The Livin' is Easy: Summer Music in the City

Grease is the Word

Calling all Sandys, Dannys and Rizzos. Who doesn’t love a great musical? Tell me more. The West Coast Triple Threat Performers perform Grease in Pioneer Park in Brentwood Bay Aug. 12 to Aug. 20. Admission is $18 for adults, $16 for students and $14 for kids 12 and under. Bring a blanket or folding chair and get ready to take a trip back to the ’50s with these talented youth performers. For info and tickets, check out the website.

The return of Rifflandia

After four years, Rifflandia Music Festival roars back Sept. 15 to 18 at various venues around the city to end the summer festival season on an epic note. Headliners on the packed, four-day bill include Lorde, Charli XCX, hip-hop legends Cypress Hill, Bikini Kill and ex-NBA star Shaquille O’Neal performing as DJ Diesel.

Find more info here.

A New Function

Showcasing both emerging BIPOC talent and international acts on the main stage at Ship Point in the Inner Harbour, the all-ages Function Festival on Aug. 20 is being billed as Victoria’s first BIPOC music and arts fest, as well as the city’s newest downtown festival.
Food trucks, barbershop, a kids’ zone and a BIPOC vendor village round out the fun. The event runs 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is $35 and kids under 12 are free. Details and tickets at functionfestival.com.

Blues ‘n Roots

The Vancouver Island Blues Bash returns with a new name — Harbour Blues ‘n Roots Festival — and a great lineup Aug. 25-28. Alex Cuba, Ruthie Foster and William Prince headline on the Ship Point main stage. There are also free performances at Ship Point from noon to 4 p.m. on Aug. 27 and 28. Catch Ahi, Lindsay Beaver and George Leach at Hermann’s Upstairs during the festival. Fest presenter The Victoria Jazz Society has details.

Latin Summer Days

The debut of 10-year-old Spanish singer Sarah Chamish is among the impressive talents Canadian singer Maria Manna has lined up for afternoon showcase Latin Summer Days at Hermann’s Jazz Club on Aug. 21. Brazilian singer and guitar player Pedro M. Siqueira is also on the bill. Doors open at noon; showtime is 1 p.m. Admission is $20. Tickets, info here.

Garden Sounds

Beautiful Butchart Gardens is one of the most relaxing and inspiring places to spend some time and it gets even better when you can stretch that visit into music on a summer evening. The gardens host outdoor concerts on the open-air stage Friday and Saturday evenings until Sept. 3 with an eclectic lineup that includes West Coast Celtic, early Beatles, jazz and blues. Tickets are free for 12-month passholders, or $38 with a paid admission to the gardens. Bring a chair or a blanket to relax on the lawn and enjoy the sounds. The calendar has details on the 2022 schedule. 

Music in the Park

Colwood’s free Music in the Park runs Friday evenings from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. through the end of August with live music and food trucks. Venues rotate weekly around various parks. These community events are also fundraisers for the West Shore Skatepark, if you want to donate to the cause. Check here for the lineup and locations.

Sounds with a View

Check out Malahat Skywalk, the Victoria region’s newest tourism attraction, and enjoy free live music with your admission with Summer Saturdays through the end of August. The gentle spiral walk above the treetops has a 360-degree view across the Finlayson Arm fjord and Salish Sea islands. Walk down or take the spiral slide to the bottom. The Skywalk is open from 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and the music starts at 5 p.m. Take advantage of a 25 per cent discount on admission from 5 p.m. For details visit the website.

Grease is the Word

Calling all Sandys, Dannys and Rizzos. Who doesn’t love a great musical? Tell me more. The West Coast Triple Threat Performers perform Grease in Pioneer Park in Brentwood Bay Aug. 12 to Aug. 20. Admission is $18 for adults, $16 for students and $14 for kids 12 and under. Bring a blanket or folding chair and get ready to take a trip back to the ’50s with these talented youth performers. For info and tickets, check out the website.