HIP HOP
What: Shad with Liinks
Where: Capital Ballroom, 858 Yates St.
When: Saturday Feb. 23, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $20 at Lyle鈥檚 Place or online at
Why: Juno Award-winning artist Shad, a Polaris Music Prize mainstay, has been one of the country鈥檚 top rappers for a decade, but his game rachets up a notch with A Short Story About a War, his new concept album laced with political statements. 鈥淰ilified by all sides, vilified for small crimes/Forced to go blow for blow, in a war zone with only stones to throw,鈥� he rhymes on The Stone Throwers. The host of Hip Hop Evolution, the Emmy Award-winning documentary series on Netflix, is no less thrilling in concert. With an opening set from the dynamic Victoria duo Liinks, there will be no shortage of electricity at the Capital Ballroom on Saturday.
INDIE ROCK
What: Wolf Parade
Where: Upstairs Cabaret, 15 Bastion Sq.
When: Tuesday Feb. 26, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $25 at Lyle鈥檚 Place and
Why: 91原创 Island鈥檚 greatest indie rock export has been active in the area in recent years, as members of the group 鈥� now a trio after the recent departure of guitarist Dante DeCaro 鈥� are back living in the Cowichan Valley. Wolf Parade鈥檚 show at Upstairs Cabaret is part of a mini-tour that takes the celebrated group from Nanaimo (where they perform a sold-out show Monday at the White Room) through the U.S. until March 5. Don鈥檛 miss them.
REGGAE
What: Common Kings, Nattali Rize
Where: Distrikt Nightclub, 919 Douglas St.
When: Friday Feb. 22, 7 p.m. (doors at 6:30)
Tickets: $22.50 at Lyle鈥檚 Place and the Strathcona Hotel, or online at
Why: Common Kings, a California reggae band whose members have roots in Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji and Tonga, return to Victoria on Friday for their first performance following a standout set at the Phillips Backyard Weekender two summers ago. The upbeat vibe of this early show, with an opening set from Jamaican singer-songwriter Nattali Rize, is expected to be a highlight of a very busy weekend.
