POP
What: Wannabe: A Spice Girls Tribute
Where: Capital Ballroom, 858 Yates St.
When: Nov. 7, 7 p.m.
Tickets: $19.99 from eventbrite.ca
Why: A 15-date tour of Canada by the Toronto-based tribute act Wannabe: A Spice Girls Tribute gets underway tonight with a show at the Capital Ballroom featuring singers Suzy Wilde, Barbara Johnston, Anika Johnson, Catherine Merriam and Jasmyn Fyffe in full regalia. The five performers — who will inhabit the roles of Sporty, Ginger, Posh, Scary and Baby Spice — will be backed by a six-piece band. The performance will include all the costume changes and choreography an actual Spice Girls concert would entail, but for a fraction of the price.
BLUES
What: Colin Linden
Where: Hermann’s Upstairs, 751 View St. (located above Hermann’s Jazz Club)
When: Nov. 7, 9 p.m.
Tickets: $25 from the Royal McPherson box office (250-386-6121; rmts.bc.ca) and the Victoria Jazz Society Office (250-388-4423; jazzvictoria.ca); $28 at the door
Why: Music oozes out of Colin Linden, which gives the Toronto-born, New York-raised singer and guitarist a leg up on the competition, especially in concert. The bandleader, sideman and member of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings has worked on everything from movies (O Brother Where Art Thou) to television (Nashville) over the years, giving every project he works on a ragged intensity. He also has a reputation as one of the nicest people in Canadian music. He’s the real deal.
MUSIC/DANCE
What: World Accordion and Tango Festival
Where: Various venues, including the Dave Dunnet Theatre and Victoria Event Centre
When: Nov. 7-Nov. 11
Tickets: $10-$60 at Tempo Trend Music (410 Burnside Rd E.), Long & McQuade (756 Hillside Ave.) and watf.ca
Why: The World Accordion and Tango Festival has a roster of events that includes some of the top accordion acts in the world, from France, Russia and Finland. The biggest international festival of its kind in Western Canada features workshops and concerts, including Tango Del Cielo, a multimedia dance/music performance at the Dave Dunnet Theatre in Oak Bay high school featuring harpist Anna Maria Mendieta, accordionist Jelena Milojevic and tango maestros Sandra Naccache and Jorge Lopez.
