The Naadaleela Ensemble – The ‘new’ music of the Silk Road

The Naadaleela Ensemble will be pushing the boundaries of music at the Taiwanese Canadian Cultural Festival. “It’s all brand-new music that no one has ever made before,” says Naadaleela ensemble percussionist and composer Curtis Andrews. “So, when you come to see our group, you’re going to hear and see something that doesn’t exist anywhere else.”.…

Festival d’été francophone de Vancouver -Celebrating diversity and revitalizing culture through music – Ottoman Splendours

A rich world of francophone music and culture will be on full display at the 35th annual Festival d’été, or Francophone Summer Festival. This year’s festival features the music of Ottoman Splendours, a group that celebrates culturally diverse styles and forms. “We believe that the programming we are offering you is a beautiful array, coloured…

Singing Anatolia’s sorrows and joys

The stories of Anatolia will be on full musical display this month as the Turkish-Canadian Society’ Choir Ensemble takes the stage for their major annual concert. The 30-member choir will be led by conductor Sevgi Dogan and accompanied by a dozen musicians, as they look to share a variety of folk and classical songs whose…

Reflection, togetherness, creativity: “Udlot Udlot” at the Roundhouse

Drawing from the oeuvre of the Filipino composer José Maceda, the Vancouver-based non-profit Western Front invites the public to gather for a rare event: the opportunity to create a work of musical art communally. It will present a musical workshop on April 27 at the Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre where registered participants will…

DakhaBrakha lends a melodious voice to Ukraine

Over the last 20 years, DakhaBrakha has established itself globally as a unique artistic force, bringing some of Ukraine’s most stylish and fantastical music to the world stage. But more recently, the group has used their international fame to help raise awareness about Russia’s invasion of their country, with their Tour for Ukraine project. This…

Vishtèn Connexions Sharing love, legacy and Acadian culture

The diversity of traditional Acadian music is vast and exciting, and Vishtèn Connexions looks forward to showcasing classic pieces with their own creative nuances. The Acadian multi-instrumentalist duo celebrates the vibrancy of francophone culture at Festival Du Bois, which takes places March 8 to 10. “Our passion for our roots has always been a driving…

Ebony Roots break ground in Yaletown

Promoting awareness and understanding of the history of Black communities in Vancouver is what inspires Brandon Thornhill. Ebony Roots (part two), with Thornhill as the show’s producer and vocalist, is a curated musical display of Black history in Vancouver. The concert, to be performed at the Yaletown Roundhouse Performance Centre on Feb. 9, takes attendees…

Yungchen Lhamo turns music into an offering

“We all love to be happy, we don’t want to be suffering,” says Tibetan singer Yunchen Lhamo. Lhamo showcases her values of healing and of joy with her upcoming spiritual-inspired performance. “I think, collectively, we can heal and we can send love to the world,” Lhamo says, about her upcoming shows. Lhamo has seen solid…

Celebrating joy this holiday season with Good Tidings! A Gospel Christmas

Vancouver gospel choir Good Noise is bringing its “Good Tidings! A Good Noise Gospel Christmas” show back for its 20th anniversary season this December. This year’s shows, on Dec. 15th and 16th, feature guest performances from gospel and R&B singers Timothy Fuller and Crystal Hicks. “As individuals they command the stage. And as a duo,…

Mad Pudding – A Canadian cross-cultural twist on Celtic music

Mad Pudding brings their unique Celtic Funk sound to the Mel Lehan hall at St. James Community Square, on Nov. 26. For guitarist, vocalist and founding member Andy Hillhouse, Mad Pudding is all about bringing a unique sound that’s both true to the band members and totally danceable. “I think folks are in for… a…

Hopeful Monster at Modulus Festival – An experience in experimentation

This year marks the 12th iteration of Music on Main’s Modulus Festival, a four-day event filled with music, conversation and a closing night pizza party. One such performance at Modulus features a collaboration between Costa Rican-born composer Mauricio Pauly and Armenian-Canadian pianist Eve Egoyan. Pauly and Egoyan are one of the headlining acts at the…