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Come Toward the Fire’s celebration of Indigenous musicians Music’s universal connection allows people the chance to explore another nation’s cultural heritage. UBC’s Chan Centre, situated on Musqueam territory, hosts Come Toward the Fire – a Sept. 16 daylong celebration of Indigenous cultures with artisan showcases, food vendors, and musical performances. Amongst the line-up of Indigenous…
Broad and eclectic in range, and with something for every music aficionado, this year’s festival is global in spirit. For three days, morning to evening, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival (Jul 14–16) hits the grass at Jericho Beach Park. The festival schedule is posted online, and with over 40 music acts – with roots in…
The Steve Kozak Band is bringing the blues to Blue Frog Studios in White Rock, June 3 with special guest Sherman ‘Tank’ Doucette. Born and raised in Vancouver, Kozak and his band will be performing a mix of both covers and original songs, spanning the gamut of different blues styles but with a healthy dose…
The guitar’s musical flexibility offers new experimental compositions, says Marc Morin, guitarist for Montreal Guitar Trio (MG3). Celebrating its 25th anniversary, MG3 brings a virtuosic, energetic groove at Victoria’s Hermann’s Upstairs on May 16. “The interesting thing with the guitar is that it’s not just one instrument,” says Morin. While it’s often a lot of…
Award-winning composers and musicians Layale Chaker, Kinan Azmeh and Dinuk Wijeratne share a worldly musical mix that reflects on the ephemeral meaning of home at the Chan Centre on May 5. The show, titled The Journeyed Compass, takes listeners through original compositions by the trio, blending Middle Eastern, South Asian and Western Classical music, as well…
The Jeremy Ledbetter Trio takes audiences on a jazzy musical journey at Hermann’s Jazz Club in Victoria on Apr. 16. While the trio is named after its pianist and composer, Ledbetter says that the talent of drummer Larnell Lewis and bassist Rich Brown makes it possible to make thrilling music at a breakneck pace a…
Vancouver-raised new music ‘monster pianist’ Vicky Chow returns to her hometown as she embraces her acoustic piano roots and performs Philip Glass’ Piano Études, Book 1. This homecoming brings back a wealth of positive emotions for Chow. Since moving to New York in 2001, she welcomes every opportunity to return, and Vancouver is more than…
Music has the unique ability to bring communities together, elevate and empower the human spirit and help people overcome traumatic events in their lives. This is the philosophy that inspired the creation of Thrive Refuge, a charity organization dedicated to providing access to musical education for refugees arriving in Canada. Founded by Ray Zhang and…
Musicals are effective at allowing audiences to step into a character’s experience. Love, family, growth and community abound in the story of Starwalker, a musical created by Indigenous, two-spirit storyteller Corey Payette. Starwalker will be performed, Feb. 17 to Mar. 5, at the York Theatre. In creating the show, Payette says he drew on his background as a…
Taiwanese Canadian harpist Vivian Chen joins in Chor Leoni’s annual Christmas choral celebration at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church from Dec. 16–19. The celebrated harpist has performed with the Vancouver Opera and on the international stage and is excited to bring forth a joyous seasonal reprieve that is equal parts serene and light-hearted. “Sometimes for Christmas…
Music is an experience. Unfamiliar sound, such as classical, allows the listener a chance to explore says David Bui. Bui leads the third and final show, Nov 20, in the Music is a Theme Park series, a kids-focused concert series presented by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Leading the VSO as its RBC assistant conductor, Bui says the…
A true way of understanding a culture is listening to the music of that culture, says Juno-nominated Adham Shaikh. Shaikh, a B.C.-based producer, composer and multi-instrumentalist, performs Oct. 7 at SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts, Creativemornings Vancouver. “[I’m] just trying to curate some interesting journey through this unique 30 years of music,” says Shaikh.…
The Chan Centre at UBC and Musqueam are hosting ʔəm̓i ce:p xʷiwəl (Come Toward the Fire), an inaugural Indigenous festival-style concert, from September 17–18 which aims to celebrate creativity, culture and community. The show, which takes place ahead of Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation, will include a host of musical performances…
