Author Archives: Katelynn Dilday

Behind the scenes of Charis Tazumi’s ‘In Subtle Ways’

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On April 17th, 2025, I found myself floating around the back of a crowd at the beautiful Red Gate Arts Society, taking photos and voice memos to record as many audio samples as I could. I was there to see Charis Tazumi, an indie-folk artist from Victoria. After her amazing show, we organized an interview for an episode of the New Music Now podcast. Because our conversation was so rich, there were some great points I unfortunately just didn’t have the time to include in the final cut. Luckily, New Music Now is not my only opportunity to shine a light on awesome artists like Charis!

(@millenniumkids__ / Instagram)

In Subtle Ways, Charis’ debut album, was released on May 31st, 2024. While the 9-track record is already great, it becomes all the more amazing to listen to after learning about how it came to be. She tells me she started writing and producing songs in her bedroom before joining the UVIC Live Music Club and meeting people who would change the course of the entire album. 

As she wrote and refined songs, Charis began to perform alongside a band, which sparked a feedback loop of inspiration. She says this experience was eye-opening to the full range of what she could create in collaboration with other artists.

“I think that’s what I love about music. It can be so collaborative, and people of different backgrounds and styles can all really help to bring a vision to life.”

This collaboration continued as Charis started working with Brendan Wong, a close friend and soon-to-be co-producer of her album. The two of them bounced ideas off each other, utilizing their individual strengths to put out an incredible result.

“Brendan had the knowledge base and theory. If I just described a feeling or a colour or sang an idea, he knew what I meant. It was crazy. It felt like he was reading my mind.”

Brendan wasn’t the only one to influence this album, Charis tells me as she workshopped new songs with the band, they often contributed their ideas for the sound. Along with musical contributions, the album’s lead single, Eyeline, features layers upon layers of 12 different vocalists screaming to add texture to the track. 

In Subtle Ways was an incredible debut for Charis and is beyond promising for what’s to come. While she stands alone as a brilliant artist, it’s extremely exciting to see what she can accomplish with support from such a strong community of peers.

  “I was always doing stuff by myself in my little bedroom, so getting to work with all these different types of people makes the project feel even more special…it doesn’t feel like it belongs just to me.”

The Rogue Arts Festival – A creative celebration of community

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Before I lived here in Vancouver, I spent most of my life on the beautiful Sunshine Coast. Just a 40-minute ferry ride from the city, it’s an amazing town. Unfortunately, being a smaller community means we have a pretty weak music scene. I’ve definitely noticed an uptick in recent years, but still, it’s rare to be able to catch a show (unless you count the buskers outside the grocery store, that is.)

But thanks to an annual festival, for a week every summer, the Coast turns into a lean, mean, music machine!

(Craig Cochrane / Rogue Arts Society)

The Coast Rogue Arts Society has a simple mandate: “To increase the well-being of the Sunshine Coast through the arts.” They accomplish this through several programs, but most notably by far is the Rogue Arts Festival. 

Every coast kid knows Rogue Fest, a bunch of us have even been a part of it at one point or another! Even if you aren’t attending the festival, it’s impossible to miss. We all know it’s summertime when Rogue’s iconic, coyote-shaped signs start lining the highway through Gibsons and Roberts Creek. But what exactly is it? I’m glad you asked!

According to their website, “The Rogue Arts Festival is a 3-day outdoor, multidisciplinary arts festival where you can immerse yourself in non-stop, genre-crossing music, art, and more.” Honestly? That description is pretty much perfect. 

Rogue Fest showcases the best of the Sunshine Coast. Our amazingly talented musicians, performers, poets, artisans, you name it! Chances are you’ll be able to find it there. 

Aside from the great music and art, there are plenty of exciting activities for guests of all ages to enjoy! Past years have included group yoga sessions, painting workshops, and even human foosball! 

(Tamara Hedden / Rogue Arts Society)

2024 was an interesting year for Rogue Fest. Their typical venue in Wilson Creek was unavailable, but instead of calling the year a wash, they broke out of their typical traditions and held a series of different events across the coast all summer!

With such a variety of artists, activities, and even locations now, there really is something for everyone at Rogue Fest. Whether you’re a seasoned local or fresh off the ferry, the community you’ll find there is so warm and welcoming to each guest, so you’ll feel right at home.

While the Rogue Arts Society has yet to make any official announcements regarding their plans for Rogue Fest 2025, I’m sure they’ve got something unforgettable in the works. You can visit their website or social media to keep an eye out for any updates.

