Entertainment

Artists are banding together for Islanders in need with Rock for Relief: A Living Room Concert for Vancouver Island. (Image contributed)

Artists band together for Islanders in need

Rock for Relief: A Living Room Concert for Vancouver Island broadcasts tonight

Artists are banding together for Islanders in need with Rock for Relief: A Living Room Concert for Vancouver Island. (Image contributed)
Rockers ZZ Top with special guest Cheap Trick have postponed their Canadian tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo courtesy of Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre)

ZZ Top, Cheap Trick pull the plug on Victoria concert

April 29 performance was part of band’s 50th anniversary Canadian tour

Rockers ZZ Top with special guest Cheap Trick have postponed their Canadian tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo courtesy of Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre)
FILE - In this June 6, 1999 file photo, actor Brian Dennehy, left, applauds playwright, Arthur Miller, before awarding him the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Tony Awards in New York. Dennehy, the burly actor who started in films and later in his career won plaudits for his stage work in plays, died of natural causes on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 in New Haven, Conn. He was 81. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

Brian Dennehy, Tony-winning stage, screen actor, dies at 81

Brian Dennehy was born July 9, 1938, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the first of three sons

FILE - In this June 6, 1999 file photo, actor Brian Dennehy, left, applauds playwright, Arthur Miller, before awarding him the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Tony Awards in New York. Dennehy, the burly actor who started in films and later in his career won plaudits for his stage work in plays, died of natural causes on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 in New Haven, Conn. He was 81. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
Alex Cuba (Twitter photo)

B.C. premier hosts free virtual concert to bring people together amid COVID-19

Musicians and artists have lost opportunities to entertain audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic

Alex Cuba (Twitter photo)
Nanaimo Community Dances facilitator Neil Cutler has turned his backyard into a dance club and is inviting people to attend his parties over the internet. (Photo courtesy Neil Cutler)

Vancouver Island MC hosts virtual dance parties live-streamed from his backyard

Neil Cutler of Nanaimo Community Dances said he’s drawn viewers from as far away as Alberta

Nanaimo Community Dances facilitator Neil Cutler has turned his backyard into a dance club and is inviting people to attend his parties over the internet. (Photo courtesy Neil Cutler)
Shania Twain among performers set for ‘Canada Together’ broadcast benefit

Shania Twain among performers set for ‘Canada Together’ broadcast benefit

A total of 20 acts are participating through the rest of the week

Shania Twain among performers set for ‘Canada Together’ broadcast benefit
Bob de Wolff, here seen with artistic director Nellie Quinn, said the Folk’ N Fiddle Festival hopes to be back in June 2021 after cancelling its 2020 edition scheduled for June 5 through 7. (Photo courtesy of Saanich Peninsula Folk and Fiddle Festival Society)

Musical festival hopes to re-tune in Sidney in June 2021

Folk’ N Fiddle Festival has cancelled its 2020 edition scheduled for June 5 to 7.

Bob de Wolff, here seen with artistic director Nellie Quinn, said the Folk’ N Fiddle Festival hopes to be back in June 2021 after cancelling its 2020 edition scheduled for June 5 through 7. (Photo courtesy of Saanich Peninsula Folk and Fiddle Festival Society)
Mark Perry’s new video features dancers from all over the world including Prince Rupert. (YouTube screenshot)

Northern B.C. singer debuts COVID-19 video asking people to ‘Flatten out the Curve’

Smithers artist Mark Perry’s video “Flatten out the Curve” features dancers from around the world

Mark Perry’s new video features dancers from all over the world including Prince Rupert. (YouTube screenshot)
Joey Scarfone, the author of Vintage Cars of Victoria and a former record store owner in Fernwood, has written a poem reflecting on the current times we’re living through. Black Press file photo

Retired Victoria record store owner pens a poem for these ‘strange times’

Joey Scarfone offers his creative commentary on the scenario wrought by a pandemic

  • Apr 12, 2020
Joey Scarfone, the author of Vintage Cars of Victoria and a former record store owner in Fernwood, has written a poem reflecting on the current times we’re living through. Black Press file photo
Showcase BC’s online platform brings music-lovers to virtual concerts like those hosted by Park Sounds Studio. (Facebook/Park Sound Studio)

