Nearly 20 years since Rod Stewart opened the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre on March 26, 2005, Victoria's entertainment hub is set to host two of their biggest shows in venue history.
Marlon Weidlich, senior director of event operations at GSL Sports & Entertainment, says these acts will play a big role in bringing more top-tier names to the city.
"Sometimes you get acts that are a little more special," said Weidlich. "In this situation, we hit a home run."
Budding country superstar Jelly Roll opens up his 12-city, 13-stop, Beautifully Broken Great Northern tour, in the prime of his singing career with a sold-out Thursday evening (March 6) show. The tour will conclude on March 26 in Quebec City.
The pride of Tennessee, Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord, initially started his hip-hop career in the early 2000s, before jolting to mainstream fame in 2022. His powerful mix of country, rock, and hip-hop has helped him capture a massive fan base.
Previously, Jelly Roll had been unable to tour internationally due to a collection of felony convictions. His first-ever international show took place in Canada last year, marking a significant milestone in his career.
In 2023, he won the Country Music Association Award for Best New Artist and had three No. 1 country hits. The country sensation has tallied four Grammy nominations over the past two years, solidifying his place as one of the industry's brightest stars.
With a big name, comes big production, and Jelly Roll is no different.
"There is a lot of extra buzz, and how could there not be?" said Weidlich. "To see a contingent of roughly 20 Jelly Roll trucks roll into our arena parking lot brings a lot of buzz just in itself."
While Jelly Roll will bring the noise musically, comedian Theo Von is the second of back-to-back headline acts.
The 22-stop, Return of the Rat tour will commence next week in Eugene, Ore. before springing north for its first Canadian stop in Victoria.
Winnipeg and Calgary are the only other Canadian stops along the tour for Von, with those dates pegged for the summer.
"It is pretty special for us to get to be the first Canadian stop on tour," said Weidlich. "It's all about being available, willing to work with their team, and highlighting the city. Victoria is a great place for these names to visit."
The 44-year-old comedian from Louisiana is most known for his podcast, This Past Weekend, which he started in 2016. Since then, it has seen over 550 episodes produced.
Von's comedic style, blending personal anecdotes with sharp wit, has earned him a dedicated following.
Von also produced a Netflix standup special, Regular People, which premiered in 2020. The special showcased his laid-back perspective on everyday life, earning critical acclaim.
His performance will take place at Save-On Centre on Sunday, March 16, at 6 p.m.