What concerts are happening in Vancouver this Summer?

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What’s your absolute favourite thing in the world? Not counting the usual (boring) answers like family, friends, or spending time with your loved ones…what’s the thing that’s just for you? 

For me, the answer has to be concerts. My life is a series of countdowns from one show to the next, just waiting for my favourites to make their way to Vancouver. In the last year, I’ve seen Weezer, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Rex Orange County, Djo, and more!

(@millenniumkids__ / Instagram)

Live music has always been so special to me, no matter who’s on the stage, but the feeling of seeing an artist you’ve been a fan of for so long perform your favourite songs is almost impossible to describe.

So many amazing artists are touring this Summer, so here’s a list of some shows I’ll be trying to catch when they come our way! 

Finn Wolfhard @ The Rickshaw

Finn Wolfhard released his first single as a solo artist in March 2025, and even though he hasn’t even put out his debut album yet, he’s been selling out dates on his upcoming Objection! Tour. He’ll be playing his hometown of Vancouver for 2 nights, June 12th and 13th, with The Slaps as an opening act.

Wilco @ Pacific Coliseum

Alt-rock legends, Wilco, are making a stop on their packed North American tour this summer as a part of the PNE’s Summer Night Concerts series. They’ll be taking the stage at the Pacific Coliseum on August 27th. According to their website, instead of an opening act, they’ll be performing 2 sets with a brief intermission in between.

Pixies @ The Orpheum

Playing a set of classics, Pixies will be touring North America with supporting act Kurt Vile this summer. They’ll be spending two nights in our city, with performances at the Orpheum on June 26th and 27th. The Orpheum is such a beautiful venue, so I’m sure this show will be one to remember.

Rainbow Kitten Surprise @ Pacific Coliseum

Coming fresh off the heels of their 2024 Love, Hate, Musicbox tour, RKS is back for more! 

I’m a huge fan of their album How to: Friend, Love, Freefall, but haven’t heard much of their other work. When I scored a last-minute ticket to the Musicbox tour in November, I thought, “Hey, why not? I kinda like those guys…” and was completely blown away. The show was so beautiful, and even though I didn’t know most of the songs, I was hooked the whole time. I would love to see them again.

RKS

(@millenniumkids__ / Instagram)

They kicked off the Thanks For Coming tour on May 11th in Calgary, AB and will be making their way over here to be a part of the PNE Summer Night Concerts series on September 1st.

There’s nothing like a good concert, and with a summer lineup this exciting, I can barely wait! What artists are you hoping to catch this year?

3 smaller venues you should check out in Vancouver!

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Before I moved to Vancouver, I was so jealous of the people living here who could go to shows whenever they wanted. At this point, I had been looking into all the cool indie venues around town for ages and just couldn’t wait to check them all out. 

But once I moved…it was a bit of a different story. Don’t get me wrong, I love going to shows! But after a busy day, the thought of going home with barely enough time to get changed before taking a handful of buses and skytrains to get downtown and see a band I’ve never even heard of? It’s hard to find the energy.

Slowly but surely, I’ve been checking off my list of venues to visit, so if you’re looking for somewhere to catch live music, here are just a few of my favourites so far.

Red Gate Arts Society (1965 Main St)

Red Gate was the venue that made me start falling in love with Vancouver’s scene. I’ve been to a handful of shows there over the years, but I’d love to see more. With ample room for dancing, plus comfy couches and chairs to take a break in, this is a great place to start for anyone interested in seeing more local music. They host 19+ and all-ages shows, featuring pretty much every genre under the sun, and sometimes even stream their shows live on their website!

(@millenniumkids__ / Instagram)

Green Auto (1822 Pandora St)

I’ve only had the chance to visit Green Auto once so far, but I had a great time! This space is beautifully decorated, with these gorgeous hanging lamps I absolutely cannot get enough of (seriously, I need to ask where they got them!) and while the washrooms are covered floor to ceiling in graffiti, they’re surprisingly clean! Which, let’s be honest, is a very important factor when judging a venue.

(@millenniumkids__ / Instagram)

Victory Square (200 W Hastings St)

Honestly, I’m not sure if this one even counts as a music venue by official terms, but it definitely is in my book! This outdoor park is just a short walk from the Stadium/Chinatown skytrain station, and it’s the perfect spot to meet people, dance, or just chill out in the grass and enjoy the music!

