History

The root of Hermann’s Jazz Club began on February 25, 1981, at the Bastion Inn on Government St. As the story goes, German entrepreneur Hermann Nieweler [Knee-well-er] was persuaded by his friend Barry Stubbs to book Al Pease Trio (Al Pease, Toni Blodgett and Ross Botten) to bring a "better class of people" to the lounge. Then they brought up the Friday Harbor’s Island City Jazz Band for a weekend performance at his hotel lounge. Performances by Dixieland Express soon followed, and they moved the show up to the mezzanine and dance floor. Hermann’s love for a good party, lively music and happy patrons led to his establishment of the venue then called the 'Dixieland Inn'.

Hermann moved the club to the current View Street location in 1986 when it was renamed 'Hermann’s Jazz Club'. In 2000, our 753 View St location suffered heavy damage from a fire. A testament to his commitment, Hermann rebuilt at great personal expense. Our friend Hermann passed on June 10th, 2015. From 2015 to 2024 his family faced many issues but have remained dedicated to their father's legacy. After running a successful fundraising campaign the non-profit Arts On View Society has taken over as of July 15th 2019. We will continue to operate Hermann's as a community spirited venue with the support of the venue's generous patrons. On March 18th, 2024 the City of Victoria announced themselves as the new owners of the building in conjunction with the Victoria Music Strategy program. The Arts On View Society welcomes the opportunity to continue with our new landlords at this iconic venue.

Many nationally and internationally acclaimed acts have graced our stage over the years. Longtime local bands from the venues earliest days continue to play at the club, including CanUS with local legend/reedman Al Pease and the Tom Vickery Trio. Multiple generations of musicians interact and perform at this local institution and contribute to its role as an incubator of local talent. These musicians have travelled the world and helped to put Victoria on the national and international music map. With good acoustics, a relaxed intimate atmosphere, and top notch cuisine, Hermann's Jazz Club continues to be a landmark in the world of modern live performance.