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Organizers of the annual Rifflandia festival have announced the first wave of artists booked to play the event Sept. 14-17, and among them is a pioneering artist who will make his Vancouver Island debut.

A week after Jason Bourque’s spirits soared as high as the unmanned aircraft featured in Drone, his new movie that just made its U.S. debut, he is finally starting to feel Earthbound again.

I love that dogs do exactly as they please. Indeed, they do things humans would love to do if only we had the courage — and the law would allow it. Here’s an example: The other day we took a walk on a sunny beach.

BIRTHDAY FRIDAY: The world needs people who believe in something bigger than their individual selves and that's where you come in. Your birthday chart urges you - begs you in fact - to get involved in issues of global importance.

ONSTAGE What: Born Yesterday Where: Roxy Theatre When: Opens tonight, continues to June 11 Tickets: $20 to $47 at bluebridgetheatre.ca or 250 382 3370 For Victoria actor Kassiani (Casey) Austin, it was shaping up to be a long day.

ONSTAGE What: Hedwig and the Angry Inch Where: Metro Studio, 1411 Quadra St. When: Preview show June 7. Opens June 8, continuing through June 18. Tickets: $32 at ticketrocket.co or at 101-804 Broughton St.

For three years, mezzo-soprano Kathryn Whitney has directed an intensive art-song program, unique in sa¹ú¼Ê´«Ã½, aimed at older, amateur singers and pianists.

ONSTAGE What: Avenue Q Where: Canadian College of Performing Arts, 1701 Elgin Rd. When: Opens tonight (June 1), 8 p.m., continues June 2, 3, 8, 9, 10 and 11 Tickets, info: ccpacanada.com, 250-595-9970 When R.J.

BIRTHDAY THURSDAY: A Venus-Saturn link on your birthday means you need to get serious about the kind of relationships you have not always been serious about in the past.

Dear Tony: We have a quirky bylaw that leaves the decision-making on permitting pets up to the council. The bylaw says: “Subject to the approval of the strata council, an owner is entitled to one cat, one dog or a cage of birds.