Critics’ picks: Terry Robb and Blue Hearts, Symphony by the Sea, Quinn and Qristina Bachand

BLUES

What: Terry Robb with the Blue Hearts
Where: Hermann’s Jazz Club, 753 View St.
When: Thursday, Aug. 9, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $20
Why: Three longtime favourites of the Pacific Northwest blues and roots scene are banding together for a special show at Hermann’s Jazz Club tonight. Vancouver’s Terry Robb, a masterful acoustic guitar player now based in Portland, Oregon, is an international favourite, thanks to his extensive collaborations with iconic guitarist John Fahey. But don’t underestimate the involvement of Victoria duo the Blue Hearts. The blues servitude of guitarist Mark Comerford and singer Hank Lionhart has been delighting local audiences for several decades.
— Mike Devlin

CLASSICAL

What: Symphony By the Sea
Where: Maffeo Sutton Park, 100 Comox Rd., Nanaimo
When: Saturday, Aug. 11, 6 p.m.
Admission: By Donation
Why: Organizers are expecting 5,000 music lovers to attend Saturday evening’s Symphony by the Sea, the annual fundraiser for Nanaimo’s Vancouver Island Symphony. The event, held outdoors at Maffeo Sutton Park, will feature classics such as Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, along with soundtrack snippets from the scores to La La Land, The Greatest Showman, Downton Abbey, Les Misérables and The Pirates of the Caribbean. There will also be music from the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. To honour the occasion, audience members are encouraged to wear their favourite hat or fascinator.
— MD

ROOTS

What: Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage with Quinn and Qristina Bachand
Where: First Church of Christ, Scientist (1205 Pandora Ave.)
When: Saturday, Aug. 11, 7:30 p.m. (doors at 7)
Tickets: $20 at Ivy’s Bookshop, Lyle’s Place and beaconridgeproductions.com; $25 at the door
Why: Victoria siblings Quinn and Qristina Bachand continue one very busy summer of roots music activity with a double bill that welcomes Hannah Sanders and Ben Savage, the U.K. folk duo. The latter pair (known for their consummate dulcimer, dobro and guitar work) provides a nice balance to gypsy-jazz guitar and fiddle interplay of the Bachands. Highly recommended.
— MD