music festivals

Laketown Shakedown in Youbou over the 2023 Canada Day long weekend will feature plenty of stars for music fans. (Robert Porter/RMS Media photo)

Third Eye Blind, Portugal. The Man, Shaggy, Aqua headline music festival in Cowichan on Canada Day weekend

Laketown Shakedown takes over Laketown Ranch in Youbou

 

Laketown Shakedown in Youbou over the 2023 Canada Day long weekend will feature plenty of stars for music fans. (Robert Porter/RMS Media photo)

Third Eye Blind, Portugal. The Man, Shaggy, Aqua headline music festival in Cowichan on Canada Day weekend

Laketown Shakedown takes over Laketown Ranch in Youbou

 

The long-running Vancouver Folk Festival is back for another year, less than two months after funding issues threatened to permanently cancel the event. Festivalgoers are seen on the second weekend of the Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022, in Austin, Texas. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP

Vancouver Folk Festival revival is music to the ears of B.C.’s dedicated fans

Since demise was announced in January, substantial funding pledged, many volunteers stepped up

 

People walk past carnival game stands below a ferris wheel during the Pacific National Exhibition Fair, in Vancouver, on Thursday, September 1, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. introduces $30M fund to support festivals, events over next 2 years

One-time grants come as event organizers cite increased costs, supply chain issues, trouble hiring

People walk past carnival game stands below a ferris wheel during the Pacific National Exhibition Fair, in Vancouver, on Thursday, September 1, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
The Helmuth Wolff & Associes Ltee, Op 47, organ built in 2005 in the Christ Church Cathedral. (Courtesy Mark Thompson)

Landmark Victoria organ in the spotlight at this year’s Pacific Baroque Festival

Annual event kicks off Feb. 15 at Christ Church Cathedral

The Helmuth Wolff & Associes Ltee, Op 47, organ built in 2005 in the Christ Church Cathedral. (Courtesy Mark Thompson)
Rockin’ River Music Fest in Merritt has been cancelled for 2023, citing economic struggles. (Rockin’ River Music Fest- Facebook)

Rockin’ River Music Fest in Merritt cancelled due to financial struggles

Announcement follows Vancouver Folk Fest, Squamish Constellation Festival cancellations

Rockin’ River Music Fest in Merritt has been cancelled for 2023, citing economic struggles. (Rockin’ River Music Fest- Facebook)
Danny Davis Guitars are displayed in Huntsville, Ala. A groundswell of support for the Vancouver Folk Music Festival has its board of directors rethinking plans to cancel this year’s event and dissolve the society.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, The Huntsville Times, Matt Wake

Chorus of support has Vancouver folk fest board reviewing cancellation, letter says

Board has paused a motion to dissolve the society and looking at options to continue

Danny Davis Guitars are displayed in Huntsville, Ala. A groundswell of support for the Vancouver Folk Music Festival has its board of directors rethinking plans to cancel this year’s event and dissolve the society.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, The Huntsville Times, Matt Wake
Vancouver Folk Music Festival organizers say they don’t have the funds to run the annual event in 2023. They’ll ask their membership on Feb. 1 to vote on whether to end the festival forever. (Vancouver Folk Music Festival/Instagram)

Short $500K, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival calls it quits, possibly forever

Organizers say they don’t have the funding or staff to get the annual event off the ground

Vancouver Folk Music Festival organizers say they don’t have the funds to run the annual event in 2023. They’ll ask their membership on Feb. 1 to vote on whether to end the festival forever. (Vancouver Folk Music Festival/Instagram)
Lorde dances on stage Sunday, Sept. 18, during the final day of Rifflandia 2022 at Royal Athletic Park. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Lorde sends off Victoria’s Rifflandia music festival in style

Thousands filled Royal Athletic Park for the final day of the festival

Lorde dances on stage Sunday, Sept. 18, during the final day of Rifflandia 2022 at Royal Athletic Park. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
The rock duo A Family Curse features 54-40 singer Neil Osborne, right, and his daughter, Kandle. (Contributed - Sooke Music and Art Festival)

Kin of B.C.’s music royalty headline Sooke festival

A Family Curse has bloodlines to rock band 54•40

The rock duo A Family Curse features 54-40 singer Neil Osborne, right, and his daughter, Kandle. (Contributed - Sooke Music and Art Festival)
The Viano String Quartet is playing the opening concert for this year’s Victoria Summer Music Festival, which kicks off July 28. (Courtesy Viano String Quartet)

