Dixie’s Death Pool head honcho Lee Hutzulak has been creating his own niche as an artist for the better part of 25 years, a streak that shows no signs of slowing down.
Hutzulak, a cog in Victoria’s outsider art scene during the 1990s, is back with a new Dixie’s Death Pool release, Twin Galaxies, the latest sound sculpture from an artist whose calling card in unpredictability. He’s a full-spectrum talent, with a degree from the Alberta College of Art and a resumé of sonic explorations into everything from dreamy folk to synth-based experimental music.
Hutzulak is now firmly entrenched in Vancouver (he works at Vancouver Film School) but he hasn’t given up on Victoria, at least in terms of concerts. Though the only date on the band’s calendar at this point is Saturday night’s album launch party at Vancouver’s China Cloud club, Hutzulak will likely return to the city in the coming months to promote Twin Galaxies.
It should top your list of don’t-miss nights on the town.
Philadelphia’s Amos Lee will make his third Victoria appearance in July as part of a tour to support his latest album, Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song.
Lee, who has not performed in Victoria since 2008, is playing the Port Theatre on July 21 and the Alix Goolden Performance Hall on July 22. Tickets go on sale Friday for his tour, which is expected to sell out.
The critically acclaimed Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song is the follow-up to his previous outing, 2011’s Mission Bell, which hit No. 1 on the U.S. charts.
Tickets for the Nanaimo show are $55.50 and $59.50 (plus service charges) at the Port Theatre box office (125 Front St.), by phone at 250-754-8550 or online at porttheatre.com.
Tickets for the Victoria show are $55.50 (plus service charges) at hightideconcerts.net, Lyle’s Place and Ditch Records.
The picturesque St. Ann’s Academy will host a free “sustainability festival” next weekend with an eye toward promoting Earth-friendly art and business groups.
Creatively United For The Planet includes ticketed events at St. Ann’s Auditorium and St. Ann’s Chapel, along with free events on the grounds of the Humboldt Street site. Guest speakers include Elizabeth May, Robert Bateman and more, with music from Daniel Lapp, Colleen Eccleston and others. An Earth walk and parade will begin at noon Saturday, leaving from Centennial Square.
Last year, more than 5,000 people attended the event.
For more information, visit creativelyunitedfortheplanet.org.
A number of radio and music industry personalities from Victoria have earned nominations at the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards.
The local landscape was well represented across 42 categories. Bryan Capistrano (The Zone, 91.3 FM), Scott James (The Q, 100.3 FM), and Rob Michaels (The Ocean, 98.5 FM) are competing for music director of the year: secondary market, while Forbes and Marshall (The Ocean, 98.5 FM) are in the running for on-air talent of the year: secondary market.
Classic hits station Jack (103.1 FM) is up for station of the year: classic gold while Kool (107.3 FM) and The Ocean (98.5 FM) are pitted against each other in the station of the year: medium market category.
The Royal Theatre is gunning for performing arts centre of the year (under 1,500 capacity) honours, while Ditch Records and CDs was given a nomination for independent record store of the year. Amelia Artists Inc. rounded out the local nominations with one for management company of the year.
The awards, part of the annual Canadian Music Week conference, will be handed out May 8 at Toronto’s Kool Haus. Tom Green will do the hosting honours.
Master organist Tom Koopman is bringing his baroque stylings to Christ Church Cathedral on May 5.
Koopman has more than 200 recordings to his credit, including interpretations of works by J.S. Bach and Buxtehude, selections of which he will be performing during his rare Victoria visit.
Tickets are $25 (adults) and $10 (students) at the Christ Church Cathedral Office, the Victoria Conservatory of Music Box Office, Ivy’s Bookstore, Munro’s Books or at the door.
For more information, contact Christ Church Cathedral at 250-383-2714 or christchurchcathedral.bc.ca.
Vancouver’s Jill Barber will release her sixth album in June, shortly before she appears at the TD Victoria International Jazz Festival.
Led by the Motown-friendly first single, Broken For Good, Barber’s album, Fool’s Gold, will arrive June 17. She is due to appear June 25 at First Metropolitan Church as part of the jazz festival, one of many for Barber on the festival circuit this summer.
For more information of acts appearing at the festival, watch for an announcement in the coming weeks at jazzvictoria.ca.