ROCK: Jesse Roper’s Solo Soirée
Where: Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton St.
When: Saturday, Feb. 5, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $27.75 from or 250-386-6121
Why: The Metchosin One always gets the job done on stage, regardless of whether he’s performing with his bandmates or going at it alone. Roper will be doing the latter for this soft-seater performance, and while the capacity is reduced and social distancing is in effect, don’t expect this to be a humdrum affair. More than a dozen shows across the city were canceled this week, which leaves Roper as the last rocker standing and your best bet for a rip-roaring Saturday night. Armed with a batch of new songs to play, he’ll rise to the challenge.
JAZZ: What the World Needs Now
Where: Hermann’s Jazz Club, 753 View St.
When: Friday, Feb. 4, 7 p.m. (doors at 5:30)
Tickets: $25 from
Why: The first show of Edie Daponte’s mini tour of Vancouver Island gets underway Friday at Hermann’s Jazz Club, under the banner of What the World Needs Now. The versatile singer and her talented bandmates (bassist Joey Smith; pianist Tony Genge; drummer Damian Graham; and multi-instrumentalist Aaron Watson) will run through a variety of love songs for both in-person and at-home audiences. That she will sing songs by everyone from Nina Simone to Cesaria Evora in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and German only adds to the appeal. Daponte and Co. will continue the tour with stops in Courtenay (Feb. 10), Crofton (Feb. 11), Parksville (Feb. 12), and Maple Bay (Feb. 13) in the coming week.
CLASSICAL: Mahler and Schumann — Being Robert Schumann
Where: Farquhar Auditorium, University of Victoria, 3800 Finnerty Rd.
When: Sunday, Feb. 6, 2:30 p.m.
Tickets: $40-$60 (adults/seniors); $20-$30 (students) from or 250-721-8480
Why: The third installment of the Victoria Symphony’s tribute to composer Robert Schuman will also include Gustav Mahler’s songs cycle for voice and orchestra, based upon five poems written by Friedrich Rückert. Mezzo-soprano Allyson McHardy will guest on the latter portion of the program, while conductor Christian Kluxen leads the 0rchestra through a new Victoria Symphony commission by Canadian composer Linda Catlin Smith.A solid afternoon of music, in one of the finest-sounding rooms in the city.
