Local Entertainment

Nanaimo singer Victoria Vaughn recently released an EP with local producer Austin Penner. (Photo courtesy Taylor Murray)

Nanaimo singer and recent VIU grad releases EP about becoming an adult

Victoria Vaughn’s ‘Growing Pains’ recorded with local producer Austin Penner

Cast and crew of the Hallmark Channel series ‘Chesapeake Shores’ as they film at Parksville beach on April 15, 2021. (Mandy Moraes photo)

Fifth season of ‘Chesapeake Shores’ looks to showcase Parksville Qualicum Beach region

Executive producer: ‘We’re really excited for the fans to experience the fifth season’

Nanaimo-based musician Shawn Hall, the ‘Harpoonist’ in the Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer blues duo, is presenting a free, live-streamed show from the Port Theatre on April 23. (Photo courtesy Colin McTaggart)

Nanaimo musician Shawn Hall presents free online show from the Port Theatre

Last year Hall released ‘Satellite Man’ EP with new group Satellite and the Harpoonist

Vancouver Island Symphony conductor Pierre Simard and a 14-person string section present Spain and Strings on April 23. (Photo courtesy HA Photography)

Vancouver Island Symphony concludes season with salute to Spanish strings

’Spain and Strings’ is final concert in live-streamed ‘Symphony from your Sofa’ series

Vancouver Island Symphony conductor Pierre Simard and a 14-person string section present Spain and Strings on April 23. (Photo courtesy HA Photography)
Nanaimo playwright Anne Nesbitt is presenting a staged reading of her play about Indigenous conservationist Gertrude Bernard, also known as Anahareo (from left). (Photo courtesy Andrew Nesbitt/Riding Mountain National Park)

Nanaimo playwright tells the story of Indigenous woman who ‘saved the beaver’

Anne Nesbitt presents ‘Anahareo’ as part of TheatreOne staged reading series

Nanaimo playwright Anne Nesbitt is presenting a staged reading of her play about Indigenous conservationist Gertrude Bernard, also known as Anahareo (from left). (Photo courtesy Andrew Nesbitt/Riding Mountain National Park)
‘Nanaimo’ will be spelled out in five-foot-tall letters upon a slab of concrete overlooking Swy-a-Lana Lagoon at Maffeo Sutton Park. (Greg Sakaki/The News Bulletin)

Five-foot-tall letters spelling out ‘Nanaimo’ coming to Maffeo Sutton Park

$50,000-project expected to be installed by the end of April

‘Nanaimo’ will be spelled out in five-foot-tall letters upon a slab of concrete overlooking Swy-a-Lana Lagoon at Maffeo Sutton Park. (Greg Sakaki/The News Bulletin)
The cast from ‘Chesapeake Shores’ pose for a photo in season three, filmed in 2018, of the hit Hallmark series. The cast and crew are now back in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area shooting season five. (Submitted photo)

‘Chesapeake Shores’ back to film TV series in Parksville and Qualicum Beach

Crews working within strict COVID-19 restrictions

The cast from ‘Chesapeake Shores’ pose for a photo in season three, filmed in 2018, of the hit Hallmark series. The cast and crew are now back in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area shooting season five. (Submitted photo)
‘We Are All Beautiful’ by Elise Cole and ‘The Modern Thrall’ by Enigye (Happy) Amarkah (from left) are two of the pieces featured in VIU’s Anti-Racism Arts Festival. (Images courtesy the artists)

Vancouver Island University holds first Anti-Racism Arts Festival

Three-day online event to feature visual arts, performance, film and poetry

‘We Are All Beautiful’ by Elise Cole and ‘The Modern Thrall’ by Enigye (Happy) Amarkah (from left) are two of the pieces featured in VIU’s Anti-Racism Arts Festival. (Images courtesy the artists)
Rick Scott and Nico Rhodes (from right) are performing from the Port Theatre via live stream on April 18. (Photo courtesy f8 Photography)

Nanaimo’s Rick Scott and Nico Rhodes present live-streamed ‘family concert’

Port Theatre show to feature ‘re-tinkered’ songs from Scott’s eight-album catalogue

Rick Scott and Nico Rhodes (from right) are performing from the Port Theatre via live stream on April 18. (Photo courtesy f8 Photography)
Jazz Trumpeter Benny Benack III will be joined by pianist Emmet Cohen and bassist Russell Hall in an online performance for the Friends of Nanaimo Jazz Society. (Photo courtesy Maria Traversa)

New York jazz trio support Nanaimo jazz students with online concert

Musicians Benny Benack III, Emmet Cohen and Russell Hall also held workshop with students

Jazz Trumpeter Benny Benack III will be joined by pianist Emmet Cohen and bassist Russell Hall in an online performance for the Friends of Nanaimo Jazz Society. (Photo courtesy Maria Traversa)
‘Frank Ney’ by Patrick Flavin, ‘Millstone River Upper Falls’ by John Collison Baker, ‘Labyrinth of Dreams’ by MA Molcan, ‘On the Other Side’ by Liana Ravensbergen, ‘December Snow’ by Laurel Karjala and ‘Jacks Point’ by Dana Smiley (cropped, clockwise from top-left) are among the works in the Nanaimo Arts Council’s latest exhibition. (Photos courtesy Nanaimo Arts Council)

