BONNIE RAITT
Where: Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton St.
When: Saturday, Sept. 2, 8 p.m.
Tickets: Sold out
Why: Bonnie Raitt has been making her way to Victoria for what seems like an eternity; just shy of three years ago, she was announced as the opening act on James Taylor’s Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre stop, a dream collaboration that was postponed several times due to COVID-19 (Jackson Browne wound up filling the slot.) Raitt will be in a hospitable home for her sold-out show on Saturday — she is always well received in Victoria — though that should come as no surprise. Even before her out-of-nowhere win, for song of the year, at the 2023 Grammy Awards, few were more respected than Raitt. She’s taking a victory lap with this current round of dates, but she deserves all the flowers. This has the potential to be the show of the year.
GEORGE CANYON
Where: Mary Winspear Centre, 2243 Beacon Ave., Sidney
When: Tuesday, Sept. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $75.60 from the Mary Winspear Centre box office (250-656-0275) or tickets.marywinspear.ca
Why: Country music star George Canyon isn’t the first artist to kick-off a tour on Vancouver Island, nor will he be the last. You won’t hear music fans complaining as something special inevitably happens on opening night. Canyon is a pro, with years of extensive touring under his Stetson, so he’ll deliver on cue. The Nova Scotia native has both a new book and single under the title of My Country, but his tour is named Our Country, so it looks like he’s set to bring the audience along for the ride next week.
THE SOOKE MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL
Where: Sooke Community Hall and John Phillips Memorial Park
When: Friday, Sept. 1, through Sunday, Sept. 3
Tickets: $10 (Friday); Saturday and Sunday are free to attend
Why: Population-wise, Sooke is growing at a considerable clip, but where live events are concerned — especially those that will draw residents from other municipalities — the area has been slightly behind the pace. The Sooke Music and Arts Festival is a big step in the right direction as it will activate both the Sooke Community Hall and John Phillips Memorial Park with free and low-cost programming through the weekend. Pink Mountaintops is the big draw Saturday, but the programming is very strong throughout.
Note: Kuba Oms and Roots Roundup, who were both scheduled to appear Sunday, are no longer on the roster due to what organizers have called a government grant-related budget shortfall. They will be missed, but there’s plenty of note here.
