Coming UP…
Scroll down to see all the great musical events coming!
Next VFS MONTHLY FIDDLE JAM – Friday, June 5th
Don’t forget – our last Fiddle Jam before Summer break, Friday, June 5th
Time: 7:00 – 9:00 pm; Doors open at 6:45 pm
Intermission snacks are welcome!
Cost: Members no charge; Drop In $5
Where: Wheeley Hall in the Esquimalt United Church Building (500 Admirals Road). Enter off Lyall Street.
Check post in calendar for set list and other info.
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Victoria Contra Dances!
Join us for a great evening of music and dancing, no experience needed! Only 2 dances left before our summer break!
June 13th – Music by New Growth Stringband with calling by Katie Pinter
7 pm to 10 pm at Saanich Silver Threads, 286 Hampton Rd, Victoria.
Cost: $15
June 27th – Special Pride Dance! Music by Hayden Stern and Rosie O’Neill with calling by Jesse Partridge
7 pm to 10 pm at Saanich Silver Threads, 286 Hampton Rd, Victoria.
Cost $20
https://victoriacontradance.com
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West Coast Barn Dances!
- June 19
- July 17
- August 21
- September 18
- October 16
- November 20
- December 18
Doors: 6:00 pm Dancing starts: 6:30 pm
at the Victoria Edelweiss Club, 108 Niagara St, James Bay
Cost: Suggested donation $10 pp (VEC members) and $12 pp (non-members)
West Coast Barn Dances are a group of young musicians deeply rooted in Canada’s fiddle music tradition. These monthly dances, similar to contradances, are in the tradition of old-time barn dances. With live fiddle music and tasty homemade snacks, they aim to celebrate and share the joy of fiddle music, dancing, and community.
All ages welcome, no experience necessary, all steps will be taught!
You can follow our Instagram @westcoastbarndances or email us at westcoastbarndances@gmail.com
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Beacon Ridge Productions – on summer break. See you in the September.
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Seaside Music Festival
June 19-21, 2026 Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney ANAF & Beacon Bandshell
What a line up! Get your tickets now!
- Judy Collins
- Dawn Pemberton & Emily Braden
- Nautical Disaster – Canada’s Tribute to the Tragically Hip
- Ella Korth
- Dana Sipos
- Bagatelle
- Max Francis
- Tia Greenwood & Co.
Info & tickets:
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COWICHAN VALLEY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL
Friday, June 19 to Sunday June 21, 2026
For more info and tickets: https://cowichanbluegrass.com/
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Victoria Guitar Show 2026
Saturday, June 20, 2026 10 am – 4 pm at the Mary Winspear Centre, Sidney
Free Admission!
https://www.victoriaguitarshow.ca/event-info
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Canada Day, July 1st – Musicians Wanted!
Come join the VFS on Canada Day, July 1st, at the Metchosin FESTIVUS celebration. We’ll be playing a medley of familiar tunes, especially a few good ole Canadian ones. The more the merrier – all instruments and levels of play welcome!
If you’re interested, email vfsinfo@gmail.com
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4th Annual Gabriola STRING Retreat
July 15 – 18, 2026 at The Gabriola Fellowship Church. 775 Church St, Gabriola Island, BC
An amazing summer retreat for string instruments, with world-class instructors, in an incredible setting!
We start with a welcome BBQ/jam/beach time on Wednesday, and the fun continues from there. Group classes, large and small ensembles and more. All levels welcome!
We take a break to enjoy the famous Gabriola Farmers Market on Saturday morning, before we finish off our classes with a concert and an oceanside potluck.
Very limited availability – register now!!
The retreat fee is $420 each (Family rates available) via etransfer to rrjcapon@gmail.com or snail mail a cheque to 768 Sea Girt Road, Gabriola, BC, V0R 1X1. Payment is due by July 8th.
Camping or Airbnb’s available.
To register, or if you have questions, ideas, or concerns, contact:
Rachel Capon: 250-508-5705 – rrjcapon@gmail.com www.rachelcapon.com
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The.Victoria.House 2026 Summer/Fall Season
Concerts are all ages with the focus is on a respectful listening environment for the performances. Concerts take place at a private residence in the Rockland/Gonzales neighbourhood of Victoria. Address and further show details will be emailed to ticket holders the week before the concert date.
