Alberta Tar Sands are selling out our future

Right now, the largest industrial project in the history of humankind is taking place in Alberta. This project is generating incredible sums of money for the Harper government and the Canadian economy. And, it’s killing us. The Alberta Tar Sands (also known as the Alberta Oil Sands) is producing more and more greenhouse gases every […]

Continue Reading

The Nutcracker to bring holiday joy to the stage

It’s a yearly tradition, but this time around things will be different for people who go to see The Nutcracker. This year, the performance of the classic tale is a unique version set in Russia during the imperialist era in the late 19th century (the time of its first production). “In this production, Clara’s fantasy […]

Continue Reading

Live review – Stuart McLean brings a festive feel to Victoria

Stuart McLean Monday, November 28, 2011 Royal Theatre, Victoria The Vinyl Café with Stuart McLean jumped out of the radio and onto the stage at the Royal Theatre in Victoria at a recent event that combined readings, music, and other festivities. The show was part of the annual Christmas concert tour, which will make over […]

Continue Reading

Concert review: a night of K-os

K-os, The Dirty Mags Thursday, November 24, Club 9ONE9 K-os lived up to his name when he recently performed at Club 9ONE9 and fired up the audience with his energy and talent. K-os kicked off a tour here in Victoria alongside The Dirty Mags, and both were in top form. As soon as K-os got […]

Continue Reading

Stuart McLean brings The Vinyl Café to Canadian cities

The distinct voice and familiar characters of CBC’s Stuart McLean have made his radio show, The Vinyl Café, a household name. But McLean, who’s so commonly referred to as a storyteller, is a little discontent with this label. “I’m a writer before anything,” he says on the eve of his winter Canadian tour. “In fact, […]

Continue Reading

Victoria’s Kathryn Calder a conduit for melodies

When singer/songwriter Kathryn Calder (The New Pornographers/ex-Immaculate Machine) finally began to record her own solo albums, she noticed something about her music she didn’t notice before. “Whenever you put a whole bunch of songs together back to back, you start to realize what you tend to do as a songwriter,” says Calder, who used to […]

Continue Reading

Documentary filmmaker teaches editing as an art

Jennifer Abbott isn’t a household name. But, given current world events, it’s time for that to change. The Saltspring Island-based filmmaker—who co-directed and edited the 2003 film The Corporation—is coming to Victoria for The Art of the Edit, a workshop where she’ll be teaching students editing skills and techniques. It’s a job she’s well suited […]

Continue Reading

Wil blew musical load at Upstairs

Wil w/ CR Avery Thursday, November 3, 2011 Upstairs Cabaret A slam poet, a beat-boxer, a harmonica player, and a keyboardist walk up to a microphone—and they’re all the same guy. It’s CR Avery, a one-man band who’s toured with artists such as Ani DiFranco, Tom Waits, and Sage Francis. His musical talent is as […]

Continue Reading

Wil plays strange places

Sometimes William Mimnaugh will play shows in strange places. The Vancouver Island-based singer/songwriter—who releases albums as Wil—will do a live show in an unlikely location, as long as organizers have their hearts in the right place. “To be honest, it’s all about the intention,” says Mimnaugh, who tours with his wife and manager Caroline Mimnaugh. […]

Continue Reading

Arena Rock: Sam Roberts Band

Sam Roberts Royal Theatre, Victoria, BC October 22, 2011 Everyone was there to see Sam Roberts. But that wasn’t going to stop Zeus. As the audience filed into the Royal Theatre’s gorgeous interior and took their seats, Zeus, a relatively new Toronto-based band, took to the stage sporting mustaches that Queen’s Freddie Mercury would be […]

Continue Reading