uplifting melodic punk/hardcore sound and a new album, which raises the […]

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New Music Revue: October 3, 2012 issue

Animal Collective Centipede Hz (Domino Records) 4.5/5  Nickolas Joy, contributing writer Centipede Hz, like every other Animal Collective album, is completely different from every other Animal Collective album. The experimental rock band’s ninth album comes three years after their biggest success, Merriweather Post Pavilion. Centipede Hz is filled with the pop elements that won Merriweather […]

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Ladyhawk return with No Can Do

Vancouver’s dirty alternative rock and roll band Ladyhawk have announced the release of their third studio album, No Can Do, and now they are touring for the first time in years. “Almost everything is different since our last album. It’s been about four years since we toured or focused on the band at all,” says […]

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Rise Against bring social awareness to arena rock

Rise Against isn’t a band to shy away from putting a message in their music. However, the band’s longtime drummer, Brandon Barnes, recognizes that a strong meaning isn’t always necessary for quality tunes. “There are plenty of songs that are amazing songs and they’re just about nothing,” he says. “If people want to have a […]

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Taboo event explores different forms of dance

Taboo is something forbidden, exotic, illicit, and a brand of absinthe hailing from the Okanagan. It was all of these things that inspired Suddenly Dance Theatre to choose Taboo as the name for their 20th anniversary celebration and fundraiser. In particular, absinthe has an alternate meaning for Suddenly Dance founders David Ferguson and Miles Lowry. […]

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