Vancouver Island’s favorite holiday music celebration, The Jon and Roy Holiday Special hits Tidemark for the first time!

Vancouver Island’s favorite holiday music celebration, The Jon & Roy Holiday Special comes to the Tidemark Theatre for the first time! Join us as we kick off the holiday spirit and festivities by celebrating with some of the west coast’s best talent. The Holiday Special is in its 9th year and is a revue style event with other bands performing short sets before Jon and Roy. Always a diverse and talented line up of musicians, this years is no exception. Joining our hosts are indie-pop darling Ashleigh Ball from Hey Ocean! and blues-rooted, soul-rocker Jesse Roper performing a solo acoustic set.

Jon Middleton and Roy Vizer, the long-time bandmates, who began releasing music under the Jon and Roy banner when they were university students, have hit their stride as artists. There’s a simplicity to the music of Jon and Roy that makes what they do sound effortless. But nothing could be further from the truth. Neither can recall exactly when or where they started playing music together, but they distinctly remember it was very soon after meeting. The two friends aren’t sure they ever talked about being a band, either. In a way, that decision took care of itself. The symmetry was there from the start: Middleton’s gently wavering voice, powerful in spots but never enough to overshadow his expressive guitar playing; Vizer’s inventive, expressive percussion, delivered in a way that meshed perfectly with its elements. Over a decade and seven critically-acclaimed roots albums later, the duo of Jon and Roy continues to roll.

Ashleigh Ball is celebrated Canadian musician and voice actor. Best known as the magnetic frontwoman for Canadian indie pop band Hey Ocean, she is proud to release her first solo EP Gold in You. Written and recorded in Los Angeles with Grammy nominated producer, Ajay Bhattacharyya aka STINT (Gallant, NAO, AllunaGeorge), Gold in You is a distinct departure from Ball’s Indie roots towards a more bold and mature sound. Featuring songs like Crazy and Lover, the EP explores themes of asynchronous relationships and the paradox of wanting two different lives at once: stable vs. chaotic or reality vs. dream. The EP was written over the past two years while Hey Ocean was on hiatus and demonstrates the full range of Ball’s vocal abilities both through gripping emotional ballads and electronic and R&B inspired tracks.

Victoria BC’s Jesse Roper is magnetic. With an explosive live show, the genuine quality and charisma of his versatile blues rooted soul, rock and country funk is as approachable as his charm. Quickly gaining momentum, the wheels on Jesse’s faithful van keep turning, chronicling a year of extensive touring and success of becoming a major festival draw. The nostalgic may appreciate his throwback vibe akin to Stevie Ray Vaughan and vintage Texas blues, however, Jesse Roper’s music remains current, the organic rawness of his vocals and guitar over shadowing any preconceived stereotypes made of blues musicians. His youthful energy captivates audiences while his knock out live performance blows them away.

Sponsored by the Campbell River Mirror, What’s On Digest and Coast Discovery Inn, the Tidemark Theatre proudly presents, the Jon & Roy Holiday Special at the Tidemark Theatre on December 10, 2017.  Tickets are $32 for Members and $37 for Non-Members (+applicable taxes and fees) and can be purchased at the Box Office Tuesday through Thursday between 12pm and 4pm.  Tickets are also available online:  tidemarktheatre.com OR 287.PINK!