Aside from their annual block party, hosted by UBC’s CiTR and Discorder Magazine, local artists perform in the memorial park weekly during the warmer months of the year. 

(@millenniumkids__ / Instagram)

These are just a few of my favorite spots so far! I know there’s tons more to explore, so let me know if you have any recommendations!

Why Rifflandia 2025 may be their most meaningful year yet!

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Summer is just around the corner, and with the sunny weather comes a music lover’s favourite time of year, festival season! So many awesome festivals are happening across BC this summer, but this annual Victoria-based festival is doing things a bit differently…

(@mario beauregard / Adobe Stock)

Rifflandia music and arts festival is held in Victoria every summer, and it’s not something to miss. Since their founding in 2008, they’ve had performances from international superstars including Post Malone, Lorde, Moby, and Charli XCX, to name a few. 

Rifflandia isn’t just interested in hosting large names either. They provide a platform for emerging independent artists, regardless of their mainstream success. Along with the musicians, Rifflandia offers a space for Victoria’s local artisans and food vendors to showcase their work and connect with customers. 

2025 is a special year for Rifflandia, as it marks their 15th festival! To celebrate this great milestone, they’re giving back to the community they’ve called home since the beginning. Sticking to this numerical theme, 15% of this year’s ticket sales will go directly to 15 local organizations that are making all the difference in education, housing, community outreach, youth services, and so much more for Victoria. 

Festival-goers can even choose which group they’d like to support by applying a code at checkout. If no specification is made, that 15% will go to the Rifflandia Foundation, an organization that “aims to increase equity and access to sports, live events, and cultural activities for individuals and communities facing social, economic, or physical barriers.” 

If you’ve been debating checking out the festival, it seems like this year is the year to do it!

Rifflandia 2025 is set to take place in the Rock Bay area of Victoria from September 11th through the 14th. This year’s lineup features over 50 amazing acts, including Sleater-Kinney, Alessia Cara, and Walk Off the Earth, just to name a few!

From giving back to local organizations, to housing local artisans, to drawing in tourists from other areas to support the community, it’s clear that Rifflandia cares so deeply for Victoria and the people who call it home.

 “We are proud to have become a September staple for so many locals and have welcomed tens of thousands of music lovers to Victoria, BC. We serve a diverse and creative music forward community and shine a light on the best of our city. There would be no Rifflandia without Victoria.”

-Rifflandia Festival, via their website

 

BC’s music scene – Beyond Vancouver (part 2)

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When people discuss “BC’s music scene,” it can be difficult not to zoom right in on Vancouver. Almost rightfully so, the scene here is so vibrant and alive, but what about the smaller areas of our province that don’t quite get enough love?

No matter where you are, it’s always a challenge to find community in a new space, especially as an artist, but being in a big city definitely helps. In my research on local and ‘local-adjacent’ artists, I started to wonder about their experiences as artists working outside of BC’s most populated city.

In part one, I spoke with Nanaimo-based singer/songwriter, Charis Tazumi. Moving to BC’s interior, I spoke with Finley Kinghorn of Bucket, a pop-punk band out of Nelson.

When I spoke with Finley, he had a lot to say about both the scenes in Nelson and Vancouver. “I think because there’s a really good music program in Nelson, it’s kind of full of really good musicians, but there’s not a lot of just music fans,” he told me, “it’s sort of a lot of musicians watching other musicians, which is awesome because it just creates so many great bands out here.”

Bucket itself was born out of this same music program, and their first EP, Doorm Room Demos, was recorded entirely in Finley’s dorm. 

While he says Nelson fosters a great community of artists, it can be difficult to find your footing as a band in the smaller scene. “I think that if your goal is to grow a fan base, it can’t really grow that big here,” he says, “the first time I played [in Vancouver] was a few years ago, and I just noticed immediately, there were so many people. It was great to see.”

He notes that the number of younger people involved with Vancouver’s music is particularly refreshing, “there were young people out too that were just so stoked to be watching live music, and you don’t see that as much around here. I thought that was kind of dead, younger kids coming out to see shows.  It’s so, so cool to see out there, especially lately with the indie scene down there. Everyone’s super bought into it, and it kind of branches off into the punk and rock sounds. What’s going on out there is definitely awesome.”

If you’d like to hear more from Bucket, you can check out their featured episode of New Music Now on the Evolution Podcast Network, along with their work on Spotify! They’ve been working on some exciting stuff recently, so I highly recommend you check them out.

