Bios 2025
Bios 2025 City Square Stage
Fri. June 27th Jay Stevens and The Chosen Ones opening nite gonna rock - 3 electric guitars on stage together with a very tight rhythm section with the stylings of Gerry Doucette and other great rock classics in mind
Sat. June 28th Fiddelium a youth fiddle group from Nanaimo, British Columbia, founded in 2011. There are two tiers in the group; senior and junior...performing traditional and contemporary fiddle music as well as original material and groovy arrangements of many well-known songs -16 members showing up on stage together for this one
Sun. June 29th Miss Emily the first evening in our Sunday Evening Blues Series is with multi Maple Blues Award winner / Juno winner and just a really great singer and good person is here to bring it on home for us all- well chosen island players join her for the evening
Tues. July 1 Beautiful Maladies a very fine tribute to the music of Tom Waits by very fine island musicians- a return visit
Wed. July 2nd 7:30pm NEAVV living on Gabriola, a Canadian alternative pop artist, songwriter, and producer whose music is the perfect combination of guts, grief and glowing synths 8:30pm Sarah Smith Band- raw Canadian roots rock – a lover of life and a healer with her music, she speaks truths
Thurs. July 3rd Nicholas Campbell this young rockabilly whiz kid from Peterborough, Ont. won a lot of hearts in his park performances last year so here he is on the City Square Stage, as a trio
Fri. July 4th Paddy Rolling Stone- tribute to the music made famous by Shane McGowan of the Pogues, the Hounds of Cochulain from Victoria do this musical tribute oh so well- as celtic as it gets
Sat. July 5th Rainshadow Al big hit last year as the final concert in city square for the 39 Days of July 2024, these 7 Victoria musicians take on the music of Santana and Bob Marley, Fleetwood Mac and more with a smooth real funky attitude
Sun. July 6th James Vickers Band another evening in our Sunday Evening Blues Series in the City Square- 16 year old up and coming blues star with his killer bandmates from Nanaimo are taking the island by storm- come along and find out why
Mon. July 7th Eugene Smith and the White Boys a 26 year resident of the Cowichan Valley, this guy is the real deal- and now in his early 80's, what a voice still - ya, you want to check him out
Wed. July 9th 7:30pm Tai Williams valley singer/songwriter, who is finally starting to spread her wondrous wings at other island festivals, is someone to catch while you can
8:30pm Clay Pigeons island musicians who truly appreciate the great Americana songwriters of our time performing the music of John Prine / Townes Van Zandt / Iris Dement / Guy Clarke / Blaze Foley and more
Fri. July 11th El Combo Cumbialandia Cumberland BC musicians honouring the Latin traditions of Cumbia, Samba, Son Cubano and more - traditional, originals, deep roots and strong dance grooves.
Sat. July 12th Miguelito Valdes & Orquesta Obatala - widely recognized as one of Cuba's top trumpet players of his generation, leading the vibrant 8-piece ensemble Orquesta Obatala composed of extremely talented Cuban musicians who live in Victoria and the Gulf Islands.
Sun. July 13th Brandon Isaak and the Mood Swings another in our Sunday Evening Blues Series
a one of a kind world class roots and blues showman, this Yukon born songster performs a mixture of thoughtful, humorous, spiritual and catchy memorable songs; always delivered with world class guitar, harmonica and vocals and a tight creative rhythm section
Mon. July 14th Kim Churchill yes, Kim Churchill the young Australian guitarist songwriter is coming back to the 39 Days of July - we feel honoured to be one of the very few Island dates on this summer tour
Tues. July 15th Jane Siberry with Rebecca Jenkins and Tim Rae this iconic Canadian singer/songwriter returns to Duncan to showcase her latest works and some of her past and vast repertoire before she appears at the Vancouver Folk Festival- ain’t we the lucky ones
Wed. July 16th 7:30pm Malakai 16 years old and such a musician, a sponge to new ideas, more songwriting taking place as he spreads his wings
8:30pm Lara Wong nominated for a Juno this year, her flute playing along with her husbands guitar work delve into flamenco
Fri. July 18th Marimba Muzuva - local troupe and a must every year, dance floor full from start to finish- very organic
Sat. July 19th Chase the Bear started as a busking duo in Victoria, BC and quickly evolved into a Vancouver-based 6-piece band of like-minded people who have bonded as brothers and brought their musical chemistry to crowds all over Canada and the American Pacific Northwest.
