New Music Revue: Folly Group only halfway there with Down There!Folly Group Down There! (So Young Records) 2.5/5 Down There! is the debut album from British post-punk band Folly Group. The appeal of the album will depend largely on how much you enjoy the genre. I vibed to the beats and instrumentation but less so to the lyrics and vocals. To more enthusiastic fans of […] Continue Reading |
New Music Revue: Courting delivers comforting heartbreak with second albumCourting New Last Name (Lower Third) 3/5 Liverpool-based rock band Courting’s second album, New Last Name, is centred on an ex. An ex who has settled down and is happier for it: it’s “Someone Like You” if Adele was a soccer hooligan. But perhaps this comparison is misleading. New Last Name is not meant to […] Continue Reading |
Victoria Film Festival documentary follows Bonnie Henry during the pandemicThe Victoria Film Festival (VFF) is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. And there’s no shortage of events for movie lovers to enjoy at the VFF, from the fest’s lineup of movies from all over the globe to events such as chats with filmmakers. One notable example of the varied movie lineup is Vancouver-based Adrian […] Continue Reading |
Isle of Tease shines light on diversity in burlesqueThe Isle of Tease Burlesque Festival celebrates the variety and history of burlesque while showcasing the diverse backgrounds of burlesque performers. Event co-producer Champagne Sparkles—also the co-founder of Victoria’s popular Cheesecake Burlesque Review, celebrating 18 years of being a burlesque troupe this March—says that what the Cheesecakes do is only part of what burlesque is […] Continue Reading |
Exhibit gives modern take on queer and BIPOC portraitureWhy do we take portraits of people? For hundreds of years, much of the function was to preserve someone’s image, flaunt wealth, or, among upper classes, advertise yourself for marriage to long-distance suitors. Other times, it’s to record history or shine light on a certain type of person or way of life. Today, selfies, video […] Continue Reading |
The Nexus 2024 movie preview guideThis year, audiences can expect some great times at the movies, as evidenced in the films I’m spotlighting here. This year is chock full of great movies that I can’t wait for—here are just some of the films that have me all jittery with excitement. Dune: Part Two March 1 It’s finally here. After the […] Continue Reading |
AGGV exhibit showcases local tattoo art and cultureLocal tattoo artistry and culture is the focus of Tender Touch, an art exhibit at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. As a teenager, exhibit curator Mel Granley was interested in tattoos and body modification, noting that both her mother and grandfather had tattoos. Over the past 10 years, Granley has built a relationship with […] Continue Reading |
The Lost Boy flawed in execution but showcases heartfelt performancesThe Lost Boy, presented by the Langham Court Theatre under the direction of Merry Hallsor, is based on the true story of James M. Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan. After the childhood death of his brother, Davey, Barrie is haunted with guilt and insecurity only exasperated by an unloving mother and wife. While the […] Continue Reading |
Lenin’s Embalmers uses gallows humour to make statementWhat would you do if Joseph Stalin asked you to come up with a way to preserve Vladimir Lenin’s corpse for all time? Success would change your life forever; failure would end your life abruptly. This is the high-pressure scenario two Jewish scientists found themselves facing in 1920s Russia, and the stage play of this […] Continue Reading |
When My Ghost Sings descriptive exploration of stroke recovery and loveUpon first reading When My Ghost Sings by Tara Sidhoo Fraser, I expected a story describing the author’s experience before and after recovering from a brain injury, but what I didn’t expect was the beautiful, vivid imagery that places the reader in the story and hurls a variety of emotions at them. When My Ghost […] Continue Reading |
