New Music Revue: Greg Keelor explores his dark side on Last Winter

Greg Keelor Last Winter (Warner Music Canada) 4/5 Last Winter, the fifth solo release from Blue Rodeo founding member Greg Keelor, has flown in a bit under the radar. The four-song EP combines a new and different sound with the haunting and familiar vocals that helped weave Blue Rodeo into our collective memories. Melodic, ambient, […]

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What’s Going On: May 16 to June 12, 2018

Until Saturday, May 19 From Israel to Victoria Theatre Inconnu presents Tenant Haymovitch, a play about a young writer struggling with his past, from May 1 to 19. Set in a derelict apartment in the slums of Tel Aviv, Tenant Haymovitch brings the complexities of Israel to a theatre in Fernwood. Ticket prices vary from […]

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New Music Revue: Felix Cartal gives what fans expect, and a bit more

Felix Cartal Next Season (Physical Presents) 3/5 Vancouver DJ and producer Felix Cartal fills soundwaves with clapping high-hat noises and snappy-squirrel electro-beats for just over an hour on his third album, Next Season. Several of the tracks feature guest musicians, and Cartal also includes his cover of the 1998 New Radicals song “You Get What […]

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New book details Gulf Islands trails with passion

Charles Kahn’s Hiking the Gulf Islands of British Columbia (Harbour Publishing) was written with the goal of being an informative guide to hiking the many trails located in the Gulf Islands, and Kahn succeeded. The book is quite simple to use: it’s divided into chapters, each one covering a different island, providing information on how […]

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Lovecoast singer focuses on settling down on debut album

Gone are the days of dating with serious intent, at least until you’re ready for a change. Just ask Danielle Sweeney, singer of local indie/soul/pop band Lovecoast. Although she is in a long-term relationship now, Sweeney says a main theme on The Trip, the band’s first full-length album, is the idea of learning to love […]

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The Olate Dogs bring message to everyone, not just dog lovers

When third-generation circus performer Richard Olate won America’s Got Talent in 2012, he wasn’t very optimistic about it going anywhere. Six years later, the family is touring with their show, and Richard’s son, Nicholas, says turning the act into a family unit is a growing endeavour for him, considering that his dad is getting ready […]

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What’s Going On: April 4 to May 15, 2018

Friday, April 6 and Saturday, April 7 Identity through dance Dance Victoria is hosting the local premiere of contemporary dance company Ballet Hispanico. These shows will showcase the work of three Latina women and explore finding identity as a Mexican-American citizen. Tickets start at $29 and the show is at 7:30 both nights at the Royal […]

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Local artist Mitchell Villa explores new styles

2018 saw the end of an era for local painter Mitchell Villa as he switched from acrylic paints to oil. His current exhibit, Epilogue, at Fortune Gallery, pays tribute to his bright and vibrant acrylic work as he transitions to his new medium. Villa says that the change is more practical than anything. “All my […]

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New Music Revue: Scott Hardy delivers cohesive and refreshing Dilemma Season debut

Dilemma Season Epidemic Suggestion (Independent) 4/5 Hailing from Vancouver, BC, indie rocker Scott Hardy, who goes by the name of Dilemma Season, sounds like a blend of Johnny Cash and Elvis Costello on his debut album, Epidemic Suggestion. The album consists of a hearty ten tracks, giving listeners time to really sink into it. The […]

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New Music Revue: The Lawrence Arms blasts through a punk “retrospectus” worth listening to

The Lawrence Arms We Are the Champions of the World (Fat Wreck Chords) 4/5 This “retrospectus” from Chicago punk rockers The Lawrence Arms features a collection of songs off their previous records, plus a few previously unreleased tracks. It serves as a tour of their nearly 20 years making music, and it’s a treat for […]

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