Music

Victoria-based guitarist Eric Harper performs at the Port Theatre on Nov. 27. (Photo credit Tatum Duryba)

Classical guitarist to play at the Port Theatre

Eric Harper to play new songs composed during the pandemic

Victoria-based guitarist Eric Harper performs at the Port Theatre on Nov. 27. (Photo credit Tatum Duryba)
In this screen shot provided by ABC on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, Taylor Swift accepts the award for artist of the year at the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (ABC via AP)

Taylor Swift wins top prize at AMAs, says she’s re-recording music

Swift beat out Bieber, Post Malone and Roddy Ricch to win the top award

In this screen shot provided by ABC on Sunday, Nov. 22, 2020, Taylor Swift accepts the award for artist of the year at the American Music Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (ABC via AP)
Tomo Vranjes, a Greater Victoria musician and longtime fan of late rock guitar icon Eddie Van Halen, joins artist Paul Archer behind the latter’s Fort Street gallery. Archer, whose airbrushed paintings of rock greats have made him many connections in recent years, painted a likeness of Van Halen following the guitarist’s death last month from cancer. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

Victoria artist’s king-sized tribute to Eddie Van Halen draws on personal connection

Paul Archer had an up close and personal day with the legendary guitarist in 1980

Tomo Vranjes, a Greater Victoria musician and longtime fan of late rock guitar icon Eddie Van Halen, joins artist Paul Archer behind the latter’s Fort Street gallery. Archer, whose airbrushed paintings of rock greats have made him many connections in recent years, painted a likeness of Van Halen following the guitarist’s death last month from cancer. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Liam Docherty, left, and Gerry Barnum, right, at the 2019 Texada Blues and Roots Festival on Texada Island. (Submitted photo)

13-year-old Qualicum Beach musician nominated for prestigious 2020 Maple Blues Award

Docherty hopes for support from local voters to help bring award to Vancouver Island

Liam Docherty, left, and Gerry Barnum, right, at the 2019 Texada Blues and Roots Festival on Texada Island. (Submitted photo)
Howie Meeker, left, and wife, Leah Meeker, at The Old School House Arts Centre during Meeker’s 90th birthday in 2013. (Photo submitted)

Qualicum Beach arts community members fondly recall Howie Meeker’s love of music

Hockey legend died on Nov. 8 at the age of 97

Howie Meeker, left, and wife, Leah Meeker, at The Old School House Arts Centre during Meeker’s 90th birthday in 2013. (Photo submitted)
SandyBone is headed to the Duncan Showroom for an evening of music by Hank Williams. (Submitted)

SandyBone celebrates the songs of Hank Williams with show in Duncan

SandyBone brings “An Evening of Hank Williams Songs” to the Showroom on Thursday, Nov. 12

  • Nov 10, 2020
SandyBone is headed to the Duncan Showroom for an evening of music by Hank Williams. (Submitted)
Vancouver singer Jill Barber performs at the Port Theatre on Nov. 6. (Photo courtesy Grant Harder)

Singer Jill Barber goes ‘back to basics’ at Nanaimo’s Port Theatre

Vancouver musician coming to the Island for trio of stripped-down solo acoustic shows

Vancouver singer Jill Barber performs at the Port Theatre on Nov. 6. (Photo courtesy Grant Harder)
Nanaimo bluesman David Gogo releases his new single, Christine, on Oct. 30. (Photo courtesy Andrew Dodd)

Island bluesman David Gogo evokes return to good times with new single

Upcoming release ‘Christine’ among a dozen new songs written during pandemic

Nanaimo bluesman David Gogo releases his new single, Christine, on Oct. 30. (Photo courtesy Andrew Dodd)
Elizabeth and Marcel Bergmann will play the same piano at the Port Theatre on Nov. 1. (Photo courtesy Best Days Ever Photography)

Piano duo perform on one piano in Nanaimo return to live performance

Marcel and Elizabeth Bergmann present first live, in-person concert since March

Elizabeth and Marcel Bergmann will play the same piano at the Port Theatre on Nov. 1. (Photo courtesy Best Days Ever Photography)
Jennifer Bate, executive director of Parksville’s McMillan Arts Centre, visits the PQB News/VI Free Daily studio. (Peter McCully photo)

PQBeat: A chat with Jennifer Bate of Parksville’s McMillan Arts Centre

Podcast: Discussion includes COVID-19 issues, singing in a rock band and more

Jennifer Bate, executive director of Parksville’s McMillan Arts Centre, visits the PQB News/VI Free Daily studio. (Peter McCully photo)
Nanaimo singer Elise Boulanger releases her new single, ‘Cigarettes et rosé’ on Oct. 11. (Photo courtesy Laura Baldwinson)

Nanaimo singer releasing new single inspired by overheard conversations

Elise Boulanger to unveil ‘Cigarettes et rosé,’ accompanying ukulele tutorial video to come