BC’s music scene – Beyond Vancouver (part 1)

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If you’ve lived in the Vancouver area for long enough, chances are you’ve seen how active our music scene is. New bands are making their debuts all the time, and fans fill up our different venues nightly. 

No matter where you are, it’s always a challenge to find community in a new space, especially as an artist, but being in a big city definitely helps. With so much of the “BC music scene” being generalized to one area, I wondered how the experience of being an independent musician in other parts of BC differs. I was lucky enough to speak with 2 amazing artists recently: Charis Tazumi, a singer/songwriter from Nanaimo, and Finley Kinghorn of Bucket, an indie pop-punk band from Nelson, to find out more.

(@millenniumkids__ / Instagram)

My conversation with Charis took place after she played a show here at Redgate. It was her second time performing in Vancouver, and though she was a bit nervous, she says she felt super welcomed. “It’s intimidating to go to a new city and play your music where you don’t know a lot of people,” She told me, “but I felt really embraced. I found that the energy at that show was just so heartwarming and supportive. I feel lucky.”

When I asked her about her experiences in Vancouver compared to her experiences on the island, she said there are many similarities.“Both [feel] very warm, very communal. People really want to support local art, and they make an effort to do that in both cities.” 

And as to the differences, she noted, “from what I have seen going to shows in Vancouver, it [is] just a different vibe. It felt really intimate. I felt really vulnerable, is what I’ll say. Not to say that there’s not that vulnerability in the Victoria scene…but it’s just different.” 

To hear more from Charis, you can check out her featured episode of New Music Now on the Evolution Podcast Network. As well as her debut, In Subtle Ways, on Spotify. I had such an amazing time chatting with her, I really think you’ll love to hear what she has to say. 

While the differences between Vancouver and the Island may be fairly small, it leads me to wonder how things may differ up in our interior. You can check out part two of this article to hear a bit from Finley Kinghorn of West-Kooteney-based band Bucket!

Is this local event the start of a wider movement for Vancouver’s music scene?

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There’s a new event happening in Vancouver, and its organizers claim it “redefines how we experience music.”

Curious? Well, so were the hundreds who filled up Caffe Artigiano Roundhouse on the morning of May 11th for Outlier’s first-ever Morning After daytime coffee party. The free event ran from 11am to 2pm and featured house music sets from three local DJs: Johnny Jover, Clu, and VStar. Attendees could grab a coffee, socialize, dance, or just hang out and enjoy the music. 

(@Looker_Studio / Adobe Stock)

While the event was free to attend, guests were prompted to RSVP online to ensure the cafe wouldn’t be overcrowded. The guest list was maxed out at 530 people registered, and while that doesn’t confirm how many were actually in attendance, videos posted to Outlier’s social media show the space was packed!

So, who exactly is Outlier? According to their Partiful profile, they’re “re-defining event spaces, music, and culture,” and “creating a space where wellness and culture overlap.”

In a number of promotional posts on social media, Outlier said, “the music scene is evolving.” They promised “a fresh wave” was coming, and with it would come “new spaces, new energy,” and “something totally different.”

While it’s hard to say for sure how much of an impact they’ll have based on this event alone, it definitely seems promising for new things to come. People have shown their support and excitement for the fresh ideas coming from Outlier. 

(@DisobeyArt / Adobe Stock)

It’s especially refreshing to see an event like this in a time when people feel so isolated. It’s already notoriously hard to make friends in Vancouver, and with other factors like high prices, work schedules, and the alcohol-centered nature of most live events, it can be easy for many to feel excluded from the scene. 

In recent years, sobriety, as well as just cutting back on one’s alcohol consumption, has been on the rise, especially among older Gen Zs. With this de-emphasis on drinking for many, I can only imagine sober events like this will increase as time goes on. Aside from Outlier, groups like the Club Soda Collective have been forming around Vancouver. This offers more inclusive and accessible events for those who, for whatever reason, may not feel comfortable in the heavily alcohol-focused environment that many social spaces provide. 

What do you think? Are events like this going to usher in a new era of Vancouver’s music scene? Or is this just a small fad that will lose traction over time? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

What’s next for The Aubreys?

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In late August of 2019, The Aubreys released their first singles, Brother and Afraid to Drink on Bandcamp. Since then, they’ve put out an EP, a handful of singles, and their debut album, Karaoke Alone. But where did the Aubreys start, and where are they headed from here?

