Meet a man who’s turning heads
Ventriloquist Jeff Dunham brings his popular, record-breaking comedy show to Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre
Each year, Forbes magazine publishes a list of the richest performers in comedy. And without fail, the results turn heads — which is ironic, considering two ventriloquists (who turn heads for a living, natch) often make the list.
Terry Fator (who?) has been a regular presence the past several years, due to his Las Vegas residency, while Jeff Dunham — who is the far bigger ventriloquist, comparatively — has become a Forbes staple via several revenue streams. Dunham’s brand of comedy has widespread appeal, which allows him to tour arenas throughout North America. He touches down at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre on Wednesday with his Perfectly Unbalanced tour.
Dunham remains a curiosity to many, as ventriloquy resides on the edges of entertainment. Though he’s a Guinness World Record holder (for most tickets sold for a comedy tour) and has nearly one billion views on YouTube, he remains somewhat of an off-the-radar act in the wider comedy conversation.
Discover what the fuss is about next week. Judging by reports, you won’t be disappointed.
Tickets for Dunham’s performance Wednesday at the arena are $57 through the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre box office (1925 Blanshard St.), by phone at 250-220-7777, or online at selectyourtickets.com.
Showtime is 7:30 p.m.
Another wave of artists has been announced for the inaugural Laketown Rock Festival in Lake Cowichan.
Glass Tiger, Kenny Shields and Streetheart, The Wild!, Band of Rascals and Malahat were added to the roster this week. They join previously announced acts Sam Roberts Band, Loverboy, Honeymoon Suite and Trooper, among others, at the May 19-21 event.
Early bird weekend passes are on sale now (starting at $99) through Laketownrock.com.
Local funk-soul group Electric Sex Panther (there’s a moniker you won’t soon forget) is playing the fundraising Concert For a Cause on Wednesday in support of Women for Change.
The group — whose name is a reference to the cult film Anchorman — will perform at the Victoria Event Centre in support of the not-for-profit organization, which helps women and girls in rural Zambia.
Concert For a Cause is being staged by fourth-year Camosun College marketing students, in partnership with the Victoria International Development Education Association. The event will also include a silent auction.
Tickets are $20 at eventbrite.ca. Doors are at 7:30 p.m.
Courtenay-raised, Vancouverbased Alexandria Maillot will join Calgary singer-songwriter Kirsten Ludwig for a cross-Canada tour that begins April 2 in Victoria.
The two artists are performing at record shop Vinyl Envy, the first of 19 dates on the run. Maillot and Ludwig will also be filming the tour for a mini-documentary to be released at a later date.
Tickets can be purchased at Vinyl Envy, which is located at 1717 Quadra St.
Artists from Victoria wanting some exposure south of the border should take note of an opportunity that could see them perform at the upcoming Upstream Music Fest + Summit in Seattle.
The event takes place in Pioneer Square from May 11-13. Industry association Music B.C. is giving groups chosen through the contest exposure alongside other acts at B.C. House during the three-day event.
Applications are being accepted until March 22. To enter, visit Do250.com/p/play-upstream.
Shawn Hook will perform at the Alix Goolden Hall on April 21, with opening act Virginia to Vegas.
The Vancouver-bred Hook, who hit paydirt with the hit Sound of Your Heart, has been making waves in the U.S. of late, so this may be the last chance for fans to see him perform in such an intimate venue.
Tickets ($35) are on sale online through Livenation.com or by phone at 1-888-732-1682.
Kathryn Calder of the New Pornographers has started her own record label, Oscar St. Records.
The award-winning Victoria performer will release recordings under her own name through the label, while her current work with the New Pornographers will continue to see release on Toronto’s Dine Alone imprint. Acts signed to Oscar St. Records include Cascade Falls, Peach Pyramid, Rolla Olak, Himalayan Bear and Kirsten Ludwig.
For more information, visit oscarstrecords.com.
Local burlesque performer Rosie Bitts will transform Hermann’s Jazz Club into the Bitts of Tease Cabaret next week for a performance of jazz, blues, torch songs and cabaret dance.
Bitts will be joined for the performance by the Dirty Boys, which features local favourites Jeff Poynter, Nick Mintenko and Alex Campbell. Guest dancers expected to appear include Champagne Sparkles and Little Roxie.
Tickets are $20 at Garden of Eden (1483 Douglas St.) or rosiebitts.eventbrite.ca.
Hermann’s Jazz Club is located at 753 View St.
Tickets are starting to become scarce for the Madeleine Peyroux and Rickie Lee Jones double-bill scheduled for Tuesday at the Royal Theatre.
The two performers — Peyroux is a jazz singer not unlike Billie Holiday, while Jones is a Grammy winner who sang Chuck E.’s in Love — are touring in support of their new single together, a cover of David Essex’s Rock On.
Both will perform 75-minute sets. Jones will perform first, followed by Peyroux.
Tickets are $58 at rmts.bc.ca, by phone at 250-386-6121 or in person at the Royal McPherson box office.