The humble banjo might seem like an unlikely candidate to be the focus of a multicultural musical showcase, but at Bang Danjos, a Nov. 16 concert at the Vancouver Playhouse, it will be just that.

Tarab, a Middle Eastern jazz rock fusion band, has been an emerging presence on the Vancouver music scene for the past two years.

On the fourth Friday of every month, a collection of authors, poets, performers and artists descend on the City Centre branch of Surrey Public Library to share some of their creative work, offer feedback and engage in discussion.

Roma Swing Ensemble has been an inspired presence on the Vancouver music scene since 1997.

The fusion of two great musical traditions, jazz and classical Indian music, is exactly what you can expect to find in abundance on May 25 at the Caravan World Rhythms Masters of Wind concert featuring three world class musicians: American jazz saxophone player George Brooks, Indian bansuri player Ronu Majumdar and Indian tabla player Ramdas Palsule.

On any given day or night along Granville Street, you will see and hear the city come alive. From drunken revelers, to panhandlers, to painters, to buskers, Granville Street is home to some of the most interesting folk in town.

Musician Aubrey Sixto and filmmaker Kirk Moses, both of Trinidadian descent, are organizing Vancouver’s first steel-pan community band.

I cannot imagine living without music,” says one of Vancouver’s most versatile guitarists, Celso Machado, who will be performing at this year’s MusicFest Vancouver. He says that “if there is no music, there is the sound of nature.”