Coming UP…
Scroll down to see all the great musical events coming!
VFS MONTHLY FIDDLE JAM – Friday, September 5th, 2025!
We start up again in September for next season’s Fiddle Jam! Have a great musical summer!
Friday, Sept. 5th, 2025 7:00 – 9:00 pm; Doors open at 6:45 pm. Wheeley Hall in the Esquimalt United Church Building (500 Admirals Road). Enter off Lyall Street. Members no charge; Drop In $5.
Send in your tune requests to: vfsinfo@gmail.com
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Celebrating National Fiddling Day at the 162nd Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival!
Thanks to everyone that came out to the help us celebrate and play a few tunes. Here’s some pics of the day: https://photos.app.goo.gl/UvcdrcfSNREtLeJz5
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Woodbox Records – “Value, Legacy & Inspiration”
Celebrating FIDDLE Music in & from British Columbia & beyond!
Subscribe to Woodbox Records at www.woodboxrecords.com for news on upcoming book & record releases and events!
Woodbox Records began in 2024 in Victoria, British Columbia to release and promote the 150 year Fiddle tradition of BC, Canada’s most westerly province. It was started by Daniel Lapp who was born in the Cariboo in central BC and has spent 4 decades touring as a musician and teaching the BC fiddle tradition to hundreds of folks all over the world. Since 1989, Daniel has collected over 3,000 original BC fiddle compositions by over 300 composers. “Put’er in the woodbox” is an old expression from the Canadian prairies as told to Daniel by the late, 7-time BC Fiddle Champion, Bob Montgomery. There was a time when everyone had a ‘woodbox’ on their back porch and in there you might keep milk, eggs, firewood, meat, etc. But also, a violin has been known to be called an ‘old wooden box’.
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Concert – Moranz & Fremlin Sunday, June 8, 2025
Victoria Folk Music Society weekly gathering: Everyone—welcome!
Jam 6:45 pm, Open Stage 7:30 pm, Feature Performers Moranz and Fremlin at 9 pm;
Norway House, 1110 Hillside Avenue, $8 cash at the door
A dynamic Canadiana and bluegrass duo, multi-instrumentalist Ryland
Moranz and mandolin aficionado Dan Fremlin are harbingers of a time on
the verge, evoking a simpler ethos of string and timber, joy and sorrow.
Ryland’s 2021 album ‘XO, 1945’ was nominated for the Canadian folk music
contemporary album of the year. In his spare time he also plays with
Leeroy Stagger, Barney Bentall, and John Wort Hannam. Dan is a
nationally recognized bluegrass mandolin player and songwriter who
performs as an integral member of the Blue Wranglers as well as Barney
Bentall’s Caribou Express. Together, Moranz and Fremlin champion the
love and spirit of a disappearing art!
www.victoriafolkmusic.ca
Tel: 250-475-1355
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Cowichan Valley Bluegrass – Workshop
June 13, 2025 Noon – 2:00 pm
The Cowichan Valley Bluegrass is offering a two-hour intensive workshop on the music of John Hartford. Take advantage of this special opportunity to book your space before registration opens up to the general public!
This workshop will teach previously unrecorded tunes from the recently discovered collection of John Hartford’s original music and offer a deep study of John Hartford’s songwriting style and an exploration of his famous Windows Exercise, a method of learning to get creative and improvise.
Participants will receive a discount code for weekend passes to the Cowichan Valley Bluegrass Festival June 13-15 at Laketown Ranch, Lake Cowichan. And maybe join the trio on main stage!
The instructors are:
Fiddle – Megan Lynch Chowning
Clawhammer banjo and guitar – Rachel Baiman
Mandolin and bass – Sharon Gilchrist
Level: Progressing intermediate and advanced
Where: 70 W Cowichan Ave, Lake Cowichan, BC V0R 2G0 (Parish Hall, St. Christopher & St. Aidan Anglican)
Tickets: $50 available at: https://cowichanbluegrasscamping.tickit.ca/events/28479
Info: https://cowichanbluegrass.com/performers/the-john-hartford-fiddle-tune-project/
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The Cowichan Valley Bluegrass Festival – June 13 – 15, 2025
Laketown Ranch Music Park, 5 km west of Lake Cowichan.
