Victoria-born singer Darren Glover’s band, Flash Lightnin’, is to open for ZZ Top. Given his band’s outward love of that “little ol’ band from Texas,” let’s assume singer-guitarist Glover has one fewer item on his bucket list these days.
Toronto-based Flash Lightnin’ was named this week as the opening act on ZZ Top’s upcoming Western Canadian tour.
Glover, a longtime fixture of the Victoria music scene before moving to Toronto in the early 2000s, has a longstanding love of ZZ Top. He models his guitar playing after Billy Gibbons, and went so far as to name the first Flash Lightnin’ recording, Destello, after ZZ Top’s 1979 classic, Degüello.
Glover, bassist Darcy Yates and new drummer Dan Neill will begin their tour with Gibbons and Co. this month.
The run includes nine concerts beginning March 12 in Brandon, Man. The tour stops March 21 at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria.
Flash Lightnin’ has a new record, For the Sinners, ready for release. The recording, produced by Juno Award winner Gavin Brown, will be out April 29.
To hear the band’s new single, One Pill, go to timescolonist.com/arts.
A benefit concert to support victims affected by civilian clashes with police in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv is being staged March 8 at the Victoria Conservatory of Music’s Wood Hall.
Victoria Conservatory of Music instructor and violinist Tatiana Kostour, who immigrated to Canada after graduating from the Kyiv Conservatory of Music in 1993, has organized the event and will be performing alongside guitarist Douglas Hensley. Funds raised from the event will be donated through the Canadian Ukrainian Congress in Ottawa.
Tickets are by donation ($20 suggested). For more information, go to vcm.bc.ca.
The Victoria Jazz Society is bringing two acclaimed bandleaders to Victoria in April for sets at Hermann’s Jazz Club.
The Omer Klein Trio, led by 25-year-old pianist Omer Klein, is performing April 23. Tickets cost $15 and are available at the Victoria Jazz Society Office (202-345 Quebec St., Harbour Towers Hotel), Lyle’s Place, the Royal and McPherson Box Office, by phone at 250-386-6121 or online at rmts.bc.ca. They can be purchased at the door for $18.
The Eliana Cuevas Ensemble, featuring the vocal talents of Juno Award-winning singer Eliana Cuevas, is booked to appear April 25. Tickets cost $19 at the Victoria Jazz Society office (202-345 Quebec St., Harbour Towers Hotel), Lyle’s Place, the Royal and McPherson Box Office, by phone at 250-386-6121 or online at rmts.bc.ca. They are available for $22 at the door.
Hermann’s Jazz Club is at 753 View St.
For more information, go to jazzvictoria.ca.
Celtic fiddlers Nellie Quinn and Chris Meredith are combining their unique perspectives for a concert at Fairfield United Church on March 22.
Quinn, who is from Victoria, and Meredith, who hails from Drumnadrochit, Scotland, have branded their concert Punters Reunion, and will use the opportunity to celebrate Canadian and Scottish traditional music.
Youth fiddle group Coastline, which is directed by Victoria fiddler Ivonne Hernandez, will open the show.
Tickets are $10 (students) and $15 (adults) at Larsen Music, Long and McQuade and Ivy’s Bookshop. Fairfield United Church is at 1303 Fairfield Rd.
For more information, visit puntersreunion.com.
The Greater Victoria Public Library is hosting its second annual Local MusicFest on Monday at the Belfry Theatre.
Local acts West My Friend, Josh Layne and Towers and Trees — each of whom are included in the library’s local music collection — will appear at the free public concert, which is held in partnership with the Belfry Theatre.
A portable music library will be set up on site, and library patrons can check out any one of the 180 titles from 130 local artists.
The Belfry Theatre is at 1291 Gladstone Ave. Showtime is 7 p.m.
Female folk trio Fox Glove is celebrating the release of its debut EP, Does this scare you yet?, with a concert March 8 at Fairfield United Church. The show will feature an opening set by Noah Edwards. The EP will be for sale at the show, by donation.
Tickets are $10 at the door. Kids under 12 will be allowed in free.
To hear a song from the album, go to timescolonist.com/arts.
Courtenay is already getting geared up for the third annual Elevate Arts Festival, which is scheduled for June 4-7.
The popular event offers four days of dance, music, poetry, film, and graphic art — both local and national — across multiple venues.
To stage the “urban reclamation” event, the festival partners with more than 50 local organizations and businesses, which helps to keep the event free of charge.
Partnerships are still available.
Organizers ask that interested parties get in touch through the website elevatethearts.com.
