Wednesday, February 19
Laugh like no one is watching
There’s a new stand-up comedy night at The Mint, making Thursday the new most popular hangover day. This could just be so funny that you need that extra pair of pants. Tickets are $20 at the door or $10 in advance; see themintvictoria.com for more details.
Thursday, February 20 to Sunday, March 1
A flight to remember
Live theatre is always a creative and fun alternative to the humdrum of regular student life, especially when the theatre involves real stories more interesting than fictional ones. Try taking a trip with Flight, Pacific Opera Victoria’s true story of a refugee who lived in an airport for 18 years. Flight plays on February 20, 22, and 28 at 8 pm, with a matinee on March 1 at 2:30 pm. Tickets start at $29; student rush tickets are $15 at the door. The show takes place at the Royal Theatre; see pacificopera.ca for more information.
Saturday, February 22 and Sunday, February 23
That sort of bear
If you, your family, or your children have a fondness for A.A. Milne’s beloved stories about Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin, and the other residents of the Hundred Acre Wood, Kaleidoscope Theatre’s stage adaptation of the House on Pooh Corner series is for you. The production is full of comic moments and silly verses, as well as touching insights on the human condition. Tickets start at $14 and the fun goes down at the McPherson Playhouse; see rmts.bc.ca for more details.
Saturday, February 22, Sunday, February 23, Saturday, February 29, and Sunday, March 1
Guinness and games
From 6 am to 9 pm, the Irish Times pub is celebrating at its best and booziest by tuning into the Six Nations rugby game and day drinking with the best of them. Come on down, put on your best brawler’s face, and make the party gods proud. The doors open at 6 am (I love writing that) at 1200 Government Street; see irishtimespub.ca for more information.
Friday, February 28
Bump and grind with a hair scrunchie
I faithfully say this every time I write about them; if you haven’t seen a burlesque show before, then your life is a dark, sad pit of despair. However, you can remedy all that if you head on over to the Victoria Event Centre for the Righteous Retro Revue’s 1980s Burlesque Show, where you can mix your garter belts with a whole whack of hairspray and your prettiest fanny pack. The fun begins at 7 pm, and the music will definitely rock and glitter. Tickets are $20 in advance, and the event runs from 7 pm to 10 pm. See victoriaeventcentre.ca for more details.
Friday, February 28
The open groove
Once in a while you come across that extra-special band that gives you those extra-special feelings, especially when they can cover every single genre. The Groove Diggers lay down rock, pop, indie, R&B, and funk, and they’re back at Bartholomew’s Pub for a night of… well, I really don’t know, considering they have all that going on. See bartholomewspub.com for information.
Saturday, February 29
Scout about town
If you’re a fan of rock, pop, indie, and something that delves much deeper, you don’t want to miss this. Black Belt Eagle Scout is coming to Lucky Bar to belt out her rocking tunes; she’s queer and Indigenous, with a long musical history. She’s multi-talented and a multi-instrumentalist with a soulful voice and a guitar strum that transports us to a time we have not yet experienced. Tickets are $23.90 and doors are at 7 pm; see luckybar.ca for more information.
Saturday, February 29
All strung out
Spark to Flame features student musicians and vocalists from the Victoria Conservatory of Music and The Ann and George Nation Conservatory School of Classical Music performing alongside professional musicians and the Senior String Orchestra at the Alix Goolden Performance Hall, along with the maestro of maestros, Timothy Vernon, who will be waving his baton in ways that make you feel all strung out with culture and craze. Doors open at 7 pm; tickets are $15. See vcm.bc.ca for more details.
Sunday, March 1
The highest and the mightiest experience
If you’re feeling that your soul is lacking, a night with Haviah Mighty might change that. Mighty recently picked up the Polaris Music Prize and has made a big statement as the first female Black artist to receive it. Mighty is a bit of a prodigy, as she started singing at 4, rapping at 11, and producing at 15. She’ll be gracing us with her mighty self at the Capital Ballroom. Doors are at 8 pm; tickets are $18.50 in advance. See capitalballoom.ca for more details.