Victoria Summer Music Festival opens Thursday at UVic recital hall

Viano String Quartet makes Greater Victoria debut with July 28 concert

The Viano String Quartet is playing the opening concert for this year’s Victoria Summer Music Festival, which kicks off July 28. (Courtesy Viano String Quartet)
Freeze Frame, from left, Steve Moyer, Paul McLellan, Lisa McLellan and Steve Hansen perform at a Saanich Music in the Park event in 2019. The band performs this Thursday (July 21) at Willows Park. (Courtesy of Lisa McLellan)

Greater Victoria band checkers Willows stage with timeless hits July 21

Freeze Frame, on stage July 21, fuses friendship with a love for ’80s music

Freeze Frame, from left, Steve Moyer, Paul McLellan, Lisa McLellan and Steve Hansen perform at a Saanich Music in the Park event in 2019. The band performs this Thursday (July 21) at Willows Park. (Courtesy of Lisa McLellan)
Festival goers leave Worthy Farm in Somerset, England, Monday June 27, 2022, following the Glastonbury Festival. Organizers at Canada’s summer music festivals say even as pandemic restrictions lift and live concerts return to some semblance of normalcy, it’s anything but normal behind the scenes. (Photo from the Canadian Press)

From travel woes to inflation, music festivals face most unpredictable summer yet

Several factors make putting together a festival more tumultuous, costly and unpredictable

Festival goers leave Worthy Farm in Somerset, England, Monday June 27, 2022, following the Glastonbury Festival. Organizers at Canada’s summer music festivals say even as pandemic restrictions lift and live concerts return to some semblance of normalcy, it’s anything but normal behind the scenes. (Photo from the Canadian Press)
Comox Valley RCMP responded to a 9-1-1 call for a hit-and-run involving two cyclists and a pedestrian who were struck July 9 (Saturday) near Vancouver Island MusicFest. File photo

Musicians hurt outside Vancouver Island Music Festival in suspected hit-and-run

Two cyclists, pedestrian hit, including performers set to take stage at MusicFest the following day

Comox Valley RCMP responded to a 9-1-1 call for a hit-and-run involving two cyclists and a pedestrian who were struck July 9 (Saturday) near Vancouver Island MusicFest. File photo
Laura Jayne’s work, “SHE,” has been unveiled as the Vancouver Island MusicFest’s official poster for the 2022 event.

Island artist Laura Jayne designs 2022 Vancouver Island MusicFest poster

With the return of its live festival this July, Vancouver Island MusicFest…

Laura Jayne’s work, “SHE,” has been unveiled as the Vancouver Island MusicFest’s official poster for the 2022 event.
Zebastin Borjeau channels Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear in his performance of “Movin’ Right Along” by Kenny Ascher and Paul Williams from The Muppet Movie at the 2022 Cowichan Music Festival Highlights Concert on Sunday, March 6. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Cowichan Music Festival’s best shine at Highlights Concert

Festival was limited to one Highlights Concert in 2022

Zebastin Borjeau channels Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear in his performance of “Movin’ Right Along” by Kenny Ascher and Paul Williams from The Muppet Movie at the 2022 Cowichan Music Festival Highlights Concert on Sunday, March 6. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
A colourful float makes its way down Ste. Catherine St. during the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Montreal, Sunday, March 22, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Students, festival organizers make masks a choice as Canada nears St. Patrick’s Day

Return of the Irish holiday doesn’t come without risks, even though provinces have lifted mandates

A colourful float makes its way down Ste. Catherine St. during the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in Montreal, Sunday, March 22, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Tim McGraw sings “Something Like That” in a video posted to Youtube.com. The American artist is booked to perform during the 2022 Rockin River Fest in Merritt, B.C.

Tim McGraw, Darius Rucker headline summer’s Rockin River Fest in flood-hit Merritt

‘Now more than ever, we need things to be excited about,’ city’s mayor says

Tim McGraw sings “Something Like That” in a video posted to Youtube.com. The American artist is booked to perform during the 2022 Rockin River Fest in Merritt, B.C.
Cecile Doo Kingue, from Montreal, will be playing guitar along with singing. Photo supplied

All-star blues women to headline Vancouver Island MusicFest on first night

Shakura S’Aida is bringing many friends to the Comox Valley to sing and play the blues

Cecile Doo Kingue, from Montreal, will be playing guitar along with singing. Photo supplied
Bass Coast raised $21,100 for disaster relief; music festival is back for 2022 (Photo - basscoast.ca)

Merritt’s Bass Coast raises more than $20,000 for flood relief; festival back for 2022

The festival will run from July 8-11

Bass Coast raised $21,100 for disaster relief; music festival is back for 2022 (Photo - basscoast.ca)