Nanaimo singer Elise Boulanger releases her new single, ‘Cigarettes et rosé’ on Oct. 11. (Photo courtesy Laura Baldwinson)
Joëlle Rabu and Nico Rhodes present No Regrets, a live-streamed and in-person show featuring the songs of French singer Édith Piaf at the Port Theatre on Oct. 17. (Photo courtesy Vital Image)

Nanaimo mother-son duo pay tribute to Édith Piaf in Nanaimo

Vocalist Joëlle Rabu and pianist and arranger Nico Rhodes present ‘No Regrets’ show Oct. 17

Joëlle Rabu and Nico Rhodes present No Regrets, a live-streamed and in-person show featuring the songs of French singer Édith Piaf at the Port Theatre on Oct. 17. (Photo courtesy Vital Image)
Cortes-Island-based Awakeneers have had to re-imagine what their band is and how to get their music out to the world after COVID-19 shut down their touring aspirations. Photo courtesy Awakeneers

Cortes Island band reinvents itself for the COVID-19 world

‘We had to revisit how this whole thing was going to be sustainable’

Cortes-Island-based Awakeneers have had to re-imagine what their band is and how to get their music out to the world after COVID-19 shut down their touring aspirations. Photo courtesy Awakeneers
Nanaimo psychedelic rock band Moths and Locusts – Angus Barter, Dave Bean, Valentina Cardinalli, Mike Breen, Dave Read and Samantha Letourneau (from left) – is marking its 10th anniversary with the release of its latest album ‘Exoplanets.’ (Photo courtesy Dave Bean)

Nanaimo psychedelic rock band marks 10th anniversary with new release

Moths and Locusts’ new LP ‘Exoplanets’ includes recordings made over the last 10 years

Nanaimo psychedelic rock band Moths and Locusts – Angus Barter, Dave Bean, Valentina Cardinalli, Mike Breen, Dave Read and Samantha Letourneau (from left) – is marking its 10th anniversary with the release of its latest album ‘Exoplanets.’ (Photo courtesy Dave Bean)
The Vancouver Island Symphony recently announced its 2020-21 ‘Symphony from your Sofa’ live-streaming concert series. (Photo courtesy Heydemann Art of Photography)

Vancouver Island Symphony announces 2020-21 live-streaming concert series

‘Symphony from your Sofa’ series features small in-person theatre shows broadcast online

The Vancouver Island Symphony recently announced its 2020-21 ‘Symphony from your Sofa’ live-streaming concert series. (Photo courtesy Heydemann Art of Photography)
FILE - This Jan. 17, 1993 file photo shows the band Van Halen, from left, Michael Anthony, bass guitar, Sammy Hagar, lead singer, Alex Van Halen, drums, and Eddie Van Halen, lead guitar in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)

Guitarist Eddie Van Halen dead at age 65 after long battle with cancer

Rocker had formed Van Halen in the 1970s with his brother

FILE - This Jan. 17, 1993 file photo shows the band Van Halen, from left, Michael Anthony, bass guitar, Sammy Hagar, lead singer, Alex Van Halen, drums, and Eddie Van Halen, lead guitar in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)
This month Nanaimo musician Paul Bezooyen released his latest record, ‘Another World.’ (Photo courtesy John Grodzki)

Nanaimo guitarist puts decades-old tunes on tape on new instrumental album

Paul Bezooyen’s ‘Another World’ includes compositions dating back to the ’80s

This month Nanaimo musician Paul Bezooyen released his latest record, ‘Another World.’ (Photo courtesy John Grodzki)
Voces Intimae includes, left, Yariv Aloni on viola; Pamela Highbaugh-Aloni on cello; and David Stewart and Paule Préfontaine on violin. The quartet will perform in a Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra online concert on Oct. 5. (Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra photo)

Sooke Philharmonic introduces new quartet

SPO presents first online concert Oct. 5

Voces Intimae includes, left, Yariv Aloni on viola; Pamela Highbaugh-Aloni on cello; and David Stewart and Paule Préfontaine on violin. The quartet will perform in a Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra online concert on Oct. 5. (Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra photo)
Screen capture from the latest Berwick Qualicum Beach music video, ‘BQB On The Catwalk’, created in celebration of National Seniors Day on Oct. 1. (Submitted)

Berwick Qualicum Beach seniors strut their stuff on the catwalk

Latest fun music video a takeoff on campy 1991 hit ‘I’m Too Sexy’

Screen capture from the latest Berwick Qualicum Beach music video, ‘BQB On The Catwalk’, created in celebration of National Seniors Day on Oct. 1. (Submitted)
Nanaimo musician Jamie Penner is releasing his debut album, ‘Out of Curiosity,’ on Oct. 1. (Photo courtesy Mike Bonkowski)

Nanaimo musician plays all instruments on DIY debut album

Jamie Penner releasing guitar-centric instrumental record ‘Out of Curiosity’

Nanaimo musician Jamie Penner is releasing his debut album, ‘Out of Curiosity,’ on Oct. 1. (Photo courtesy Mike Bonkowski)