Sun. July 20th David Vest / Terry Robb another in our Sunday Evening Blues Series - both multi awarded artists-David on keys /vocals and Terry on acoustic guitar /vocals just released a new recording last November that was recorded 'live' off the floor at the Duncan Showroom
Mon. July 21st Kaeley Jade Under the sweeping gaze of Edmonton’s prairie skies, Métis artist Kaeley Jade has carved out a space where art and soul converge Blending folk, pop and indie rock, her lush imagery, stunning vocals, and electric stage presence have enthralled listeners at hundreds of venues and festivals across Canada
Tues. July 22nd Shooglenifty a Scottish, Edinburgh-based six-piece Celtic fusion band that blends Scottish traditional music with influences ranging from electronica to alternative rock- bring dancing footwear
Wed. July 23rd 7:30pm Minuscule post-modern harmonic collective from Niagara, Ontario on a mission to redefine choral music. Offering a genre-bending blend of intricate five-part vocal harmonies and emotionally stirring, tongue-in-cheek lyricism
8:30pm / Meredith Moon she has earned a stellar reputation for her unique non-traditional folk-punk-inspired approach to traditional music, as well as for her flair as a singer-songwriter- as a 4 piece ensemble tonite-and oh ya, she just happens to be Gordon Lightfoot’s daughter
Thurs. July 24th Crystal Shawanda well known and awarded country music star from Manitoulin Island switched genres awhile back to the blues where she says she found more vocal freedom and has since gone on to win a Juno aside her many more blues awards -with her husband on guitar, sit back and enjoy her vocal prowess – sponsored by Khowutzun Forest Services
Fri. July 25th Paul Black Trio a funked-up groove based blues trio , with solid ,soulful and high energy originals - born and raised in Terrace BC, Paul received his first guitar at 16 but didn't pick it up until he was 18 – and he hasn't put it down since.
Sat. July 26th Apex Breaks 9 piece band of excellent Victoria musician’s who lays down heavy funk with hits of hip-hop, soul, rock, dub and a big slopping plate of psychedelia.
Sun. July 27th Danny Boy Phalen another in our Sunday Evening Blues Series, Canadian blues guitarist /soul slinger and one of the next-gen voices keeping the blues alive
Tues. July 29th Lloyd Spiegal Trio -14 time Australian Blues Award Winner - “A revelation, the consummate performer, an Oz Blues & Roots icon.” Rolling Stone, performing with his trombone player and drummer- how interesting
Wed. July 30th 7:30pm Paul Pigat an internationally acclaimed roots, blues and jazz guitarist, songwriter and educator based in East Vancouver. He has rocked stages around the world
8:30pm Russell de Carle a fluent collection of songs that mix southern soul and restrained balladry, with obvious touches of jazz, blues, old-school country, and western swing – alongside him is his good friend Steve Briggs on guitar - (Russell is recognized as the lead singer and a founding member of award-winning multi-platinum country-roots group Prairie Oyster)
Thurs. July 31st Jeff Plankenhorn Trio a fresh blend of blues, soul, and roots music, now from Campbell River he made his name in Austin as a preeminent guitar slinger, especially as a slide specialist
Fri. Aug. 1st Infinite Atom a cosmic-disco collective blending psychedelia, world, folk, funk, reggae, rap and rock to create anthemic, high-energy original dance music while exploring themes of consciousness, spirituality, and the multi-dimensionality of life through highly danceable melodies and rhythms, and powerful lyrics
Sat. Aug. 2nd Fabulous B-Sides one of Victoria's premiere dance bands, they bring to the City Square Stage the energy that makes a party happen
Sun. Aug. 3rd David Gogo has six JUNO Award nominations, has been named Guitarist Of The Year three times at the Maple Blues Awards, was named Musician Of The Year at the West Coast Music Awards, won Blues Recording Of The Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards, and received the Great Canadian Blues Award for his lifetime contribution to the blues in Canada as voted by the listeners of CBC’s Saturday Night Blues and he is the last of our Sunday Evening Blues Series for 2025- he will rock us out