$59 Per Person
Including fees & charges

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of vocal brilliance and festive cheer at VDPAC! The Celtic Tenors bring their acclaimed international sound to the stage for a heartwarming holiday celebration.  Pairing classic Christmas carols and seasonal favorites with their signature mix of Celtic ballads, classical masterpieces, and contemporary hits, Matthew, Daryl, and George deliver a show bursting with soaring three-part harmonies, lighthearted banter, and genuine Irish charm. Whether you're drawn to haunting holiday melodies or uplifting festive anthems, this special concert promises a magical night of music and laughter that will leave your spirits bright.

With more than a million CDs sold worldwide, they’ve built a reputation for excellence and authenticity while never losing the fun that makes them beloved by fans everywhere. Their concerts feel less like formal recitals and more like high-wire acts of charm—equal parts vocal muscle, backstage banter, and the kind of intimacy that usually belongs in a living room singalong.

Each performance blends the best of Celtic tradition with exhilarating classics, powerful a cappella moments, and popular contemporary songs. The Celtic Tenors’ charm and charisma ensure that audiences leave with hearts soaring and spirits renewed. Think of it as a jukebox of cultures, where centuries-old ballads sit comfortably next to sly reinventions of pop standards, all carried on a wave of harmonies that can swell to cinematic grandeur or collapse into a wink and a grin.

The Celtic Tenors, an acclaimed Irish trio of tenor singers based in Ireland, consist of Matthew Gilsenan, George Hutton, and Daryl Simpson. Formed in 1999, they blend opera, classical, Irish traditional, and pop music into their signature harmony-rich performances.

MEMBERS

• George Hutton (Derry)
• Daryl Simpson (Tyrone)
• Matthew Gilsenan (Meath)

Originally founded by Matthew Gilsenan, James Nelson, and Niall Morris, the lineup changed in 2006 when Daryl Simpson joined, replacing Morris. In 2025, George Hutton joined the group, succeeding James Nelson.

ACHIEVEMENTS

» Signed initially to EMI Classics in 1999.
» Released debut album The Celtic Tenors (2000), which topped classical music charts in Ireland and the UK.
» Winner of the Echo Award in Germany for the album So Strong (2002).

ORIGINS

The Celtic Tenors evolved from a precursor group, The Three Irish Tenors (James Nelson, Niall Morris, and Paul Hennessey), who debuted on RTÉ’s Theatre Nights program in 1995. Officially launched as The Celtic Tenors in 1999, they have established their unique identity and global acclaim.

$59.00 All Seats
Includes fees & surcharges

Jesse Roper is a modern-day troubadour; a Canadian artist defined by his authenticity and adventurous spirit; guitar in-hand and a grin on his face.

Jesse, along with long-time bandmates the Pretty Good Band, has spent much of the last few years travelling the highways, byways and backroads of North America, bringing his own brand of modern, indie-infused Americana blues to fervent audiences across the continent.

Known for his powerhouse live performances, Jesse is truly electrifying on stage - his soulful vocals expanding across silky guitars and hard-hitting grooves. You’d never guess that this soldier of the six string - all mischief, mayhem and virtuoso guitar playing - experienced crippling stage-fright long into his 20s.

Today, the stage is his home and he’s inviting you in, cold one in hand, “for one helluva good time!”

While based in Victoria BC, Jesse is back on the road with the Pretty Good Band throughout 2026. All seasoned musicians themselves, the band is Matt Reid (bass), Chris Van Sickle (keys), East Coast Pete (guitar) and Brent Norman (drums).

“Each one of these guys on their own is funnier and smarter than I am, but somehow I’m the band leader,” Jesse laughs. “I’m a lucky lead guy to have these cats in my band. They’re Pretty Good.”

Opening Acts:

Alle Bernardi:

Alle Bernardi is a Vancouver Island, BC-based singer-songwriter whose music moves between indie folk, roots, and soulful pop, shaped by a deep connection to the landscapes and rhythms of the West Coast.

Her songs are born from the places where she finds both creativity and solace: surfing in the chilly seas, hiking through the mountains of the Pacific Northwest, and running along coastal trails. These environments become more than a backdrop to her music—they are a source of movement, reflection, and inspiration, finding their way into songs that feel intimate, earthy, and open-hearted.

Drawing influence from artists such as Natalie Bergman, Cleo Sol, and José González, Alle blends organic instrumentation and soulful melodies with a contemporary sensibility. Her songwriting explores the spaces between stillness and motion, vulnerability and resilience, creating music that feels grounded in place while speaking to universal experiences.