Nanaimo Arts Council presents its first online gallery show

Submissions now open for upcoming ‘Ekphrastic Celebration’ show

‘Frank Ney’ by Patrick Flavin, ‘Millstone River Upper Falls’ by John Collison Baker, ‘Labyrinth of Dreams’ by MA Molcan, ‘On the Other Side’ by Liana Ravensbergen, ‘December Snow’ by Laurel Karjala and ‘Jacks Point’ by Dana Smiley (cropped, clockwise from top-left) are among the works in the Nanaimo Arts Council’s latest exhibition. (Photos courtesy Nanaimo Arts Council)
Dorothy Sevcov’s exhibition ‘Having Fun With Acrylics’ is on display at Art 10 Gallery until the end of the month. (Josef Jacobson/The News Bulletin)

Experimental paintings now on exhibit at Nanaimo’s Art 10 Gallery

Dorothy Sevcov’s ‘Having Fun With Acrylics’ on display through April

Dorothy Sevcov’s exhibition ‘Having Fun With Acrylics’ is on display at Art 10 Gallery until the end of the month. (Josef Jacobson/The News Bulletin)
Nanaimo Fringe Festival artistic managing producer Bryony Dixon, board chair Brianna Hamilton and associate artistic producer Tamara McCarthy (from left) live-streamed their Nanaimo Fringe Festival draw from Kitties and Cream café on April 2. (Facebook video screenshot)

Artist lineup announced for this year’s Nanaimo Fringe Festival

Organizers hope to offer both indoor, outdoor and live-streamed performances

Nanaimo Fringe Festival artistic managing producer Bryony Dixon, board chair Brianna Hamilton and associate artistic producer Tamara McCarthy (from left) live-streamed their Nanaimo Fringe Festival draw from Kitties and Cream café on April 2. (Facebook video screenshot)
Nanaimo children’s entertainer Steve Romanik, represented by his character Mountain Dweller, is giving away his songs and stories to help raise money for children’s causes. (Photo courtesy Steve Romanik)

Nanaimo children’s entertainer ‘Mountain Dweller’ helping raise money for kids’ causes

Steve Romanik partnering with Nanaimo Child Development Centre, B.C. Children’s Hospital

Nanaimo children’s entertainer Steve Romanik, represented by his character Mountain Dweller, is giving away his songs and stories to help raise money for children’s causes. (Photo courtesy Steve Romanik)
Lantzville singer Raymond Salgado will sing ‘O Canada’ before the Vancouver Canucks’ upcoming game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 17. (Photo submitted)

Lantzville singer to perform ‘O Canada’ at Vancouver Canucks game

Raymond Salgado scheduled to sing the anthem at Rogers Arena later this month

Lantzville singer Raymond Salgado will sing ‘O Canada’ before the Vancouver Canucks’ upcoming game against the Toronto Maple Leafs on April 17. (Photo submitted)
Nanaimo Harbourfront Library librarian April Ripley led the effort to create a Vancouver Island poetry booklet in recognition of National Poetry Month. (Josef Jacobson/The News Bulletin)

Nanaimo Harbourfront Library publishes booklet for National Poetry Month

Collection features winners of ‘Poem in your Pocket’ contest

Nanaimo Harbourfront Library librarian April Ripley led the effort to create a Vancouver Island poetry booklet in recognition of National Poetry Month. (Josef Jacobson/The News Bulletin)
Courtenay artist Christine Boyer presents Alongside My Path: Native Wildflowers of Canada at Gallery Merrick from April 9 to 23. (Photo courtesy Christine Boyer)

Island painter shows off the wildflowers of Western Canada in first solo show

Courtenay’s Christine Boyer presents floral exhibit at Nanaimo’s Gallery Merrick

Courtenay artist Christine Boyer presents Alongside My Path: Native Wildflowers of Canada at Gallery Merrick from April 9 to 23. (Photo courtesy Christine Boyer)
Nanaimo author Lawrence Winkler’s latest book is ‘The Last Casebook of Doctor Sababa.’ (Bulletin file photo/supplied)

Nanaimo author wraps up trilogy following ‘antihero’ Island doctor

Lawrence Winkler presents ‘The Last Casebook of Doctor Sababa’

Nanaimo author Lawrence Winkler’s latest book is ‘The Last Casebook of Doctor Sababa.’ (Bulletin file photo/supplied)
‘Pastime Activity’ by Katherine Leung, ‘Everyone Deserves a Future’ by Angela Mark and ‘Protection’ by Jess Richter (cropped, clockwise from left) are among the works on display in the Bloodroot Gallery’s Spring Equinox 2021 exhibition. (Photos courtesy Bloodroot Gallery)

New online Nanaimo gallery showcasing underrepresented artists with a message

Nanaimo photographer Karly Morrison launched Bloodroot Gallery this month

‘Pastime Activity’ by Katherine Leung, ‘Everyone Deserves a Future’ by Angela Mark and ‘Protection’ by Jess Richter (cropped, clockwise from left) are among the works on display in the Bloodroot Gallery’s Spring Equinox 2021 exhibition. (Photos courtesy Bloodroot Gallery)
Protection Island author Craig Taylor’s new book is ‘New Yorkers: A City and its People in Our Time.’ (Photo courtesy Mayita Mendez)

Nanaimo author writes about New York from the perspective of its residents

Craig Taylor’s latest book is ‘New Yorkers: A City and its People in Our Time’

Protection Island author Craig Taylor’s new book is ‘New Yorkers: A City and its People in Our Time.’ (Photo courtesy Mayita Mendez)