Music

Nanaimo singer Lauren Spencer-Smith’s new single is the “breakup anthem” ‘Fingers Crossed.’ (Photo courtesy Laurie Ann Smith/Millenium Media)

Vancouver Island singer Lauren Spencer-Smith tops iTunes chart with new single

‘Fingers Crossed’ streamed more than 34 million times in first week

 

Johnny Vallis worked with the late Ronnie Spector during an 80-show house tour of the Legends of Rock and Roll in 1993. He said her loss on Jan. 12 is significant both for him personally, and for the music industry as a whole. (Photo courtesy of Johnny Vallis)

’Quite something:’ Langford singer reflects on performing with late rock legend Ronnie Spector

Johnny Vallis worked on 80 shows with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member, who died Jan. 12

 

Chilliwack drummer Brandon Toews put together a 24-minute video where he plays every single Rush song released in chronological order. Here he is with his drum setup. (Laura Scotten/ Drumeo)

VIDEO: B.C. drummer plays all 175 Rush songs in 24-minute video

Performance by Brandon Toews a tribute to late Rush drummer Neil Peart

 

Vince Fontaine of Eagle & Hawk waits for a scrimmage to begin during practice for the Juno Cup celebrity hockey game at the Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena in Hamilton, Ont., on Thursday, March 12, 2015. Family, friends, and the music industry in Manitoba are in mourning after Fontaine, a multi-award-winning First Nations musician, died suddenly this week in Winnipeg. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Power

‘He was a champion of Indigenous artists’: Community mourns First Nations musician

Multi-award-winning First Nations musician Vince Fontaine dead at 62

Vince Fontaine of Eagle & Hawk waits for a scrimmage to begin during practice for the Juno Cup celebrity hockey game at the Dave Andreychuk Mountain Arena in Hamilton, Ont., on Thursday, March 12, 2015. Family, friends, and the music industry in Manitoba are in mourning after Fontaine, a multi-award-winning First Nations musician, died suddenly this week in Winnipeg. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Peter Power
Host Michael Bublé is shown on stage at the Juno Awards in Vancouver, Sunday, March, 25, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Michael Bublé sleighs the Canadian music charts as ‘Christmas’ makes history at No. 1

Christmas only album to reach No. 1 in 5 different calendar years on the Billboard Canadian chart

Host Michael Bublé is shown on stage at the Juno Awards in Vancouver, Sunday, March, 25, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Nell and The Flaming Lips. Nell Smith of Fernie, 14, released a cover album in collaboration with The Flaming Lips called Where The Viaduct Looms on Nov. 26, 2012. (Photo bt Atria Creative)

Fernie musician to appear alongside The Flaming Lips on The Late Show

Young Nell Smith recently released a cover album in collaboration with The Flaming Lips

Nell and The Flaming Lips. Nell Smith of Fernie, 14, released a cover album in collaboration with The Flaming Lips called Where The Viaduct Looms on Nov. 26, 2012. (Photo bt Atria Creative)
Glenlyon Norfolk student musicians perform in the virtual Winter Wonderland concert, posted online Dec. 17. (Glenlyon Norfolk School/YouTube)

VIDEO: Greater Victoria students showcase musical skills in virtual concerts

Glenlyon Norfolk School shares winter band, choir, arts performances

Glenlyon Norfolk student musicians perform in the virtual Winter Wonderland concert, posted online Dec. 17. (Glenlyon Norfolk School/YouTube)
Students from Lake Hill Elementary combined to win their category in the CBC 2021 Canadian Music Class Challenge. (Photo courtesy of CBC Music Class/YouTube)

Saanich K-3 music group wins CBC’s Canadian Music Class Challenge

Lake Hill music teacher calls primary instrumental category win a huge accomplishment

Students from Lake Hill Elementary combined to win their category in the CBC 2021 Canadian Music Class Challenge. (Photo courtesy of CBC Music Class/YouTube)
FILE - Robin Pecknold of the Fleet Foxes performs at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival on April 14, 2018, in Indio, Calif. The Fleet Foxes song “White Winter Hymnal,” written by Pecknold, and released in 2008, has become a modern holiday standard, sung by children’s choirs in countless school assemblies. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)

Red snow? Song becomes a most unexpected modern standard for the holidays

Songwriter surprised at how ‘White Winter Hymnal’ has turned into a Christmas staple

FILE - Robin Pecknold of the Fleet Foxes performs at the Coachella Music & Arts Festival on April 14, 2018, in Indio, Calif. The Fleet Foxes song “White Winter Hymnal,” written by Pecknold, and released in 2008, has become a modern holiday standard, sung by children’s choirs in countless school assemblies. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)
This image released by Disney+ shows, from left, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison, with Yoko Ono, seated right, in a scene from the nearly 8-hour Peter Jackson-produced documentary “Get Back,” airing over three days starting Thanksgiving. (Disney+ via AP)

And in the end: A fan’s notes on Peter Jackson’s Beatles doc

Peter Jackson’s Beatles documentary “Get Back” runs for nearly eight hours and…

This image released by Disney+ shows, from left, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, John Lennon and George Harrison, with Yoko Ono, seated right, in a scene from the nearly 8-hour Peter Jackson-produced documentary “Get Back,” airing over three days starting Thanksgiving. (Disney+ via AP)
Jesse Roper of Metchosin performs with his band at the All Ways Home music festival in Langford at Starlight Stadium in September. Live performances have been somewhat rare for Roper lately, but he had excerpts from two of his songs play on Netflix and CBS recently. (Black Press Media file photo)