Her notable releases include Islands, Break Strong, and Shapes, each reflecting her evolving voice as an artist and her ability to weave personal experience into expansive, atmospheric songwriting. Based in Victoria and inspired by the coast, mountains, and ocean, Alle Bernardi creates music that invites listeners to slow down, breathe deeply, and find their own sense of place within the song.

runner:

runner is a Vancouver-based band led by singer-songwriter Kira Cuthbertson. After moving west from Calgary to work in the audio industry, Kira met bandmates Mackenzie Knight, Hayden Watson, and Alex Walters in local studios long before they ever shared a stage.

The name runner is a nod to their beginnings behind the scenes, with most of the band getting their start as studio runners. Their sound blends prairie folk, alt-country, and indie rock, reminiscent of what Tom Petty may have written if he was...a woman. Or like if Sheryl Crow listened to a lot of Big Thief.

Since their first show in April 2023, they’ve headlined local gigs across Western Canada and opened for likes of Blue Rodeo and Ada Lea. With four singles out and a debut album on the way this Spring, runner continues to keep things simple and just make the music they wanna hear.

Don’t miss this “Pretty Good” SPOTLIGHT Special Presentation!

$79 - All seats
Including fees & charges

Canadian country superstars George Canyon and Aaron Pritchett are joining forces once again to spread festive cheer across the nation with the return of A Coast-To-Coast Cowboy Christmas, presented by Children Believe. Kicking off this winter, the tour will take the pair from coast to coast, treating fans to an unforgettable evening of timeless Christmas classics, holiday favourites, and some of their biggest chart-topping hits.

George Canyon rose to fame in the early-2000’s, winning multiple JUNO, CCMA & East Coast Music Awards, and induction into the Nova Scotia Country Music Hall of Fame. George is best known for hits including Just Like You; I Want You to Live; and Slow Dance; and is a celebrated humanitarian, receiving the CCMA Humanitarian Award and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. He has also appeared in acting roles on Heartland; Trailer Park Boys; and in Hallmark’s One Starry Christmas.

Aaron Pritchett has been a Canadian country favourite for over 20 years, with 13 Top Ten hits including Hold My Beer; Worth a Shot; and his #1 Single Better When I Do. Aaron is widely-loved, known for his dynamic live performances, heartfelt songwriting, and his continuing to push country music boundaries.

Don’t miss two of Canada’s country music legends, together: George Canyon & Aaron Pritchett’s “A Coast to Coast Cowboy Christmas” this holiday season at the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre!

$49 - Per Person
Includes fees & charges

Since he released his first album a decade ago, award-winning singer-songwriter Donovan Woods’ blend of folk, country and pop has resonated with audiences all over the world.

Throughout his distinguished career, Donovan Woods has built a devoted following who cling to the acclaimed songwriter’s every word. Never one to mince words, Woods is one of music’s most vulnerable storytellers and on his latest album, Donovan takes that a step further. Honest and unflinching, on Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now, his seventh studio album released in 2024, Woods takes a long look inside and isn’t necessarily thrilled with what he sees. For an artist who isn’t afraid to bear his soul, this is as emotionally gritty as he has ever been.

While amassing a catalogue of rousing and acclaimed music of his own, he has worked with some of the top songwriters to craft cuts for performers ranging from Tim McGraw, Ben Platt, Ashley Cooke, Barenaked Ladies, Phillip Phillips and Charles Kelley of Lady A.

In 2026, he is back with brand new music with his new EP, Squander Your Gifts, released on February 27. The five track EP is a collection of songs dedicated to his friend and writing partner, Abe Stoklasa, who passed away in November 2023. A reflection into loss, love, and living, the singer once again finds a way to paint a picture and make a deeply personal experience resonate with fans. Donovan Woods continues to solidify his place as one of North America’s most compelling songwriters; unflinchingly honest, an artist who isn’t afraid to bear his soul.

$49 Per Person
Including fees & charges

Who is Boy Golden? On the one hand it is moniker for a mysterious new artist, who is building buzz following major support for track "KD and Lunch Meat" from his debut album which hit #1 at Alternative radio in home country of Canada, and major moments including debut at Bonnaroo, and opening for Jason Isbell, MJ Lenderman, and Joshua Ray Walker.

On the other hand, Boy Golden is also a conduit for songwriter Liam Duncan—a persona that allows him to create honestly and freely. For Duncan, Boy Golden grants access to an inner world only reachable through music. His three previous albums—For Eden (wistful), For Jimmy (rollicking), and the lemon-yellow-leisure-suited Church of Better Daze—served as a psychic clearing for Best of Our Possible Lives. This new work finds him mid-journey, reckoning with the self as it was, as it is, and as it can be.

Boy Golden states “The lines between him and I are soluble… Whether it is my spiritual beliefs, my way of living, my sexuality - it comes up in my writing, and I am then forced to reckon with it.”