New Lab media

Victoria Electronic music festival.

Now in its 7th year, the Victoria Electronic Music Festival makes it's triumphant return to Centennial Square in downtown Victoria this weekend.

Festivals in this town have had a tough run. Folk fest sputtered and died a few years back, Afro-Caribbean fest had a similar story while others are nearing life-support. Meanwhile, VEMF is having a banner year with record performer submissions and expected record crowds. VEMF owes its success to die-hards all over victoria that seriously love electronic music and put their heart and soul into supporting it. All of these supporters and contributors make for an excellent festival vibe.

If you are down for something a little different than the usual acoustic guitars and heady vocals, head to Centennial square this weekend between 12-10pm and dance, listen, head-nod, or attend a workshop to learn how to give back. This year guarantees to be a fun one.

check out the big impressive schedule here

more info: vemf.ca

Summer Essentials 5 by TOUCH BASS

Download here

Another bumpin' set from TOUCH BASS. We hope you enjoy!

Kevin Murphy Product Class

Like campers around the campfire, our team at lab gathered around the flame today to learn a little more about what's best for your hair. On Monday, Jessica Ruth, our favorite Kevin Murphy product specialist, stopped by our salon to teach us a little more about the Kevin Murphy line. We find that it is extremely important to have a close working relationship with the products that we are putting into your hair, and that are leaving our shop to grace local showers. Its amazing what an expert like Jessica can teach our already highly educated staff.

We educate our staff in many different ways up to a dozen times a year. From senior to junior, our aim with classes like this is to make sure all of our staff has the proper tools to get exactly when you need in your hair. We also sponsor out-of-salon education for all of our stylists to make sure they are as highly trained as possible. Whether its a class in town, or in Vancouver or even Toronto, Matty (our fearless leader) pays for any education our stylists can find and wishes to take. If you'd like to know more about the education your stylist has taken? Book an appointment and ask them!

Vince Vaccaro to Headline LAB Fundraiser

Vince Vaccaro - Catch A Fire - Peak Performance Project 2010 from Vince Vaccaro on Vimeo.

Lab lover Vince Vaccaro will be headlining the concert portion of our upcoming fundraiser called "Lab Loves Lindsay."
This hometown hero of the music scene has been grinding out his own niche in the popular landscape with wildly imaginitive live shows and other energetic offerings. We are super stoked to have his help raising money for a friend who is struggling to survive lymphoma.

Check out his newest music video here.

Portland General Store - Vintage style grooming products.

Our friends one block over at Four Horsemen have sourced some amazing new mens grooming products by Portland General Store.

They had this to say about themselves:

Portland General Store (PGS) was founded in 2007 from these very impulses toward more nature and authenticity. PGS is a small company that makes its personal care products by hand, in small batches, using basic and natural ingredients.

Today, mass concerns about the ecology, resource shortages, and global climate change are driving consumers to have increased interest in purchasing more “natural” goods, particularly those made locally and by hand. Moreover, in times of real or perceived hardship, like our current “recession”, people seek brands that are more authentic, sturdy, simple, and grounded – almost “old fashioned”.

We are seriously impressed. Stop by Four Horsemen (Pandora side of Market Square) and see for yourself.

New Tron Trailer. So COOOOOOOL!

Click thru for the full awesomeness. My inner nerd is tingling.

Rock of the Woods - Aug 21st @ Bamberton

Tired of missing all the cool music festivals because they are too far away, or too expensive, or on the long weekend that you have to work? Well do we have a solution for you. Rock of the Woods is a one day rock music festival in Bamberton BC. Local promoters Surge Ahead have secured an awesome location on the western edge of the Saanich inlet for this party with off-site overnight camping spots and a shuttle bus running to and from Victoria. The list of bands is growing every day, but the homegrown talent on the roster even now is brilliant. I can't imagine it being anything but an awesome time.

This is the lineup at the moment:

Brasstronaut: http://www.myspace.com/brasstronaut
Sunday Buckets http://www.myspace.com/sundaybuckets
Run Chico Run : http://www.myspace.com/runchicorun
Mat The Alien http://www.myspace.com/matthealien
Bloody Wilma http://www.myspace.com/bloodywilma
Smith & Lyseng http://www.myspace.com/smithlyseng
Humans http://www.myspace.com.dashumans/
Lord Beginner:http://www.myspace.com/beginnerlord
Acres of Lions: http://www.myspace.com/acresoflions
Espionage: http://www.myspace.com/weareespionage

Tickets are

$45 with no bus
$55 with bus to and from

[Victoria]
Sitka Surf Boards - 538 Yates Street
Ditch Records - 635 Johnson Street
Lyles Place - 770 Yates Stree

[Nanamio]
Alternative Groove - 201-6750 Island Highway

[Vancouver]
Sitka Surf Boards - 1864 West 4th Avenue

New Lunch Spot! New Lunch Spot!

(you actually get 6, we just couldn't resist them before taking a picture)

Downtown Victoria, meet your new favorite lunch spot: Puerto Vallarta Amigos. Six tasty tacos will run you a measly $6 (lunch for the price of a fancy Starbucks drink). Check out the rest of the lunch lineup here: http://pvamigos.com/. The first truck (there are mentions of more) is parked on the corner of yates and wharf and they are only open between 10am-2pm weekdays so don't show up at 3 and be disappointed.

We have little sample coupons at lab, so come say hi and go grab some fresh lunch!

Lab Loves Lindsay - A Lab Fundraiser.

Lindsay Atkinson, a long time client and friend of Lab, is suffering from aggressive lymphoma. When we learned that treatment in the states could be an option, but only at the hefty price of approximately $40,000, Lab along with Surge Ahead jumped on board to support Lindsay and her family. Treatment options for Lindsay are yet to be determined, but let's rally and support her to make sure she has every chance to fight for her health.

Start the day out with the cuttathon at Lab! Haircuts for a minimum donation of $20. Come early to make sure you get a spot! We're starting at noon and cutting until 7pm.

Then sport your new 'do to Lucky that evening. Performances by Vince Vaccaro, Lab's own Katie Schaan, Mike Edel, and DJ TOUCH BASS who is also a member of the Lab family. Tickets are available at Lab for $10 and doors are at 8pm.

All proceeds from the day will be going to Lindsay to make sure she can get the treatment and support she needs. We can't wait to see you there!

Find more information here:

Facebook event

Vince Vaccaro
http://www.vincevaccaro.com/

Katie Schaan
http://www.myspace.com/katieschaan

Mike Edel
http://www.myspace.com/mikeedel

TOUCH BASS
http://www.soundcloud.com/touch-bass

Lab Salons
http://www.labsalons.com/

Surge Ahead
http://www.surgeahead.ca/

Johnson st. boutiques clearing out spring stock!

Our friends up the block at Still Life Boutique just sent us a friendly email to let us know that spring stock is now "final clearance". That means all spring items are now 50% off just in time for the heat. Sale starts today, friday july 9th. Signs are going up all over lower Johnson. Come down and get your save on.

is it okay to say it's "too hot" yet?

I beweave...

TOUCH BASS - SILVER & GOLD

If you missed TOUCH BASS at Smith's on Wednesday, check out his new mix on SoundCloud.

DOWNLOAD

Lab night at Smith's

Hey Canada, happy YOU day!

We're closed today while we BBQ our faces off, but we will be open Friday and Saturday. Thanks to everyone who came out and celebrated our third best in the city last night. We had so much fun we're already planning the next one! Video evidence will surface soon.