Vancouver Juno-winning band Said the Whale rocks with the VSO, April 19

SaidHeads rejoice: the indie-rock group emerged from the pandemic stronger than ever

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra presents Said The Whale with the VSO on April 19 at 8 pm at the Orpheum

VANCOUVER’S OWN JUNO-winning band Said the Whale will rocking the stage in a brand new way when it joins the 70-plus musicians of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in concert on April 19.

“SaidHeads” have been following the indie act since its formation in 2007, Said the Whale blending alternative rock with rich harmonies, pop hooks, and Pacific Northwest pride.

During the pandemic lockdowns, Said the Whale’s singer-songwriters Tyler Bancroft and Ben Worcester, keyboardist Jaycelyn Brown, and bassist Lincoln Hotchen threw themselves into working on new material with producer Steve Bays (Hot Hot Heat), recording and releasing their seventh album, Dandelion. That intense creative period, a break from their usual relentless touring schedule, led to what the artists describe as “the most towering, maximalist music of their careers”.

The disc’s title is a nod to the band’s optimistic outlook.

“Dandelions are everywhere,” Worcester explains in a release. “Some people see them as nothing but a garden weed, but to many others they are a beautiful flower whose bloom marks the first sign of spring. Not to mention they are edible from root to flower, and have many medicinal properties. They grow whether or not you want them to, so why not focus on the positives?”

David Bui, VSO’s RBC assistant conductor, leads the concert, which is partially supported by SOCAN.

Articles

Theatre reviews: Two plays invite viewers into the history-steeped Roedde House Museum

Christmas with the Marches welcomes viewers into the famous sisters’ home for the holidays, while A Christmas Carol animates the Victorian setting with coloured lights and projections

Artisan eggnogs to gingerbread old fashioneds, where to find festive spirits on Vancouver's cocktail scene

At bars from Botanist to Meo, mixologists riff on Christmas pudding, mulled wine, grandma’s baking, and much more

At Christmas With Chor Leoni, Saina Khaledi premieres Persian song inspired by her father's melodies

Composer-musician draws on years of memories in new piece for santour and choir that celebrates Yalda Night

B3 Kings keyboardist Chris Gestrin draws on a long history of holiday music for jazz arrangements

Quartet roasts some chestnuts—and some more adventurous tunes, too—at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts

Corbin Murdoch steps in as Vancouver Folk Music Festival executive director

The musician, cultural programmer, and producer is set to work alongside artistic director Fiona Black

The Nutcracker at Wethersfield follows New York City Ballet to a wintry estate, to December 28 at VIFF Centre

The Leading Ladies bring to life Duke Ellington’s swingy twist on Tchaikovsky score at December 14 screening

Goh Ballet fosters young talent and holiday cheer with 15th edition of The Nutcracker

Amid tulle tutus and fleecey lambs, director Chan Hon Goh reflects on the history of the “feel-good production”

Gateway Theatre's Annie brings back classic songs and a sense of optimism, to January 3

And did we mention the live dogs playing Sandy?

International Guitar Night 2026 tours to Massey Theatre, February 1

All-Canadian lineup features Itamar Erez, Jocelyn Gould, Jamie Dupuis, and Caroline Planté

Vancouver Cantata Singers bridge generations with Christmas Reprise concerts

Up-and-coming composer Sophia Colpitts contributed to the program—with a little help from her grandpa

Just-released publication Enemy Alien covers Tamio Wakayama's remarkable photographic career

Edited by Paul Wong, Figure 1 Publishing release draws on the Japanese Canadian artist’s unpublished memoir, Soul on Rice

At The Cinematheque, David Lynch retrospective In Dreams delves into Hollywood’s dark side

Legendary director’s groundbreaking movies and TV work create a visual language that reflects on some of film history’s most sinister figures—and mushroom clouds

Krystle Dos Santos brings her soulful vocals back to the Firehall in A Very Merry Motown, December 17 to 28

Artist and her band are amping up the storytelling in “’Twas the Night Before Christmas” with hits from the legendary Detroit label

DanceHouse and The Cultch present the North American premiere of Recirquel’s Paradisum, January 21 to 24

Hungarian dance-circus company invites audiences to witness a visceral, mesmerizing spectacle set in the aftermath of a destroyed world

Music for the Winter Solstice brings serene sounds to atmospheric Heritage Hall, December 10 and 11

Music on Main’s annual holiday offering features performances from Grammy Award–winning Caroline Shaw, returning favourite Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa, and more

Marika Swan ƛ̓upinup meditates on balance and transformation in A Circle Strong Enough to Carry Both Sides

The artist’s solo exhibition of prints at the Burnaby Art Gallery looks back on years immersed in the creative and philosophical view of interdependence in Nuu-chah-nulth culture

Theatre review: At the Arts Club, Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women celebrates complex bonds of sisterhood

Portrayals of the classic novel’s famously lively siblings shine brightest when all four are together onstage, capturing love for one another in quiet gestures

Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Nutcracker inhabits a snow-dusted Canada, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, December 12 to 14

Pond hockey, RCMP battles, and polar bears bring this unique rendition home—with classic Russian touches, of course

With fresh adaptation (a) Winter’s Tale, two well-known theatre talents launch The Ecstasy

Colleen Wheeler and Moya O’Connell have gathered a crack team of actors for micro-sized Shakespearean shows at the City Centre Artist Lodge—and this is only the beginning

Arts Umbrella’s dancers rise to the challenge of learning every part in Mixed Nuts

Company’s annual holiday twist on The Nutcracker features a flavoursome assortment of styles, from classical ballet to hip hop to ’60s swing

Early Music Vancouver aims to make Handel’s beloved Messiah feel both fresh and familiar

Pacific Baroque Orchestra conductor Alexander Weimann says the German-English composer’s oratorio is never the same piece twice

Edge Effects bridges realms at SFU Burnaby's new Marianne and Edward Gibson Art Museum

Recently opened gallery’s first exhibition features works by 15 artists, including Germaine Koh, Liz Magor, Cindy Mochizuki, and Jin-me Yoon

High teas put a delicious spin on classic flavours for the holiday season

Here’s our guide to six local establishments with savoury and sweet menus filled with festive spirit

Newly published book A Monumental Practice surveys the work of Haida artist 7IDANsuu James Hart

Written with Curtis Collins, the Figure 1 Publishing release takes a detailed look at Hart’s large-scale works, including poles, cedar sculptures, and bronzes

VSO’s The Four Seasons travels gradually into “icy snow”, December 11 and 12 at the Chan Centre

Orchestra’s associate concertmaster Timothy Steeves takes a starring role in the festive violin concertos

Comedy review: Improv Centre’s agile cast conjures ’90s holiday TV specials in ’Tis the Sitcom

With audiences supplying the laugh track, the days of “Must-See TV” return in a different form every night, with heartfelt moments arising among hilarious period-correct details