In 2014, folk trio The Once went on a career-making ride as a supporting act for Passenger, the British folk-rock phenomenon and soccer-mom sensation also known as Michael Rosenberg.
The two-time Juno Award nominees made enough fans worldwide during their time with Passenger to head out on their own international tour as headliners, which brings them to Victoria on Monday for a performance at St. Ann’s Auditorium.
The Newfoundland-based folk trio will take off for Europe on April 9, so their second-to-last Canadian date of a tour that wraps May 9 in Birmingham, England, qualifies as a night of must-see music.
The talents of Geraldine Hollett, Andrew Dale and Phil Churchill — all of whom sing and play a variety of instruments, from bodhran and banjo to guitar and mandolin — combine to make old-time music sound new again. Their 2009 self-titled debut got the ball rolling, but it was their 2011 effort, Row Upon Row of the People They Know, that led to a deal with Nettwerk Music Group. The Once’s award-winning breakout, 2014’s Departures, further moved the needle for the group, netting them the second of their two Juno nominations.
Tickets for Monday’s performance are $25 at Ditch Records, Lyle’s Place and ticketfly.com. St. Ann’s Auditorium is located at 835 Humboldt St. Doors open at 8 p.m. Opening act is Sarah MacDougall.
Harry Manx is one of the most popular artists in the area, so give thanks to promoter Atomique Productions for announcing an upcoming date by the Salt Spring Island musician well in advance.
Manx is booked to perform Nov. 21 at the Alix Goolden Performance Hall. Sure, the date is almost eight months away, but you can never be too prepared when it comes to a Manx concert. Tickets are $32.50 at Lyle’s Place and ticketfly.com. Get yours now or you’ll spend the summer regretting your decision.
In other Atomique news, the festival producer has announced the dates for one of its key summer spectaculars, the Phillips Backyard Weekender.
The three-day event, which is held at the Phillips Brewery lots on Government Street, will run from July 24 to July 26.
Tickets for the third annual event are on sale now. Given the festival’s popularity, it might be wise to take advantage of early-bird pricing. Three-day passes are currently available for $75 through ticketfly.com. Expect demand for tickets to go nuts once the festival lineup is announced in the coming weeks.
Country music sisters Carli and Julie Kennedy will return to their alma mater for a performance at the University of Victoria’s Phillip T. Young Recital Hall on April 9.
The identical twins, who perform under the moniker of Twin Kennedy, graduated in 2008 from UVic’s School of Music.
They are celebrating the release of their debut CD, It’s a Love Thing, which arrives in stores on April 7.
Carli (vocals, guitar) and Julie (vocals, violin) were born and raised in Powell River. They are performing the date as part of UVic’s Alumni Concert Series.
Showtime on Thursday is 8 p.m. The Phillip T. Young Recital Hall is in the B-Wing of the MacLaurin Building. Tickets ($18/$14) are available in person at the UVic Ticket Centre, by phone at 250-721-8480, online at tickets.uvic.ca and at the door.
Kim Mitchell, who hosts a popular afternoon drive show on Toronto rock radio station Q107, is making a rare Victoria performance in June.
Mitchell, who last performed here in 2012 during his opening set for Joe Walsh, will appear on June 4 at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney. That is good news for fans, as it will be an up close and personal experience with the CanCon hitmaker behind the songs Go For Soda, Patio Lanterns, I am a Wild Party and Easy to Tame.
Tickets are $42.50 by phone at 250-656-0275 or online at marywinspear.ca.
Should you happen to find yourself in Sin City this week, keep an eye out for a pair of local rockers performing as part of Viva Las Vegas 18, said to be the largest rockabilly festival in the world.
The Cavaleros and Hank Angel will both perform at the event, which will be held at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas from Thursday through Sunday. The Victoria-based acts are just two of a handful of Canadians selected to play the event.
For more information on the event, visit vivalasvegas.net.
Last-minute warning: One of the best indie rock bills in recent years is set for Upstairs Cabaret tonight.
Viet Cong, Freak Heat Waves, and Fountain are set to play the Bastion Square establishment. The start is set for 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 at Lyle’s Place, Ditch Records and Cavity Curiosity Shop.
If available, they will also be sold at the door.
