DJ QBERT
Where: Capital Ballroom, 858 Yates St.
When: Thursday, 8:30 p.m.
Tickets: $38.60 from
Why: Revered turntablist DJ Qbert was one of the first artists of his kind to perform at Coachella, and occupies two spots on Mixmag’s list of the 10 best live DJ battles of all-time — bona fides that make him that rare breed of performer with both critical and commercial appeal. The Invisibl Skratch Piklz and Rocksteady Crew member is so good, in fact, he was asked to stop competing in the DMC World Championships, as his talent level as a scratch DJ back in the day far exceeded that of the competition. The San Francisco native hasn’t been around Victoria much in recent years — he last performed here in 2005 — so his set with Emotionz and DJ Anger tonight at the Capital Ballroom will be a welcome return.
FESTIVE CANTATAS
Where: Christ Church Cathedral, 930 Burdett Ave.
When: Saturday, 3 p.m.
Tickets: $45 from
Why: Early Music Vancouver and the Early Music Society of the Islands have a Christmas gift wrapped and ready to deliver to audiences Saturday afternoon. Festive Cantatas pairs J.S. Bach’s Gloria in excelsis Deo church cantata with work by Czech composer Jan Dismas Zelenka, and features the Pacific Baroque Orchestra (directed by Alexander Weimann) performing on period instruments alongside the voices of the Vancouver Chamber Choir. Sopranos Hélène Brunet and Suzie LeBlanc, alto Cecilia Duarte, tenor James Reese, and bass William Kraushaar are the guests for what should be a highlight of the season.
A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN WALES
Where: St. Mary’s Anglican Church, 1973 Cultra Ave., and St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 680 Courtney St.
When: Monday (7:30 p.m.) and Tuesday (2:30 p.m.)
Tickets: $38.61 from
Why: A concert of seasonal music, with new carols and arrangements from composers Joanna Marsh, Stuart Beach, Cecilia MacDowall, and Tamsin Jones, is highlighted by a dramatic reading of Dylan Thomas’ A Child’s Christmas in Wales, with Melville Jones narrating the beloved tale. The annual Vox Humana event take places in Saanichton and Victoria next week, so there’s two opportunities to attend this seasonal favourite.