The Vancouver-based duo consists of Finn Wolfhard (of Stranger Things fame) and Malcolm Craig. Before forming the Aubreys, the pair made up one half of the short-lived indie band Calpurnia, but they’ve been playing music together for even longer. 

Finn and Malcolm met at just 11 years old on the set of Toronto band PUP’s Guilt Trip music video. They bonded over their shared interest in music and started jamming together shortly after. 

When Calpurnia disbanded in 2019, The Aubreys were born, and they’ve continued to improve their sound with each release. Karaoke Alone is one of my all-time favourite albums, and their most recent singles, Kato and Running (my favourite single they’ve put out yet,) show a lot of promise for their upcoming work.

It’s been over a year since Running dropped, and with limited word from the duo, many wonder if The Aubreys may face the same fate as their prior band, Calpurnia: releasing an amazing single before abruptly disbanding and fading into obscurity. Luckily, Finn and Malcolm have confirmed they’re not going anywhere.

In an interview with Paste Magazine, Finn discussed the band’s creative process. As they’re both so busy with other factors of their lives, they aren’t putting any pressure on themselves to make anything on a strict schedule. When the pair has an idea, they make the time to flesh it out before returning to their other projects until the next idea comes along. 

He says this process is “really creatively stimulating, because it doesn’t feel rushed. It feels like an alive, fun thing that you’re doing.”

Recently, Finn has been focusing on his solo musical debut. He released Choose the Later, the first single off his upcoming album, Happy Birthday, in March 2025. The album is set to release in June, with the first leg of his Objection! tour starting soon after. 

Malcolm says he has been working on his own stuff as well, though it seems to be much less publicly than his co-star.

While you may think pursuing independent projects would deter the duo from working on music together, they say it has had the opposite effect.

“We’ve come to the conclusion that, in order to grow as musicians, we need to also be writing other stuff.” Finn told Paste, “The idea is for both of us to come back to The Aubreys whenever we can, release stuff and then, if we have ideas for other projects, go do those.”

While no new music has been announced, I’m confident that The Aubreys will return eventually, and I can’t wait to see what they do next.

What Red Gate means to me

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Tucked away on Main Street, just a 3 minute drive from Science World, sits a small, grey building. From the outside, it looks pretty boring. But what if I told you this unassuming little spot houses one of the most beloved production and performance spaces in Vancouver’s music scene?

The Red Gate Arts Society first opened on East Hastings in the 2000s and was intended to be an affordable and accessible space for low-income artists to create and perform. Since then, it has survived multiple location changes and bounced back better than ever each time. Red Gate has called their current location at 1965 Main Street home for the last 5 years. 

Red Gate’s back alley – Much less boring than their entrance, right?

(@millenniumkids__ / Instagram)

My first introduction to this venue was in 2023. I was 17 at the time, and convinced my mom to bring me to the city to see one of my favourite bands, The Aubreys, perform alongside other local favourites like Felicia & the Jazz Rejects and Kylie V. I had never been to such an intimate venue before, and I remember being blown away by how strong the sense of community was. It’s hard to describe, but something about the home-grown feel of both the performers and the space we were in made getting involved in Vancouver’s music scene feel possible to me in a way it never had before. 

(@millenniumkids__ / Instagram)

Less than 2 years later, I sat behind Red Gate to interview Kylie V before their show. As I awkwardly stumbled through my prepared questions and listened to their responses, I remember thinking to myself: I’m a real life, fancypants journalist now? When did that happen? 

Honestly, it still makes my head spin to consider how I’ve gone from living in a small town where the closest thing to a “music scene” is a Metallica cover band playing shows at the local ice rink (shoutout to Metallicats!) to interviewing incredible artists and producing podcasts. Even writing these articles feels surreal to me, and I have Red Gate to thank for first introducing me to the possibility.

(@millenniumkids__ / Instagram)

It’s not just me who’s been impacted by this space. Here’s what some users online have said about Red Gate:

 HANDS DOWN one of the best venues in Vancouver, such a beautiful space for socializing and creating. Great vibes as usual and fun decoration, the staff is also super ultra mega friendly. Much love for the Red Gate crew <3

I love Vancouver, and this place is one of the reasons. Such a vast variety of people, talents, and vibes. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a good time, or want to get to know the people who make up the best part of the city.

Whether you’re looking to be inspired, make new connections, or just catch some great local music, Red Gate is the place to be. For information on upcoming events, you can check out their Instagram or Website.