Hoping some of the West Coast TAs can give me a hand here...

Is there much going on in Victoria? I dont see much posted here but perhaps I'm just looking on the wrong website.
How much does it cost to come across to Vancouver and how long to get there? Can it be done via public transport?

Any ideas on the cost of rent/living/etc in Victoria?

Thanks

For shows, parties www.ravevictoria.com should have the info you are looking for.

Coming across to Vancouver via public transport is viable but it'll be a long busride as the ferry terminals are on the outskirts of the city (for each Vic and Van). I am not sure how much walk-on prices are for the ferry but I can tell you that by car, it's like $60 each way.

As for cost of living, posting on the RaveVic forum should help you out in that regard as well.

The scene here is pretty much non-existant. Once in a while there is a decent event. I went to see Carl Cox last year at the Blue Pearl in Langford of all f'in places. It was a pretty interesting crowd.

EDM music is very underground here. Most people refer to ANYTHING EDM sounding as "techno" and say it with a distasteful look on their face. Once in a while at a more Top 40 "popular" club like Legends, Upstairs Cabaret, Red Jacket, or Plan B they drop a token dance song (probably Eric Prdyz's Call On Me still ) and then get back to Rap and Hip Hop or the ultimate crowd pleaser "Save A Horse, Ride A Cowboy". Places worth checking out are Hush, Evolution, and Jungle Room. Sometimes they have some decent nights.

On August 5th and 6th the Victoria Electronica Music Festival is going on - but don't get your hopes up. It's nowhere near a European, Toronto, hell, even Vancouver trance scene. Most people are very "Vancouver Island" (aka hippies). But, it's not to say one of the evenings at Jungle Room wouldn't be bad.

As for living costs etc., it's usually about $500/month for a decent apartment. Google UVic's housing web site for more info.

My sister and I head over to Vancouver whenever we can for the real talent and clubs here on the West Coast. It takes a while to do the walk on ferry and public transportation thing, but it is the cheapest way to go. An easy but more expensive route is walking on the ferry and taking the PCL bus over that will drop you off right downtown Van. I recommend staying at the Sandman or the YMCA, but there's lots to choose from. I made the mistake of staying at a hostel on Main St. across from the bus station once. Scary times for a young gal.

Hopefully you can get your arse over to Van for the big shows! Other than that, this "city" (s0o0o0o small) is beautiful for sure, but not too many urban thinking young people here. Lots of cranky old people and yuppie families...many young people follow a cult like worship of wearing Lululemon, dressing like slobs, and listening to their Top 40. Each to their own. Just trying to prepare you!

Cheers,
Teresa

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Don't survive each day, savour it.

quote:

Originally posted by Kitikat Hoping some of the West Coast TAs can give me a hand here... Is there much going on in Victoria? I dont see much posted here but perhaps I'm just looking on the wrong website. How much does it cost to come across to Vancouver and how long to get there? Can it be done via public transport? Any ideas on the cost of rent/living/etc in Victoria? Thanks

Hey Kitikat nice choice on picking the island! There are very few TA'ers from Victoria but we seem to manage. Treska is absolutely right about the Trance scene here (underground).

Although there seems to be a shift going on right now in the D & B crowd. My brother went to a quote/unquote D & B show and nobody was dancin' then a Progressive House/Trance dj took over for 1 track and he dropped a floor filler, after that 1 track he ended up playing the for rest of the night.

If your looking to get your trance fix here in Victoria come and here me play, I do a lot of house parties. I'm joined by a handful of Trance Dj's on the island (we try to stick together, safety in numbers if you know what I mean ).

Rent varies, what arrangement are you looking for? Basement suite, 1 or 2 Bedroom Appartment/Condo? 1 Bedrooms range from $550-700 outside the city, $700-1500 in town, 2 Bedrooms range from $650-850 outside the city, $850-2000 in town. Let me know what your looking for PM me your contact info and I'd be more then glad to assist a fellow TA and soon to be Victoria TA.

check out hushhhhhh. shiloh plays sometimes, and some of the pacific front progsters do some nights there as well (afk, fractal, formulate). more prog and breaks but good shit nonetheless.

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quote:

Originally posted by mikefasssy check out hushhhhhh. shiloh plays sometimes, and some of the pacific front progsters do some nights there as well (afk, fractal, formulate). more prog and breaks but good shit nonetheless.

My buddy Nathan Goulet is now spinning @ Hush (don't know what nights). Nate and I got a pretty good scene started in Collingwood/Wasaga Beach, Ontario where the World Electronic Music Festival 2004 was held. Nathan is a solid DJ, now a resident of Victoria.

I am also trying to fly out to Victoria to play a night @ Hush with Nathan. Marshall & Goulet sets are absolutely fucking ripping and not to be missed

We'll try to get Shiloh out for the night too

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when I lived in Vic there used to be a rave every weekend

Thanks for all the great info. Sounds like Victoria has more going on than I thought!!
I was looking at a job opportunity in Victoria but I've decided I don't want to pursue it further.

Thanks anyways!!

quote:

Originally posted by mikefasssy check out hushhhhhh. shiloh plays sometimes, and some of the pacific front progsters do some nights there as well (afk, fractal, formulate). more prog and breaks but good shit nonetheless.

They bring in a lot of up and coming guys too...

Tuesday night a friend of mine (Chewy) runs Nectar at Hush with loads of Trance and Prog dj's. I haven't been or played in a few months but hope to get back into the rotation sometime soon once I get everything settled but if you go to Hush on a Tuesday, you will always hear trance and mostly progressive.

But like most people have said already, they're isn't much in the way or trance here. Kyle (Dj Amnesia) spins alot of the mainstream stuff Armin and all the big jocks play so if you like that stuff, check him out.

There is a lot more progressive then trance being played right now. It could be very well be the most popular for of EDM in the city but Braeden (wicked DJ and Hush promoter) left to play top 40 at Plan B so things haven't quite taken off like I expected they would with Braeden in charge. He brought in Shiloh, Greg Benz and Steve May within a few months early last year and all nights were packed. But yah, Tuesday nighs and every odd Saturday night is about it right now. I don't think they're any parties happening for a while.

Hope that helps

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Top 5 ATM
1) 16 Bit Lolitas - Nobody Seems To Care
2) Roger Martinez - Kaleidoscopic
3) Ormatie - She Very
4) 16 Bit Lolitas - Murder Weapon
5) Alex Dolby - Cairo

Good to see that there are Victorians who are interested in Trance. I was quite dissapointed when I moved here from Edmonton, which has a very nice Trance scene. Here I find mostly breaks, drum and bass, jungle etc.. what everybody has said. SO yeah, I am kind of dependant upon Vancouver for anything up and happening as well, which sucks.

As for apartments, I dunno where the 500 apartments are (please tell me).. typical price for one bedroom is 650-675 I am finding. It's beautiful down here, but hard to adjust if you come from a big city like me. Cost of living, pretty much the same as anywhere else, gas is a bit more expensive but prices are sky rocketing everywhere anyways.

Here is the info for the Victoria Electronic Music Festival:

http://www.2006.vemf.ca/index.php?pageid=10

Rave on.

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There is a place within all of us,
it is sacred, so free of judgement.
And this is yours to share with who you wish

This is your sanctuary