IN CONCERT
What: Garden City Grooves featuring Fort Knox Five, The Soul Rebels, The Boom Booms, The Bankes Brothers and others
Where: White Eagle Polish Hall, 90 Dock St.
When: Friday Feb. 25 through Sunday Feb. 27
Tickets: Ticketweb.ca
When capacity restrictions for live events were lifted last week, producer Dane Roberts of the Garden City Grooves festival could scarcely believe his timing.
Roberts and the Victoria B.C. Ska Society announced the multi-day event would return to in-person performances this weekend, long before the adjustments were made by the province. By any measure, this was an 11th hour injection of good news.
The easing of restrictions has helped organizers meet surging ticket demands, Roberts said. “We’ve already sold out one of the days.”
The festival’s eighth edition arrives at a juncture when much of the public is ready to dance, which they are permitted to do this weekend after months of the no-dancing edict. The lineup, featuring performers from both Canada and the U.S., was programmed to meet this new development.
Garden City Grooves was a digital-only entity last year, so there is a boogie backlog, and Roberts said he’s expecting the programming on tap Friday through Sunday at the White Eagle Polish Hall in James Bay to be well-trafficked. the events — five all told, spread over three days — are all-ages and family-friendly.
“People are really happy. Dancing was always the big thing. The name of the festival — it’s all about groove music.”
The Boom Booms, The Bankes Brothers, Xalida and DJ Coldbeef perform Friday, while Fort Knox Five featuring Mark Woodyard, Blasé Blasé, Mo Moshiri with Grossbuster and Jennay Badger are set for Saturday. The lineup for Sunday, which includes Garbiel Teodros and DJ Abel, is headlined by New Orleans funk favourites the Soul Rebels — an act Roberts has been trying to bring to Victoria for several years.
The uncertainty around COVID-19 has often meant producers are at the mercy of myriad forces, from audience apathy to regulatory concessions. That appears to be in the rearview mirror, Roberts said. He believes the market can withstand everything coming its way in the next few months, which is considerable — including the return of the annual Victoria Ska and Reggae Festival, set for June 22-26.
“This is a community where people really want to have good music, and there are opportunities for us. We’re at a new chapter, and will need new venues to make it work. But Victoria is being discovered.”
The Soul Rebels and Teodros will be offering free workshops at White Eagle Hall in addition to their live performances. The Victoria B.C. Ska Society believes in giving back to the community, Roberts said, which is why a local focus is always evident at their events, Garden City Grooves included.
“The power of our local and regional scene is so important,” he said. “The pandemic gave us more reason to focus on our own. This Island has a special vibe.”
mdevlin@timescolonist.com