Province supports B.C. artists with livestream portal

Showcase BC features live B.C. original performances

Showcase BC’s online platform brings music-lovers to virtual concerts like those hosted by Park Sounds Studio. (Facebook/Park Sound Studio)
Giuseppe Pietraroia, associate conductor with Pacific Opera Victoria and the Victoria Symphony, is part of the opening episode of Listening Party Podcast, one of two opera-centric online shows to be presented weekly by POV and hosted by Rebecca Hass. Photo courtesy Victoria Symphony

Opera from a social distance: Taking it to the web

Pacific Opera Victoria launches two weekly podcasts to educate and stay in touch with listeners

  • Apr 11, 2020
Giuseppe Pietraroia, associate conductor with Pacific Opera Victoria and the Victoria Symphony, is part of the opening episode of Listening Party Podcast, one of two opera-centric online shows to be presented weekly by POV and hosted by Rebecca Hass. Photo courtesy Victoria Symphony
During this time of staying at home due to COVID-19, The Royal BC Museum is offering some new free webinars for all ages. (Courtest of the Royal BC Museum)

Royal BC Museum provides online support for teachers, educators, home-schooling parents

Series of webinars provide online resources for those at home

During this time of staying at home due to COVID-19, The Royal BC Museum is offering some new free webinars for all ages. (Courtest of the Royal BC Museum)
The 2020 BC Boat Show, scheduled for Sidney April 30-May 3 but postponed because of COVID-19, aims to go forward, Sept. 24-27. (BC Yacht Broker’s Association/Submitted)

Suspended Sidney boat show moved to September

COVID-19 led organizers to postpone BC Boat Show originally scheduled for spring

The 2020 BC Boat Show, scheduled for Sidney April 30-May 3 but postponed because of COVID-19, aims to go forward, Sept. 24-27. (BC Yacht Broker’s Association/Submitted)
Chantal Gibson’s show, A Grammar of Loss, Studies in Erasure, closed early at Open Space due to COVID-19 restrictions, but you can view the show online through the gallery’s website and Facebook page. (Courtesy Open Space)

Victoria art gallery provides Open Space in an online way

View Chantal Gibson’s recent show on the web, hear Indigenous stories on Instagram starting Sunday

  • Apr 10, 2020
Chantal Gibson’s show, A Grammar of Loss, Studies in Erasure, closed early at Open Space due to COVID-19 restrictions, but you can view the show online through the gallery’s website and Facebook page. (Courtesy Open Space)
Trio of rock shows rescheduled for Alix Goolden Hall

Trio of rock shows rescheduled for Alix Goolden Hall

Bowie tribute show, Martin Barre’s Jethro Tull show and Tommy Emmanuel all booked for late fall

  • Apr 10, 2020
Trio of rock shows rescheduled for Alix Goolden Hall
Art galleries innovate in a time of crisis

Art galleries innovate in a time of crisis

The pandemic crisis has forced most local art galleries to shift online,…

Art galleries innovate in a time of crisis
Lauren Spencer-Smith at Aulani Disney resort in O’ahu. (Lauren Spencer-Smith Instagram photo)

Vancouver Island teen singer advances to American Idol top 20

Lauren Spencer-Smith performs Respect at outdoor concert in Hawaii

Lauren Spencer-Smith at Aulani Disney resort in O’ahu. (Lauren Spencer-Smith Instagram photo)
Authors Julie Paul, left, Susan Braley and Robin Stevenson are the category judges for this year’s Victoria Writer’s Society writing competition. The submission deadline has been extended to June 1.

Deadline extended for annual writing competition

Mail-in entry format makes Victoria Writer’s Society contest perfect for the times

Authors Julie Paul, left, Susan Braley and Robin Stevenson are the category judges for this year’s Victoria Writer’s Society writing competition. The submission deadline has been extended to June 1.
City of Victoria artist-in-residence Kathryn Calder performs a livestreamed concert on Facebook from her home this Friday at 7:30 p.m. YouTube

LIVE MUSIC: Artist in Residence reaching into the community

Kathryn Calder to perform livestream show on YouTube channel this Friday, April 3

City of Victoria artist-in-residence Kathryn Calder performs a livestreamed concert on Facebook from her home this Friday at 7:30 p.m. YouTube
COVID-19: ‘The Ballad of Bonnie Henry’ recorded and released

COVID-19: ‘The Ballad of Bonnie Henry’ recorded and released

LISTEN: Quick turnaround for song penned by B.C. Order of Canada musician Phil Dwyer

COVID-19: ‘The Ballad of Bonnie Henry’ recorded and released