Various dates in July
Symphonic summer
The Victoria Symphony is seeing to it that there’s lots of historic music being played in nice sunshine-y places, such as the Inner Harbour and the Butchart Gardens, this month. See victoriasymphony.ca for info.
Until August 1
Get coupled
Michael Doerksen’s Coupling is a three-part exhibit based around cast bronze sculptures of an extinct marine invertebrate which was kickin’ butt 145 million years ago. It all goes down at Deluge Contemporary Art, 636 Yates Street; see deluge.ca for info.
Until August 8
Shakespeare fest returns
The Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival is celebrating their 25th year, and they’re doing it right here on the lawn of Camosun’s Lansdowne campus. Come see them tackle classics Romeo & Juliet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream while you put off doing schoolwork. See vicshakespeare.com for the scoop.
Friday and Saturday nights in August
Free flicks outside
Hard to say no to free classic movies like The Secret of Nimh (!) being screened for free at various locations outside (Beacon Hill Park, Broadmead Village, and the Legislature). Check out freebfilmfest.com for info.
Friday, July 17 to Sunday, July 19
It’s a romp
Suddenly Dance Theatre’s ROMP! Festival of Independent Dance is in its 18th year; head to suddenlydance.ca to see the whens, wheres, and whats of the fest this year.
Saturday, July 18
Moss Street Paint-In returns
The popular Moss Street Paint-In is back for its 28th year; see aggv.ca for all the details on this event, which runs from 11 am to 9 pm and includes live music with Groove Kitchen.
Saturday, July 18 and Thursday, July 23
Make your beachy voice heard
The CRD wants to hear from the public about Island View Beach; come to these sessions at the beach to make your voice heard. See crd.bc.ca/project/island-view-beach-management-plan for the whole lowdown.
Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19
The shores shall be rocked
The Black Keys. Jane’s Addiction. And there you have it: without even mentioning the slew of other bands playing Rock the Shores, it’s already sounding pretty amazing. Go to rocktheshores.com for all the info.
Saturday, July 18
Horror cabaret punks unite
The New Jacobin Club are from Saskatoon and play what is known as horror cabaret punk; their stage show promises to be pretty wild. Check ’em out at the Cambie, 856 Esquimalt Road; see cambiepubesquimalt.com for more info. See your weirdest friend to find out what “horror cabaret punk” is.
Monday, July 20 to Friday, July 24
You got the write stuff?
The Victoria Film Festival’s Shoot the Write Stuff! summer camp is for youth aged 11 to 14; the camp costs $225 per student, each of whom will get to experience all the different aspects of film production and create a short film, which will be screened at the camp. See campscui.active.com for registration info.
Thursday, July 23 to Sunday, July 26
The woods shall be rocked
Rock of the Woods is back, this year with Gob, The Dudes, Dante DeCaro, and many more. For more on this Cowichan Valley-based fest, including the full lineup, see rockofthewoods.com.
Thursday, July 23 to Monday, July 27
Get salty
The SALT New Music Festival and Symposium is a series of five concerts at Open Space focusing on new music that is voice-centred. See openspace.ca for the lowdown on this and other events.
Thursday, July 23 to Thursday, August 6
The art of parenting
Caleb Speller’s Patina is a collection of ceramics and works on paper inspired by parenthood. It’s on display at Polychrome Fine Art, 977a Fort Street. Head on over to polychromefinearts.com for info.
Friday, July 24 to Sunday, July 26
Yes in our backyard
The Phillips Backyard Weekender 2015 has a bunch of cool bands playing live in the Phillips Brewery yard. Sold yet? Performers include legendary indie rockers Built to Spill, along with a diverse lineup including Talib Kweli, The Easy Star All-Stars, USS, Jon and Roy, and many more. Prices vary; check out backyardweekender.com for more information.
Friday, July 24 to Sunday, July 26
Get the folk out
The Islands Folk Festival is bringing three days of folk to this fest, happening just outside of Duncan. If you’re into making the trip up there, check out islandsfolkfestival.ca for the scoop on the fest, including who is playing, times, and more.
Monday, August 3
Go for Baroque
Raven Baroque are performing tunes from 1600 to 1750 in full costume at a bunch of outdoor events, for free. On August 3 they’re at the Mt. Tolmie Reservoir at 1:30 and 3 pm, but you can also catch ’em at St. Ann’s Academy Chapel at 7:30 pm on Thursday, August 6; the Christ Church Cathedral lawn at 10 am on Saturday, August 8; the Government House at 6 pm on Thursday, August 13; the Beacon Hill bandstand at 1:30 on Friday, August 14. They’re also playing a not-free concert at 7:30 pm on Saturday, August 15 at St. Mary’s Anglican Church. See ravenbaroque.com for the full scoop.
Tuesday, August 4
The Wooden Sky bring good indie to town
The Wooden Sky are a great indie band, and as an added bonus, Hawk and Steel, featuring Nexus music-columnist alumnus Peter Gardner, are opening. See atomiqueproductions.com for info.
Friday, August 7
A little taste of Toronto
Toronto singer/songwriter Justin Nozuka will be playing at St. Ann’s Auditorium; doors are at 7 pm, tickets are $21.50, more information is at atomiqueproductions.com.
Monday, August 10 to Friday, August 21
Indigenous youth wanted
Up to 15 Pacific indigenous youth will take part in Pacific Voices X-Change, a two-week training program featuring guest mentors to help those in the program learn about Coast Salish lands as well as creative endeavors such as storytelling and spoken word. See pacificpeoplespartnership.org for information and to apply.