by Gillian Crowley –
Raven Baroque Plays Early Hits
Don’t miss this combination of beautiful music, wigs and pantaloons! The 14-piece Raven Baroque Orchestra will play the hits from 1600 to 1750 in full costume in Victoria and Sidney during July and August. Admission is by donation. July 7 – Beacon Pavilion, Sidney 7 to 8:30 p.m. They return August 11 to the Pavilion.
Watercolours by Louise Piquette
“My journey as an artist is an ongoing discovery of the natural landscape and its changing seasons,” says Louise Piquette. See her vibrant watercolours of farmland, lakes, rivers, creeks and the Canadian boreal forest at Tulista Gallery operated by the ArtSea Council (formerly CACSP). July 10 to 16, ArtSea Gallery at Tulista Park, Sidney. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free parking.
Lonely Heartstring Band – Boston
Some will recognize the name Patrick M’Gonigle, vocalist and strings player in this bluegrass quintet. He busked outside Tanner’s Books in Sidney from ages nine to 16 while taking violin lessons from renowned local violin teacher, Yasuko Eastman. Patrick met his bandmates at Boston’s Berklee College of Music and the rest, as they say, is history. “These guys are as close to the Real Deal as it is possible to get. They made my hair stand on end,” says Darol Anger, fiddler for Republic of Strings and Associate Professor at Berklee.
Don’t miss this highly rated bluegrass band. Tickets: $20 at
www.brownpapertickets.com.
July 25, 7:30 p.m. (doors open at 7 p.m.). Christian Science Church, 1205 Pandora, Victoria.
Summer Entertainment at Butchart Gardens
Whatever your favorite music genre, you’re bound to hear it this July at Butchart Garden’s evening entertainment. Bring blankets and a picnic and prepare to hear jazz, blues, classical music, dance tunes, folk or contemporary favourites, depending on the night. A few highlights: Chris Millington & Dancin’ on three Tuesdays, Victoria Symphony on the 28th and Mad Day Out will celebrate the Beatles’ music on two Saturdays. Check the calendar at butchartgardens.com. All shows start at 8 p.m. except for Fireworks Saturdays which start at 7 p.m. A perfect summer outing in beautiful surroundings. Butchart Gardens, 800 Benvenuto Avenue, Brentwood Bay.
Crystal Shawanda
Chrystal’s soulful voice creates a seamless bridge between traditional country and the blues. She was named CCMA Female Artist of the Year (2008), won Best New Country Artist at the Canadian Radio Music Awards (2009) and was nominated for two Juno Awards that same year. In 2013 Crystal won the Juno Award for Aboriginal Album of the Year and has also earned three Aboriginal People’s Choice Awards and five Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards in her career. After taking some time off, she wrote the songs featured on her latest “Fish Out of Water” album, described as “cathartic and authentic.”
July 27, 7:30 p.m. at Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney.
Reminder: Early Bird passes for the Sidney & Peninsula Literary Festival end August 1. See Tickets at www.sidneyliteraryfestival.ca.