Metchosin tunesmith Jesse Roper cracks the TV barrier

Popuar bluesman’s songs heard on Netflix’s Riverdale and The Equalizer on CBS

Jesse Roper of Metchosin performs with his band at the All Ways Home music festival in Langford at Starlight Stadium in September. Live performances have been somewhat rare for Roper lately, but he had excerpts from two of his songs play on Netflix and CBS recently. (Black Press Media file photo)
FILE - Marilyn Manson attends the 9th annual “Home for the Holidays” benefit concert in Los Angeles, on Dec. 10, 2019. Authorities searched the home of the rocker on Monday, Nov. 29, 2021, after allegations of physical and sexual abuse by several women. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)

Home of Marilyn Manson searched in abuse investigation

Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department said in February that its detectives had begun investigating rocker

FILE - Marilyn Manson attends the 9th annual “Home for the Holidays” benefit concert in Los Angeles, on Dec. 10, 2019. Authorities searched the home of the rocker on Monday, Nov. 29, 2021, after allegations of physical and sexual abuse by several women. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File)
The Reklaws pose on the red carpet at the Canadian Country Music Awards in Calgary, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Dallas Smith named entertainer of the year, takes three trophies at CCMA Awards

Smith performed his single “Hide From a Broken Heart” for the fully vaccinated crowd

The Reklaws pose on the red carpet at the Canadian Country Music Awards in Calgary, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
Musician Tyler Joe Miller. (File photo)

‘Holy smokes!’: B.C. musician reacts after winning $25K ‘Top of the Country Contest’

Tyler Joe Miller’s bio and song video are posted to topcountry.siriusxm.ca

Musician Tyler Joe Miller. (File photo)
FILE - The Weeknd performs during the halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The Weeknd is nominated for six American Music Awards, including one for artist of the year. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

Hitmakers BTS stamp their authority on American Music Awards

Artist of the Year also named favorite pop duo or group and got the favorite pop song award

FILE - The Weeknd performs during the halftime show of the NFL Super Bowl 55 football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on Feb. 7, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. The Weeknd is nominated for six American Music Awards, including one for artist of the year. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)
A vinyl record by The Verve plays on a turntable, Thursday, May 27, 2021, in Falmouth, Maine. The COVID-19 pandemic benefitted record store owners who saw a surge in sales. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Not just Adele: Surging vinyl sales amid supply squeeze derail some artists’ plans

Vinyl sales in Canada up an astounding 53 per cent, but shippers and manufacturers can’t keep up

A vinyl record by The Verve plays on a turntable, Thursday, May 27, 2021, in Falmouth, Maine. The COVID-19 pandemic benefitted record store owners who saw a surge in sales. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
According to the City of Victoria, the local music ecosystem created 3,630 direct jobs in Victoria, contributed $223 million to the region’s gross domestic product and had a direct output of $463 million to the local economy. (Courtesy of City of Victoria)

City of Victoria heralds first-ever music strategy

Support aims to revitalize pandemic-affected sector that had $463-million impact in 2017

According to the City of Victoria, the local music ecosystem created 3,630 direct jobs in Victoria, contributed $223 million to the region’s gross domestic product and had a direct output of $463 million to the local economy. (Courtesy of City of Victoria)
Kaya Usher smiles in this undated handout photo. More than four years after the death of her husband Gord Downie, Kaya Usher is stepping into the spotlight with the release of her debut album “All This Is.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Richard Briant *MANDATORY CREDIT*

Kaya Usher, widow of Gord Downie, on ‘healing journey’ of her debut album

Mostly instrumental record is shaped by her spiritual recovery

Kaya Usher smiles in this undated handout photo. More than four years after the death of her husband Gord Downie, Kaya Usher is stepping into the spotlight with the release of her debut album “All This Is.” THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Richard Briant *MANDATORY CREDIT*
Guitarist Brian “Smitty” Smith and singer Ra McGuire on stage with Trooper. (Photo: Stan Pietrusik/trooper.com)

Rock band Trooper to carry on without founding members McGuire, Smith

‘They are both healthy and happy, they’ve just decided that this is the best time to step back from the road and enjoy the life that this unplanned time-off has dropped them into’

Guitarist Brian “Smitty” Smith and singer Ra McGuire on stage with Trooper. (Photo: Stan Pietrusik/trooper.com)
Emergency personnel respond to the Astroworld music festival in Houston on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. Several people died and numerous others were injured in what officials described as a surge of the crowd at the music festival while Travis Scott was performing. Officials declared a ‚Äúmass casualty incident‚Äù just after 9 p.m. Friday during the festival where an estimated 50,000 people were in attendance, Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pev±a told reporters at a news conference. (KTRK via AP)

‘Stop the show!’ Houston concertgoers describe chaos at deadly production where 8 died

Travis Scott was the headliner for the sold-out Astroworld Festival, which was attended by 50,000 people

Emergency personnel respond to the Astroworld music festival in Houston on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021. Several people died and numerous others were injured in what officials described as a surge of the crowd at the music festival while Travis Scott was performing. Officials declared a ‚Äúmass casualty incident‚Äù just after 9 p.m. Friday during the festival where an estimated 50,000 people were in attendance, Houston Fire Chief Samuel Pev±a told reporters at a news conference. (KTRK via AP)