The Born Ruffians are born hoopsters

Fall Guide: Music Listings

Though the Man in Black has moved on to a better place, his backing band, the Tennessee Three, keep walking the line with an October 3 show at the Mac. The same night, Legends concert series will kick things off at Alix Goolden with local vocalist Nicky Deanne paying homage to Barbara Streisand and Liza Minelli. Anyone looking to shake the house should check out Mr. Can’t Stop the Music—that’s Mark Farina to you and me—also on October 3, at Hush. For something a little more scary, expect blood and fire when Zimmer’s Hole return to Lucky that same night. The Invasives and Lesbian Fist Magnet open. On October 4 at the Farquhar Auditorium, UVic honorary degree recipients Bruce Cockburn and retired General Romeo Dallaire will team up for Child Soldiers No More, an evening of song and spoken word in support of ending the use of child soldiers.

The spooky stuff leading up to Halloween continues with the rockabillyriffic Horrorpops playing at Sugar on October 4 with the Switchblade Valentines. All Sheryl Crow wants to do when she hits the arena on October 5 is have some fun; joining her onstage that night will be Blue Rodeo frontman’s other band, the Jim Cuddy Band. Gordie Johnson, former Big Sugar leader, brings his heavy country trio Grady to Sugar on October 8 with the always-entertaining Nashville Pussy. Scotty Stylus turns the beat around on October 9 at Hush, alongside breaks DJ Gumbootz. Seattle hip hoppers Common Market will throw down with the Pocket Kings at Lucky on October 10. Multitalented Calgarian Chad VanGaalen (try saying that nine times fast!) will fly his Soft Airplane tour into Sugar on October 10. Sugar will be open again the next night to play host for a pretty sweet triple bill featuring Born Ruffians, Plants & Animals and Slim Twig. Also on October 11, music legend Kris Kristofferson will get intimate at the Mac.

Canadian country music family, the Wilkinsons, will hop on the Mac stage on October 14. The legendary Ladysmith Black Mambazo will bring their high-energy show back to UVic’s University Centre Auditorium on October 15. The 15th will also see national roots faves, the Acorn, planting their pop at Lucky Bar. Sibling popsters Ohbijou will open the show. Monday’s M Award-winning “hardest working man in local music” James Kasper kicks off his Old-Fashioned Way Western Canada by Train Tour, with a show on October 16 at Khona Coffee. And UK DJ Simon “Bassline” Smith pumps up the volume on October 17 at Hush. Then you can beat the autumn blues with many of Victoria’s blues musicians getting together for the first annual Blues Summit on October 18 at Victoria Arts Connection. On October 24 at Sugar, Matt Mays will aim his El Torpedo to rock the audience with tunes from their new album, Terminal Romance. For further Canadian rock goodness that same night, the Buttless Chaps will play tunes from their lovely new album, Cartography, at Logan’s Pub. Mark Berube and the Patriotic Few open the show. Attack in Black and Ladyhawk will team up for a double dose of melodic rock at Sugar on October 25. Also on October 25 are the Vancouver folk-soul-blues team of Petra Dueck and John Pippus, at Detour Dessert Lounge. And the musical legend that is Bob Dylan returns October 23 at Memorial Centre.

On October 29, Toronto’s FemBots will bring their toy-instrument tunes to town for a show at Logan’s. Broken Social Scenester Jason Collett will play a solo set at Lucky Bar on October 30, as part of Exclaim! magazine’s Wood Wires & Whiskey tour with Rock Plaza Central and Zeus. I wonder how many folks will dress up as rude boys for Skalloween, the October 30 show at the Upstairs Cabaret featuring the One Night Band, Kiltlifters, Brave New Waves and the Easy Brothers?

Reggae/hip-hop blender Collie Buddz will get lively alongside Third Eye Tribe and Rise of the Revolution on November 1 at Sugar. Canadian folk survivor Connie Kaldor will play Alix Goolden on November 2. Also on November 2, the Soweto Gospel Choir will raise spirits at UVic’s Farquhar Auditorium. Break out the bellbottoms and taste for groovy rock, as Lenny Kravitz brings his party to town on November 6 to play the arena—with classic Canadian popsters Sloan opening. John Sebastian and David Grisman share the Mac stage on November 9. On November 10, blues legend Buddy Guy wails at the Royal, and The Trailblazers tour will see Buffy Sainte-Marie and Richie Havens teaming up to bring you a magical night of folk on November 14 at Alix Goolden. But if you’re looking for some music that’s more from this century, local faves Death to Sexy and Terminal City’s live techno dude Longwalkshortdock (who was a big, big hit at this year’s Soundwave) roll into Lucky on November 14. Beatles fans will want to check out the Fab Four Ultimate Beatles Tribute on November 21 at the Royal.

Grammy Award-winning gospel great BJ Thomas will play two shows at the Royal on November 23, with partial proceeds to benefit the Victoria Firefighters Burn Fund. Francophone singer-songwriter Daniel Lavoie will hit Victoria on November 23 for a show at Alix Goolden. November 28 will be a night of acoustic-guitar mastery as fingerstyle champ Don Ross and East Coast talent Brooke Miller hit town, while over at Lucky international musical blenders Delhi2Dublin play the same night.

And if you’re looking for A-list concerts, you can’t beat Nine Inch Nails, who roll into town on December 5 for an already sold-out show at Memorial Centre. Finally, nothing says Christmas quite like a heaping helping of reggae grooves, so be sure to check out Boston’s own John Brown’s Body, as they play alongside Shane Philip on December 18 at Element.