Info & tickets: https://cowichanbluegrass.com/
In addition to the accomplished members of the John Hartford Project, we have an amazing lineup of fiddle players, including three-time Grammy winner Jason Carter; Galax 2024 old-time fiddle champion Anissa Burnett; the jazz-inspired Lucy Khadder of the California youth band sensation Sweet Sally; award-winning go-to Nashville player George Jackson; classically trained Mary Rachel Norris of The Kody Norris Show; top old-time fiddler Max Evans of Vancouver Island’s The Black Rabbit Rounders; and a host of other quality players in organized and spontaneous workshops and jam sessions all weekend.
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NimbleFingers 2025 Sorrento, British Columbia
Week 1 Workshops – July 6-11 Sunday to Friday
Festival Day – July 12 Saturday
Week 2 Workshops – July 13-18 Sunday to Friday
For more info and registration: https://www.nimblefingers.ca/
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Gabriola String Retreat July 16 – 20, 2025
Gabriola Island, BC
Join us for our third summer at the Gabriola String Retreat!
All ages and skill levels are welcome!
At the Gabriola String Retreat, you will have the opportunity to grow as a musician in a supportive, community-based environment. Strengthen your classical and alternative techniques through instruction in masterclass settings from world-class teachers and develop your ear by learning fiddle and folk tunes by ear.
Musicians will participate in both small and large ensembles to build reading, ensemble playing and communication skills. Our approach is rooted in encouragement and community, helping you build a strong, positive foundation in music-making.
When we’re not making music, we enjoy — community potlucks, swimming, dance parties, and local farmers’ markets.
💲 $400 per musician Family rates available.
📣 Space is limited—register early to reserve your spot!
For more information, contact:
Rachel Capon, Director
📞 1-906-241-5616
📧 rrjcapon@gmail.com
🌐 www.rachelcapon.com
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Nanaimo Fiddle Camp – August 5 – 8, 2025
Don’t miss your chance to learn from GREAT teachers this summer. Gabriel Dubreuil (fiddle), Jennie Bice (fiddle), JJ Guy (fiddle), Gordon Stobbe (fiddle), Trish Horrocks (fiddle) and Geoff Horrocks (accompaniment)
This camp is for all string players as well as accompanists who want to learn how to play with folk fiddle tunes. Sign up today at nanaimofiddlesociety.org
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Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Competition
August 22 & 23, 2025 – Kamloops, BC
Competitors from across Canada!
For more information and tickets: https://www.cgm2025kamloops.com/schedule-of-events
Don’t be disappointed, tickets for Friday night’s dance are limited and sell out quickly.
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Northwest Fiddle Camp – August 25 – 30, 2025 at Rock Nest Ranch, Smithers BC
Registration is open! Early bird discount before June 1st.
Information and registration : https://valleyyouthfiddlers.com/northwest-fiddle-camp
Mentors
Clint Pelletier – guitar
Elise Boeur – fiddle
Emilyn Stam – fiddle, piano
James Stephens – fiddle, guitar
Jaron Freeman-Fox – fiddle, guitar
Kyle Burghout – fiddle, piano
Leslie-Jean MacMillan – fiddle
Marion Rose – piano, accordion
We look forward to seeing you!
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More Great Resources!
· These monthly webpages usually list 1000+ events!
Live Music Venues on Vancouver Island, the Adjacent Islands, and Beyond
https://victoriafolkmusic.ca/LiveMusicVenues.html
This webpage lists a lot of venues where people can find places to perform, play or listen, mostly on BC’s west coast!
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VIctoria Fiddle Society and on Facebook Suggestions? Email us at: vfsinfo@gmail.com