Tickets: $30 available exclusively via gigpit.ca
If you have further questions regarding tickets or concert details, please contact Victoria at the.victoria.houseconcerts@gmail.com
Adam Dobres
Sunday June 28th Garden Studio Stage
Doors 1:30pm Show 2-4pm Tickets 30$
Celebrated Vancouver Island guitarist Adam Dobres creates deeply inspired, heartfelt original music, drawing on Celtic, folk, and gypsy jazz influences and decades of global touring and recording with renowned artists.
Thursday July 16th Garden Studio Stage
Doors 6:30pm Show 7-9pm Tickets 30 $
From breaking out as band leader/composer with the Montreal Alt-Folk Collective ‘Little Suns’ (True North Records) to his solo ventures, and his work founding and leading Victoria’s KSAR, audiences are transfixed by John Aaron Cockburn’s haunting lyricism and soothing voice, skillful musicianship, and songs which are somehow novel, yet familiar.
Of note are his collaborations with his uncle, Canadian Folk Music Icon Bruce Cockburn, as touring accompaniment and performer on the Juno Award Winning Album ‘Bone on Bone’.
Saturday August 15th Garden Studio Stage
Doors 6:30 pm Show 7-9 pm Tickets 30$
Georgia Lee Johnson’s songs weave intimacy and belonging. Dancing between deep self-reflection and playfulness, her songs’ themes carry depth and resonance. Inspired by the female folk singer-songwriters of the past (Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez) and present (Anais Mitchell and Adrianne Lenker), her style blends more traditional folk sounds with imaginative instrumentation and arrangements. In her live performances, she harnesses vocal freedom to carry both power and vulnerability.
Audiences are gathered into a brief moment of connectedness, harmony and remembering. Accompanied by guitarist Thomas Hoeller, the duo sound is rhythmic, groovy and lush, defying the bounds of genre.
Pillow Fite
Sunday September 20th Living room Concert
Doors 6:30 pm Show 7-9 pm Tickets 30$
What if Suzanne Vega fronted The Strokes, but they were gay and poor? That musical act would be called Pillow Fite. Art Ross (they/them/Pisces) and Aaron Green (he/him/Virgo) offer their respective gifts of reflection and melody for moody, melodic indie-rock aimed straight at the heart.
With the release of their debut new full-length album ‘Hard Feelings, Soft Promises,’ paired with extensive touring, as an acoustic duo and a full pop band, in Canada, the UK, Europe and the US, the duo began entering the CBC Top 20, as well as winning Best Pop Recording of 2025 at NSMW.
Pillow Fite’s sound is the result of a gently but perpetually evolving creative partnership, a mash-up of genres that arrives at something as singular as it is queer. The band is currently finishing production on their next album, due out fall 2026.
0Stella
Sunday September 27th Garden Studio Stage
Doors 2:30 pm Show 3-5 pm Tickets 30$
With sell-out shows in Ireland and Canada, and performing for Oscar-winner Glen Hansard, 0Stella’s alt-rock Irish fusion is captivating audiences everywhere. This is rock and roll with traditional Irish fiddle and bodhrán (sometimes wrapped in thick distortion) and catchy pop melodies that shimmer with rebellion. 0Stella sings in both English and Irish and regularly engages the crowd to sing along in both languages – whether performing solo or with her 5-piece band. 0Stella’s unique sound deftly combines Canadian rock with Irish storytelling and folk music and draws comparisons to Paramore, Garbage, Lana Del Rey and The Frames.
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Open Mic or Jams, Live Music Events, etc.
A great resource for Open Mics or Open Jams (one link for each day of the week!!), Live Music Events and more!
https://www.victoriafolkmusic.ca/Sundays-Open-LMEs-Vancouver-Island.html
https://victoriafolkmusic.ca/LiveMusicEvents_Mostly_May-2026.html
https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaFolkMusic
If you’re hosting Live Music Events or performing on Vancouver Island or the adjacent islands, I will happily add your event(s) to our monthly listing! Ron G.
Also, this is a growing list — https://victoriafolkmusic.ca/LiveMusicVenues.html
Islandfolk mailing list
Islandfolk@victoriafolkmusic.ca
http://victoriafolkmusic.ca/mailman/listinfo/islandfolk_victoriafolkmusic.ca
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The VFS Board would like to remind everyone to please take care when setting your instruments down. Anyone attending a Jam is responsible for their instruments and we advise that you should have insurance.
VIctoria Fiddle Society and on Facebook Suggestions? Email us at: vfsinfo@gmail.com
