Music industry veteran, rising country star among the performers at this year’s fair
A “dynamic force” will take the stage on the first night of Nanaimo’s Vancouver Island Exhibition.
Bif Naked will play the VIEX at the Beban Park fairgrounds on Friday, Sept. 20.
The performer released her first studio album in 15 years this past spring, called Champion.
In a press release, she talked about “overwhelming feelings” as the record started to take shape, “and with the final mixes, graphics, mastering, including the new hidden tracks and [electronic dance music] remixes it took on a persona of its own,” she said in a press release.
Bif Naked is not only a platinum-selling musician but a best-selling author, and has navigated the “cut-throat” entertainment industry for 25 years.
“Bif’s dynamism extends beyond her own success; she dedicates herself to guiding and inspiring others,” the release added. “As a mentor and manager, she shares her wisdom with fellow artists, leaving an indelible impact on the creative landscape. A relentless advocate for animal rights and human rights, Bif is an unstoppable force, defying all obstacles in her path.”
Bif Naked is slated to take VIEX’s mainstage at 9:30 p.m. on Sept. 20. Regular fair admission applies.
Rising artist to take stage at VIEX’s country night
It’s tradition for the VIEX to have a country night, and this year they’ve got a rising star as the headliner.
Singer-songwriter Alli Walker, from Prince Edward Island, is the final mainstage act on Saturday, Sept. 21, at the VIEX.
Driven by a love for country music but inspired by diverse genres, Walker moved to Toronto to follow her musical dreams, in the meantime venturing into modelling and acting, and took odd jobs and slept on the floor at friends’ homes to try to get by.
Her debut album The Basement Sessions: What I’ve Learned So Far in 2019 showcased “intimate songs” written and recorded entirely in her basement. She then persisted through the travel restrictions of the pandemic to build an audience by embracing TikTok, leading up to her sophomore album Growing Up, which debuted at No. 6 on the global iTunes country music charts.
Her 2023 fusion of country and bagpipes, The Whiskey’s Gone, amassed millions of views on social media and helped lead her to a record deal, and her recent release I Like Big Trucks points to a new chapter in her career.
“Walker’s dynamic blend of traditional country sounds with pop-rock sensibilities positions her as a dedicated and innovative force in the evolving landscape of country music,” the release noted.
Walker is slated to take to VIEX’s mainstage at 9:50 p.m. on Sept. 21 after Joel Lee at 8 p.m. Regular fair admission applies.