Petunia & the Vipers hit the Kay Meek stage, February 16

There’s nothing like the Vancouver-based band self-described as “Tom Waits meets Elvis at Woody Guthrie's Hobo junction”

Kay Meek Cabaret presents Petunia & The Vipers on February 16 at 7:30 pm at McEwen Theatre—Kay Meek Arts Centre (1700 Mathers Avenue, West Vancouver

PETUNIA & THE VIPERS is one of those musical acts that’s one-of-a-kind. Is it hillbilly, swing, ragtime, blues, rock, Mexicana, jazz, folk, or country? The answer is yes. The Vancouver band draws from all of those influences and more to create a sound all its own, old-timey yet fresh and contemporary, one the group sums up as “something in between 1920s and steampunk” and “Tom Waits meets Elvis at Woody Guthrie's Hobo junction… Avant-Country night club scene music…”

Petunia is the proudly enigmatic lead vocalist-acoustic guitarist, self-described this way: “Imagine that David Lynch and Nick Cave had a hillbilly baby, that yodeled… or Tom Waits meets Elvis at Woody Guthrie’s hobo junction.” Once called the “Savior of Country Music”, he grew up in rural Quebec, and has spent most of his adult life wandering and playing music across Canada, the U.S., Europe, and South America.

When he hits the Kay Meek stage, Petunia will accompanied by his decade-long bandmates Jimmy Roy (lap-steel guitar, vocals), Stephen Nikleva (electronic guitar), Joseph Lubinsky (upright bass, vocals), and Paul Townsend (drums). Together the band has released several albums, with their last four reaching top spot on Canadian folk/blues/Americana charts.

Articles

Vetta Chamber Music’s 2026-27 season blends tradition with a focus on the future

In his first season as the ensemble’s artistic director, violist Hung-Wei Huang is bringing back a few familiar faces and tapping into the creativity of kids from local schools

With Lachrimae, lute virtuoso Lucas Harris explores the uplifting powers of musical melancholy

The eclectic program mixes masterpieces by Renaissance composer John Dowland and Joni MItchell at Early Music Vancouver’s Summer Festival

VIFF Live announces 2026 program of film screenings, immersive concerts, and “reworlding”

The series includes appearances by Canadian and international artists, including throat-singing duo Silla, composer Kelly Moran, and experimental rock act Xiu Xiu

Early Music Vancouver artist in residence Marc Mauillon loves the challenge of 17th-century opera

Tackling the title role in Monteverdi’s Orfeo as part of EMV’s Summer Festival requires a different approach, the French singer says—and a willingness to push beyond beautiful singing

Austin Powers swings, Andrea Superstein sings at VIFF Centre on July 25

As part of VIFF Live, Juno-nominated artist will perform a set of classic Burt Bacharach material before a screening of Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

Stir Cheat Sheet: 5 must-see acts at the Mission Folk Music Festival, July 24 to 26

Brass-band fusion, soul-stirring singer-songwriters, fiery fiddle, and more spread across the fest’s five stages on the scenic shores of the Fraser River

Music review: Main Stage highlights from Day 1 of the Vancouver Folk Music Festival

Stellar sets from Aysanabee, Hazlett, and Sahra Halgan got the 49th annual fest off to a great start, and the weather certainly didn’t hurt

Verdi, Rossini, and Puccini set to resound over Deer Lake at Opera in the Park, July 19

Conducted by Jacques Lacombe, free outdoor concert goes Italian with a team of strong soloists

Vancouver’s socially conscious Buddie on evolving its sound beyond “grunge pop”

Performing at the Eastside Arts Festival, the indie-rock band says it has no intention of being pegged as strictly a ’90s throwback

At the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, the eclectic Valerie June promises a little bit of everything

The American singer-songwriter plays rock ’n’ roll, blues, folk, gospel, and country, along with well-chosen cover versions of songs by Nick Cave, Gillian Welch, and Duran Duran

Toronto-based Nastasia Y carries on a family tradition of song and rebellion, at Mission Folk Music Festival

The Ukrainian-born performer distills influences from Slavic folk to jazz and R&B into her music, as heard on her solo debut, Kyiv Soul

Canadian singer-songwriter Aysanabee is proud to be a role model for Indigenous youth

The Vancouver Folk Music Festival performer also tells us about his kick-ass band and the pressure he has put on himself as an award-winning recording artist

Concrete Vehicles’ noise-rockers specialize in music as unique as their band’s name

Intellectual-property disputes behind it, the project formerly known as Computer plays the Burrard Stage at this year’s Khatsahlano Street Party

Modern Biology is a conduit for the music of the forest, at Indian Summer Festival on July 13

For Tarun Nayar’s performance at VanDusen Botanical Garden, the festival invites attendees to settle in picnic-style and get into a meditative headspace

Fast-rising Punjabi singer Rashmeet Kaur is keen on eclectic sonic exploration

The Indian Summer Festival performer, who has collaborated with Major Lazer and contributed to Bollywood soundtracks, has forged some creative links to Canada’s West Coast

The sounds of Star Wars and Beethoven hit the waterfront at Symphony at Sunset, July 11

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra moves its wildly popular, free outdoor concert to David Lam Park this year

Stir Cheat Sheet: Beach concerts to artisan market, 5 happenings to hit at Harrison Festival of the Arts

Hawksley Workman, plus mesmerizing cultural melds from El Balcón, Benin International Musical, and more

Vancouver’s Uncle Strut is doing its part to make guitar solos, and moustaches, cool again

Headlining the Khatsahlano Street Party’s Burrard Stage, the fast-rising band is unafraid to spice up its surf-inspired indie rock with country, funk, and Latin elements

Celebrate Canada Day through events at these July 1 events around Metro Vancouver

From Cloverdale to West Vancouver and all points in between, festivities span live music, drumming, kids’ activities, and no shortage of national pride

Early Music Vancouver concludes its 2026 Summer Festival with Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, August 7

Violinist and guest director Rachel Podger performs alongside the Pacific Baroque Orchestra

Step through the looking glass and rock out to local music at the Khatsahlano Street Party, July 11

Indie-rockers Uncle Strut, post-punk stars Concrete Vehicles, and soul powerhouse Leo D.E Johnson are among the talents hitting the Burrard Stage

Vancouver International Jazz Festival artist-in-residence Wendy Eisenberg got in touch with her 13-year-old self to craft self-titled album

The singer and guitarist makes music that veers from lushly orchestrated American to wildly experimental free-jazz improv

The Offering of Curtis Andrews puts a worldly spin on jazz at Performance Works, July 4

The Newfoundland-born, Vancouver-based percussionist and scholar brings influences from Africa and South Asia to his musical explorations

Fin’Amor takes the hurdy-gurdy into uncharted territory at the Queer Arts Festival

Composer Jeffrey Ryan, librettist James Fagan Tait, and tenor Bud Roach explore contemporary art song with the medieval era’s version of the synthesizer

Trumpet virtuoso Cuong Vu sees music as a path to reconnection in an alienated world

Acclaimed musician and educator will draw on an innovative career in collaboration when he joins local outfits Tom Wherrett Trio and Malleus Trio at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival