Ma Ca rty Jo nne Stua Ele hn O d H rt Ad pha ate eat St am nt R s Cu oog Coh evi Qu rren es B en val Th iqu t Sw rass Mo e D e Es ell Ba nd an nic uhk cam dm aH s illa or eld e! al Aug 14-16, 2015
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contents
May / June 2015, Issue 110
Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 And so it begins: Festival Season is here. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 BY SARAH FAHEY Woodshedding with Red Haven. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Slim Sandy Jumps Up. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 - 11 BY DAVE O RAMA Gerry Hannah Comes Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 - 14 BY LEANNE V. NASH Get on the bus with the FF Express. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 BY COURTNEY HARROP May / June Festival Listings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 - 26 Casse Tete a Festival of Experimental Music. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 BY NAOMI KAVKA Supernatural. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 - 29 BY RICHARD CHAPMAN July Festival Listings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 - 54 GOAT Festival. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 BY JOHNNIE REGALADO Celebrating the Grateful Dead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 BY PETER NORTH Checking in: Islands FF and Campbell Bay MF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 BY TRINA MCDONALD August Festival Listings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 - 66 Festivals on the Radio, a short list. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 BCMM Radio Love: Yes, we’re on the radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67 BY SARAH FAHEY September / October Festival Listings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 - 72 Reviews by Leanne V Nash. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Alpha Yaya Diallo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 BY DAVE O RAMA
is published by Aberdeen Publishing Inc. c/o: PO Box 1150 Peachland, BC V0H 1X0 604 999 4141 bcmusicianmag.com hello@bcmusicianmag.com Publisher & Editor & Production & Auction Leanne V Nash lvnash@bcmusicianmag.com Ads & Distribution & Listings & Radio Sarah Fahey sarah@bcmusicianmag.com Associate Publisher-on-occasion Paul Crawford paul@bcmusicianmag.com Cover Art Milan Basic Cover Design Charlie Biddiscombe
Reviews by R. Doull. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 Reviews by Dave O Rama. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 - 77 Raspberries & Rituals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 BY RIKA
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Please ask before considering a reprint or reproduction of the content of this magazine. The written permission of the publisher must be granted before you do either. The opinions expressed within these pages are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect BC Musician Magazine nor its affiliates.
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contributors Rika one fifth of the band Warless. Richard Chapman has worked
Courtney Harrop is a freelance
journalist/ photographer, live broadcaster, event organizer and multi media artist covering social justice, politics, activism, community events and all things music festival. Courtney has been the host and producer of The Film and Festival Express on CJMP 90.1FM since 2011
Gillian Turnbull is a featured
contributor on the No Depression website and is the author of the forthcoming book Roots Music in Calgary, Alberta, co-editor of the forthcoming anthology Grassland Sounds: Popular and Folk Musics of the Canadian Prairies, and editor of Canadian Folk Music magazine. She has also hosted roots music radio shows in Edmonton and Toronto, and teaches music at Ryerson University.
Artist/factotum Scott Crocker attended UBCO Fine Arts. He works with Caravan Farm Theatre and Axis Mundi Harvest Festival when he’s not mixing metaphors.
4 BC Musician Magazine’s
with a wide variety of great Canadian artists for nearly three decades — from the Rheostatics and Herald Nix to Moose Records and The Pointed Sticks. Currently he conducts the Northern Electric collective northern-electric.ca.
Naomi Kavka is a cellist, songwriter, and musicologist from Prince George, British Columbia. Currently the principal cellist of the Prince George Symphony Orchestra, she also performs with her band Power Duo, contributes to Vancouver’s Vivascene and is head editor of Northern Arts and Culture publication Understory. Reach her at hello@ understory.ca Trina McDonald is a writer,
musician, and burgeoning impresario, seen at festivals scribbling in a tiny notebook or dancing in an unreasonable manner. She has given up her plans for a “normal” life to pioneer shamanic disco in the band Microbongo Soundsystem and refine urban farm life in Victoria.
Peter North is the Artistic Director of
the Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival.
Dave O Rama is a
writer, photographer, broadcaster, DJ and music addict. He has been hosting radio programs in Toronto and BC for over twenty years. Currently Dave is the host and producer of The Lovecast, a 3-hour music program heard Saturday evenings on CHLY 101.7 FM which broadcasts to Canada’s west coast. The Lovecast has been on the air for 10 years.
Sarah Fahey completed a diploma
in Writing & Publishing in 2011. Upon returning to home base in Penticton she ran the art collective the Golo Art Project and wrote for oook.ca, an Okanagan Arts & Culture website. Also an artist, Sarah has participated in many live painting events throughout BC from body painting to street art fests. Paint on public walls continues to be her preferred venue for expression and a constant source of inspiration.
Johnnie Regalado is a champion of
the Canadian underground. He’s the Program Director at CFUV 101.9 FM in Victoria, BC where he hosts a weekly all-Canadian, experimental music show called True North which can be heard on several stations across the country. He’s also a Music Editor for WeirdCanada.com and the Vice-President of the National Campus/Community Radio Association.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
It's here!
the 7th annual ultimate summer festival guide The 7th Annual Summer Festival has finally arrived! Well for you it has. For us the festival guide has been arriving… for months… as we gathered listings, articles and advertisements that make up the content of this eighty-page beast. What I like about collecting content is that I get to, in part, write history. I get to tell what happened, what is happening in British Columbia these days or at least a portion of it. And I get to do it through music. There is ebb and flow, a life and a death to the number of festivals each year. Every year a number of festivals either die out or more likely have morphed into another creative project, and each year brand new pups arrive. This guide encompasses new festivals to seasoned 30- and 40-year-strong festivals. Made up of mainly festivals in BC, this guide also has plenty of Alberta and Washington festivals, a collection of Manitoba, Yukon and NWT festivals and a few in the larger sphere that makes up the North West of the continent. From street fests to art walks and concerts in the park to multi-venue festivals and five-day long camp-outs and from wooden stages to barns to amphitheaters we head out onto the open road following the music, the mist and the grit the road can provide. This is the 3rd Year I have been a part of putting this guide together. The familiarity with the listings and people involved has allowed me to look further into festivals, their line-ups, and musical composition. I read recently that fewer than 10 percent of travelling
by sarah fahey
musicians are female. And it is not that female musicians and DJs are not good enough or that there aren’t that many, ya know, good girl musicians for festivals to choose from. It is that women are underrepresented in media in general when it comes to music. Maybe producers, artistic directors and media have to look a little further and dig a little deeper. There is a largely submerged collection of musicians in BC and beyond. At BC Musician Magazine we are constantly juggling and negotiating how to accurately represent a balance. It is really easy to find male musicians and even easier to find people writing and talking about male musicians. With each issue we have to be conscious of that balance. This is trickier than you might think, and we recognize that we need to dig a little deeper too. Lastly and lightly we ask, what is the busiest festival weekend of the summer? As a festival producer how do you choose a festival weekend? What are the risks and benefits to changing festival weekends? We’re already putting together the questions for next year, so please share your experiences with us. Or share anything. We’d love to hear from you! hello@bcmusicianmag.com
about the cover art: Milan basic Milan Basic created a mural at ArtsWells 2014 at the end of the school field, which is also the outdoor stage. We loved the image ans asked Milan to use that as the inspiration for this cover art. The development of this mural was watched by many, and doubled as a sound buffer which helped amplify the stage acoustics. Thanks to Charlie Biddicombe at VUE Weekly for putting the final touches to the art and turning Milan’s into the smashing design you have in your hands.
photos Sarah Fahey
6 BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
" Ä? Ă‚ has you covered when it comes to what to see, what to bring and what to wear to some of the best festivals in Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.Â
vueweekly.com |
@vueweekly |
VueWeekly
verb: Practice a musical instrument. Where do you make music? Tell us about it! woodshedding@bcmusicianmag.com In the summer 2014, our first ever festival season, you probably could have found Red Haven on a dance floor, bouncing off the rocks with an excitement that only local music, sleep deprivation and festival food can deliver. After seeing some truly incredible musicians perform acoustic sets on the Tempest Stage at Arts Wells Festival, we fell in love with the space and promised ourselves we would record an album there. Fast forward to Fall, Island Mountain Arts has purchased The Nest and is now hosting artistin-residency programs, and Red Haven has hit the jackpot. We booked the space as quickly as we could, and just so happen to be the first band to take residency here.
From left to right: Jesse Thom, Brendan Steele, Jen Davidson, Nathan Turner on the stage of the Tempest Stage where they recorded tracks for their new album, Vilified. Island Mountain Arts established the residency as part of their acquisition of their new building, fondly named The Nest. For inquiries check www.imarts.com.
“The Nest” is a beautiful apartment with a massive patio (barbeques, anyone?), tons of fantastic art and even a vintage record player complete with an Owen Steel record, which we love. And thanks to the help of Long & McQuade, our favourite festival venue has now been transformed into a state of the art studio with warm cedar walls and a vista of snow-covered hills and cottages. There have been a few challenges: a massive power outage left us studioless for three days (we hosted a candlelit concert at the Wells Hotel and watched the northern lights); hauling mattresses between the residence and the studio for “isolation booths”; a mysterious exploding car engine leaving Jesse stranded in Hope to name a few. Every record needs its horror stories. But the community has been very
supportive and welcoming, the church sounds like a dream, and we could not be happier. Our first week consisted of eight consecutive 12-hour days tracking drums and bass live off the floor. Now that we’ve come out (almost) unscathed, our next two weeks will be for guitars, vocals, sax, and some surprise guest appearances. Our goal is to leave town with 11 songs ready to mix and master, some new friends, and a record that is framed with the spirit of this beautiful and vivacious community in the mountains. Red Haven’s sophomore record “Vilified” will be available in stores and online this May.
Below left: Jesse and Brendon; below right, Jen records a sax track. photos Nathan Turner
8 BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
JERICHO BEACH PARK
July17 19
Taj Mahal • Richard Thompson • Trampled by Turtles Sara Watkins – Sarah Jarosz – Aoife O'Donovan Frazey Ford • Hawksley Workman • Basia Bulat Adam Cohen • Blind Pilot • Said the Whale • Lucius Phosphorescent • Breabach • La Gallera Social Club Melbourne Ska Orchestra • Bongeziwe Mabandla Paulo Flores • The Down Hill Strugglers • Mama Kin Beans on Toast • Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba Sam Lee & Friends • Nishtiman • Mary Gauthier Jenn Grant Lindi Ortega • Söndörgő Rising Appalachia Bustamento
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T H E F E S T I V A L . B C . CA BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015 9
slim sandy jumps back Peter Sandmark has been shakin’ it up
on the Canadian rock ‘n roll scene for over thirty years now and he shows no signs up slowing down. As the drummer for Ray Condo’s Hardrock Goners and guitarist and singer for their side project, The Crazy Rhythm Daddies, Sandmark has proven that he can lay it down on the back end or take centre stage behind the driving wheel. Back in the early nineties when Ray Condo and the majority of the members of the Goners and Crazy Rhythm Daddies had transplanted themselves on the west coast, Peter Sandmark and his brother, lead guitarist Eric Sandmark, remained behind to keep on rocking it up on the Montreal scene. Almost fifteen years after this exodus Peter Sandmark finally decided to pull up stakes and he moved his family to the Fernwood area of Victoria BC around 2005. Once established out west Sandmark quickly got back to business, adopting the name Slim Sandy and recording several sides with a variety of “hillbilly” combos comprised of west coast rockabilly musicians from both sides of the border. “I remember looking at a lot of Fats Waller records and Waller always had a different name for his bands, and I thought that was kind of funny.” As Slim Sandy he has released eight recordings, both on CD and vinyl, featuring a variety of combos including His Hillbilly Bebop Band, The Hillbilly Boogie Gang and The Hillbilly Boogie Band. Supporting him up on his newest release, Jump Back, is his current trio The Hillbilly Boppers, featuring German Ebert on drums and Willa Mae on washtub bass and harmony vocals. “The truth is that there were different musicians on all those albums so it kind of reflects the reality of that.” A card carrying member of the global rockabilly scene, Mr. Slim Sandy’s choice of material reflects a large spectrum of music that tends to be embraced by rockabilly fanatics around the world. “Rockabilly is a very particular type of music, but what I like about the rockabilly scene as an international phenomenon is that it embraces a lot of different kinds of music.”
10 BC Musician Magazine’s
by dave o rama
“If you attend the Viva Las Vegas festival weekender in Nevada you’ll encounter traditional rockabilly bands but you will also hear doo wop, various blues styles, honky tonk, western swing bands, boogie woogie, psychobilly and neo rockabilly, or bands like us who play hillbilly style.” “Ray Condo used to call rockabilly the biggest cult in the world. And yes I roll up my jeans, cut my hair and put grease in it, so I guess I’m part of that cult if you will.” True to his observations Slim Sandy kicks out a raw country blues sound on his guitar and harmonica that can incorporate many different musical styles from the Americana songbook. His new CD, Jump Back, was recorded live in the living room of his Victoria, BC home with one microphone incorporating everything from blues to bluegrass, jugband to boogie woogie and rockabilly to rhythm and blues all distilled down into some good old hillbilly lightning. Slim Sandy admits that he’s out to make recordings “that sound like the live show.” “I believe there is a value in the live sound. I think when you play live it’s more magical. So, we’re not overdubbing the vocals, we’re singing the harmonies right there on the spot. There’s a bit of voodoo in there for sure.” “Musicians adapt to each other sonically when it’s live and you just can’t capture that with overdubs. Something is lost in the overdub process in my mind.” Slim Sandy makes it clear “that what you hear on the record is what you hear live.” Sandmark’s Slim Sandy persona was first realized as a solo artist, a kind of one man band where he performed on guitar, vocals, harmonica and a foot drum. Eventually he got himself an old suitcase to carry his snare drum in and soon realized all he really needed was the suitcase. “Believe it or not I often check the suitcases I come across to see what kind of sound I get. Some of them are no good.” This jugband approach to his hillbilly flavored rock ‘n roll also includes partner Willa Mae on the washtub bass and at other times her use of the washboard as a percussion instrument, ironically giving the songs a really dirty sound. “Rockabilly is funny. I sometimes like to call it hillbilly swing.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
slim sandy
WE WERE HIPSTERS
on the case
Our current drummer German Ebert loves the old drummers from the swing era and gets that style and it really makes the music jump. They used to call Elvis a hillbilly cat. He was doing less chords but with a swinging beat.” I’ve always admired Sandmark’s ability to dig up old unfamiliar musical gems from American recording history. He’s very humble in his insistence that he not a musicologist but when he describes to me all the effort he put into tracking down the lyrics to Clayton McMichen’s Pistol Boogie for the Jump Back sessions, I have to give him credit for his unwavering determination. “I think one of the missions of our band is to recreate the live experience of rock ‘n roll. And I think it’s better done when there isn’t a nostalgia factor. The audience doesn’t have to know the songs. It’s about the performance. It’s about getting people dancing.” Score Slim Sandy’s new record Jump Back at slimsandy.com, on ITunes, or pick it up at better record stores in the BC coastal area. You can also catch Slim Sandy and the Hillbilly Boppers live this summer at the Chemainus Rockabilly Rumble festival, July 11 on Vancouver Island.
150 YEARS BEFORE
IT WAS COOL.
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PURE G LD SINCE 1862 COME VISIT US MAY 14- SEPTEMBER 27, 2015 Annual sponsor and venue for the ArtsWells Festival of All Things Art 1-888-994-3332 • www.barkerville.ca
A N AT I O N A L H I STO R I C S I T E O F C A N A DA
BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015 11
gerry hannah comes home There’s a big sign next to East 1st Ave as you exit Highway 99 and drive through Vancouver: Welcome to Vancouver: A Nuclear Weapons Free Zone. All my years living in Vancouver this sign never struck me as anything other than an oxymoron. After all, explode a nuclear weapon and it doesn’t exactly respect borders nor declarations by municipal governments that they don’t want that fallout in their backyard. The Vancouver sign appeared in 1982, the year before Gerry Hannah went to jail for his part in the direct action against nuclear weapons development. Also in 1982, Vancouver launched its first Walk for Peace, where some 30,000+ people showed up to demand an end to the nuclear arms race. I was a self-centred teenager in 1982, but I took part in that first walk for peace (and the next, and the next) because my parents felt it was necessary (thank you, parents). They and thousands of others wanted to express their anger in a nonviolent way. In those days the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was available in the periodical section of the school library. The cover in 1982 was at 4 minutes to midnight. I can recall getting a stomachache the first time I realized what it meant. The clock went dormant for some years but has recently been turned back on, though it now represents our current imminent threat: climate change. (And if you want to start keeping track, it’s at 3 minutes to midnight.) I asked Gerry Hannah some questions to help get a sense of how his direct action came about, and how his politics have evolved along with his musical expression over the past 30 or so years. There was political energy in the air of Vancouver in the early 80s. The first March for Peace happened in 1982 and that same year Vancouver City Council approved the first of their “Welcome to Vancouver: A Nuclear Weapons Free Zone” signs. Did you see hope in these larger, peaceful, actions? It was encouraging to see many positive changes made during the 70s and 80s, such as an increasing concern for the environment, opposition to nuclear power and arms, increasing support for women’s and gay rights, etc. Much of this was brought about by a thriving and impassioned activist movement that existed in Vancouver at the time. And yes, there certainly were aspects of it that seemed hopeful for the future. But at the same time, the big picture had not changed all that much. Most of the power continued to remain in the hands of a tiny minority who showed no real willingness to share that power with the rest of us. Sure they learned that if they threw us a bone here and there, they could appear to be progressive and to be striving toward the same just, egalitarian and environmentally healthy society that we were. But my friends and I felt that this was just an act by the ruling class to keep the people from becoming too angry and eventually rising up against them. And I think, to some extent, history has proven us right. The rich are a lot richer now—stinking rich in fact—and the poor are a lot poorer. Thanks to Free Trade, deregulation and ever more sophisticated and heavily financed advertising and lobbying efforts, corporations are more powerful and unconstrained than ever before. And the US, China and Russia still have enough nuclear weapons
12 BC Musician Magazine’s
by Leanne V. Nash
to destroy the world many times over. Sure, we saved the Stein River Valley and Clayoquat Sound, but in the mean time, we’ve all but lost the ocean and the atmosphere. The bombing of Red Hot Video gets relatively little attention in your history — usually just that statement of fact — but yet you and your collective were taking a serious position against a serious issue that continues to this day: violence against and exploitation of women. Can you give us an idea of the conversations behind the planning for that action? There had recently been an expose of some of the pornographic material that was for sale at Red Hot Video stores on a BCTV special around the time that some of our members decided to be involved with the plan to firebomb the video stores. One clip of video that was shown depicted a woman forcibly tied up with a length of hose stuck up her anus and the other end attached to a faucet on a sink. While the woman repeatedly pleaded with her torturer to stop what he was doing and cried out in pain, the man turned up the water flow until she died. I remember Ann, Brent, Julie and myself being absolutely enraged by the footage and all agreeing that some sort of action needed to be taken against retail outlets that were prepared to make such obviously misogynist material available. The retail chain had a number of similar movies available at the time including movies depicting violent rape, movies depicting extreme sexual torture and even “snuff movies.” Now don’t get me wrong, the five of us were no prudes. We had nothing at all against the idea of adults watching other consenting adults have sex on film. But this material was all about the dehumanizing of women as a form of male entertainment and that was completely unacceptable to us. When we discovered that some feminist friends of ours were considering taking some sort of action against the video chain, some members of Direct Action (The Squamish Five) decided to join forces with them. Attempts had been made by protesters and activists to convince local legislators to force the stores to stop selling this material, but nothing had been done. The women decided that they would shut the stores down themselves by setting fire to them and that they would call themselves, “The Wimmins’ Fire Brigade.” It was decided that they would target the 3 stores that they were sure no one lived in or above. Some of the men in Direct Action would provide support, but it would be, primarily a women’s action. In retrospect, like the bombing of the Litton Systems factory in Ontario, the action seems somewhat reckless and irresponsible, but Red Hot Video did stop selling that sort of material shortly thereafter. Do you feel like enough has changed? No, not near enough has changed in my mind. While we’ve obviously made a lot of progress over the last 30 years or so, there are still fundamental changes that need to be made to the basic political, social and economic structures in this country before we can have a truly functional democracy. What we have now, in my opinion, is actually a corporate oligarchy. I still believe that revolutionary changes are required to take the power out of the hands of the ultra wealthy and put it back into the hands of everyday people. I believe that the Occupy Movement had it right—that we can never really move forward until the selection of our political leaders is based on the will of an informed and politically active populace, not on who has the backing of the corporate elite and millions to
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
gerry hannah Politics, Resistance, Direct Action, Music spend on slick advertising campaigns. We’ve got Bill C51 on the verge of being passed into law — by the time this article is published it will probably be a done deal. Do you think the definition of terrorist as it is understood now is different from what you were part of? On the topic of Bill C51, just let me say that we can be sure that once Bill C51 becomes law, there’ll be much gloating and backslapping amongst Stephen Harper and his ministers. But the passing of Bill C51 is not a victory for the Conservatives—much less for Canada; it’s a victory for ISIL and al Qaeda. They wanted to strike fear into the heart of the western nations and turn them into paranoid, oppressive police states and with this new bill, they seem to be well on their way to achieving their goal. It should be pointed out that at least 1000 times more people in Canada are killed each year on the job than are killed by terrorist attacks. Yet I don’t see the Conservatives making that a national issue or passing groundbreaking legislation to deal with that very real and ever worsening problem. I would say that the nature of resistance movements in many areas of the world have changed dramatically. In the 60s, 70s and to some extent, the 80s, resistance movements tended to either be anarchist (as in the case of Direct Action), socialist and/ or nationalist. Consequently, their adversaries tended to be the ruling elite and the security forces the elite employed to maintain their positions of power. For the most part, the philosophy of those groups stated that civilians were to be liberated from exploitation and/or occupation, not targeted for acts of violence. These groups were sometimes defined as “terrorist” groups, but just as often they were referred to as guerrilla groups or armed revolutionaries. Unfortunately, as situations such as the occupation of Palestine by the Israelis dragged on indefinitely, the civilian populations of the occupying powers became increasingly viewed by resistance movements as legitimate targets. This was largely due to the fact that the occupying powers’ military apparatuses had become so powerful that attacking them without suffering large numbers of causalities had become very difficult. In order to continue to put pressure on the occupiers, the resistance movements in desperation began to focus on “soft targets”—i.e. civilians. Increasingly, movements that employed these tactics were called terrorists. More recently, with the rise of militant Islam over the last 20 years or so, many resistance movements have taken on an almost cavalier approach when it comes to targeting civilians, particularly when those civilian populations have been seen as infidels or “enemies of god.” As well, the purpose of the attacks actually does seem to be to “terrorize” the population into submitting to the will of the militants, rather than to liberate them. I think most people have no problem defining these groups as terrorists. By the way, just for the record, I have always considered it immoral and unacceptable for individuals to target civilians in a conflict—whether those individuals are acting of behalf of a resistance movement, or a government. Did you self-identify as a terrorist? No I didn’t and I have always objected to being described as a terrorist for two reasons. One, the goal of Direct Action was never
to terrorize or coerce the population. The goal was to empower the population, to show others how things could be changed by taking action directly. We wanted people to see that there were other options besides the painfully slow (and often ineffectual) state sanctioned methods for making real change. We hoped (perhaps, rather naively), that others would follow our lead. Equally important, we targeted property, not people. Unfortunately, people did get hurt as a result of one of our actions, but it was an accident and the group apologized for it within a matter of days by communiqué. Two, the word “terrorist” is almost meaningless as an objective descriptor. Whether or not one is referred to as a terrorist by an individual or an organization has more to do with whether or not one is considered to be an ally in a given situation, than it has to do with what sort of actions one is involved in. One can be an absolute butcher such as General Rios Mont in Guatemala or General Augusto Pinochet in Chile (both men responsible for the torture, rape and murder of thousands of their fellow citizens) and be referred to as a hero and a friend by the US government. On the other hand, if one chains oneself to an old growth tree slated for logging or if one takes home a bunch of dogs slated for vivisection from some laboratory, they might well be referred to as a terrorist. In 2008/2009, the homemade rocket and small arms attacks by Palestinians that killed 13 Israelis (most of them military personnel) were called terrorist attacks. The jet fighter, helicopter, tank and well-armed troops attack by the Israelis that killed 1300 Palestinians (most of them civilians), was referred to as a “measured response” by Stephen Harper. If one delivers a bomb that will kill civilians in a suitcase against people we like, we call them a terrorist. If one delivers one hundred bombs that will kill civilians from fighter jets against people we don’t like, we call them a hero. Of what value is the word terrorist other than for purely propagandist purposes?
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gerry hannah Politics, Resistance, Direct Action, Music You missed a big chunk of the 80s while you were incarcerated. Do you think this influenced your music at all when you came out of prison in time for the grunge of the 90s? Well, unfortunately we had TV in prison, so I couldn’t avoid seeing and hearing some of what was happening in the 80s on MTV—I’m not a huge fan of a lot of the music from the 80s. And I must confess, I wasn’t really aware of the grunge scene until it was almost over. That’s really a shame in my mind because, in retrospect, it was a music form that I can really relate to and I think I would’ve enjoyed writing and playing grunge music in its heyday. Instead, I became really obsessed with Celtic music around that time, which I could neither write nor play all that well. But primarily, I would say the music on Coming Home is influenced by bands and artists that I’ve really liked over a span of many years, rather than a particular period of time or genre of music. I think that Bob Dylan, and Leonard Cohen heavily influenced me on some of the songs, the Byrds and Neil Young on others and the Velvet Underground, David Bowie and even the Damned and Joy Division on others. It crosses a number of genres and time periods. Without a doubt though, I‘ve been highly influenced by late 60s music—back when even mainstream music routinely included experimental, thought-provoking and even radically political songs. Mind you, I was looking back at this music through a punk/post punk lens, which no doubt coloured the way I interpreted it. Much of punk music, in addition to evoking intensely powerful dopamine-release, also had serious political and cultural messages. What do you think about the general state of music today? Well, it seems to me that serious political and cultural messages in most music genres have all but vanished these days. There’s certainly still some new alternative music being made here and there that I really like that hits me on an emotional level. But as for music that challenges us to think more carefully about the power dynamics that are shaping our world or that inspires us to become politically active in our lives, there seems to be a lot less of it around these days—particularly in the mainstream. In the late 60s/early 70s you could turn on a mainstream radio station and you would routinely hear songs encouraging political thought and action. And in the late70s/early 80s, if you were lucky enough to have alternative radio in your town, or went to the right clubs, you could once again hear music with a political message. But now, except for the odd punk band, I don’t really hear it anywhere. Certainly there is no mass movement right now that expresses itself through rebel music and that’s kind of sad. What and who do you listen to? I like a lot of different styles of music these days. The main thing for me is, does it have real heartfelt passion? Does it have something to say that’s important for me to hear? Does it actually mean something to the artist/band that’s written it? Or, is it just a device designed to make money? If it’s the latter, I probably won’t like it much. I still listen to a lot of folk and rock music from the late 60s/early 70s like Bob Dylan, the Velvet Underground, the Byrds, Leonard
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Cohen, the Buffalo Springfield, the Doors, Iggy and the Stooges, Neil Young, Steppenwolf, the Kinks, and the Beatles, etc., as well as some early Rolling Stones, David Bowie, Pink Floyd and Brian Eno. As well, I occasionally listen to some of my old punk records from the late 70s/early 80s like the Sex Pistols, the Ramones, the Clash, the Damned, Husker Du and Black Flag. I listen to a wide variety of post punk stuff like PJ Harvey, Camper van Beethoven, Sebadoh and the Brian Jonestown Massacre. I listen to some alternative country like Lucinda Williams, John Prine and Emmylou Harris. And as far as current stuff goes, I listen to some psychedelic folk rock like the War On Drugs and Kurt Vile and I’m a big Rob Crow fan. Very generally, your album, Coming Home, is full of messages that are expressed more like a beatnik than a punk. Who do you see is your audience now? I don’t know that I have an audience. But if I do, I don’t think very many of them are punk rockers. Coming Home is certainly not a punk rock album, lyrically or musically. Not because I’ve renounced punk rock, but because it isn’t the genre that I naturally write in any more. For one reason, the punk rock lyrics that I wrote generally tended to be somewhat sloganistic, primitive and perhaps a bit one dimensional—dealing with interesting ideas, but not in a very poetic manner. But I’ve always loved good poetry and over the years I’ve tried to write lyrics that stand on their own a little better. As well, when I was writing punk rock songs, I was writing them on bass, whereas now I primarily write songs on guitar. It gives the song a different feel and emphasis. And I kind of naturally gravitate towards a folk, folk/rock style on guitar. Also, I’ve been more interested in reflecting/expressing imagery and emotions that draw more on rural/natural landscapes than urban landscapes for some time now. Punk is very much an urban phenomenon drawing on an urban experience and lifestyle and so it doesn’t work for me as much these days.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
the film and festival express The Bus is Big Enough for All of Us
by courtney harrop
It’s time to check the engine, top up the fluids and get this bus on the road to festival paradise! After a seemingly short winter here on the coast of BC, spring has sprung! The festival announcements, updates and line ups are rolling out, and there is something for everyone.
Roots will be headlining separate concerts at the Orpheum on June 23 and June 30. Vancouver blues duo The Harpoonist and The Axe Murderer are also on the bill, preforming at the Vogue Theatre June 27. For ticket info and the full lineup, check out www.coastaljazz.ca
2015 marks the 50th anniversary of the iconic band, The Grateful Dead, and there are celebrations and commemorations happening all over the place, with a big ‘Fare Thee Well’ event in Chicago July 3, 4, 5, led by the 4 remaining members of the Dead. Closer to home here in BC, The Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival will present a handful of shows in celebration, August 14-16. This will include Brother’s Keeper, with two members of the extended Grateful Dead Family: multi-instrumentalist Jason Crosby who has been performing with both Bob Weir and Phil Lesh, and guitarist/singer Mark Karan of Ratdog. Check out www.rootsandblues.ca/ for a full list of performers!
Vancouver Island MusicFest (July 10 - 12) has been announcing a performer a day, which has been a fun way for festival goers to watch the festival grow! Check out their website for your dose of a daily surprise at www.islandmusicfest.com/performers
The Vancouver International Jazz Festival (June 18-July 1) has recently announced American soul and hip hop artist Erykah Badu and Philadelphia hip-hop crew, The Roots will be performing at this year’s festival. How exciting is THAT?! Badu and The
That’s all for now, but I look forward to seeing all your smiling, sunny faces around the festival circuit this season! Be sure to tune in to The Film and Festival Express, Sundays from 2 - 5pm PST on CJMP-FM to keep up to date in the film and festival scene! You can tune in online at cjmp.ca/listen. Follow @TheFFExpress on Twitter, and be sure to ‘like’ the Facebook page! You can listen to past episodes at podcast.cjmp.ca and can also check out our new website, thefilmandfestivalexpress. com (still under construction, so check back often!) Until next time, keep those wheels greased and the radio loud!
May 2 RCMA Open Mic • May 7 RCMA Jam May 9 Maureen Washington • May 15 3rd Degree May 16 Big Dog Comedy •May 22 Amber Bowen May 23 Navaz • May 27 Pride Hump Day May 29 & 30 Big Dog Comedy
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may - june festivals Brackendale Bluegrass Festival May 2 Brackendale, BC brackendaleartgallery.com
Featuring Michael Kilby and North Country
CFBX Record Fair May 3 Kamloops, BC Sahali Centre Mall - 945 Columbia Street West, Kamloops, BC www.theX.ca
CFBX will be hosting our seventh annual record fair. Sellers will have dozens and dozens of tables full of vinyl records, compact discs, used stereo equipment, used musical instruments, music memorabilia, and other music-related merchandise, hundreds of door prizes, and lots of free parking. 10am - 4pm, $2.
Great Okanagan Beer Festival May 7 - 9 Waterfront Park, Kelowna, BC www.gibbonsevents.com/great-okanagan-beer-festival
A three day festival offering a mix of exclusive cask events, beer and brewing seminars and a beer sampling main event. Bringing together over 30 breweries.
Austin Psych Fest May 8 - 10 Carson Creek Ranch, Austin, TX www.austinpsychfest.com
On-site camping and three stages with music, supports local businesses with its hand-picked food, retail, clothing, and record store vendors. There will also be multi-media installations and art exhibits by artists from Austin and beyond.
ederlezi festival
May 15 - 20 Pender Harbour, BC www.coastlongboarding. comdangerbay.cfm
Cash podiums, slide competition, live bands, camping, longboard hockey tournamant. No onsite parking for events; use shuttle provided.
Barkerville Historic Town May 15 - September 27 Barkerville, BC www.barkerville.ca
Billy Barker’s discovery of gold in 1862 triggered a stampede of thousands of miners and fortune seekers from all over the world. Declared a National Historic Site of Canada in 1923, and later a Provincial Heritage Site in 1958, Barkerville is the largest historic site in western North America.
Cottonwood Community Market Stage May 16 through October 31 Cottonwood Falls Park, Nelson, BC ecosociety.ca/markets/cottonwoodmarket
Every Saturday at Cottonwood Falls Park there will be live music and a friendly vibe. Over 30 vendors each Saturday selling fresh produce, juice, eggs, honey, local natural meats, home-brewed root beer, and a great selection of prepared savory and sweet foods. Also features a variety of unique products including jewelry, artwork, body wear products, hats, scarves, and so much more. The Market is open 9:30 to 3 pm; live music 10 am to 2:30 pm. Fun for the whole family.
Roberts Creek Arts Festival
May 8 - 9 Grandview Legion, Vancouver, BC www.orkestarslivovica.com
Bringing together traditional Balkan orchestras from eastern Europe, the US and Canada to celebrate the love of the Guca trumpet tradition. Organized by Vancouver’s Big Balkan Band, Orkestar Slivovica.
Main Street Vinyl Record Fair May 10 The Heritage Hall, Vancouver, BC www.vinylrecordfair.com
Over 50 independent vendors. Over 50,000 vinyl records, LPs, 45s, 78s, turntables and more.
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Attack of Danger Bay Longboard Race
May 16 - 17 Roberts Creek, BC robertscreekartsfestival.com
Two days & nights of exceptional music, art, film and food served up with the unique flavour of the Gumboot Nation.
Seafest-Cortes May 16 Cortes Island, BC ourcortes.comactivities/festivals
SEAFEST features BBQ and raw oysters, steamed mussels and clams, and more! There is also live music and local crafts.
Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival May 16 - 18 Topaz Park, Victoria, BC victoriahighlandgames.com
The 152nd Annual Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival will take place over May long weekend at Topaz Park.
Cathedral Village ArtsFestival May 18 - 23 Regina, SK cathedralartsfestival.ca
The week long festival features performing, visual and literary arts, crafts and performances. It offers professional artists the opportunity to present their work to new audiences; emerging artists a venue to introduce themselves; and avant-garde artists a supportive arena to share their talents. The festival invites children, youth and adults to create, participate and enjoy the arts in all of its diversity.
Lightning in a Bottle May 21 - 25 Bradley, CA USA lightninginabottle.org
Celebrating art, music, performance, sustainability and Life. More than ten years of making miracles and catching Lightning in a Bottle!
Surrey International Children’s Festival May 21 - 23 Surrey, BC www.surrey.ca/childrensfestival
The annual Surrey International Children’s Festival inspires young hearts and minds to greater possibilities, and celebrates our rich and diverse cultural heritage through performing and visual arts experiences.
Britannia Classic-Longboard Race May 22 - 24 Britannia Beach, BC britanniaclassic.com
Race day is Sunday - over 1000 feet of vertical in 2kms, 3 massive hairpins totaling 5 corners, 1 chicane and gravity fed speeds of 60mph or 100kph.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
may - june festivals Canadian Rockies Cowboy Festival May 22 - 24 David Thompson Resort, Nordegg, AB www.davidthompsonresort.com
Good old-fashioned country music & cowboy poetry with the majestic Rocky Mountains as a backdrop. Festival includes a steak BBQ and evening dances with a live band. A variety of on-site accommodations are available and you can check out all the other amenities our resort has to offer - fun for the whole family. Located on Hwy 11 at Cline River, AB.
Juan De Fuca Festival of the Arts May 22 - 25 Port Angeles, Washington jffa.org
Lund Shellfish Festival May 22 - 25 Lund, BC www.lundbc.ca/Shellfish_Festival.html Eat fresh-cooked seafood, enjoy local musicians, take a tour, watch free cooking demonstrations, buy some live shellfish, shop at the booths, enter a contest, or sample special menu items at the restaurants - there are activities for everyone.
Northwest Folklife Festival An annual festival of ethnic, folk, and traditional art, crafts, and music that takes place over the Memorial Day weekend in Seattle, WA at Seattle Center. It brings to-
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Opera Nuova Vocal Arts Festival May 22 - July 4 Edmonton, BC www.operanuova.ca/vaf
Celebrates Canadian vocal artists while creating an accessible and unique blend of innovative and inspiring vocal performances.
Sasquatch!
A beautiful setting nestled snugly between the Olympic Mountains and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, four days and nights of unparalleled artistry, a street fair filled with a garden of earthly delights, a fun afterhours program and so much more.
May 22 - 25 Seattle, Washington www.nwfolklife.org/festival
gether an estimated 250,000 visitors, 1,800 volunteers, and more than 6,000 musicians, dancers, and other performers. Admission is free, but greeters at the entrances encourage visitors to put cash in the donation boxes.
May 22 - 25 The Gorge, Washington www.sasquatchfestival.com
Held annually at the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington with an emphasis on indie rock bands and singer-songwriters, although there are also alternative rock, hip hop and comedy acts. The festival features four separate stages.
Concerts in the Park Lower Mainland May 24 through September 4 concertsinthepark.net
Multi-venue concert series throughout the lower mainland. Malkin Bowl-Vancouver, Deerlake Park-Burnaby, Holland Park-Surrey, PNE Amphitheatre-Vancouver, Ambleside Park-West Vancouver.
Okanagan Zone Theatre Fest May 24 - 31 Powerhouse Theatre, Vernon, BC theatrebc.org/zone-festivals
performance. The winners of these Zone Festivals then proceed onto the Annual Provincial Theatre Festival held in July.
Spring Okanagan Music Collectors Show May 24 Ukrainian Catholic Church Banquet Hall, Kelowna, BC www.okanaganmusicshow.com
Where Okanagan music collectors can buy or sell vinyl, CDs, tapes, and memorabilia. 9am-3pm.
City of Bhangra Festival May 28 - June 6 Vancouver and Surrey, BC www.vibc.org
From highland to hoop dancing, from hip-hop to dance hall, from Balkan, Brazilian, Jewish, and Flamenco teams to multimedia mashups by international recording stars, the Festival celebrates the joy of shared experience by connecting cultural communities worldwide through the vibrancy of bhangra music, dance, and song.
European Festival May 30 - 31 Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, BC www.europeanfestival.ca
Burnaby plays host to the European Festival Annual celebration. A chance to experience diverse European culture, cuisine, entertainment and more. Put the passport away, because there is no need to spring for a flight or even a Eurorail pass to experience the authentic sights, sounds and tastes of Europe.
Theatre BC is divided into 10 Regional Zones that encompass the province. Each year these regional zones hold festivals in order to determine a “best of the best”
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
may - june festivals Kettle River Art Club Show May 30 - 31 Greenwood, BC www.greenwoodcity.com
The Art show features a variety of displays by local Boundary area artists. Admission is by donation and door prizes are drawn Saturday and Sunday evenings. Refreshments are served.
an opportunity to showcase their culture and history through Soccer, Ball-Hockey, War Canoe races and Sla:hal. Our threeday celebration demonstrates First Nations heritage through friendly competition and sport. The Seabird Island First Nations Festival is a drug-free cultural event that promotes healthy lifestyles and wellbeing.
Elevate Arts Festival June 3 - 6 Courtenay, BC www.elevatethearts.com
Kootenay Music Awards May 30 Spiritbar, Nelson, BC www.kootenaymusicawards.biz
4th Annual Kootenay Music Awards will be the biggest one yet. All proceeds go to help keep Kootenay Co op Radio on the air!
Seabird Island First Nations Festival May 30 - 31 Agassiz, BC www.seabirdisland.ca/page/seabirdisland-festival
The 4th Annual Elevate Arts Festival is a 4 day multi-disciplinary participatory arts festival is dedicated to breaking down barriers between culture producers and culture consumers and using arts and culture as a vehicle to explore, examine and re-image community. Featuring loads of music, extreme crafts, dance, circus arts, fire performance, slam poetry, lit, photography, puppets, projections and more. An arts festival by the people — for the people.
Envision Twilight Concert Series June 3 - August 28 Mission, BC heritagepark-mission.ca/twilightconcerts.html
Summer evening entertainment at the Fraser River Heritage Park. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and a picnic to this by-donation event. Wednesdays & Fridays 7pm. No concerts July 1st or 24th.
Bard on the Beach June 4 - September 26 Vanier Park, Vancouver, BC www.bardonthebeach.org
Bard on the Beach is one of Canada’s largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare festivals. Presented in a magnificent setting on the waterfront in Vancouver’s Vanier Park, the festival offers Shakespeare plays, related dramas, and several special events in two performance tents from June through September.
Offers youth, young adults, and adults alike
fernfest celebrates 20 years of being itself by Trina McDonald Just a ten minute walk from downtown Victoria is Fernwood, one of the funkiest and well-loved neighbourhoods on earth, but don’t take my word for it. On June 20th and 21st saunter over to the 20th annual Fernfest and discover its lovability for yourself. Fernfest is presented by the non-profit Neighbourhood Resource Group (NRG). They have been instrumental in lifting the neighbourhood out of disrepair and restoring its social and cultural vibrancy. The event is free and all of the proceeds go back into programs and services that the NRG provide, such as affordable housing, child care, family support services; and food security initiatives like the Good Food Box, the community orchard, the kitchen garden and the Weekly family dinner; as well as cultural events like Fernwood University and the Community pole painting initiative. This years festival features 15 great bands, ranging from funk and soul to country and world music, rocking a non-stop dance party in the historic village square on Friday and Saturday night. There will be a market with local artisans, a “kidical mass” bike parade, a pancake breakfast, heritage walking tours, an art stroll, capoeira and yoga. The kid-zone will feature the largest cardboard castle you’ve ever seen, as well as performers, games, bubbles, face painting and dancing! Fernfest, like the neighbourhood itself, is a mixed bag. So whether you are young or old, local or foreign, an observer or an initiator, your quirkiest self will fit right in, and that may be why it’s so endearing. But do find out for yourself.
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festival of experimental music gets bigger each year by naomi kavka Starting in 2013, a new kind of festival came to Northern BC. Prince George’s CasseTête: A Festival of Experimental Music was spearheaded by Jeremy Stewart in 2013. Stewart, who is the current General Manager of the Prince George Symphony Orchestra, has been conceptualizing this festival for over a decade. Casse-Tête can be loosely translated from French as “broken head” but its meanings also extend into the realms of sound, thought, and experience. Stewart’s definition is as follows: “Casse-Tête, poetically ‘broken head,’ is both the French term for “puzzle” and for “headache.” It can also refer to a bludgeoning weapon like a club, or to a violent, deafening noise.” Concertgoers can expect to enjoy many different sonic experiences, which Stewart describes as “a big tent of experimental sounds, ranging from non-idiomatic improvisation to free jazz, avant-garde compositions and minimalism to post-rock, noise, and more. It’s a mix of ensemble and solo performances, including collaborations planned just for the festival.” Now in its third year, the Casse-Tête is gearing up for its most impressive year yet. “Last year, the festival was much larger and more ambitious than the first year,” Stewart explains, “and this year, it is that much larger and more ambitious than the second year once again.” This is, in part, due to the fact that the festival is not limited to the many great performers and composers in the Prince George region, but reaches out to artists from across Canada and beyond. This year’s line up includes Costa Rican composer Susan Campos Fonseca, Vancouver composer Rodney Sharman, Norman Adams, (Principal Cellist of Symphony Nova Scotia), Vancouver’s The Phobic Trust and Blocktreat and Prince George locals Jose DelgadoGuevara (PGSO concertmaster), Barbara Parker, Peter Stevenson and Raghu Lokanathan. Performances are also not limited to musical varieties, as this year’s festival will include Vancouver’s Donato Mancini as poet in residence, as well as two panel discussions. Taking cues from other regional festivals, Stewart felt that Prince George was a perfect place to host such an event. “[Having] spent quite a bit of time at our regional northern BC festivals [these experiences have] filtered in through my idea of what musical community can and should be, and what the festival atmosphere can do to connect people.” Coupled with the diverse artistic bouquet in Prince George, Casse-Tête was able to come to fruition. “The audience [in Prince George] is very diverse. It’s mostly musicians, teachers and students, and people who are knowledgeable about unconventional expressions in other arts disciplines. [All of these factors] gave me the confidence to think Casse-Tête was possible.” Casse-Tête: A Festival of Experimental Music will be running from June 5 - 7 in the Exploration Place located in Prince George, BC. For more information, check out their website: cassetetefestival.tumblr.com
may - june Music Waste Festival June 4 - 7 Vancouver, BC www.musicwaste.ca
“Vancouver’s longest running annual music, comedy and arts festival, featuring 100’s of acts in venues spread across the city.”
Nextfest June 4 - 14 Edmonton, AB nextfest.ca
Edmonton’s springtime multi-disciplinary arts festival dedicated to providing professional development opportunities and exposure to emerging artists. Events take place at multiple venues along the 124th Street corridor. 500 artists and over 50 events!
Casse-Tete: A Festival of Experimental Music June 5 - 7 Prince George, BC cassetetefestival.tumblr.com
Featuring improvisation, free jazz, avantgarde compositions, minimalism, post-rock, noise, and more. Performers come from across Canada and beyond along with the far reaches of Prince George’s scene. A radically creative musical experience.
Castlegar Sunfest June 5 - 7 Castlegar, BC www.castlegarculture.comcultureguide/castlegar-sunfest
Events happen around town and can be fun for the whole family.
Levitation Vancouver June 5 - 7 Malkin Bowl, Vancouver, BC levitation-vancouver.com
Three days of music, art, and entertainment, beginning with a festival launch party on Friday at the Rickshaw Theatre. Daytime events will take place at the majestic outdoor Malkin Bowl Theatre in iconic Stanley Park on Saturday & Sunday. These events are all-ages. Venues along Main Street in downtown Vancouver will play host to nightly showcases, which will be 19+ taking place at The Electric Owl Social Club, The Cobalt, Imperial, and the Rickshaw Theatre.
Left: Oro Barton performing as Pg909 photo Chris Wagner
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may - june festivals Pender Harbour Blues Festival June 5 - 7 Pender Harbour, BC www.penderharbourbluesfestival.com The Pender Harbour Blues Festival will be presenting some of the best Blues Musicians the West Coast has to offer. The Festival is set at unique venues around the beautiful and scenic Pender Harbour, making this a boater friendly event, easily accessible by water. Info and ticket sales will be available on website.
PotashCorp Children’s Festival June 5 - 7 Saskatoon, SK www.potashcorpchildrensfestival.com Located in Saskatoon, it is the only international multidisciplinary arts festival dedicated to children in Saskatchewan.
Summerland Action Festival June 5 - 7 Memorial Park, Summerland, BC summerlandactionfestival.com
Annual festival features a slo-pitch tournament, outdoor entertainment, fireworks, Man of Steel triathlon, parade, Giants Head run, and more.
Brentwood Bay Festival June 6 Brentwood Bay, BC brentwoodbay.info/Festival.html
It’s a place to spend the whole day - it’ll take you that long to see and do everything at the festival. There are food vendors, market vendors, kids entertainment, fantastic live music & comedy acts, games, face painting, and more.
Heart of the City Festival
Wednesday On the Wharf
June 6 - 7 Giovanni Caboto Park, Edmonton, AB www.heartcityfest.com A music and arts festival, part of the rich cultural climate in Edmonton’s core since 2004.
Marysville Daze June 6 Kimberley, BC www.kimberley.ca
A pancake breakfast is followed by entertainment from bands, displays and performances by dance groups and gymnasts. There is a craft fair with merchandise for purchase from all over the Kootenays. In the evening, for the over 19s, there is a spectacular light show and a dance hosted by a well-known DJ.
Music in the Park - Ashcroft June 10 - August 26 Heritage Place Park, Ashcroft, BC windingriversarts.ca
Presented by Winding Rivers Arts & Performance Society. The popular evening Concerts at the Gazebo in Heritage Place Park on Railway Ave. are held every 2nd Wednesday evening throughout the Summer. Bring a chair, a blanket, a picnic dinner or buy dinner from one of our food vendors.
Victoria Conservatory of Music Summer Concert Series June 10 - August 8 Victoria, BC vcm.bc.ca
A summer concert series featuring dozens of young rising stars, VCM faculty and international musicians from the VCM Summer Academy Programs. Check website for dates, times and locations.
June 10 - August 26 Marine Peace Park, Salmon Arm, BC salmonarmdowntown.com
Each Wednesday evening at 6:45pm at the gazebo one can enjoy a live music concert on the beautiful shores of Shuswap Lake. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, and be ready to dance. More information can be found on the website.
Chetwynd International Chainsaw Carving Championship June 11 - 14 Chetwynd, BC www.chetwyndchainsawchampionship.com
Chainsaw artists from Australia, Japan, USA, and Canada will gather for the 11th annual carving competition. The weekend draws thousands of people for food, fun and music while watching the chainsaw artists vie for top prizes. Brochures for selfguided tours are available at the Visitor Centre. Admission: free. RV camping available in town and more nearby.
1913 Days June 12 - 14 Sylvan Lake, AB www.sylvanlake.ca
Parade, kidszone, family activities.
Interior Savings Fat Cat Children’s Festival June 12 - 13 Waterfront Park, Kelowna, BC www.fatcatfestival.ca/home
Experience all kinds of great workshops, actitivity stations and performers. Bang your djembe drums, play in the mud, carve soapstone or practice circus yoga. All kinds of fun, exploratory workshops await you, plus a parade.
Annual 12PENDER HARBOUR th
blues festival june 5, 6, 7
Featuring
The Boom Booms, Murray Porter, Paul Pigat, Jim Byrnes, Lloyd Jones, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Gary Comeau, The Blue Line Trio
... 2015 www.penderharbourbluesfestival.com and more!
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may - june festivals Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival June 12 - 14 Haines Junction, YK yukonbluegrass.com
Presenting the best bluegrass bands in North America in one of the most spectacular settings in the world.
Lumby Days June 12 - 14 Whitevalley Community Centre, Lumby, BC www.lumbydays.ca
Lumberjack show, sporting events, live music, art show and market, vendors, kids zone and more.
Seafest-Prince Rupert June 12 - 14 Prince Rupert, BC prspecialevents.com
Features family entertainment, a seniors’ tea, youth blockstock, a parade, downtown events and games, and various harbour waterfront events such as a sailpast, flypast, kayak races, and a children’s fishing derby.
Spirit of the Peace Pow Wow June 12 - 14 Taylor, BC calendar.powwows.comevents/spiritof-the-peace-powwow-9th-annualpowwow-2nd-annual-competitionpowwow A traditional Pow wow held at the District Ice Center in Taylor, BC (14km south of Fort St. John). A Free family event that will include Native arts and crafts vendors, Native cuisine, an elders care tent, a hand drum contest and more.
Summerland Bluegrass Festival
Sweetwater 905 Arts Festival
June 12 - 14 Rodeo Grounds, Summerland, BC www.summerlandbluegrass.com
June 12 - 14 Sweetwater Road, near Rolla, BC www.sweetwater905.com
Schedule provides many hours of on-stage open mic for individuals or groups. On Saturday evening, we host a feature band from 7 to 9 pm. Join us for continuous fun with Band Scrambles, Seminars, and evening jams. We have unlimited parking for dry camping RVs. Enjoy the nearby Kettle Valley Steam Railway or visit some wonderful Okanagan Wineries.
Sunstroke Music Festival June 12 - 13 Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre, Whitehorse, YK www.triplejsmusic.ca
10th and Final Year! Enjoy live music under the midnight sun. Beginning in the afternoon and lasting till the wee hours of the morning, this family and pet friendly event helps welcome the summer solstice. Purchase a weekend pass or day passes at the door.
This truly unique festival is set on the sprawling pastoral home and working ranch of Emily and Larry Mattson. A celebration of music, poetry, visual and performing arts, Sweetwater 905 brings together a wide range of amazing talent. The stage is set for a great slate of performers booked and ready to sing, play, and exhibit their artworks and creativity.
Tiny Lights Festival June 12 - 14 Ymir, BC www.tinylightsfestival.com
The Tiny Lights Festival is a festival unlike any other held annually. Over 50 performances, workshops in spoken word, theatre, and film all happening at six historic buildings in Ymir, BC.
Arts Without Borders June 13 - 23 Lloydminster, AB www.artswithoutborders.ca
Street festival, street dance, art market, celebration of the arts.
Back-Alley Concert Series June 13 - August 29 The Firehall Brewery, Oliver, BC www.firehallbrewery.com
Grassroots Live Music, beverage garden, fresh craft beer, local wines, grassroots live music. June 13th Tiger Moon; July 18th Devon Coyote; August 29th Lefty. Tickets pre-sold at Pappa’s Firehall Bistro. No Minors - Centennial Park Campground Nearby.
Children’s Festival Pirates Faire June 14 Mission, BC missionartscouncil.ca
One of the highlights of the Mission Arts Council year and a great kick-off to summer, this day is fun filled for children and the young-art-heart. Music, dance, juggling, games, numerous art workstations, pony rides, bouncy balloon and more guarantee smiles and laughter all around.
June 5 to 7, 2015 • Prince George www.cassetetefestival.com
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may - june festivals PRISMA - Pacific Region International Summer Music Academy June 15 - 27 Powell River, BC www.orchestra-academy.ca
The Pacific Region International Summer Music Academy (PRISMA) offers a unique program that prepares music students and young professionals for a career in music performance. It is designed to assist students in obtaining the necessary tools to win a position in a professional orchestra.
Long Days Night Music Festival June 18 - 21 Swift Current, SK www.windscapekitefestival.ca/longdays-night-music-festival/long-daysnight
Celebrate four of the longest days of the year with great music and lots of fun under a big-top tent at Marston Street and 11th Ave SW, in Swift Current, Saskatchewan.
Vancouver International Jazz Festival June 18 - July 1 Vancouver, BC www.coastaljazz.ca
British Columbia’s biggest music presentation brings the world’s best bands to Vancouver while drawing over half a million people to 35 indoor and outdoor stages. The internationally acclaimed event features over 1,800 artists.
Campbell Bay Music Festival June 19 - 20 Mayne Island, BC www.campbellbaymusicfest.com
The Campbell Bay Music Fest begins at 5pm on Friday night and runs until 11pm, continues Saturday morning with a 4-band show on the bandstand at the Mayne Island Farmers Market, and moves back to mainstage on the farm Saturday afternoon until 11 pm.
Miners Memorial Weekend June 18 - 20 Cumberland, BC www.cumberlandmuseum.ca
Conscious Culture Festival June 19 - 21 Tonasket, WA USA consciousculturefestival.com
The Conscious Culture Festival brings together music, art & education that promotes equality, sustainability, justice, healthy living, organic farming and an all around conscious lifestyle in a one of a kind music festival featuring reggae, rock, folk, electronic, world music & beyond.
Edmonton International Jazz Festival June 19 - 29 Edmonton, AB www.edmontonjazz.com
The Edmonton Jazz Festival Society instills in audiences the appreciation of jazz music as a diverse art form, connecting regional audiences with provincial, national and international jazz artists. The Society is dedicated to providing a professional and supportive environment for jazz artists to perform, collaborate, and celebrate with the people of Edmonton, jazz music from across the globe.
Freezer Burn June 19 - 22 near Ponoka, AB www.freezerburn.org
A three day labour history and labour issues festival featuring film, heritage tours and music. The event welcomes hundreds of attendees from across Western Canada and as far away as the UK including workers and their families, activists, artists, writers, academics, community leaders, musicians and many others.
Freezer Burn is the annual Burning Man event for the Alberta region. We create a temporary community out on the prairie to strengthen our ties with old friends, and to forge friendships with newcomers to the Burning Man experience.
Sam Steele Days June 18 - 21 Cranbrook, BC www.samsteeledays.org
Cranbrook’s annual festival held at Spirit Square featuring fun and excitement for the whole family including a kids’ fun zone, strongman competition, parade, ball tournament, community stage entertainment, arts and crafts and displays.
Eco EcoSociety
Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival
Cottonwood 2015 Community marketFest market street Parties
June 18 - 21 Seldovia, AK
The Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival is an annual event held in Seldovia, Alaska. Featuring fine musicians and performers from Alaska, the United States, and beyond.
Every Saturday Two stages of live May 16 to music & 100 vendors! October 31 6 pm to 10:30 pm Live music from 10 June 26, July 24, am to 2:30 pm August 21
ecosociety.ca | 250.354.1909
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may - june festivals Ceremony on Friday and two more days of non-stop entertainment on the World Beat Stage, fabulous food and shopping, and of course, dragon boat racing of the highest calibre.
Gibsons Landing Jazz Festival June 19 - 21 Gibsons Landing, BC coastjazz.com
The festival weekend is preceded by Jazz Week, a full week of live music in local restaurants and other venues to promote the talented musicians on the Sunshine Coast and create interest in the Jazz Festival weekend. The weekend festival will include workshops, 2 days of outdoor stage performances overlooking the stunning Gibsons Harbour, just a 40 minute ferry ride from Vancouver.
FernFest June 19 - 20 Victoria, BC fernwoodnrg.ca/events-directory/ fernfest
June 19 - 21 Driftpile, AB lslncca.ca/current
A fantastic celebration of the summer solstice, camping, friendship and music. Summer Solstice, sometimes known as Midsummer, Litha, or St. John’s Day, occurs in the middle of June. It is a celebration of the longest day of the year and the beginning of Summer. It has been a grand tribal gathering time since ancient times. It is a festival of community sharing and planetary service.
Held at the Sooke River Campground, the event is family friendly and features a wide range of local acoustic talent, food vendors and music workshops.
Summer Solstice Festival d’ete June 19 - 20 Gravelbourg, SK summersolsticefestivaldete.com
Celebrate the spirit of our Southern Saskatchewan landscape through art, music, dance, literature and drama providing a living, interactive diary of culture - things of the spirit - to local, provincial and regional audiences.
5 1, 201 19–2
North Country Fair
June 19 - 20 Sooke River Campground, Sooke, BC sookebluegrass.comfestival
June 19 - 21 Vancouver, BC dragonboatbc.ca
This annual festival is a Free event featuring the colourful Eye Dotting
24 BC Musician Magazine’s
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Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival
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June 19 - 20 Banff, AB www.banfflakelouise.comArea-Event
Celebrate mountain and cultural heritage and the importance of protected places while having some rollicking fun in a great location, with friends, family, and great tunes. Bring your dancing shoes.
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Michael Occhipinti & The Sicilian Jazz Project
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STREET FESTIVAL in the ‘Landing’ & more
Over 90 performances on 11 stages in downtown Victoria. A full schedule and ticket info available on the web site. Jazzfest will offer workshops and clinics during the week. Check out the fantastic food village and Big Rock Beer Garden at Centennial Square.
The Works Art and Design Festival June 19 - July 1 Edmonton, AB www.theworks.ab.ca
The Works International Visual Arts Society produces The Works Art & Design Festival which attracts artists and patrons from around the world, boosting the energy and imagination of Downtown Edmonton at the start of every summer. The Works is a free event that draws an audience representing all ages and interests, offering over 200 exciting exhibits and special events to the public.
June 20 - 21 Swift Current, SK www.windscapekitefestival.ca
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June 19 - 28 Victoria, BC jazzvictoria.ca/jazz-fest
SaskPower Windscape Kite Festival
JUNE
A neighbourhood celebration, 20 years strong, featuring an eclectic line-up of music that you might not know but are guaranteed to love. FernFest always showcases the talent that is alive in the local music scene. Best of all, the event is free to attend.
Sooke River Bluegrass Festival
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Jazz Brunch, Free Outdoor Fest, Jazz Vespers
This world-class event attracts kite flyers, enthusiasts and fun loving people from across the globe to one prairie field to enjoy an exciting weekend of kiting and family fun. This free admission festival features fabulous art kites, giant creature kites, speeding kite buggies, screaming stunt kites, and battling fighter kites. Kids of all ages will enjoy balloon sculpting, the bubble station, mystery sandpile, juggling tent, face-painting, straw bale maze, and ongoing kite workshops.
Sunshine Festival June 20 Vernon, BC downtownvernon.com
2015 is the 21st Annual Downtown Vernon Sunshine Festival. Block after block of outstanding bargains, great live entertainment, children’s activities, street cafes, art and cultural performances bring crowds out to downtown Vernon. Rock out at the main stage, stroll the avenue with a refreshment in hand, or relax at a patio café.
JAZZ WEEK JUNE 13–18 WRISTBAND SPECIALS Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
may - june festivals Surrey Fest Downtown
Pacific Rim Summer Festival
June 20 Surrey, BC surreyfest.com
The Surrey Fest Downtown (originally known as the Whalley Community Festival) was formed in 1999 to promote and celebrate community pride through a day of fun and entertainment for all ages while providing a venue for groups and organizations to inform the community of their services. Takes place at Central City Plaza & North Surrey Rec Centre.
Car Free Vancouver Day June 21 Vancouver, BC www.carfreevancouver.org
Commercial Drive, Kitsilano, Main Street & West End. Help transform your neighbourhoods into a brilliant carnival. Bring your ideas, bring your friends, bring your family and participate in this year’s celebration.
June 21 - July 1 Tofino/Ucluelet, BC pacificrimarts.ca
The Pacific Rim Arts Society presents the Annual Pacific Rim Summer Festival with events taking place in Ucluelet, the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, and Tofino. Art shows, live entertainment, events, and workshops.
Music by the River June 21 - August 23 Belvidere Park, Enderby, BC enderbyartscouncil.ca
Music by the River is at Belvidere Park by the bridge in Enderby. Enjoy four Sundays of live music June 21, July 12, July 26 at 7pm and August 23rd at 3pm.
Round the Mountain June 21 Kimberley, BC roundthemountain.ca
Kid’s races, live music, food and drinks will provide fun and entertainment for everyone. Participate in Kimberley’s Round the Mountain Race (RTM) on the RTM trail.
Midnight Sun Festival June 21 Fairbanks, AK downtownfairbanks.comevents/ midnight-sun-festival
Sled Island Festival
Alaska’s largest single day event plays host to over 30,000 fans who take 33 live musical performances on three stages, over 180 booths of arts, crafts, merchandise, information, food, and fun. Skateboarding, face painting, extreme car racing, paddler’s river slalom race, break dancing, pony rides, vintage motors, BBQ cook-off, gold panning, break dancing, celestial shopping, and fabulous food.
June 24 - 28 Calgary, AB www.sledisland.com
Featuring over 250 bands plus comedy, film and art in 30 venues.
Dauphins Countryfest
local, national and international entertainment on three separate stages. Nestled on the north side of Riding Mountain National Park, the festival site is 10 km south of the City of Dauphin, Manitoba, and is home to the most beautiful outdoor amphitheatre in Western Canada.
Make Music Vancouver la fete de la Musique June 25 Vancouver, BC www.makemusicvancouver.ca
Many areas around downtown Vancouver in addition to Gastown and Yaletown, 1,200 musicians, 300 bands, 70 music spots, 35,000 people! It is entirely Free. All you have to do is show up between 2 and 10pm, and enjoy the show. Make Music Event is celebrated every year in more than 460 cities in over 100 countries around the world.
SASKTEL Saskatchewan Jazz Festival June 25 - July 5 Saskatoon, SK saskjazz.com
Taking place in the heart of the Bridge City in the middle of summer, this jazz festival boasts a following like no other. With eclectic choices for performers from small to mainstage, this is one of the staple events of a summer in Saskatoon.
39 Days of July Cowichan Summer Festival June 26 - August 3 Duncan, BC cowichanfestival.com
June 25 - 28 Dauphin, MB countryfest.ca
Canada’s longest running four day country music festival is held annually every July long weekend, and features the best in
Music daily in the train station park from noon till 8pm with concerts on the 5 Walkabout Wednesdays in City Square, 6 Event Sundays.
summer street music festival
presented by the Revelstoke Arts Council
Sean Ashby Sarah Burton Band The Rev The Rev Basement Attics Charlie Burton Charlie Burton Relative Jazz Sister Speak Jessica Stuart Few Concerts run June 26 through August 30, 6:00-9:00. For full lineup visit www.revelstokeartscouncil.com June 26 June 27 June 28 June 29 June 30 June 29 July 1 July 2 July 3
Community Band Lindsay May Sharon Shook Kenny Holliday Kenny Holliday Kenny Holliday Sean Ashby Devon Coyote Cave Women
July 4 July 5 July 6 July 7 July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12
Joanne Stacey Cornstarr Steve Palmer Steve Palmer Maritime Kitchen Party Michael Wood Band Andrew & Zack Smith Dennis Severino Blackberry Wood
July 13 July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 July 20 July 21
Blue Rose Revival Mountain Music Duo Stacie Byrne Big City Mike MacKenzie Band Mike Alviano Ben Caldwell Twin Peaks Toby
BC Musician Magazine’s
July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 July 26 July 27 July 28 July 29 July 30 July 31
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015 25
may - june festivals Adaka Cultural Festival
MarketFest
June 26 - July 2 Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre, Whitehorse, YK adakafestival.ca
June 26 - August 21 Nelson, BC ecosociety.ca/markets/market-fest
Offers a vibrant program filling an incredible 8 days of traditional and contemporary music, dance, drumming, art & craft, storytelling, film, cultural presentations, workshops, artist demonstrations, a community feast and much more.
Bud Country Fever June 26 - 28 Grande Prairie, AB budcountryfever.com
Penticton Elvis Festival
Bud Country Fever has constantly looked to the future while holding strong to the local ties that have helped this festival become the highlight of the summer for many in the Peace Country. Evergreen Park has been the home of Bud Country Fever since its beginning.
Funtastic Festival June 26 - 29 Vernon, Armstrong & Enderby, BC funtasticsports.ca
The Funtastic Summer Festival features four nights of 70’s, 80’s, 90’s & Country music under the stars at the region’s biggest outdoor concert. Beverage gardens, daytime contests, and more than 4500 athletes participating in North Americas largest slo-pitch tournament.
Inshala Festival June 26 - 29 Fort McCloud, AB inshala.ca
A family orientated weekend event in the great outdoors of Southern Alberta. From speakers to movement workshops to art explorations. There will also be a kids zone, art installations and a walking labyrinth. Our evenings will be filled with soothing sounds, groovy beats, and inspiring performers for all ages.
Lighthouse Bluegrass Music Festival June 26 - 28 Qualicum Bay, BC lighthousebluegrass.com
June 26 - 28 Penticton, BC pentictonelvisfestival.com
An annual event taking place in the picturesque city of Penticton. Features dozens of tribute artists gracing outdoor stages set around Okanagan Lake. Headliner at Penticton Trade & Convention Centre.
Revelstoke Street Fest June 26 - August 31 Grizzly Plaza, Revelstoke, BC revelstokeartscouncil.comevents/ revelstoke-spirit-festival
Nationally recognized as the jewel in Revelstoke’s cultural crown, the Revelstoke Arts Council proudly presents the Summer Street Festival every year. Each evening from approximately the end of June through to the end of August, the Revelstoke Arts Council provides free live music in Grizzly Plaza. With a diverse range of unique artists, the Summer Street Festival is fun for the whole family.
Tall Tree Music Festival June 26 - 28 Port Renfrew, BC talltreemusicfestival.com
Held atop Browns Mountain in beautiful Port Renfrew BC, Tall Tree Music Festival rounds out its lineup with exciting and diverse emerging artists and established favourites.
Comox Valley Youth Music Camp and Festival of Summer Sounds
Premiere pickin festival. Excellent facility, 5 minutes to the ocean, first class music & camping on grounds.
26 BC Musician Magazine’s
MarketFest is back for three nights this summer! Fridays June 26, July 24, August 21 on Downtown Baker Street is transformed into a lively night market featuring 100 vendors, two stages of live music, dance performances, kid’s entertainment and more. MarketFest is fun for the whole family. A $5 donation for admission is kindly requested for anyone over 18. Everyone is welcome, whether you make a donation or not!
June 27 - July 24 Comox, BC cymc.ca
This acclaimed summer school and festival features Jazz, Classical, Strings, Piano, and Musical Theatre programs and performances (both student and faculty) through the month of July.
Giants Head Freeride LongBoard Race June 27 - 30 Summerland, BC giantsheadfreeride.com
Music, skateboarding, camping.
Saskatoonberry Festival June 27 Mortlach, SK www.mortlach.ca/saskatoonberry_festival.html Community event for everyone!
Whistler art walk June 27 - August 31 Whistler Village, BC www.artswhistler.com/events/artwalk
A two-month, self-guided walking tour, which launches with a day of street animation followed by a series of evening socials held at galleries throughout the village.
Greek Day on Broadway June 28 Vancouver, BC www.greekday.comindex.html
Takes place on Broadway, from MacDonald to Blenheim Street in Vancouver from 11 am11p m. Food and beverage vendors, market place, performances, and a kids zone.
Victoria Pride Festival June 28 - July 5 Victoria, BC victoriapridesociety.org
Featuring a parade, live bands, drag performances, vendors, food fair, community groups, kid’s entertainment and a beer garden. More events are held throughout the week, including drag baseball, a dog walk, whale watching, boat cruise and a youth dance.
Grand Forks International Baseball Tournament June 30 - July 5 James Donaldson Park, Grand Forks, BC www.grandforksbaseball.com
6 days, 12 teams and 25 games. Special Opening Ceremonies and Saturday Evening Entertainment with Country Music Recording Artist Amanda Thate
Magnificent River Rats Festival June 30 - July 1 Athabasca, AB riverratsfestival.com
Bringing Athabasca and surrounding communities together to enjoy music, local artisans, and many other family oriented activities.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
july festivals Mountain Mosaic Festival of the Arts
Victoria’s Ska & Reggae Festival
July 1 Cultural Centre, Invermere, BC www.columbiavalleyarts.com
Free Festival for the whole family at Kinsmen Beach, following the Canada Day Parade. Enjoy the Home Hardware Festival Stage featuring live entertainment. Art Tents, Build-a-Boat Contest, Clowns, Bounce Castles and more. Participate in the Transformation Station with tattoos and face painting. A variety of Food kiosks. From 12 to 3 pm.
Music and More Concert Series July 1 - August 26 Salish Park, Chilliwack, BC chilliwackartscouncil.com
Every Wednesday noon in July and August a one hour activity is created that would interest and engage children. Every Wednesday evening at 7pm during the months of July and August a one hour concert.
Music in the Park-Kamloops July 1 - August 31 Kamloops, BC www.tourismkamloops.com/musicin-the-park-in-kamloops-britishcolumbia
Free musical entertainment every evening during July & August in the Rotary Bandshell at Riverside Park, 7-8:30pm. Bring a picnic and lawn games.
Parks Alive! July 1 - August 31 Kelowna, BC www.festivalskelowna.com
Parks Alive! present live concerts and other art based activities throughout July & August in many of Kelowna’s most unique outdoor venues.
Victoria BC Ska Society presents the 16th Annual Ska & Reggae Fest bringing fans the best ska, reggae, dancehall, dub, rock, jazz and Latin music from across the world.
Astral Harvest Music & Arts Festival July 2 - 5 Driftpile, AB www.astralharvest.com
Family-friendly atmosphere is part of the magic, with a playground and child-centered activities. 4 stages, 3 nights, DJs, live music, workshops, performances, conferences, live art.
Filberg Park Summer Concert Series July 2 - August 20 Filberg Heritage Park, Comox, BC filberg.com
A series of five Thursday evening concerts
GOAT: A Festival by Animal Productions July 2 - 5 Victoria, BC animalproductions.ca
Inaugural underground festival with showcases curated by artists and collections.
Jazz at the Plaza July 2 - August 27 Salmon Arm, BC salmonarmdowntown.com
Free, outdoor, evening concerts every second Thursday starting at 7pm.
Oliver Music in the Park July 2 - August 27 Oliver, BC oliverartscouncil.org
Experience live music paired with the best little night market in the Okanagan Valley! Oliver Community Park Stage, Thursdays, Market 4:30 - 8:30, music 6:30 - 8:30.
Performances in the ParkWilliams Lake July 2 - August 20 Boitanio Park, Williams Lake, BC www.centralcaribooarts.com/events/ performancespark.html
The concert series will feature two acts each week; one at 6pm to showcase performances including youth, theatre, dance, musical and fashion shows, followed by a headline act from 7 to 8 pm. All acts will be family friendly.
All Folk’d Up in Montmartre July 3 - 5 Kemoca Regional Park, Montmartre, SK allfolkedup.net/index.html Family friendly event with three days of music on two stages.
Sacred Music, Sacred Dance Festival July 1 - 5 Johnsons Landing, BC www.JohnsonsLandingRetreat.bc.ca
Akbar, Amir, Majida and Sreemayi will lead the Dances of Universal Peace for a heart opening experience. Limited to 50 dancers so register early. Karma Yoga trades available. Free Camping.
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July 1 - 5 Victoria, BC victoriaskafest.ca
in beautiful Filberg Park. Bring a picnic or make a reservation at the Filberg Tea House for an early dinner. Check website for dates.
Calgary Stampede July 3 - 12 Calgary, AB www.calgarystampede.com
The Stampede promotes volunteerism, presents a year-round slate of events, investing in youth and agricultural programs, and developing a unique western experience for the world to enjoy.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
july festivals Coast. 3 Nights of a collection of cutting edge musicians, artists, teachers, and visionaries from around the globe. 400 tickets.
Lasqueti Arts Fest July 3 - 5 Lasqueti Island, BC www.lasqueti.ca
Musicians, artists, and poets gather for a weekend of revelry to show their talents
Carlton Trail Jamboree July 3 - 5 Rabbitt Lake, SK carltontrailjamboree.com/Carlton_ Trail_Jamboree/Welcome.html
Featuring a line-up of Canada’s finest country music entertainers and new talent.
Cates Park Concert Series July 3 - August 29 Deep Cove, BC musart.ca
The Cates Park Concert Series is a free, outdoor concert series that occurs on Saturdays in July and August from 4pm to 7pm on the waterfront stage in front of the food consession in Cates Park. This series provides the opportunity for exposure for original bands and artists to the local community.
Edmonton International Street Performers Festival July 3 - 12 Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton, AB edmontonstreetfest.com
Lunch Box Stage July 3 - August 28 Salmon Arm, BC salmonarmdowntown.com
Summertime Community Music Stage in the heart of Salmon Arm’s beautiful downtown.
Music At The Cannery July 3 - August 28 Steveston Village, Richmond, BC www.beatmerchant.com
Music at the Cannery happens Every Friday night in July and August. Shows start at 6:30 pm. Admission is by Donation. Open Air Shows unless weather is bad then we move inside the Cannery. Seating for 160. Some of the artists appearing this year are Les Finnigan, Irish Wakers, Ralph Shaw and Charlotte Diamond.
Music in the Landing July 3 - August 30 Gibsons Landing, BC
Free concerts in the park all summer long in Gibsons Landing. Please check facebook page for various locations and times.
Penticton Rib Festival
Featuring every conceivable act from magician to mime, catapult to cabbage catcher, living statue to fire eater, over four million visitors have experienced it.
Luminosity Project: July 3 - 6 Sunshine Coast, BC www.luminosityproject.ca
July 3 - 5 Lake Okanagan Park, Penticton, BC www.pentictonribfest.com
A full weekend of fantastic family fun including a rib cook-off between four champion BBQ teams from across Canada, music throughout the entire event, entertainment and activities for children and youth, as well as a beverage garden and vendors.
Third annual gathering. New location set deep within the rainforest of the Sunshine
Smithers Midsummer Music Festival July 3 - 5 Smithers, BC www.smithersmusicfest.com
The Midsummer Music Festival is a family oriented entertaining time featuring a diverse mix of musicians and musical styles. Plus exciting and entertaining opportunities for children, with crafts and organized activities plus their own stage.
Spark the Vibe July 3 - 4 Holland Park, Surrey, BC fvdedinthepark.com
Line-up includes a variety of musical genres, including house, R&B, hip hop and more, up to 22,000 people are expected to attend the ticketed festival daily set on 14 acres of park-space and close to rapid transit.
Sunshine Cabaret July 3 - August 29 Penticton, BC downtownpenticton.org/site/ sunshine-cabaret
Live music featuring a wide variety of performers from rock & roll to jazz, country, blues, swing, etc there is something for everyone to enjoy. The entertainment series will once again be headlined by performances in Gyro Park from 7-9pm.
East Van Summer Jam July 4 Vancouver, BC timbreconcerts.com/event/east-vansummer-jam-2015
Strathcona Park, noon to 9:30 pm, all ages. Supporting a multicultural cross-section of community groups and non-profit organizations. Line up includes The Boom Booms and more. Dancing!
The Bulkley Valley Folk Music Society presents:
PICK A PIPER • Miss Quincy and the Showdown • RANDOM DANDER • Rachelle Van Zanten • ADRIAN GLYNN & FRINGE PERCUSSION • Buckman Coe • OLD CABIN • Bobs and Lolo • PHONOTACTIC • Napoleon Skywalker
Ju ly 3,4 LIVE Music, & Kids’ FunZone, 5 Food & Crafts, Camping!
Don’t Wait Fer the Gate!
BUY TICKETS ONLINE to WIN
Grand Prizes!
www.smithersmusicfest.com Thank you to our 2015 Platinum/Gold Sponsors
InteriorNEWS THE
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july festivals First Saturday in Kimberley July 4 - October 3 Kimberley, BC www.kimberleyarts.com
Celebrations of arts, culture & heritage. Every first Saturday of the month, downtown Kimberley. Live entertainment, Arts Avenue, art & craft demonstrations and more.
Open Air Performances
Concerts in the Park - Ladysmith July 5 - 10 Ladysmith, BC www.lrca.bc.ca/concerts.asp
Sunset and Music at beautiful Transfer Beach in Ladysmith BC – what better way to spend your Sunday evenings this summer? Picnic by the sea while you listen to our fantastic line-up for 2015. By donation.
destination mainstage
July 4 - August 29 Lake Country, BC openairperformances.com
Free concert performances Saturday evenings 6pm. Various locations please check website for details.
RECESS July 4 North Eastern, WA www.photosynthesisfestival.com 2+ stages for 2+ days from the Photosynthesis family.
Symphony on the Mountain July 4 Kimberley, BC www.symphonyonthemountain.com
Symphony on the Mountain is coming to the top of Northstar Mountain at Kimberley Alpine Resort. Listen to beautiful music and enjoy wonderful views.
Adstock July 5 Memorial Peace Park, Maple Ridge, BC
Adstock is a free, outdoor, alternative music festival in the heart of Maple Ridge at the Bandstand in Memorial Peace Park. The show highlights youth bands and acoustic acts and will also host some of the best bands in punk, metal, ska and hardcore that Vancouver has to offer.
July 5 - 11 Kamloops, BC tbcmainstage.ca
Seven day play festival held at Sagebrush Theatre in Kamloops.
Jam Camp By The Sea July 5 - 10 Salt Spring Island, BC jamcamp.org
Jam Camp is a musical adventure for families of all ages and musical experience! For 3-5 days, Jam Campers camp with our multinational crew of facilitators, and explore music that celebrates life, nature, and cultural diversity. From African drumming to classical violin, Jam Camp encourages families to use their instruments to jam with other musicians and to create new, original songs. Come join the fun!
Summer Sounds July 5 - August 30 Beacon Park, Sidney, BC www.sidney.ca
Every Sunday in July and August, bring your lawn chair or blanket down to Beacon Park and listen to a variety of musical entertainment from 2:00 - 4:00 pm.
Homecoming
~ Art & Demos ~ Community BBQ ~ Live Music on the Beach
PRISMA 2015 JUNE 15 – 27
Daily musical events!
orchestra-academy.ca
Tickets can be purchased online Christina Lake Homecoming Summer Festival 250.447.9771
32 BC Musician Magazine’s
Free concerts every Sunday, 2-4 pm. Featuring top Vancouver and area R&B, soul, funk and blues bands at Rocky Point Park.
Jammin’ in Justice July 8 - August 26 Justice Park, Vernon, BC downtownvernon.com
Take a well-deserved break every Wednesday afternoon and relax in Justice Park. Jammin’ in Justice features smaller local bands and visiting entertainers, perfect for an outdoor lunch outing and mid-day dance session.
Music in the Park Brentwood Bay July 8 - August 26 Brentwood Bay, BC mypeninsula.ca
Each summer in July and August, we host outdoor concerts on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 in Pioneer Park. Bring a chair, a blanket, a picnic dinner, or buy dinner from one of our food vendors. Come early - the park fills fast!
Music in the Park - Nakusp July 8 - August 26 Nakusp, BC nakusparrowlakes.com
Free music for the whole family every Wednesday evening, 6:30-8pm. Everyone welcome. Bring a lawn chair.
July 9 - 12 Squamish, BC burnintheforest.gvias.org
Summerfest July 10 & 11 Grand Finale “Light Up the Lake Boat Parade” with $$ Prizes
July 5 - August 30 Rocky Point Park, Port Moody, BC www.summersundays.ca
Burn in the Forest
Christina Lake
Everyone Welcome!
Summer Sundays Concerts Port Moody
orchestra-academy.ca/tickets
At the PRISMA office in the Mall, Breakwater Books, and at the door one hour before concerts at the Evergreen Theatre, Powell River, BC
This is a regional Burning Man event for BC. Our community is built on the participation of its members and from the simple exchange of food, stories, or a lending hand, to the elaborate construction of an interactive art project
Craven Country Jamboree July 9 - 12 Craven, SK cravencountryjamboree.com
The “World’s Greatest Country Music Festival” is the longest running multi-day music festival in Canada. It has been on the same site for 30 years - in the middle of the beautiful Qu’Appelle Valley.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
Experience live music paired with the best little night market in the Okanagan Valley!
Music in the Park
will be held Thursdays 6:30 - 8:30 pm July 2 – Sept 3
5th Annual
Evening Market 4:30-8:30
www.oliverartscouncil.org www.oliverrecreation.ca
JULY 11 & 12, 2015 OLIVER COMMUNITY PARK For more info visit www.oliverrecreation.ca
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Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015 33
july festivals and more. Our festival keeps growing every year, and is a highlight of the summer for our area.
Atlin Arts & Music Festival A family-friendly festival including an exciting collection of accomplished and emerging musicians and visual artists, art and music workshops and kids’ activities. Free camping with ticket purchase.
Indian Summer July 9 - 19 Vancouver, BC indiansummerfest.ca
Oliver Sunshine Festival
July 10 - 12 Atlin, BC www.atlinfestival.ca
Annual Canadian literary festival held mid-July each year. Bringing the best and brightest literary and publishing talent to the number one arts town in Canada.
Basscoast Summer Festival July 10 - 13 Merritt, BC www.basscoast.ca
A festival of arts, ideas and diversity.
Jammin’ in Jubilee Concerts in thePark Concert series every Thursday night. Over six weeks Jubilee park becomes host to 23 bands, a variety of cultural performances, an art market, curated exhibits, and 4500 attendees.
July 10 - 11 Peace River, AB peacefest.com
July 10 - 12 Pass Creek Fairgrounds, Castlegar, BC bluegrassjamboree.ca Held at Pass Creek Exhibition Grounds and features open mic sessions, pancake breakfast Saturday, band scramble, and bluegrass gospel Sunday. Dry camping available. Child up to 6 free.
July 9 - 12 Winnipeg, MB winnipegfolkfestival.ca
10 stages of music to explore at this family friendly festival.
Concerts Friday and Saturday night, Saturday street fair and activities for kids and the whole family.
Bluegrass Jamboree at Pass Creek
Winnipeg Folk Fest
Arts on the Fly
Christina Lake Summer Homecoming Festival
July 10 - 11 Horsefly, BC artsonthefly.com
July 10 - 11 Christina Lake, BC www.christinalake.com
Over the past years we have introduced artists from around the world to our small community, growing to a two day festival with multiple venues, workshops, kids areas
Come Home to the Lake! Discover Canada’s warmest tree lined lake, nestled in the mountains of Boundary Country and experience the charm of this Community Summerfest packed with lots of fun! Mar-
Come enjoy 2 nights and 2 days of free family-friendly fun in beautiful Oliver, BC. Friday night and Saturday live stage music and dance entertainment, beverage gardens, kids activities, food vendors & more at Oliver Community Park & Stage. Parade Saturday at 10am.
Peace Festival
Each year Bass Coast offers an eclectic mix of emerging Canadian electronic producers alongside internationally renowned artists.
July 9 - August 13 Jubilee Park, Abbotsford, BC jaminjubilee.com
July 10 - 11 Oliver, BC www.oliverrecreation.ca
Pembina River Nights July 10 - 11 Rangeton Park, AB asmallshieldmusic.ca
Small intimate festival, family friendly, ckua listeners, good crowd, by the river, camping. Canadian and International musicians, all styles.
Theatre Under the Stars July 10 - August 22 Malkin Bowl, Vancouver, BC tuts.ca
Theatre Under the Stars presents two musical theatre shows a summer, performances alternate evenings of Oliver, The Musical and Hairspray, The Broadway Musical.
Kootenay Festivals Events & Camps
Reasonable Pricing • 1(250) 366-4402
August 5-9 Family Artists Camp
-21 amp 5 1 ust mer C g u A Sum Chi i a T
Wise Women’s Festival
July 9 - 12 Nelson, BC www.emlfestival.com
ket, demos, displays, music, performances, family beach party, grand finale “Light Up The Lake” boat parade for cash prizes & More!
August 28-30
Elephant Mountain Literary Festival
July 1-5 • Dances of Universal Peace www.JohnsonsLandingRetreat.bc.ca 34 BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
july festivals Vancouver Island Music Fest July 10 - 12 Comox Valley Fairgrounds, Courtenay, BC www.islandmusicfest.com
Vancouver Island MusicFest is 3 days & nights of amazing roots, blues and world music from across Canada and around the world. 6 stages & over 75 concerts, on-site riverside camping, kids activities, ecoeducation areas, workshops, unique crafts, tasty foods & so much more.
Whistler Children’s Art Festival July 10 - 12 Whistler, BC www.artswhistler.com
The heart of Whistler village will be transformed with tents, balloons and stages. This fun-filled weekend features a multitude of hands-on art workshops led by professional artists in fine arts, crafts, theatre, multi-media, dance and music from across BC.
Willow Creek Cowboy Gathering July 10 - 12 Stavely, AB wccowboygathering.com
The weekend will include music, humour, tall tales, vendors offering handmade leather goods, jewellery, pottery, picture frames, silent auction and jam sessions.
Greenwood Founders’ Day July 11 Greenwood, BC www.greenwoodcity.com
Annual celebration of Greenwood’s birthday. Great fun for the whole family. Parade, exhibits, food vendors & entertainment.
Harrison Festival of the Arts July 11 - 19 Harrison Hot Springs, BC harrisonfestival.com
The Harrison Festival of the Arts has presented the best in performing and visual art from around the world set against the magnificent mountains and the sandy beaches of Harrison Lake. An event the whole family can enjoy featuring music (an outdoor and
indoor stage), a large outdoor art and craft market, workshops, a special day for children (of all ages) and much more.
Khatsahlano! Music + Art Festival July 11 Vancouver, BC www.shopwest4th.com/khatsahlano
Eight stages showcasing more than 50 of Vancouver’s top musical performers as well as the eclectic work of local artisans and street performers from 9am - 11pm. This 10-block street fair also features a wide variety of food options, special activities, and licensed outdoor beer gardens.
Saskatoon Reggae and World Music Festival July 11 Graham Park, Saskatoon, SK saskatoonreggaefestival.com
This young and vibrant festival have celebrated artists and performers from across Canada, consisting of First Nations, Caribbean, Latin and various other ethnic and cultural groups.
Not your average band camp. DIGITAL MUSIC PRODUCTION FOR TEENS
Digital Music Production Summer Camp Interested in electronic music, DJing, or music production? Want to record movie, TV, and video game music? Continuing Studies is offering a two-week summer camp in Digital Music Production for teens ages 13-18. Maximum 16 students. Bring your own headphones. For more information, contact: Deborah Holland, Program Coordinator dholland@langara.bc.ca | 604.218.4824 Learn more. www.langara.bc.ca/dmp
BC Musician Magazine’s
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goat: a festival by animal productions by Johnnie Regalado Move over you animals, a new festival is head-butting its way
into the hearts of Victoria’s underground music lovers. Across several downtown venues, from July 2nd to 5th, listen for the dissonant braying sounds of Animal Productions debut music festival: GOAT. The festival is the product of hours of toil by Animal’s Production Manager Ali Lopez and Booking Agent Phoenix Bain, along with the concentrated effort of their volunteer community. Animal Productions began in 2011 as a registered small business, but have since changed their focus and values to become a nonprofit. Along with the four years experience putting on concerts, their community connections have grown and that is exemplified in their upcoming festival. “So far people seem pretty stoked on the idea of supporting a small festival like [GOAT]. Victoria is a good community for these sorts of things,” says Lopez. “And they want to be part of something that’s new and exciting for them,” adds Bain. While Victoria is home to many great festivals already, GOAT looks to be an alternative. “It’s definitely underground…we’re representing a kind of marginalized area of music,” says Lopez. The festival offers a chance for Victoria locals to see another kind of music that is happening in Victoria. For those who think this scene is “boring,” Lopez believes “there will definitely be a direct plugging into a world that you didn’t know existed in Victoria and has been existing for years.” When planning their festival, Lopez and Bain examined other small scale, DIY festivals such as Vancouver’s Music Waste and the Ottawa Punk Explosion as examples. Animal Productions even looked towards larger festivals like Calgary’s Sled Island for guidance. “The guest curators was something we definitely drew from Sled Island,” says Lopez. “We work with a lot of cool people in the community…we figured why not ask them to do a showcase. We’re just kind of trying to create a ground for diversity and trying to showcase some of the diversity within Victoria.” Some of the festival curators include the Cloudsounds Collective of electronic music artists, the Vancouver Island Hardcore and Punk Society, limited-run cassette & lathe 7” label Craft Singles, and the Canadian DIY-music website Weird Canada. “If you’re a fan of Weird Canada, you’ll really like the festival,” says Bain. The festival’s lineup will include many local Victoria underground favourites like Jons, Psychosomatic ITCH and Novel, but many of the performers are travelling across the country to be a part of GOAT. Bands applied from locations like Montreal, Toronto, Halifax
and Sackville; all cities with burgeoning underground music communities of their own. A lot of interest for playing the festival was spread by word of mouth through friendly connections across the country. “It’s really interconnected,” says Bain, “a lot of bands know each other. We approach one band from Halifax and all of the sudden all of these bands from Halifax are interested.” Animal Productions learned a lot about the festival game when they collaborated with Shake! Records on the 2014 punk festival Shake/arama. They have taken what they learned and directed it towards a festival that is their own, representing a diverse range of musical styles. “We didn’t want to deter bands from applying because we were a one-genre festival,” says Bain. “It’s basically everything,” adds Lopez. Of course, planning a festival is never easy, but the problems that Animal have faced in planning GOAT can be filed under the ‘good kind’ category. “We had a lot of really good bands apply,” says Bain, “that was really hard.”
Planning a festival, especially a debut festival, is a kin to status report on a starship. “It went from lights flickering on and off in moving locations,” says Lopez, “and it’s finally gotten to the point where there’s a couple lights flickering here and there.” For anyone else thinking about starting their own music celebration in their city, Lopez and Bain offered some advice. “Smaller is definitely okay. Don’t be afraid to have a two-day festival...it’s always good to start small and build from there.” The pair of organizers are no strangers to adversity, when asked about the name of the festival, Lopez says “we just think it’s funny to play on the fact that we’re called Animal Productions and people always think we train animals for movies.” And in lots of ways, organizing festivals is a lot like animal wrangling. Finding food for the bands, finding them places to stay, organizing showcases where the community can come out and enjoy their performances. It takes a steady leadership, it takes a vision, it takes stubbornness, it takes a goat.
Advertising Works!
The Arts Issue
36 BC Musician Magazine’s
Coming up soon it’s the July/August Summer Arts Issue in which we look at more festivals, lots of creative action, and spotlight on the work of Arts Councils and annual Art Walks. Booking Deadline June 17. Over 370 pick up locations in BC, Calgary and Edmonton. Readership is over 3 per copy. 604.999.4141 • ads@bcmusicianmag.com • www.bcmusicianmag.com
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
july festivals Music on the Wharf - Maple Ridge July 13 - August 24 Maple Ridge, BC www.mapleridgemuseum.org
The Festival features four days of entertainment for those seeking action, relaxation, fun and excitement.
Civic Sounds
Twice in July, and twice in August on Monday nights at 7:30pm (except for the last Monday in August, which is at 7:00pm) the concert series features local and regional bands. The performers cover a variety of musical styles including jazz, blues, bluegrass, brass band, rock and western.
Chemainus Rockabilly Festival July 14 Chemainus, BC www.chemainusrockabilly.com
July 16 - August 27 Civic Plaza, Vernon, BC www.downtownvernon.com
Free summer outdoor concerts featuring live local bands in downtown Vernon every Thursday night from 7 to 9pm. Bring your lawn chair, a blanket and pick up a to-go dinner downtown and enjoy the music.
Ness Creek Folk Fest
A Rockabilly Rumble by the sea, with rockabilly music and good looking old cars. Admission by donation or suggested $15.
Billy Barker Days
July 16 - 19 Big River, SK nesscreek.com
Variety of music, tons of artistic activities and workshops.
Pemberton Music Festival
July 16 - 19 Quesnel, BC billybarkerdays.ca
Quesnel’s Billy Barker Days is a free family festival celebrating our gold rush heritage.
July 16 - 19 Pemberton, BC pembertonmusicfestival.com
and camping on 300 clean, open acres in one of the most idyllic settings on Earth.
Timber! Outdoor Music Festival July 16 - 18 Carnation, WA www.timbermusicfest.com
“Uniting music, community and the beautiful natural environment of the Pacific Northwest.”
Armstrong Metal Fest July 17 - 18 Hassen Arena, Armstrong, BC armstrongmetalfest.ca
Featuring more than 30 local and international musicians together at the Hassen Arena in the small town of Armstrong. Prepare for this annual heavy metal and camping music festival. Camping is included with the purchase of a ticket and there will be several other events throughout the weekend for your enjoyment.
July listings continue on page 46
Nearly 100 performances and five stages over four glorious days of music, comedy,
&
28th Annual WINTHROP
RHYTHM Elvin Bishop Los Lonely Boys Bobby Rush
KENNY NEAL CALIFORNIA HONEYDROPS TOO SLIM & THE TAILDRAGGERS DUFFY BISHOP CURLEY TAYLOR & ZYDECO TROUBLE MARY FLOWER AYRON JONES & THE WAY STUDEBAKER JOHN SAMANTHA FISH ....with special guests Polly O’Keary Lady “A” Stan Street
Blues FESTIVAL
July 17-19, 2015 The Blues Ranch Winthrop, WA
Friday Night show benefits the Cove Food Bank, $10 or free with festival pass featuring Ayron Jones & the Way, The California Honeydrops, and Too Slim & the Taildraggers. 21 and over. INFO: www.winthropbluesfestival.org ORDER TICKETS:www.tickettomato.com 800-820-9884
TICKETS: $90 in advance - $100 at the gate - camping $45 Presented by Winthrop Music Association - A 501(c)3 non-profit organization
BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015 37
VICTORIA'S ONLY SELECTION OF AMAZING BOUTIQUE PEDALS!
prepper’ s guide to lasqueti arts festival 2015 by Trina McDonald
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If you’re looking for a reason to go to the little off-grid island of Lasqueti, the Lasqueti Arts Fest, July 3 and 4, 2015, may be your ticket. However, there are some logistics to consider. Nearing its 3rd decade as a fundraiser for Lasqueti’s art scene, this volunteer run festival is an opportunity to see the community shine. The festival features writers reading excerpts from their work on the Friday night, musicians performing on both an indoor and outdoor stage throughout the day and night on Saturday, visual artists displayed in the hall, a beer garden and communal feasting. Whether you are heading over with nothing but your survivalist fanny pack, or plan to jump in your BMW with your wheelie suitcase, please consider a few things. Firstly, there is no car ferry, only one small passenger ferry that wobbles its way through a rough pass. If seasickness does not deter you then prepare to rely on transportation from the locals when you get there (an education in the art of hitch-hiking and salvaged vehicles), and be forewarned that there are no campgrounds, only B&Bs, so you will need to plan out your stay before you go. Lasqueti has gained notoriety recently due to a documentary and social media articles, but it is not the lawless and carefree place you may have been led to believe. There are unwritten rules. Offgrid living can be a vulnerable endeavour, particularly to fires at this time of the year, so if you go please act sensitively towards the environment. If after this advisory you are still keen to check out this sweet little festival and you don’t want to stick out, consider this last bit of advice: leave your hurry, your preconceptions and your white clothes on the mainland. For more info visit www. lasqueti.ca
WARLESS
38 BC Musician Magazine’s
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42 BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
celebrating the grateful dead and garcia and hunter
by peter north
It’s been a half century since Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan, Billy Kreutzmann, and Phil Lesh decided to play under the banner Grateful Dead. Really, it was long strange trip for the Dead a decade before Garcia checked out in 1995, and the ensuing years have added a number of interesting chapters to the legacy of the band. But for this longtime fan/observer, the most important element that has made the Grateful Dead special is easy to identify. At the top of the list sits a brilliant songbook that has been overshadowed by the “three ring circus” of Deadheads, that largely for the better, created a cool subculture that keeps on trucking. So when it came time to consider what the components would be for the 23rd Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival, our tipping of the hat to the Grateful Dead songbook was a given. It’s a deep well that songbook, particularly the Hunter/Garcia part of the equation in terms of sheer volume and scope. Friend of the Devil, Uncle John’s Band, Bertha, Dire Wolf, Eyes of the World, Sugaree, Black Peter, Saint Stephen, Deal, Black Muddy River, Brokedown Palace, and So Many Roads, are the thin edge of the wedge in a songbook that had one foot bound to tradition while the other was pointed in a multitude of thematic directions. Hunter can tell a tale like few others. Since Garcia’s death the lyricist has been as prolific as ever, co-writing with Los Lobos, Jim Lauderdale, Bruce Hornsby, and Bob Dylan while returning to songwriting partnerships with Mickey Hart and David Nelson of the re-formed New Riders. Yet the tunes from the Garcia/Hunter songbook have been treated to new renderings like never before. Railroad Earth, String Cheese Incident, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Jorma Kaukonen, bluegrass legend Jesse McReynolds, the Allman Brothers, Dwight Yoakam, Counting Crows, Phish, Jimmy Buffett, the Indigo Girls, Gregory Issacs, and the late-Levon Helm are a few artists who have delivered superior versions of Dead classics that now fall into the “timeless” category, and many of those tunes will be performed by Weir, Lesh, Hart, Kreutzmann and friends at the upcoming Fare Thee Well concerts. The overwhelming response to the five Fare Thee Well Grateful Dead shows, two in Santa Clara in June and three in Chicago in July, is proof that the cultural phenomenon that is the Grateful Dead has not waned, even if the whole exercise appears to be a bit of a gong show. So if you appreciate the body of work that the Grateful Dead created and would like to soak up some of those sounds in a much more chilled environment consider Roots and Blues 2015. Participating in the Salmon Arm Festival concerts paying tribute to the Dead and Garcia will be Mark Karan who joined Hart, Lesh, and Weir as the guitarist in The Other Ones two years after Garcia’s death. Karan playing of the Dead catalogue is brilliantly documented with the Other Ones, Weir’s Ratdog, and his
Walk Thru Fire solo album that contains a red-hot take of New Speedway Boogie. Jason Crosby, the multi-instrumentalist who plays in Phil Lesh and Friends will also be on board with Vail Colorado’s Brothers Keeper Band, which can unleash numerous Grateful Dead tunes. Toss in Cyril Neville of the Neville Brothers fame who is attending the festival with Royal Southern Brotherhood and more sparks should fly as Neville has nailed the Dead’s Fire On The Mountain for years. The acoustic side of the Grateful Dead equation will be taken care of in part by Toronto’s Slocan Ramblers, the best new grass/bluegrass band to have ever called Canada home. “We love what Garcia did with David Grisman and Peter Rowan in Old and In the Way and can play that stuff all day long,” says the Ramblers mandolinist Adrian Gross. Fifty years since the Grateful Dead came into being and 20 years since Garcia left us with a massive canon of terrific tunes, it just seems like something worth celebrating.
Live in store shows Always All Ages Always Free
Call us to book your show today! 1551 Ellis St, Kelowna, BC 250.862.8965
www.milkcrate.ca
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Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015 43
checking in. . . . . .with Bobbie Blue, ad, islands folk fest Tell me about any new and exciting things we can expect to see and experience at the Islands Folk Festival in 2015. The Accordion Workshop - This workshop will feature several world class accordion players: In the past the accordion was traditionally used to perform folk or ethnic music, but its popularity has spread across the world and now many musical acts use the accordion in zydeco, cajun, tango, polka, klezmer and Irish music. Denis Keldie is a Toronto based multi-instrumentalist and studio musicians who has played on over 300 albums who is at the festival with Russell deCarle. Rob Curto is a New Yorker who combines North American swing, bebop, funk, rock and blues with South American forro, chorinho, sambaa, maracatu and fevro styles that belong to the Brazilian tradition. He is at the festival with the group Matuto. Rad Lorkovic is known for his flair on both the piano and the accordion. He was born in Croatia and plays Tex-Mex and Zydeco accordion, drawing from a multitude of influences ranging from classical and jazz styles to basic blues, country an soul. What are you most looking forward to in your programming? Working out the schedule - I never seem to know exactly what I have created until I work out the schedule. I try and schedule music so that each stage has a blend of music that will work for
by Trina McDonald
those who tend to spend their time in one place. The next step is to try and work out a pleasing schedule for those that wander from stage to stage, and to make sure that there is always music playing somewhere for the dancers. Finally I see what I have programmed, and the workshops fall into place. Often not what I expect, as the music takes on a life of its own, and I really look forward to that. Are there any great enviro or social initiatives that Islands Folk Festival will be taking this year? Since 2005 the festival has been zero waste - Our festival is similar to others in that we allow no plastic water bottles, or glass. Our food vendors must use compostable dishes and utensils. We also have a stellar water program with a crew patrolling throughout the festival site hydrating folks. Since our festival is held on an organic farm we are in a unique position to feed our musicians and volunteers yummy organic food straight from the farm to the table. The farm has a General Store on site so campers are able to purchase fresh organic food too. The festival and the farm work together to make our festival is accessible to all so many work projects have taken pace over the years to renovate and update the festival site. This is probably our biggest social issue, with camping, washrooms, parking, stage viewing, and paths around the site all viewed with accessibility for all in mind.
. . .with Campbell Bay Music Festival Any new and exciting things we can expect to see and experience at Campbell Bay in 2015? We’re bringing visual art more to the forefront this year – Vancouver artist Annalee Kornelsen is doing live art onsite, and Victoria artist Leya Tess is one if the folks creating installation art for us. What challenges you have experienced or do you foresee this year over last? One of our major challenges is dealing with human waste on the property sustainably. As we’re located on a small island, the standard festival porta-potty infrastructure is not as accessible for us. This year we’re working with some island folks on developing a DIY system of composting toilets that can handle large volumes of waste. Something that’s going to be easier this year is signing up to volunteer – our intrepid volunteer coordinator Corbin Murdoch has devel-
16th Annual
oped a beautifully smooth new intake system. So go get yourself a volunteer position, dear reader! What are you most looking forward to in your programming? We always have a small lineup, and love everything we book fiercely! I’m particularly excited to present the West Coast festival debut of a new group called Speaker Face – both members played at Campbell Bay as part of a fantastic band called The Fretless in 2012, and their new project is an exciting evolution. What other festivals might you be attending? We haven’t missed an ArtsWells in years! And although the production team can’t all make it to Tiny Lights this year, I wouldn’t recommend that anyone else miss it.
an intimate, multi-cultural, family-focused experience
July 17-19, 2015 Bella Coola, BC www.bellacoolamusic.org 44 BC Musician Magazine’s
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17th Annual
July 23, 24, 25
festival
Ruthie Foster • Sugarcane Collins Eddie Turner • Tommy Hogan • Jesse Weston Band • Sara Brown Band • Blues Edition Charlie Butts & The Filter Tips
Tickets: $60 (U.S.D.) Rock Cut Location: Highway 395, 10km south of Camping: $10/person/night (U.S.D.) Cascade Border Crossing Camping is limited, reservations (Christina Lake) 4 miles north suggested. No dogs allowed in of Orient, WA. camp or music venue.
www.rockcutblues.com
Best in jazz, blues & folk-roots Vinyl, CDs, Posters & DVDs HeritagePostersMusic
HeritagePostersandMusic
1502 11 Ave SW, Calgary, AB 403.802.1846
www.heritagepostersandmusic.com BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015 45
july festivals adventures in wine, food and spirits, and a long list of some of the finest musical acts in Canada.
Bottega Festival July 17 - 18 Kelowna, BC bottegafestival.com
Kimberley JulyFest
Bottega Festival is a Music and Arts community gathering in Kelowna BC nestled in the trees of a 13 acre alpaca farm on the property of Bottega.
Darrington Bluegrass Festival July 17 - 19 Darrington, WA darringtonbluegrass.com
The Pacific Northwest’s oldest running bluegrass festival. The Darrington Bluegrass Festival started in 1977 and is going strong, drawing over 7,000 people each year.
July 17 - 19 Yellowknife, NWT folkontherocks.com
With more than 24 hours of programming you can drift between six stages on the shores of a beautiful crystal clear subarctic lake fringed by ancient rock and a landscape of soft sand. Purveyors of both contemporary and traditional folk jam alongside some of the country’s coolest indie-starlets.
grassy plains summer festival July 17 - 19 Burns Lake, BC www.grassyplainshall.ca
South Country Fair July 17 - 19 Near Fort Macleod, AB www.scfair.ab.ca
Starbelly Jam July 17 - 19 Crawford Bay, BC starbellyjam.org
Starbelly Jam is an annual outdoor music festival for the whole family held in Crawford Bay, BC. A soulful, eclectic line-up of talented musicians, great food, a craft faire, free workshops, roaming jugglers and clowns make it the cultural event of the year.
Street Performers Festival July 17 - 19 Grande Prairie, AB www.gpstreetfest.com
Music, fun, dancing!
K Days K-days is a tribute to Edmonton’s history and a door to the future. Family fun,
46 BC Musician Magazine’s
Julyfest is also home to one of the biggest soccer tournaments in North America, an extreme downhill longboard race, the Kimberley Homecoming Parade, a Kids Festival and an amazing Saturday night Dance Party.
South Country Fair is a rural, peaceoriented, camping, music and arts festival that manifests itself annually just outside Fort Macleod.
Folk on the Rocks
July 17 - 26 Edmonton, AB k-days.com
July 17 - 19 Kimberley, BC www.kimberleyjulyfest.com
Bringing jugglers, acrobats, musicians, installation artists, facepainters, and many other assorted entertainers from around the world to Grande Prairie.
The Sukunka Valley Awakening Music Festival July 17 - 20 Near Chetwynd, BC valleyawakening.com
An annual electronic music festival in Northern BC. A mind expanding multi-day event.
Vancouver Folk Music Festival July 17 - 19 Jericho Beach Park, Vancouver, BC thefestival.bc.ca
Known around the world for the quality of its programming, friendly ambiance and beautiful park setting, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival offers an exciting, eclectic and diverse music for all ages at Jericho Beach. Add in fabulous food, great shopping, a special area for little folks plus other on-site activities and amenities. Headliners this year include Taj Mahal and Richard Thompson.
Victoria International Buskers Festival July 17 - 26 Victoria, BC victoriabuskers.com
Victoria welcomes the world to our beautiful downtown. Professional street performers from our region as well as from across Canada, Europe, Sweden, Australia, South America and the US will converge for our fifth annual Victoria International Buskers Festival. Our event is a family oriented, free-to-attend festival presented on mostly outdoor stages.
Vilna Cowboy Fest July 17 - 19 Vilna, AB www.vilnaagsociety.com
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
july festivals You will truly be entertained, educated and educated on the subject of cowboy culture. Fabulous fun. Awesome entertainment.
Wild Mountain Music Festival July 17 - 19 Entrance Ranch, Hinton, AB wildmountainmusicfest.ca
Beer tent, kids area, food vendors, arts and crafts vendors. Camping on-site. Festival Shuttle Bus to and from Hinton. Store onsite for all your festival needs.
Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival July 17 - 19 Winthrop, WA, USA winthropbluesfestival.com
Located at the Blues Ranch on the Methow River in the resort town of Winthrop, Washington, the Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival is a three-day event packed full of exciting national and regional entertainment for all ages. There is on site camping, food and craft vendors, portable showers, and a beer garden.
Ashcroft Wellness & Music Festival July 18 - 19 Ashcroft, BC www.wellnessawaitsyou.ca
Celebrating all aspects of wellness through music, the arts, history, health and fitness.
Bella Coola Music Festival July 18 - 19 Bella Coola, BC bellacoolamusic.org
An eclectic line-up of music - roots, rock, world, blues, folk and more. With something for everyone, the festival features a children’s site, food and craft vendors and workshops.
CanolaFest July 18 Peace Island Park, Taylor, BC www.moosefm.ca
The Peace Region’s newest Music Festival brought to you by 100.1 Moose FM. Local and visitor musicians will make this one day festival a hit in the Peace Country.
BC Musician Magazine’s
Food vendors, camping throughout Peace Island Park, river boating nearby and a possible beer garden are in the plans.
Chemainus Bluegrass Festival July 18 - 19 Chemainus, BC chemainusbluegrass.com
One of the wonderful events presented each year by the Chemainus Valley Cultural Arts Society. Two magical days of bluegrass music on Vancouver Island - in Chemainus, British Columbia.
Cortes Days July 18 Cortes Island, BC mansonshall.org/programs/cortes-day
It’s a complete celebration of Cortes Island starting with breakfast and followed by a parade. The day is filled with activities for children and adults, such as the cake walk, chicken run and the famous Nail, Snail and Bail race.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015 47
q & A: victoria ska & reggae Fest with AD and founder, Dane roberts
What is Ska Fest all about?
Ska Fest is about promoting Jamaican rooted music which includes ska, reggae, latin, soul, hip hop, punk and jazz. There is so much connected to ska, and Ska Fest is a way to make people aware of the grandmother of so much of the awesome music that we all listen to on a regular basis. What is your connection to Ska and Reggae music? My parents are from Antigua in the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean. In Antigua, soca and calypso are more popular but they still love reggae. My mom always played reggae music when I was growing up. We would listen to ska as well but at that time I did not know it was ska. We had dance Saturdays where I would dance on her feet. She always encouraged arts and music and so it always a big part of my life. What’s new and exciting at Ska Fest this year? First of all, before I start naming names, the big news this year is that we are now Victoria’s 16th Annual Ska and Reggae festival. We’ve added reggae to the title because we think it will allow more people to find out about the festival. For us, it’s not a huge separation, but many people view ska much differently than they view reggae or they know ska less than they know reggae. So rather than beat them or ourselves over the head trying to explain the story of ska, we’re like, lets see if we can educate people about Ska music by attracting them to the festival with a genre they know.
by Trina McDonald
Here are a couple of other things: we will have a VIP section, about 100 tickets will sell for that; we will still have both free and ticketed concerts; workshops are free; children 10 and under are free; we have a beer garden but its not fenced in so people can drink wherever with a wrist band; there will be some film screenings; its going to be 5 days and we are making a contribution to the main stage of the City of Victoria’s Canada day event. Some of the big names at this years event include: Hepcat, Morgan Heritage, The Slackers, Third World, Keith and Tex (the people that did “Stop that Train”), Sticky Buds, Dubmatix, Mustard Plug, Kobo Town, Tasman Jude, and Kutapira. Who are you most excited to see? I really want to see Morgan Heritage again. They are one of my favourite reggae bands. Such good music. I am also really excited about Keith and Tex. I think its great every time we can have legendary rocksteady artists on the festival. So many of them are dying everyday, so its great if we can get them before that. Tell me about some of the challenges you’ve had. Well, for a few years now there have been so many more festivals. Two years ago we were on the same day as Weezer and Rancid. Then you have Tall Tree the week before. Not just those, but there are so many EDM festivals. Even 3 or 4 years ago you did not have that to consider. We’ve had to reinvent ourselves and learn to work within these parameters. It’s gratifying to have people come out and discover the good music and the positive message of the bands, and to see the the cultural exchange we foster through bringing in out-of-town bands and mixing them with local, regional and national bands. So, we keep moving the best we can and try to engage people in person so that more people will want to be part of the music. What festivals will you be attending? I want to try Bass Coast because I’ve never been before. One festival I am looking forward to, which is not in Canada, is the California Roots and Arts festival. We have encouraged our community to attend it for the last couple of years, because it’s such a good festival. We are the like the Canadian Cali Roots. Their’s is a jumbo version but its the same concept.
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48 BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
july festivals Rock the Shores July 18 - 19 Colwood, BC www.rocktheshores.com
Biggest rock event on Vancouver Island.
Surrey Fusion Festival July 18 - 19 Surrey, BC surrey.ca/fusionfestival
The ultimate celebration of food, music & culture.
Kensington Sun & Salsa Festival July 19 Calgary, AB www.visitcalgary.com/things-to-do/festivals/sun-and-salsa-festival
This annual family event includes a salsa tasting contest, six live entertainment stages spread through the neighbourhood a children’s carnival zone for family orientated entertainment, amazing art demonstrations or be an artist yourself and help paint a mandala on the street.
Kootenay Jam Camp July 19 - 24 Kokanee Creek Provincial Park, near Nelson, BC jamcamp.org
Jam Camp is a musical adventure for families of all ages. For 3-5 days, Jam Campers camp with our multinational crew of facilitators, and explore music that celebrates life, nature, and cultural diversity. From African drumming to classical violin, Jam Camp encourages families to use their instruments to jam with other musicians and to create new, original songs.
Calgary Folk Music Festival July 23 - 26 Prince’s Island Park, Calgary, AB www.calgaryfolkfest.com
The Calgary Folk Music Festival embraces a singularly Canadian festival style, earning a glowing reputation for programming that welcomes music from around the corner and the globe, bringing together marquee artists, local favourites, historymakers and innovators to Calgary for a broad-ranging vision of folk with an edge.
BC Musician Magazine’s
CASCADIA (Photosynthesis Festival) July 23 - 26 Masonic Family Park, Granite Falls, WA photosynthesisfestival.com 2015 brings the transition from Photosynthesis Festival to Cascadia for the Starborne family, featuring music, art, workshops, performances & artisan vending.
Columbia Gorge Bluegrass Festival July 23 - 26 Stevenson, WA columbiagorgebluegrass.net
Each year the bands include some of the stalwarts of the NW bluegrass community as well as many players who are fairly new to bluegrass and to their instruments. This is a great chance for musicians to make new friends, play music with others, and get to perform on stage.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015 49
july festivals Motion Notion Music Festival July 23 - 27 Golden, BC www.motionnotion.com
A world-class electronic music festival with five artistic stages at a spectacular venue as well as workshops and yoga.
Rock Cut Blues July 23 - 25 Kettle Falls, WA www.rockcutblues.com
Rock of the Woods
Celebrating people, music and art Diversity Festival serves as a fundraiser for Shingle Beach Campsite. Featuring a live stage, an electronic stage, workshops, art installations and food vendors. Camping available. Bring water. Take out what you bring in.
July 24 - 26 Bengough, SK www.gatewayfestival.com
The Gateway Festival is an outdoor, familyfriendly, 3-day celebration of music and culture. Bengough is just north of the historic Big Muddy Badlands.
Hootstock Festival of Music, Dance and Spoken Word
July 23 - 26 Cowichan Valley, BC rockofthewoods.com
Musical genres range from surf/folk rock to indie and electronic music. Rock of the Woods is an all-ages festival, featuring touring artists and will also emerging talent from the surrounding community.
Dawson City Music Festival
July 24 - 26 Forest Grove near 100 Mile House, BC hootstock.com
The Hootstock Festival has something to interest and engage everyone. Featuring everything from Bluegrass to Dance performances, Storytellers and Poets, Bands and Electronica. Workshops, eclectic vendors and food. Camping. Kids free.
Interstellar Rodeo Edmonton
The Dawson City Music Festival has been a fixture of the Yukon cultural calendar since 1979. An eclectic blend of concerts, workshops, and sessions over three days in 6 venues including the historic Palace Grand Theatre.
50 BC Musician Magazine’s
July 24 - 27 Texada Island, BC diversityfestival.ca/index.html
Gateway Fest
One weekend in July each year, ‘Blues Fans’ return to the Rock Cut Campground to enjoy two days of entertainment provided by award winning musicians in Beautiful Kettle River Country. Only 10 km south of Cascade Border Crossing (Christina Lake) and 4 miles north of Orient, Washington.
July 24 - 26 Dawson City, YK www.dcmf.com
Diversity Festival
July 24 - 26 Hawrelak Park, Edmonton, AB interstellarrodeo.com/edmonton
Six Shooter Records presents Interstellar Rodeo, Southern blues, rock and soul traditions make up the base sound with great dance bands and indie performances to round out this years amazing line-up.
Islands Folk Festival July 24 - 26 Providence Farm, Duncan, BC www.islandsfolkfestival.ca
Held at beautiful Providence Farm near Duncan, throughout the years the spirit of music and community and thousands of musicians have graced our stages. This festival has become a world class event with a family feel - Folk, Jazz, Blues, Country, Children’s, Bluegrass, Roots, Americana, Canadiana, & World Beat.
Kispiox Valley Music Festival July 24 - 26 Kispiox, BC kvmf.ca
Near Hazelton. Running since 1995 on the bank of the renown Kispiox river, this festival is known across the province and even the country for featuring up and coming new musicians in all genres of music: rock, blues, folk, world, bluegrass, celtic, something for everyone.
Mission Folk Music Festival July 24 - 26 Fraser River Heritage Park, Mission, BC www.missionfolkmusicfestival.ca Mission has carved out a niche that is unique among Canadian festivals, seeking to find the best, the rarest, the unheard of that should be heard and to nurture local artists while reaching around the globe to bring in the world’s great music.
Monster Energy Center of Gravity July 24 - 26 Kelowna, BC www.wetape.com
Canada’s Hottest Beach Festival featuring world class sports: Beach Volleyball, Bas-
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
july festivals ketball, Wakeboarding, Freestyle Mountain Biking, FMX, Skateboarding, and BMX. As well as some of the world’s biggest names in dance, hip hop, and pop music.
Powell River Sea Fair July 24 - 26 Willingdon Beach, Powell River BC powellriverseafair.ca
Sea Fair is the longest running festival in Powell River, celebrating 51 years in the making! This 3 day festival brings the community together with entertainment, vendors, fireworks and midway at Willingdon Beach.
Rejuvenation Festival July 24 - 26 Johnsons Landing, BC www.JohnsonsLandingRetreat.bc.ca
Learn from 10 holistic presenters teaching their passion about alternative therapies. Free camping.
Islands. Wander through our 16,000 square foot gallery, and enjoy all types of live music from classical to folk, bluegrass and jazz.
Renton River Days July 24 - 26 Renton, WA www.rentonriverdays.org
An annual multi-day family festival featuring a variety of events, special features for kids, arts and crafts, recreation, food, and stage entertainment at Liberty Park and Cedar River Park.
Sasquatch Gathering July 24 - 26 Rangeton Park, AB sasquatchgathering.com
The Phillips Backyard Weekender July 24 - 26 Philips Brewery, Victoria, BC phillipsbeer.com
The 3rd annual Phillips Backyard Weekender will once again transform the back lot of Victoria’s Philips Brewery into a 3 day concert venue.
Ukee Days
A non-profit artistic and recreational event, set in a beautiful, rustic campground nestled along the Pembina River, kid and family friendly.
Sooke Fine Arts Show July 24 - August 3 Sooke, BC sookefinearts.com
The eleven-day Show and Sale features 375+ pieces of artwork from the finest artists on Vancouver Island and BC’s Coastal
July 24 - 26 Village Green, Ucluelet, BC ukeedays.wordpress.com
Ukee Days is a 3-day weekend long festival celebrating westcoast life featuring logger sports, live music and performances, food and retail vendors, parade, beer gardens, pancake breakfast, Salmon & Oyster BBQ, contests and more.
COWBOY JUNKIES JOHN MANN KEN LAVIGNE VALDY MATTHEW BARBER AND JILL BARBER THE LION, THE BEAR, THE FOX
BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015 51
july festivals WIND Festival
Gibsons Sea Cavalcade
July 24 - 26 Squamish, BC www.squamishwindfestival.com
Local arts, live music and high octane wind and water sports in Howe Sound. Take in 2 days of free music in the park with an array of food venders and top notch beer garden. Watch 3 days of sailboat racing presented by the Squamish Yacht Club. Enjoy 3 days of art in the park through exhibition and installation. All this blended with musical theatre, roaming buskers, kids crafts, the farmers market, kite flying, sports demos and a movie under the stars makes for 3 days of compact fun for all ages.
Caribbean Days Festival North Vancouver
July 25 - 27 Gibsons, BC www.seacavalcade.ca
The 46th Annual Sea Cavalcade has a fun-filled weekend in store for you and your family. You’ll find events for all ages and levels of activity, from toddlers to seniors, spectators to competitive athletes.
Grindrod Days July 25 Grindrod, BC www.enderbyartscouncil.ca
Free family-friendly & children-centered event.
Kootenay Festival July 25 Millennium Park, Castlegar, BC Kootenayfestival.com
July 25 - 26 North Vancouver, BC www.caribbeandays.ca
Each July, the Trinidad & Tobago Cultural Society of BC presents the Caribbean Days Festival. This event draws a crowd of exuberant fun-lovers to North Vancouver’s Waterfront Park for a weekend of parading, dining and dancing in the sunshine.
Enderby Arts Festival July 25 Enderby, BC www.enderbyartscouncil.ca
Featuring live music, dance, performances and cuisine from the diverse cultures represented in the Kootenay region.
Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Country Fest July 25 Albion Fairgrounds, Maple Ridge, BC www.mrpmcountryfest.com Music, agriculture, food and fun... in BC farm country. Admission is free.
The Enderby and District Arts Council presents a free family-friendly street festival. Features a 50-vendor Artisans Market, Family Fun Zone with bouncy castle and face painting, an all-day entertainment stage, photo contest display, pancake breakfast, food court & more.
Shorefest July 25 - August 1 Vancouver, BC hondacelebrationoflight.com
Free community concert series during the Honda Celebration of Light an annual musical fireworks competition held every summer in Vancouver.
Unity Music Festival July 25 - 26 Slocan City, BC www.unitymusicfestival.ca
This family friendly festy is located right on the shores of Slocan Lake in the West Kootenays. Great music, great beach, local culture and amazing views - this is one not to miss. Check out the line-up.
Vancouver Early Music Festival July 26 - August 7 Vancouver, BC www.earlymusic.bc.ca
The Vancouver Early Music Festival is one of the largest festivals of its type in North America and runs over three weeks in July and August every year. It is a superb series of concerts featuring faculty and guest artists from all over the world.
Calgary International Blues Festival July 27 - August 2 Shaw Millenium Park, Calgary, AB www.calgarybluesfest.com
Calgary Bluesfest celebrates the best in blues from across Canada and beyond with a full week of events culminating in 4 days & nights of non-stop music on Mainstage and at the nightly Twilight Blues dance parties. The family friendly event features local food vendors, colourful arts market, festival merchandise, beer garden & more.
Big Valley Jamboree July 30 - August 2 Camrose, AB www.bigvalleyjamboree.com
Whether you’re a true blue country music fan, or just like to have fun in a casual, relaxed atmosphere, Big Valley Jamboree is the event for you.
Hornby Festival
WARLESS
July 30 - August 8 Hornby Island, BC www.hornbyfestival.bc.ca
The Hornby Festival is 10 days of festivities in mid-summer including multi-genre mainstage concerts, children’s workshops, also featuring spoken word and visual arts.
Rockin’ River Music Fest July 30 - August 2 Merritt, BC rockinriver.com
WARLESSMUSIC.COM
52 BC Musician Magazine’s
Rockin’ River Music Fest moves to a new weekend and a new location in Merritt, BC. Don’t miss this 4 day country music festival with over 25 bands, on-site camping. Kids 12 and under are free.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
july festivals Sunfest Festival July 30 - August 2 Cowichan Valley, BC sunfestconcerts.com
On August long weekend Sunfest attracts thousands of Country music fans from all over the island, the province and now boasts an international fan base. This festival features exhibits, food & merchandise vendors and a beer garden.
Wanderlust Festival July 30 - August 3 Whistler, BC whistler.wanderlustfestival.com
Wanderlust is a 5 day celebration combination of yoga, music and nature.
ArtsWells Festival Of All Things Art July 31 - August 3 Wells/Barkersville, BC www.artswells.com
This is a four-day outdoor & indoor event designed with community in mind. We hope that you will enjoy the weekend taking in all the great artists, the local flavour of nature trails, historical sites, artisans, and friendly folk!
Blueberry Bluegrass Country Music Festival July 31 - August 2 Heritage Park, Stony Plain, AB blueberrybluegrass.com
Western Canada’s largest bluegrass fest! Great outdoor concert stage in Heritage Park.
Connect Festival July 31 - August 3 Regina, SK www.connectfestival.ca
Started 20 years ago with international talent and urban culture in a beautiful Southern Saskatchewan setting. Since then, it has grown into Canada’s most illustrious grassroots electronica and alternative culture festivals. People from all walks of life come out and let their hair down.
Coombs Bluegrass Festival July 31 - August 2 Coombs Rodeo Grounds, Coombs, BC coombsbluegrass.com Coombs Bluegrass Festival is the oldest in BC. Here is a wonderful opportunity to explore what bluegrass music is, the history, see top quality bluegrass music and
meet the people. A fun filled weekend of bluegrass & camping at the Coombs Rodeo Grounds.
Filberg Festival July 31 - August 3 Comox, BC filbergfestival.com
The Filberg Festival takes place on the beautiful 9-acre waterfront Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park, a designated Heritage Site in Comox, on Vancouver Island. A celebration of arts, crafts and music from across Canada.
Fire n Water Music Festival July 31 - August 2 Lac du Bonnet, MB firenwater.ca
The Fire & Water Music Festival celebrates musicians, visual artists, sideshow performers, dancers and artisans. It offers three stages featuring independent music, artist workshops and children’s programming for all ages. Brought together with the Art Wave Art Show and the Artisan Square Trade and Craft Show featuring local visual artists.
Tall tree makes a village on a mountainside On a rugged mountainside, along the wildest shores of Vancouver Island, a multi-genre 19+ music festival called Tall Tree is growing. The years of dance-floors turned mud-pits and dig-yourown campsites have given this festival a notoriously west coast flavour, but it has come a long way and made some waves since its inception in 2010. Despite the logistical challenges of setting up a village on the side of a mountain, Tall Tree has grown strong roots, establishing a comfortable site, and becoming a source of year-round awesomeness in the Port Renfrew area. The event was started by Mike Hann (a member of the band Quoia who was interviewed for this article) and Rob Stewart, his business partner in the Big Fish Lodge. Tall Tree was conceived of as a way to bring more arts and culture to the area. “We are always cognizant of being involved with the community, giving back, getting people involved and making people aware of what an amazing area it is from an eco-tourism perspective,” says Mike. From trail building initiatives and the promotion of eco-tourism, to their newest endeavour, the Make Music Now program, their success can be measured beyond the event. Make Music Now is an exciting program engaging Port Renfrew’s youth. The initiative was made possible through Musi-
by Trina McDonald
Counts, a granting program linked to the Juno awards, which aims to bring music to youth in under-served areas. The grant allowed the Tall Tree Society (a not-for-profit) to purchase professional instruments and P.A equipment, which they set up in a donated space in a local elementary school. They run weekly groups in which the youth learn to play music and use the gear. So far the program has been a big hit, particularly with youth from the local Pacheedaht First Nation. Coinciding with this year’s Tall Tree Festival will be a free all-ages event called Small Tree, which will provide an opportunity for youth in the program to interact and learn from professional musicians who will be in the area to play Tall Tree. With a slightly bigger talent budget there are some exciting acts on this year’s roster. Mike Hann revealed a few of his staff picks, such as Alex Cuba, a three time latin Grammy winner, who Mike says, will be one of those acts everyone will be talking about after the fact. Just a few other acts he mentioned are Oka from Australia, who many avid festival goers will know and love, plus The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer, The Funk Hunters with Chali 2 Na, and Five Alarm Funk. Rain or shine this festival will go off from June 26 - 28 in its usual robust style. So, bring your gortex but be prepared to throw it off in a celebratory fashion that you can feel good about, knowing it’s all for a good cause.
BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015 53
july festivals be Pow wow singing and dancing, opportunities to purchase cultural arts and crafts, special entertainment and First Nations cultural foods including a salmon BBQ.
Kaslo Jazz Etc.
Glacier Challenge July 31 - August 3 Centennial Park, Revelstoke, BC glacierchallenge.com
This annual event brings thousands of people from across Western Canada and parts of the US for a friendly weekend of bats, balls, beer and beats. Register a team or just come for the live music and fun atmosphere. Revelstoke Centennial Park. Live music Saturday and Sunday at 10pm.
Grizfest July 31 - August 2 Tumbler Ridge, BC grizfest.com
The 14th Annual Grizfest in Tumbler Ridge is a music festival in the mountain wilderness catering to all kinds of diverse music selections. The Battle of the Bands starts off the rocking weekend on Friday night at 7pm and the tunes, food and fun continue all weekend. A daily music schedule starting at noon on Sat/Sun will happen in the rain, shine or snow because GRIZ FEST will go on in all kinds of weather. Bring warm clothes just in case. Walk in the tracks of the great dinosaurs and hike to the famous waterfalls.
Harmony Arts Festival July 31 - August 9 West Vancouver, BC harmonyarts.ca
July 31 - August 2 Kaslo, BC www.kaslojazzfest.com
Jazz may be in the festival’s name but it doesn’t end there. Many acts who have performed on the floating stage included blues, funk, soul, world, latin and jazz bands. The venue’s unique location provides festival patrons with natural amphitheater surrounded by pristine wilderness to enjoy while watching the performances on the floating stage nestled on the shoreline of Kootenay Lake.
Mt Baker Rhythm & Blues Festival July 31 - August 2 Deming Log Show Grounds, Bellingham, WA bakerblues.com
The Mount Baker R&B Festival has, from the beginning been dedicated to Keeping the Blues Alive. By incorporating, roots, rock, pure blues and even a touch of rockabilly & jazz, the blues is represented. Hence, an amazing vibe. As always free camping/ showers with weekend passes, 55 full RV hookups. Our 180 acre, manicured site has it all. Food/Crafts vendors and beer garden as well as an indoor. All-Star jam after hours until 2am every night.
Terrace Riverboat Days
July 31 - August 2 Brentwood Bay, BC
Bottom of Stelly’s Cross Road in the Soccer field. Hosted by the Tsartlip First Nations, the Coast Salish people of the Saanich Nation. The public is invited to come and enjoy a weekend of fun and friendship. There will
Sales Representative We are looking for an individual to work as a full time sales representative for BC Musician Magazine. • You have knowledge of music, arts, and the cultural scene in BC & Alberta. • You are outgoing, positive, and goal-oriented with a desire to succeed in a sales-focused environment.
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54 BC Musician Magazine’s
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Garry Pendergast, Executive Director Revelstoke Arts Council
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“We had a number of visitors to Street Fest who came specifically because they had seen the ad in BC Musician magazine. Revelstoke Arts Council knows that by advertising in BC Musician Magazine we get BC wide coverage and people read it!!”
All day live entertainment, sand castle sculptures, food vendors, torchlight parade.
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One of the largest celebrations of First Nations culture and heritage in Western Canada. Held at the Secwepemc Pow wow Grounds along the South Thompson River.
Annual Yellow Wolf Intertribal Powwow
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July 31 - August 2 Tk’emlups Indian Band Pow wow Grounds, Kamloops, BC http://tkemlups.ca/events
July 31 - August 2 White Rock, BC
• A background in sales or customer service is an asset. Willingness to work independently is also necessary.
A large community festival, parade, fireworks, sports and concerts in the park.
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Kamloopa Pow Wow
July 31 - August 9 Terrace, BC www.riverboatdays.ca
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The Harmony Arts Festival hosts more than 70 free concerts on two outdoor stages, includes an art market, as well as artist talks and workshops, and features food vendors and culinary events.
white rock sea festival
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
MAGAZINE
august festivals Canmore Folk Music Festival
Kimberley Kaleidoscope Arts & Cuture Festival
August 1 - 3 Centennial Park, Canmore, AB www.canmorefolkfestival.com
The Canmore Folk Music Festival is a weekend-long event in the heart of the Rockies. Music, food vendors, craft vendors and plenty of activities for the whole family.
World’s Invitational Class A Gold Panning Championships
August 1 - 8 Kimberley, BC www.kimberleyarts.com
August 1 - 2 Peace Island Park, Taylor, BC
A celebration of all the arts and culture for the whole family.
Maple Ridge Caribbean Festival August 1 - 2 Albion Fairgrounds, Maple Ridge, BC caribbeanfest.ca
Comox Nautical Days August 1 - 3 Comox, BC comoxnauticaldays.ca
Tons of live local music, plus weekend highlights include the Bullhead Derby, Canoe Jousting, Dragon Boat Races, Build, Bail & Sail, the Ceremony of the Flags, parade, food, crafts and fireworks. Free and great family fun.
The festival will feature 2 large stages with continuous music provided by 15 live bands from the Lower Mainland’s Caribbean community, featuring reggae, calypso, salsa and soca music.
Nakusp Medieval Days August 1 - 2 Nakusp, BC www.medievaldays.ca
Experience everything that makes medieval culture so great! This weekend is about celebrating life during the period 600-1600 AD.
Columbia Basin Culture Tour Aug 8 - 9, 2015
10:00am - 5:00pm
Explore artists’ studios, museums, art galleries and heritage sites through this free, self-guided tour within the Columbia Basin.
Aug 15, 2009
Meet the artists, shop for fine art and craft, view demonstrations, special exhibitions, interpretive 10:00 am-5:00 displays or chat pm with local historians during this cultural celebration! For further information visit our website or call. A project of
Funded by
Fernie Arts Co-op - Kari Lehr
www.cbculturetour.com
The 43rd Annual Gold Panning festivities start Friday night with a community parade, music and food at Peace Island Park. Champion goldpanners return to defend their titles and panning skills are demonstrated and taught to newcomers. Real gold is at stake and the competition is serious business. The weekend holds fun family events such as bannock baking, claims staking and metal detecting.
Columbia Valley Tour of the Arts August 2 Inveremere, BC www.columbiavalleyarts.com
The Tour of the Arts has been a tradition in the Columbia Valley since 2008. Bringing together the artists and musicians from our community for the local collectors and visitors. “From Pothole Park to downtown Invermere” is a walking tour down Seventh Ave.
Edge of the
World
Music Festival Haida Gwaii • BC
August 7• 8•9, 2015 Tickets & Info at:
www.edgefestival.com
250-505-5505 • 1-877-505-7355 BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015 55
august festivals Folklorama
Edmonton Folk Fest
August 1 - 15 Winnipeg, MB www.folklorama.ca
Folklorama promotes the ethno-cultural diversity of Manitoba through entertainment, public celebrations of culture and education.
Vancouver Pride Parade August 2 Vancouver, BC www.vancouverpride.ca
Attracting crowds of more than 650,000, the Pride Parade is renowned on the international stage as on of the largest and most successful events in the world, in support of LGBTQ communities, with spectators and participants outnumbering the host City’s residents. Noon parade begins at Robson Street and Thurlow Street, heads west to Denman Street, follows Denman to Pacific Street and Beach Avenue and finishes at the Sunset Beach Festival.
Saskatoon Exhibition August 4 - 9 Saskatoon, SK saskatoonexhibition.ca
August 6 - 9 Edmonton, AB www.edmontonfolkfest.org An irresistible festival.
Flowmotion Summer Meltdown August 6 - 9 Darrington, WA summermeltdownfest.com
Summer Meltdown is a multi day grassroots music festival featuring 4 stages of music, onsite camping, late night performances, river access, kids activities, music workshops, beer garden, green village and much more.
Great Woods Music Festival August 6 - 8 Great Woods Park, Beausejour, MB www.greatwoodspark.com
The Great Woods Music Festival is an indoor-outdoor Blues/Rock/Roots music festival in a beautiful 120-acre park and campground on the banks of the Brokenhead River, at a very unique venue, The Moonrise Cabana.
Numerous stages, youth talent search, art show, rides, beer gardens and more.
Family Artists Retreat August 5 - 9 Johnsons Landing,BC www.JohnsonsLandingRetreat.bc.ca Ted Wallace and Jacqueline Wedge, two highly acclaimed instructors will lead this most reasonably priced event. Grandparents this is your opportunity to bond with your grandchildren. Includes Free camping.
Peach Festival August 5 - 9 Penticton, BC peachfest.com
The biggest free five-day festival in Western Canada. Featuring fabulous entertainment, a variety of vendors, two parades, an Aboriginal Cultural Village, a square dance festival, Penticton Peach Festival Royalty, a sandcastle competition and a midway.
Doe Bay Fest August 6 - 10 Orcas Island, WA USA
PGFFS would like to say a GINORMOUS thank you to our
dedicated volunteers, the generous festival sponsors, the 2015 Canada Winter Games Arts and Culture organising team, and the enthusiastic audiences that supported every event of the 2015 Winter Games Coldsnap Festival! You made this event a great success and make us so proud to be a part of this community!! Special thanks to ARTSPACE, the
ROYAL CANADIAN LEGION #43, and the CITY OF PRINCE GEORGE
for use of their venue spaces. Partners like you are what make a good city GREAT!!
www.doebayfest.com This four day festival features music, food, drink, camping and activities in a unique setting.
56 BC Musician Magazine’s
the prince george winter music festival
Join us for Coldsnap 2016 January 22 to 30
The Festival at Sandpoint August 6 - 16 Sandpoint, ID festivalatsandpoint.com
Annual summer concert series with eight nights of eclectic music under the stars on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille.
Campbell River Salmon Festival August 7 - 9 Campbell River, BC crsalmonfestival.com
This festival is a tribute to the prime industries of Northern Vancouver Island: forestry and fishing. Logger events, Salmon BBQ, live music stage and kids activities.
CannaFest August 7 - 8 Grand Forks, BC www.bcpainsociety.com/ cannafest-2015
CannaFest combines the power of rock music with the education of the healing power of pot. Western Canada’s largest Classic Rock Festival.
Cariboo Chilcotin Metis Association & BC Metis Federation Annual Music Jamboree August 7 - 9 McLeese Lake, BC www.metiscommission.com
This family event includes a breakfast, concession, games and swimming. Cover charge for the weekend of $20 and single days are $10. Near by camping is available or book a room in the nearby resort Oasis Resort.
Desert Daze Festival August 7 - 8 Spences Bridge, BC desertdaze.ca
Every summer the Desert Daze Music Festival features a mix of great local and touring musicians and bands. From rock to pop to folk to country to roots, music for the whole family.
Edge of the World Music Festival August 7 - 9 Haida Gwaii, BC www.edgefestival.com
Opening and closing with traditional Haida song and dance, EOTW music festival endeavours to bring a wide selection of musical acts from world beat to hip hop, and everything in between. Magical ambiance, diverse vendors, a kids zone, and workshops all delight at this unique festival on stunning Haida Gwaii.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
Below: Alexa Unwin of Good For Grapes at Ponderosa 2014. Above one of the murals surrounding the Ponderosa festival village. Photos Erin Christie
BC Musician Magazine’s
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august festivals Regina Folk Festival
Cherryville Roots and Beets Art Festival
August 7 - 9 Regina, SK reginafolkfestival.com
The Regina Folk Festival draws great acts and great crowds to the Queen City each summer.
Shambhala Music Festival August 7 - 10 Salmo, BC www.shambhalamusicfestival.com
Set on a private 500 acre farm, over 300 acts from around the world on 6 uniquely themed stages. Living Room, Village Stage, Fractal Forest, Pagoda, Amphitheatre and The Grove.
Squamish Valley Music Festival August 7 - 9 Squamish, BC squamishfestival.com
The Squamish Valley Music festival is the premier music event in Western Canada and features an amazing mix of top international artists as well as the best emerging local talent.
Wapiti Fernie’s Music Festival August 7 - 8 Annex Park, Fernie, BC wapitimusicfestival.com
Wapiti hosts some of the best in Canadian Indie. Festival site 5 min from downtown. Bike check, craft beer, local wine & kids tent.
Whistler Crankworx Festival August 7 - 16 Whistler, BC crankworx.com
When Crankworx rides into town, Whistler BC makes its annual transformation into the Colosseum of freeride mountain biking. In a stadium of dirt sculpted out of raw mountain, a hedonic convergence of riders and bike lovers from all around the world gathers to crown champions and revel in the mountain biking revolution.
Burnaby Blues & Roots Festival August 8 Deer Lake Park, Burnaby, BC burnabybluesfestival.com
Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival returns to Deer Lake Park for another amazing day of music for the whole family.
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August 8 Cherryville, BC www.cherryvilleartisans.com
A celebration of our harvest in creative ways, with local artisans and musicians providing entertainment and workshops throughout the day.
Columbia Basin Culture Tour August 8 - 9 Columbia Basin, BC www.cbculturetour.com
Explore artists’ studios, museums, art galleries, and heritage sites through this free, self-guided tour within the Columbia Basin. Meet the artists, shop for fine art and craft, view demonstrations, special exhibitions interpretive displays or chat with local historians during this two day cultural celebration.
Downtown Kelowna Block Party August 8 Kelowna, BC www.downtownkelowna.com
The biggest block party in the Okanagan. Bring your family, friends and dogs for a full day of shopping, fashion shows, children’s activities, dancing, music and more! Sing, move and groove with live entertainment on three street stages and fun free outdoor activities from 10am - 4pm.
Kimberley Kaleidoscope August 8 - 14 Kimberley, BC www.kimberleyarts.com
Art & culture for the whole family: Live entertainment, workshops, gallery exhibition, children’s and youth festival, poetry and more.
Okanagan Pride Festival August 8 - 15 Kelowna, BC okanaganpride.com/pride-events
An open, inclusive, inter-faith, ecumenical gathering to celebrate diversity and inclusion.
Salt Spring Garlic & Music Fest August 8 Salt Spring Island, BC saltspringgarlicfestival.com
Celebrating music and food growing.
richmond maritime festival August 8 - 9 Britannia Shipyards, Richmond, BC www.richmondmaritimefestival.ca
Seafarers and landlubbers alike celebrate Steveston’s waterfront heritage at the Britannia Shipyards, National Historic Site. Fun for the whole family, live music and performances, artists, exhibitors and food.
British Columbia SwingCamp August 9 - 15 Sorrento, BC bcswingcamp.ca
Spend an inspiring, challenging and joyous week with others who share a passion for swing. The BC Swing Camp provides a friendly, non-competitive environment for everyone from swing novices to more seasoned players. You’ll enjoy an extensive selection of seminars and workshops to help you grow as a musician.
Centralia Old-Time Music Campout August 9 - 16 Centralia, WA centraliacampout.com
This is a relaxed event for musicians who like lots of jamming and hanging out with old friends and making new ones.
Jam Camp On The River August 9 - 14 Mabel Lake Community Hall, near Lumby, BC jamcamp.org
A family music camp set in the beautiful Mabel Lake valley on the banks of the Shuswap River. This camp is facilitated by professional musicians who lead workshops exploring music from around the world, teach beginner to advanced lessons on a variety of instruments, and create original songs in collaborative groups. This camp is best for families with teens, teens in a group with a least one adult, and adults of any age who are ready to adventure into musical realms.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
festival coverage on community radio to help you plan your summer adventures 88.7 FM CFURadio Prince George Festive Retrospection Playlist Sundays 6 pm - 7 pm repeated Wednesdays 11 pm - 12 pm What we heard at the festivals of Northern BC! Travelin’ bands through the Cariboo. From there to here to you!
93.7 FM CKVS Voice of the Shuswap Festival Radio with Hugo Rampen 9 pm on Thursdays repeated 4 pm on Saturdays and 8 am on Mondays Insight into music festivals past and present.
90.1 FM CJMP Powell River Community Radio The Film & Festival Express with Courtney Harrop 2 pm - 5 pm Sundays.
Above: Sarah MacDougall at the CFUR Performance Space in Prince George. Below: Chelsea D.E. Johnson and Adam Farnsworth of High Society live at CFUR. photos Eric Wynleau
Music and film to fuel the revolution. Music and film festivals past, present and future. Special guests, interviews, current events, discussion, music, film and the music/film industry.
91.1 FM Nuxalk Radio Bella Coola Nuxalk Radio will be broadcasting live from the Bella Coola Music Festival July 18 & 19 at Lobelco Hall Fall Fair Grounds, Bella Coola.
94.9 FM Edmonton, 93.7 FM Calgary, CKUA Count on festival coverage from just about every show on CKUA through the summer, including on site broadcasts. Check out your local area community and campus radio for other festival coverage. This is just a small list of what we have come across to date.
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august festivals Gabriola Theatre Festival
Saskatoon Folkfest
August 13 - 16 Gabriola Island, BC artsgabriola.ca
Ten fantastic theatre performances from BC and beyond; live music stage all weekend long; 50-plus artists and artisans at Street Art! Kids Corner, Theatre Salons and more! All on beautiful Gabriola Island - the Isle of the Arts
John Arcand Fiddle Fest August 13 - 16 Windy Acres, Saskatoon, SK www.johnarcandfiddlefest.com
The aim of this festival is to promote Métis cultural traditions through the preservation and promotion of fiddle music and dance and to provide a forum to showcase youth, talent and culture.
Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts August 13 - 15 Sechelt, BC www.writersfestival.ca
Join Canada’s longest running summer gathering of Canadian writers and readers, featuring established literary stars and exciting, new voices… with opportunities for writers and readers to mingle amidst Rockwood’s heritage gardens.
August 13 - 16 Dawson City, YK kiac.ca/artsfestival
August 13 - 16 Winnipeg, MB www.memetic.ca
Manitoba Electronic Music Exhibition aka “MEME” is a yearly electronic music and digital arts festival started in 2010 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. MEME features various concerts, events, workshops and a series of outdoor concerts located at The Cube in Winnipeg’s Old Market Square.
Pender Harbour Chamber Music Festival August 13 - 16 Madeira Park, Sunshine Coast, BC penderharbourmusic.ca/chamber-music The 11th annual Pender Harbour Chamber Music Festival will again feature worldclass musicians playing an eclectic programme of chamber music ideally suited to the School of Music in Madeira Park.
ReggaeFest Come join the Rastagarian movement! Calgary’s ReggaeFest isn’t just for reggae fans. Its main stage event is a full day family affair that transcends racial, cultural and musical boundaries. With live performances from national and international reggae artistes, ReggaeFest features a beer garden, separate youth area, and plenty of arts & crafts. Or get a taste of reggae culture from the many food vendors.
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For three days each year, Saskatoon comes alive with the sights, sounds and tastes of our ethnic heritage.
Yukon River Side Art Festival
Manitoba Electronic Music Exhibition
August 13 - 13 Calgary, AB calgaryreggaefestival.com
August 13 - 15 Saskatoon, SK saskatoonfolkfest.ca/home
The Yukon Riverside Arts Festival is an annual KIAC summer event that takes place on Dawson City’s Discovery Days weekend. The festival is primarily based outdoors in open-air tents along the Yukon River, but events also take place at numerous venues around town.
Atmosphere August 14 - 16 Comox Valley, BC atmospheregathering.com
Atmosphere returns for a second year. Multiple stages, yoga and family fun. Art, dance and workshops for all ages. Local and world-class acts.
See You in Golden August 21 & 22!
Come By The Hills Music Festival August 14 - 15 Mishtahiya, AB www.comebythehills.ca
Nestled in the beautiful Battle River Valley in East Central Alberta. The Battle River Music Society is bringing you a great line-up of folk, country, roots, blues, jazz and celtic musicians.
Harvest Sun Music Fest August 14 - 16 Kelwood, MB www.theharvestsun.com
A small festival with a big heart, bringing awareness of, and support to, the family farm and agriculture by providing a forum for farming organizations to create awareness of their cause through music and the arts. Supporting Manitoba performers and artists with all-Canadian line-up throughout the festival.
Interstellar Rodeo Winnipeg August 14 - 16 Winnipeg, MA interstellarrodeo.com/Winnipeg
Sixshooter Records presents a festival stage at the Forks in Winnipeg. One stage, meticulously curated weekend celebration of music, wine and food. A lineup of some of the world’s most compelling, original and masterful artists ever to top charts and make headlines.”
Midway Music Festival August 14 - 16 Midway, BC members.shaw.ca/midwaymusicfest Bring your instruments and join in!
Northern Lights Bluegrass Festival August 14 - 16 Ness Creek, SK northernlightsbluegrass.ca
The Northern Lights Bluegrass & Old Tyme Music festival offers an opportunity to intimately immerse yourself, as an active participant, within a community of world class musicians. Hear performers on the main stage or jam by the campfire.
Picture Butte Jamboree Days August 14 - 16 Picture Butte, AB www.picturebutte.ca/visitors/jamboree_days
Archery, slo pitch, pancakes, family street dance, and lots more family fun.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
Summer Events in Peace River Country DAWSON CREEK, BC at the Encana Centre, 250 782 7443
Looking forward to Journey in July at the Dawson Creek Art Gallery southpeacearts.ca
Looking forward to Home Routes Concert Series in September at the Mattson Farm, 16 km north of Dawson Creek
June 12, 13, 14: Sweetwater 905 Festival www.sweetwater905.com FORT ST JOHN, BC at North Peace Cultural Centre 250-785-3011 tickets.npcc.bc.ca
May 1: Nick Gilder & Sweeney Todd May 7: Band Concert with School District #60 May 8: Spring Sing & more with North Peace Choirs & Northern Winds May 10: Sarah Hagen, Canadian Concert Pianist May 15: The Little Mermaid with Missoula Children’s Theatre May 31: Doc Walker June 4: Ian Tyson June 19 - 21: Bright Nights in June Arts Celebration at On the Rocks, 250-261-6942
Every Wed: Wings and Ribs Open Mic 8 pm Every Fri: House Party 8 pm at Lido Theatre, 250-785-3011
May 9 - 10: Nearly Neil: A Tribute to Neil Diamond May 15: Twin Peaks Tour Kickoff May 30 & June 26: Dueling Pianos featuring Brian Burn and Jamie Mahn Looking forward to the ever-popular Peace Country Comedy Festival in September at Headspace, 250-261-6979 henry@myheadspace.ca
Second Tuesdays each month: Writer’s Open Mic 7 pm at Remedies Lounge in the Northwoods, 250-787-1616
Every Thursday night Jam & bands 8 pm
@NortheastNewsBC
www.northeastnews.ca
9099 100th Ave, Fort St John, BC • 250 787 7030 1509B Alaska Ave, Dawson Creek, BC • 250 782 7066
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august festivals Power of Paint
Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival
August 14 - 16 Seaside Centre, Sechelt, BC
Eleven Equal Artists are hosting the 4th annual Power of Paint exhibition showcasing stunning and creative artwork.
Princeton Traditional Music Festival August 14 - 16 Princeton, BC princetontraditional.org/festival
In the centre of Princeton with a public street dance and band Friday night. Saturday and Sunday are given over, between the hours of 10 am to 6 pm, to a variety of concerts, workshops, panels and jams.
Rainbow Trout Music Festival August 14 - 15 Rosseau River, south of St. Malo, MB www.rainbowtroutmusicfestival.com
Three days of music, camping, good friends, bonfires, dancing, swimming, and more. Rock, electro, hip-hop, blues, jazz, folk, garage, funk, reggae, and on and on.
Robson Valley Music Festival August 14 - 16 Dunster, BC robsonvalleymusicfestivalbc.com
One of the coolest grass roots, multi-genre music festivals in BC! Festival is held in the heart of the pristine and remote Robson Valley. A large list of performers is found on the web site. Camping available.
Rocky Mountain Folks Festival August 14 - 15 Lyons, Colorado www.bluegrass.com/folks
A three day family friendly event on the river. Camping options as well other nearby hiking and mountain biking trails.
August 14 - 16 Salmon Arm, BC www.rootsandblues.ca
The Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival is among the largest and most musically diverse festivals in BC. Roots & Blues provides an incredible sonic and visual sampler and it’s a great place to come together with family and friends. Kids 12 and under are free. Come join in the excitement!
Victoria Dragon Boat Festival August 14 - 16 Victoria, BC victoriadragonboat.com
Three days featuring exciting dragon boat races, entertainment on two stages, exotic tastes in the Forbidden City Food Court, activities for kids and families, and more
Arts Alive in the Park August 15 - 16 Powell River, BC powellriverartscouncil.com/arts_alive
Arts Alive in the Park is two days of summer fun. Established and emerging local artists display their work and present it for sale. There is also dance, music, a poetry slam and workshops for both kids and adults.
Kootenay Lake Tai Chi Summer Camp August 15 - 21 Johnson’s Landing, BC www.JohnsonsLandingRetreat.bc.ca
Improve your energy levels and calm your mind with these 4 dedicated instructors Hajime Naka, Kevin Wallbridge, Sifu Bryan Knack and Arnold Porter.
Mid Autumn Moon Festival August 15 Barkerville, BC www.barkerville.ca
This traditional Chinese celebration, honouring Barkerville’s Chinese heritage, features enthralling music, ceremonial dragon dancing, martial arts demonstrations and activities all day. The lantern parade begins at dusk through Barkerville. Bring your own or make one at our lantern-making workshop.
Grindrod Garlic Festival August 16 Grindrod, BC www.enderbyartscouncil.com
The alluring aroma of garlic draws you in to a whole series of competitions taking place at the Festival. Listen to the live local bands performing from the porch of the Grindrod Hall, 9am-4pm.
Latin Summer Fest August 16 Trout Lake Park, Vancouver, BC latinsummerfest.com
The original Latin outdoor city celebration. Music all day, artisan market, plus Latin food.
NimbleFingers Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Workshop and Festival 2 weekend workshops: August 16 - 28 Festival: August 22 Sorrento, BC www.nimblefingers.ca
NimbleFingers provides a friendly and noncompetitive environment for everyone from beginners to advanced players, with ample opportunity for group learning, electives, organized jam sessions, and many other spontaneous activities. World-class instructors, intimate concerts, old-time dances, fantastic food and loads of jamming.
Find us on Facebook at Invermere Music Fest or call for more info:
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2015
MoM Festival August 21 - 23 Murray Ridge Ski Area Fort St James, BC
Annie Becker Barefoot Caravan Bill and Ingrid Black Spruce Bog! Dave Soroka Dead Body Juice Devon Coyote Dok Auk Doug Koyama Drum And Bell Tower Folky Strum Strum Hill MystryCwby Joey Only Kym Gouchie Liz Stringer Megan Lane MIP Power Trio
Pamela Moul Power Duo Red Haven Samson’s Delilah Sarah Elizabeth Sober Becky Socks and Shoes Tax Free Liquor Tereza Tomek The Grid Pickers The Party on High Street Twin Peaks Two Bears North Wax Mannequin Whistle and Fish Zonnis
Early Bird Tickets on Sale Now! $60. Youth and Family Rates Apply Above are just a few ways of looking at your MoM. www.momfestival.com
Music on the Mountain momfestival.com momfestival@yahoo.ca
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august festivals Aboriginal Music Week August 18 - 22 Winnipeg, MB www.aboriginalmusicweek.ca
Aboriginal Music Week is a music festival presenting Native, Métis, Inuit, and Indigenous artists who perform hip hop, electronic, traditional, world, folk, rock, country, and blues music.
Alaska Salsa Festival August 20 - 23 Anchorage, AK alaskasalsafestival.com
Professional dance instructors and performers from around the world come together to bring Alaska the best in Salsa, Bachata and Cha Cha dancing.
Shine on Festival of Music and Art August 20 - 23 Beavercreek Park, Kerry, MB www.shineonfestivalofmusicandart.com Celebrating the end of the summer, Shine On has been around since 2005.
Blackberry Street Party August 21 Powell River, BC www.discoverpowellriver.com/thingsto-do-and-see
This family-friendly festival features contests held throughout the week, a wine & cheese party and a huge street party on Friday including an amazing fireworks display.
Canadian Rockies East Coast Kitchen Party August 21 - 23 Nordegg, AB www.davidthompsonresort.com/specialevents.htm
An amazing weekend festival complete with lively & talented performers, spectacular mountain scenery & a fresh lobster dinner. Late-night jam sessions in the Pub once the mainstage closes. Come get your jig on! Located on Hwy 11 at Cline River, AB
Golden Sound Festival August 21 - 22 Golden, BC www.goldensoundfestival.com
Multi-venue event in downtown Golden. Yukon Blonde, The Matinee, White Ash Falls, Dada Plan, The Wild Romantics, Buckman Coe, Carmanah, The Pistolwhips, Deep Sea Gypsies, Tonye Aganaba, Benny Walker, Tom Richardson and more.
Greenwood Bluegrass Festival August 21 - 23 Greenwood City Park, Greenwood, BC members.shaw.ca/greenwoodblugrass Dry camping, concession stand, breakfast each morning.
Morden Corn & Apple Festival August 21 - 23 Morden, MB cornandapple.com
The Morden Corn and Apple Festival is a family event and has a reputation for catering to all age groups with a variety of events to guarantee the enjoyment of all.
Music on the Mountain August 21 - 23 Murray Ridge Ski Area, Fort St. James, BC momfestival.com Three days of art and magic, with two stages, roving theatre, workshops, youth activities, vendors, visual arts, crafts and more. MoM misses you!
Otalith Festival August 21 - 22 Ucluelet, BC otalithfestival.com
Otalith takes place at multiple venues throughout the Pacific Rim (Tofino & Ucluelet) showcasing 30 acts over two days.
Ponderosa Arts & Music Festival August 21 - 23 Rock Creek, BC Ponderosafestival.com
Looking for a new festival experience? Ponderosa Festival will be bringing all its Art, Music, and Freshness back to Rock Creek this summer. Come joins us for a three-day boutique festival experience with picturesque riverside camping, two stages of stellar bands, artists, great foods, vendors, and the chillest vibes.
Stony Plain Cowboy Music & Poetry Festival August 21 - 23 Stony Plain, AB www.stonyplaincowboypoetry.com
A legendary historical tribute to cowboy poetry, music & art.
Synchronicity Coast Arts Fest August 21 - 23 Gibsons Landing, BC www.synchronicityfestival.ca
This annual event will showcase the amazing talent of local and visiting artists and entertainers in the lush Shirley Macey Park on the beautiful Sunshine Coast. The festival features 3 days and 2 evenings of entertainment including live music on the MainStage, the ever-enchanting outdoor Rainforest Circus, roving entertainers, a new Workshop series, a kids tent, The Marketplace, local food, and more.
WARLESS backstage magicians McKillican Production Services
Professional Sound & Lighting Production 250-255-7705 • cguys@uniserve.com
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august festivals Summertime Blues
Invermere MusicFest August 22 - 23 Invermere, BC www.invermeremusicfest.com
A Waterfront Music Festival in Invermere, BC. With the stage and Festival grounds set on the picturesque shoreline of Lake Windermere, the 2015 Invermere MusicFest is not to be missed. The Fest lineup will include all genres of music for all ages. And a second day with musician workshops and Jam sessions.
Outdoor blues festivals in downtown Nanaimo with national and internationally renowned Blues musicians.
Wise Womens Festival August 28 - 30 Johnsons Landing, BC www.JohnsonsLandingRetreat.bc.ca
Join women from western canada as they explore ways to stay healthy on all levels.
Symphony Under The Sky August 27 - 30 Edmonton, AB www.edmontonsymphony.com
bring a board to otalith music festival by Trina McDonald
Bumbershoot
4 evenings of music at 7pm. Symphony Under the Sky celebrates 20 years.
Matlock Festival of Music, Art and Nature August 28 - 30 Matlock, MB www.matlockfestival.ca
August 28 - 30 Nanaimo, BC www.nanaimobluesfestival.com/festival
This funky and eclectic little festival will showcase an impressive array of Manitoba musicians and local artists whose mission is to connect people and build community through art, music and nature, and to model sustainable and environmentally responsible practices.
August 29 - 31 Seattle, WA bumbershoot.org
Seattle’s Music & Arts Festival, Bumbershoot takes place in the heart of the city at the 74-acre Seattle Center. Over 100,000 visitors from near and far spend the weekend reveling in the world of Bumbershoot, experiencing everything from regional favourites to international superstars.
South Cariboo Garlic Festival August 29 - 30 Lac La Hache, BC garlicfestival.ca
This festival is firstly about garlic! You will find garlic and garlic eats and treats, spices, rubs as well there are plenty of other artisans at the festival. There is also live entertainment.
The Ucluelet peninsula on Vancouver Island is a destination for surfers and other beach frolicking types, and such a stunning location definitely shapes this small and well-loved event. Even if you’re not a surfer, and never plan to be, this festival has a lot to offer. It’s family friendly, there is great food, local craft beer, and it’s walking distance from downtown Ukee. Last year, acts like the Allah las, and Carmanah brought a modern surf vibe to Ucluelet’s sandy shores, and this year local favourites John and Roy, the Cave Singers and many other fabulous acts will keep the vibe alive. As is true for many festivals in small communities, it has been challenging for Otalith’s organizers to procure bigger name acts that cater to the requests of their audience and draw new people in. That said, the sweet location and atmosphere of Otalith attracts musicians like Jon Middleton, who will be returning this year. Now in it’s third year the festival is close to accomplishing their goal of zero-waste through initiatives such as using re-useable pint cups. Also, in past years festival-goers were responsible for their own accommodation but this year they have teamed up with the Ucluelet Campground, located beside the festival grounds, and for a bit extra you can camp for the weekend. If you’re looking for a high calibre festival in one of the most beautiful environments on the coast, Otalith Music Festival is all that and more.
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BC Musician Mag is on the radio! Radio Love is a monthly podcast presented by Sarah Fahey. Radio Love features tracks from albums reviewed in BC Musician Magazine, as well as local interviews and news from community and campus radio. Why Radio? I thought it would be really cool. It’s mainly just a lot of work, BUT no, really. We publish the mag every two months. I come across a whole lotta stuff in between and radio is a good way to share it. I also wanted to take the opportunity to utilize all the hard work that the people at Peach City Radio have done to create the community station. The magazine offers me an automatic show with content and resources to use. So I am able to focus on the craft and tech sides of radio making. I was also curious what the mag sounds like. Because of the variety of music we review it is a good challenge flowing the tracks together and in the process I have listened to music I don’t normally listen to, like jazz, so that’s cool too. The first episode was produced in conjunction with our March/ April Records & Radio Love Issue. I wasn’t quite ready but it seemed like the best issue to release a radio show and it was either now or wait another year. — Sarah Fahey
Episode 1:
Introducing BCMM Reviewers
BC Musician’s Editor Sarah Fahey takes a crack at making a radio show! In this first episode Sarah interviews Tim Tweed from Peach City Radio, plays tracks from albums reviewed in the past 3 Issues, introduces the reviewers and other peeps that make this little mag happen. This episode also includes some BCMM news, updates and deadlines, and Sarah talks about the content inside the issue hitting the streets right now. Episode 2:
Inside March/April Issue 109 Records & Radio Love
In this second episode Sarah interviews Julie Fowler from Island Mountain Arts, plays tracks from albums reviewed in issue 109, past issues and a few editors picks. Introduces another reviewer and talks about more of the content inside the recent issue of BC Musician Magazine. Episode 3:
Festival Focus Part 1 - Airdate May 3
In this episode Sarah interviews musician and instructor, Maiya Robbie, to talk about the early childhood music biz and a business called Little Tree Music Together. Sarah heads out on the virtual festival road following BC and beyond bands on their festival tours!! She brings you a collection of BC’s interior musicians and festivals before heading in all directions to, Northern BC, the NWT’s, and Winnipeg, Manitoba. Sarah cuts across the border to Washington, and wanders all the way up the coast to Bella Coola and Haida Gwaii.
New Episodes: First Sunday of the month 6 pm repeated Tuesday 10 pm Available online Wednesday Archives available at www.peachcityradio.org/programs/music/bcmmradiolove.php
Episode 4:
Festival Focus Part 2 - Airdate June 7
Sarah interviews Kris & Kia of Ponderosa Arts & Music Festival. They will transport themselves into the future and make the best attempts of a live show from the past! They get into the nitty gritting of creating line-ups, choosing festivals dates and play tracks from this years line-up happening Aug 21 to 23 in Rock Creek, BC.
BC Musician’s Online Auction:
www.bcmusicianmag.com/auctions
Is it time for you to downsize your music memorabilia collection? Is that orginal Elvis shellac gathering dust in your closet? Tired of that Rolling Stones T-Shirt from the LA Forum in 1974? Have you lost your nerve to wear that bra signed by Iggy Pop? Our next online auction will be in June and will feature several vintage clothing items suitable for your festival weekends.
We’re here to provide an opportunity for collectors and fans of music to share their collections and passion with other like minded individuals. Our online auction is a simple and convenient way to connect people who want to buy and sell music memorabilia. We are also looking for vintage clothing, signed memorabilia, and unique items of any kind that would appeal to creative people.
Sign up for auction-only notifications at www.bcmusicianmag.com/newsletter or Email for info: lvnash@bcmusicianmag.com
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september festivals Interior Provincial Exhibition September 2 - 6 Armstrong, BC www.armstrongipe.com
The Interior Provincial Exhibition (I.P.E.) is a five-day agricultural fair that showcases agricultural history, cultural and artistic talents. With 20 different exhibition divisions, rodeo, parade and music.
Quadrapalooza Quadra Island’s Art & Music Festival: Live music, painting, characters, puppets, juggling, dancing, crafts, clothes, vendors, food, refreshments and games.
Kootenay Sufferfest September 5 - 7 Kaslo, Nakusp, New Denver, BC www.kaslosufferfest.com
Annual mountain bike race, run and kids races too. Various locations and times.
Lytton River Festival September 5 - 7 Lytton, BC riverfestival.ca
Featuring local, regional and international blues and R&B artists/groups in both free to the public, and paid admission performances, on the beautiful outdoor stage in Victorias Inner Harbor, Ship Point Picnic Site.
September 9 - 27 Tofino and Ucluelet, BC pacificrimarts.ca/events/cultural-heritage-festival-2015 The theme this year is “Surfing the West Coast”
Vancouver International Fringe Festival September 10 - 20 Vancouver, BC www.vancouverfringe.com
Celebration of theatre on Granville Island. More than 700 performances. With a final night of awards where the Pick of the Fringe is announced.
Accordion Noir Festival
Annual festival is a free event held on Labour Day weekend. Performances on the main stages Friday and Saturday nights, all-day Pow wow on Sunday, Artisan craft demos and sale, kids’ activities and even Chicken Poop Bingo!
September 11 - 13 Vancouver, BC accordionnoirfest.com
Vancouver’s annual celebration of the world’s most misunderstood instrument.
Annual Cowboy and Drover Jubilee
Sunshine Music Festival A celebration of music from across Canada and the world. Craft market and vendors.
Malina Suliman Graffiti in Kandahar, Afghanistan
September 5 - 7 Victoria, BC jazzvictoria.ca/blues-bash
Cultural Heritage Festival
September 4 - 6 Quadra Island, BC quadrapalooza.com
September 5 - 6 Palm Beach, Powell River, BC sunshinemusicfest.com
Vancouver Island Blues Bash
September 11 - 13 Barkerville, BC www.barkerville.ca
with three musical venues, a cowboy poetry tent, “Northern Star” amateur singing competition, and the oldest wooden “Cowboy Church” in British Columbia.
Aurora September 11 - 12 Powell River, BC www.discoverpowellriver.com
Powell River’s Historic Townsite is where past, present, and future meet; the fertile ground for innovative new arts festival. Aurora will open historic spaces for artistic expression, featuring an artist lounge, disco, audio-visual performances, live music and dj, food vendors and local artist exhibits. More news to come!
Jasper Folk Music Festival September 11 - 13 Centennial Park, Jasper, AB www.jasperfolkandblues.com
The annual Jasper Folk Music Festival is dedicated to promoting Canadian Rocky Culture through roots, rhythm, folk and blues music. The festival is a three day event which is held mid September in beautiful Centennial Park bringing together an amazing backdrop with fantastic late summer sounds.
Kaleido Family Arts Festival September 11 - 13 Edmonton, AB kaleidofest.ca
Alberta Avenue comes alive with a free arts festival featuring music, dance, theatre, film, literary, and visual arts. Artists collide in an environment of creative exploration and performances on rooftops, sides of buildings, back alleys, parks, old spaces and new spaces of 118th Avenue.
Come celebrate BC’s rich cowboy heritage
KABUL ART PROJECT
Canada’s first exhibition featuring the work of contemporary artists living and working in Afghanistan today!
July 10 - September 13 @ The Penticton Art Gallery 199 Marina Way, Penticton, B.C. Phone: (250) 493-2928
www.pentictonartgallery.com
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Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
wide cut weekend
calgary's new roots festival coming in October by gillian turnbull With a range of festivals popping up all over the musical landscape, it can be tough for a newbie festival to get noticed in the sea of options that are open to those seeking to expand their musical horizons. But the newest arrival to Calgary’s festival scene Wide Cut Weekend, aims to offer a unique festival experience that presents the best in roots music while showcasing the eclectic musical venues in the city’s core. These venues provide a supportive stage to nurture new and emerging artists, both local and from across Canada. If the name sounds familiar to you, it’s because you’ve probably tuned into Artistic Director Allison Brock’s radio show on CKUA, Wide Cut Country. Now in its fifteenth year, the popular program is CKUA’s highest rated, drawing listeners from across the province and around the world. Roots artists from Rosanne Cash to Blackie and the Rodeo Kings always stop by Allison’s Southern Alberta studio for interviews, and she’s a fixture at the major folk festivals across the province. Known for both her fine taste in old and new country and her unyielding support of local artists, Allison was the natural choice for Artistic Director when Calgary roots venue WineOhs proprietor, Alanna Martineau, started planning the festival
Presents
last summer. The “wide” approach Allison has to programming her show will extend to the festival. Although it will feature mostly Albertan artists in its first year, the roster is diverse, ranging from old-time and classic country performers to contemporary songwriters, rock-infused roots acts, and cowpunk bands. Wide Cut Weekend, which runs October 16 and 17, 2015, also aims to disrupt the typical pick-a-spot-on-the-grass-and-stayput format of most folk festivals, and instead will run out of the city’s top roots venues, showing Calgarians the incredible live music spaces of their own town. Attendees can pick one spot out of The Ironwood, Mikey’s Juke Joint, Wine-Ohs, or The Legion to stay for the night while acts rotate, or they can hop between venues to see a variety of performers and spaces. Ultimately, Wide Cut Weekend will not only showcase the artists that have made Western Canada one of the richest cultural scenes in the country, it will also add to the development of a creative and vibrant inner city community that continually flourishes with new artistic activity. Keep an eye on www.facebook.com/widecutweekend for updates as October gets closer.
Event by
E LIV D N A B
Sunday October 4, 2015 12 pm to 5 pm Oliver Community Centre Art Show • Grape Stomp • Chateau de Kids • Food Vendors • Trade Show • Wine Paired Food Tent • Over 50 Wineries
Call for tickets 250.498.6321 ext. 1 oliverfestivalofthegrape.com
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september festivals Pentastic Hot Jazz Festival September 11 - 13 Penticton, BC www.pentasticjazz.com
The Penticton Jazz Festival held at 5 venues around Penticton. Free shuttle service between venues. Three days of world class jazz to entertain and excite music lovers of all ages.
Serenity Music Harvest Festival September 11 - 13 Birch Island, BC serenitymusic.ca/harvest-festival.htm
3 days and nights of great music in a great setting. If you are in the North Thompson Valley follow the yellow guitars. All children under 12 are FREE admission. Free camping (limited space so book tickets early to reserve your spot).
Sh’Bang Festival A Festival of Ideas: soapbox derby, live entertainment, art installations and workshops.
Annual Wild Salmon Festival September 12 Lumby Community Hall, Lumby, BC www.wildsalmonfest.com
Shuswap salmon travel 1100 kilometres up the Fraser basin to Lumby, BC the easternmost community for Pacific wild salmon returns. Many spawning salmon die trying to get over the spillway at the Wilsey hydro dam. MSWSS is co-ordinating with many community groups, people and businesses who support the development of a fish ladder around the Wilsey hydro dam. The Festival features music, dance, guest speakers and children’s activities.
Fleetwood CommunityFestival September 12 Surrey, BC fcasurrey.ca/aspx/festival.aspx
The festival is designed to create a sense of community. We hope you will enjoy this day of fun, excitement and celebration! 11 am - 3 pm at the Fleetwood Community Centre.
Lake Country ArtWalk ArtWalk is a highly successful annual arts festival that features the best in creative,
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Victoria International Chalk Art Festival September 12 - 13 Victoria, BC www.victoriachalkfestival.com
A two-day chalk art exposition across our beautiful downtown. From Government Street to Centennial Square, music stage, food village, artisans, and kid’s chalkers area.
Fall Record Convention September 13 Vancouver, BC neptoon.com
Come on out to our semi-annual Record Convention at The Croatian Cultural Center. 80+ tables of Records, CDs, and Music Memorabilia.
September 11 - 13 Bellingham, WA shbangfest.com
September 12 - 13 Lake Country, BC artwalk-lc.ca
orginal artworks, along with music, theatre, workshops and special events. Let the colourful gates of ArtWalk lead you to the lastest in great art. Celebrating the international year of light.
BreakOut West Festival September 17 - 20 Victoria, BC breakoutwest.ca
This year BreakOut West festival artists will be sharing the stage with Rifflandia performers in multi-genre showcases, all in walking distance from each other, in downtown Victoria.
FozzyFest September 17 - 20 Lake Koocanusa, BC fozzyfest.com
FozzyFest is a three-day long, spectacular music festival featuring both international & Canadian DJs, musicians and artists in a gorgeous setting. Festival site is located 358 km southwest of Calgary, just west of Grasmere, BC on beautiful Lake Koocanusa in the East Kootenays.
Rifflandia Festival September 17 - 20 Victoria, BC rifflandia.com
Annual Rifflandia Festival will transform the city of Victoria, featuring a truly diverse line-up of artists across numerous stages, all within walking distance in the city’s beautiful and historic downtown core. Join us for 4 days of music, food, art and fun! Visit Rifflandia.com for details.
Axis Mundi Harvest September 18 - 20 Revelstoke Mountain Resort, BC axismundi.ca/axis-mundi-harvest
Named for the mythical place where heaven meets earth and the four compass points meet, the biannual Axis Mundi Festival expresses a point of connection between culture, adventure, community and environment. Attendees can program their weekend to include several events or focus on a specific discipline. Outdoor physical challenges, adventure sport workshops, films and lectures, community initiatives and a music, film and arts festival are all part of the Axis Mundi experience.
Harvest Moon Festival September 18 - 20 Clearwater, MB www.harvestmoonsociety.org/festival
The Harvest Moon Festival celebrates the harvest season and local food production, while providing an opportunity to link those from rural and urban communities. The festival is a key to promoting the Harvest Moon Learning Centre, the generous spirit of the Town of Clearwater, the talents of local artists, tasty produce of local producers and the beauty of the Pembina Valley.
Kootenay Spirit Festival September 18 - 20 Nelson, BC www.kootenayspiritfestival.ca
This new festival is a celebration of yoga, dance, meditation and music. Events are hosted in studios, venues and parks. Walking and cycling between events is encouraged.
Pender Harbour Jazz Festival September 18 - 20 Pender Harbour, BC penderharbourmusic.ca/jazz-festival
All styles of jazz from swing to Latin to gypsy to straight ahead to fusion and more. Many events are free.
Whistler Longboard Festival September 18 - 20 Whistler, BC whistlerlongboard.com
The Whistler Longboard Festival is a multiday downhill skateboard event where top racers take on a world-class track as part of the International Downhill Federation’s 2015 World Cup tour. The main race will be held at the base of Blackcomb Mountain at the Whistler Sliding Centre with both local and international competitors representing over 20 countries. All ages, after-party, special events, a beer garden and finish line view.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
on axis mundi:
Country Celebrations September 19 - 20 Langley, BC www.metrovancouver.org/countrycelebration
Fall tradition that combines nature, heritage, agriculture and community is back and more fun than ever with a bike powered main stage, circus skills workshops, kite-making, raku pottery workshops, story telling, cow milking demonstrations, live raptors, and so much more. Head out to Campbell Valley Regional Park, Township of Langley 10am - 4pm each day.
Pass Creek Fall Fair September 19 - 20 Castlegar, BC passcreekfair.com
Live music, car show, dog agility show, horse show, carnival, kids activities and lots of exhibits.
Rock Creek Fall Fair September 19 - 20 Rock Creek, BC www.rockcreekfallfair.ca
The Rock Creek and Boundary Fall Fair is one of the last “true” country fairs. It is commonly referred to as “The biggest little country fair around”. Bring the whole family to our exhibition for a fun filled two day experience.
Salt Spring Island’s Annual Fall Fair September 19 - 20 Saltspring Island, BC ssifi.org/fall-fair
Much loved by young and old, locals and tourists alike, the annual Fall Fair is Salt Spring Island’s oldest community event, and the one with the most heart!
revelstoke's new lifestyle festival by scott crocker
Axis Mundi Festivals (Harvest and Solstice) are about lifestyle, and how music fits within our daily activities. They’re about making change, making a difference and knowing when and how to unplug and play. We are quickly forgetting how to be ourselves as we constantly update our profiles on Facebook, bash out tweets about our our latest earth shattering observation, or we are stuck in traffic during a nasty commute while looking at the scenery we so dearly want to run off into. As a population we need escapism to survive. We need to feed ourselves with physical activity, nourish ourselves with authentic and flavourful food, develop our creative imagination via new ideas, great lyrics and melodies, and this can all be done as part of a community. Axis Mundi is going to be that community. Each edition of the Axis Mundi Festivals will include music, outdoor adventure activities, real food, community development and discussion about environmental responsibility. So much great music has been inspired by landscape, and if that’s the way it was created, then why shouldn’t it be appreciated within as equally inspiring atmospheres? The festivals are designed with inclusiveness in mind. They’re the kind of structure where novice adventurers will be as comfortable as experienced or elite athletes. If you don’t know what discipline is of interest to you, it’s a place where you can learn about and sample a broad offering, so that you can get a feel for your interests. Adventure can be a family activity and we all know families can be diverse in there levels and likes. At Axis Mundi a family can explore many opportunities to get a feel of how they would like to play responsibly in the outdoors. Community is important, and we have replaced it with a digital version. We need to rediscover the importance of a physical community. Knowing your neighbor, helping someone because it is the right thing to do, picking up garbage as you walk down the street, creating community solutions for community problems, aren’t online activities. In each event Axis Mundi will look at its community and develop a program in which the Axis Mundi membership can assist to make its surroundings a better place. Revelstoke has been chosen as Axis Mundi’s first destination for several reasons. It’s a location that offers adventure in its mountains, on its trails, and rivers and lakes. It has an intensely strong sense of community, with many established organizations, which are incredibly active. The historic downtown and Revelstoke Mountain Resort both offer exceptional venue opportunities with jaw dropping vistas and unique architecture. It is a place with a strong appreciation for music and passion for the arts. Revelstoke is also warm and welcoming to guests and willing to share what it does best… unplug and play. Axis Mundi is an outdoor lifestyle and music festival. It is the kind of place where a person can explore the opportunity of challenge, inspiration comes from new ideas and great music, and where community has a physical presence.
SEPT 18, 19 & 20, 2015 REVELSTOKE, BC
AXISMUNDI.CA 888 214 6599
AXIS MUNDI IS A MYTHICAL PLACE WHERE HEAVEN MEETS EARTH, THE FOUR COMPASS POINTS JOIN AND WHERE ARTS & CULTURE, ADVENTURE, THE ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY CONNECT.
A lifestyle festival exploring adventure through:
Featuring concerts and presentations by:
Music Art & Film Food/Food Initiatives Community Projects Sport & Interactive Experience Gear Demos & Swap Environmental Action
Walk Off The Earth Ashley MacIsaac The Floozies Adham Shaikh Grounders Six String Nation Highs Buckman Coe Sticky Fingers Jamie Andrew Plus More TBA
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september - october festivals Okanagan Vinyl Fest Presented by Peach City Radio September 20 Penticton, BC peachcityradio.org/events/okvf
Amazing bargains to be found on any budget at this South Okanagan record show. Over 30 vendors from Western Canada selling new & used vinyl, CDs, and hi-fi equipment. You’ll also find music memorabilia, DJs, food vendor, listening lounge and more! New location at Penticton Seniors Drop-In Centre 2965 South Main. Early Bird: 9am-10am - $5, 10am-3pm - $2.
RiverFest
September 25 - 27 Lower Mainland, BC culturedays.ca
Hundreds of thousands of artists and cultural organizations in hundreds of cities and towns come together to participate in free interactive and behind-the-scenes activities to discover their cultural spirit and passion.
Summer’s End Harvest Festival September 26 Hillspring, AB The Great Canadian Barn Dance gcbd.ca/summers-end-harvest-festival Celebrate the change of seasons at the Great Canadian Barn Dance.
September 23 - 26 New Westminster, BC
Trail’s End Gathering
fraserriverdiscovery.org
Province wide event to celebrate the worlds waterways.
Victoria One Wave Festival September 23 - 26 Victoria, BC www.pacificpeoplespartnership.org/ onewavefestival1.html
One Wave is a dynamic and interactive all ages event bringing together local organizations and a dynamic medley of artists, musicians, and community members. Live music from hip hop, ska and reggae, slam poetry and spoken word, to South Pacific dance, Coast Salish drumming, and live painting and carving.
Accordion Extravaganza September 25 - 27 St. John’s Cultural Centre, Edmonton, BC edmontonaccordion.com Held yearly, the festival is part of the Edmonton Accordion Society’s aim to promote the accordion, accordion music and accordion culture. The event kicks off with a family friendly cabaret Friday night. Relax to an evening of music, dance and fun. See what the local talent is all about. Saturday morning features workshops and is followed by a free afternoon of open stage. Bring your accordion and book a slot or be part of the appreciative audience.
Burrard Inlet Fish Fest September 25 - 26 Rocky Point Park, Port Moody, BC bifishfest.wordpress.com
This community engaged art event is inspired by the theme “Nature is our Medicine.” New for this year’s event is a green, solar, wind and bicycle powered performance stage.
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Culture Days
October 2 - 4 High River, AB albertacowboypoetry.com/index.html
A showcase of talent from the Alberta Cowboy Poetry Association.
Festival of the Grape October 4 Oliver Community Park, Oliver, BC www.festivalofthegrape.ca
Celebrating the grape harvest, great wine and great food in the Okanagan Valley. Over 50 wineries, 20 food vendors, Kids Zone, Grape Stomp, Trade Show, and Main Stage Entertainment
Salt Spring Island Apple Fest October 4 Salt Spring Island, BC saltspringapplefestival.org
The Salt Spring Island Apple Festival is an incredible little community event, attracting about 1500 apple lovers, celebrating the apples (and food) of Salt Spring Island.
Annual Artist’s Studio Tour October 10 - 12 Gabriola Island, BC artsgabriola.ca
50+ artists open their studios to tempt your senses with dazzling displays! Award-winning jewellers, painters for every taste, plus pottery, glasswork, photography, leatherwork, textiles and much more. Self-directed tours happen all summer long.
imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival October 14 - 18 Toronto, ON www.imaginenative.org
latest works by Indigenous peoples on the forefront of innovation in film, video, radio, and new media. The festival presents a selection of the most compelling and distinctive Indigenous works from around the globe.
Sechelt Arts Festival October 15 - 25 Sechelt, BC secheltartsfestival.com
The Sunshine Coast’s Leading Edge Visual and Performing Arts Festival features over 100 artists, ten days of concerts, premiere stage performances, workshops, heritage exhibit and a cross-cultural art exhibition.
Rossander World Community Film Festival October 16 - 17 Powell River, BC www.rossanderfilmfestival.org
The festival hosts the finest documentaries from around the world exploring themes such as food security, environmental issues, social justice and human rights, labour issues, arts and music.
Sunshine Coast Art Crawl October 16 - 18 Sunshine Coast, BC www.sunshinecoastartcrawl.com
The Art Crawl offered Crawlers access to 110 participating galleries and art studios, representing over 275 artists along the entire Sunshine Coast Highway from Langdale to Lund or Lund to Langdale. We invite Crawlers to come, meet the artists and experience the vibrant arts and culture community on the Sunshine Coast.
wide cut weekend October 16 - 17 Calgary, AB Facebook.com/Widecutweekend
With Artistic Director Alison Brock (CKUA’s Wide Cut Country host) at the helm this new festival promises some of the best rockinfused, cowpunk, and classic country acts performing at Calgary’s top roots venues: The Ironwood, Mikey’s Juke Joint, Wine-Ohs, and The Legion.
Heart of the City Festival October 28 - November 8 Vancouver, BC www.heartofthecityfestival.com
An annual, 12-day celebration of the people, cultures, art forms, and history of the Downtown Eastside. Over 80 events at over 25 venues throughout the Downtown Eastside. Most events are free.
An international festival that celebrates the
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
reviews: Leanne v nash Cabalcor Sun Belt
sunbelt.bandcamp.com
photo Rick Maddocks
Cabalcor is subtle, graceful, and moving. Recorded in Arizona, it belies the dusty environs with a clarity of sound and purpose. Cabalcor could be the long lost script for a David Lynch film, or the surreal world of Jim Jarmusch: think Down by Law but without the comic relief. An impressive collection of musicians have formed Sun Belt. Stephen Lyons is on drums, percussion, electric guitar, vibes, synthesizer, backing vocals. Lyons is also part of the Juno awardwinning avant rock band Fond of Tigers, in addition to numerous creative projects. Rick Maddocks is both an author and contributor of vocals, acoustic guitar, keys, banjo, and brings an anthropological technique: Field Recordings. Paul Rigby — with a lengthy resume including work with Neko Case, A.C. Newman, Carolyn Mark, Kathryn Calder — brings his inventory of guitars: electric, acoustic, Nashville, classical, pedal steel, plus piano. Jon Wood (Flophouse Jr.) further elevates the strings with bass, ukulele, piano and adds back vocals. Craig Schumacher mixed and engineered this album with the band at his Wavelab Studio in Tucson, Arizona, which has recorded, among others, Neko Case, Amos Lee, Tom Russell, and Calexico. He also contributed bass harmonica and synth.
Coming Home Gerry Hannah
gerryhannah.com
The enclosed notes from the band say that the songs inspired the book Cabalcor: An Extracted History, published by Anvil Press. This musical story is both small (the album barely passes 35 minutes) and also large, as the stories and mysteries behind these 10 songs expand and grow from start to finish. Which means you’ll have to track down the book too. Recordings that tell stories are more valuable than individual hit singles. When writers and musicians put massive thought into a composition it lands on a new cultural strata. It is stunning that the digital distribution everyone is lemming-like falling for invites song by song purchases. Really, would you pay $1 for the 10th track on Cabalcor, which is 21 seconds long? No. Not because 21 seconds is not good value, but because those 21 seconds are the equivalent of the last page of a book. Rip the last page from a novel and you have an incomplete story; scratch the last track from this CD and you have… well, you get the point. Cabalcor is good music too. If you are keen to buy a single, Daddy-O or Pale Destroyer could, maybe, stand on their own. But you are better committing to the whole thing. Surely you can afford the time. Songs and stories are at sunbelt.bandcamp.com.
Gerry Hannah’s story is not well known to many people under the age of 40 (though we’ve let Gerry have his say in this issue, pages 12-14) and this new disk may not engage listeners of that generation either. It’s a long road Gerry has travelled from punk rocker to militant protestor to incarcerated terrorist, and his songwriting reflects a thought process that has unfolded over hours and hours of thinking about each of his actions with the reflection that the isolation of prison — and growing up — must inspire. In spite of some truly pessimistic lyrics, musically these songs have a charming innocence and are mostly absent of the rage and irony that a bitter songwriter might
express. Gerry’s Subhumans punk years have evaporated and he has teleported musically into now, with whispers of Vancouver in the 60s limning the edges of some of his songs with fiddles, banjos, and mandolins that in places invoke The Waterboys’ Fisherman’s Blues. The last track, The Madness, is the only blatantly miserable tune on the whole disk. It’s cathartic, it’s black, it really is madness. It’s one of those moments you just kind of wish you hadn’t witnessed. That said, there are plenty of moments in Gerry Hannah’s life arc that he probably wishes he hadn’t witnessed. Incredibly, he has come home an optimist.
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alpha yaya diallo the musical mixologist by dave o rama A life in music is certainly keeping Alpha Yaya Diallo busy. After almost twenty five years living in Canada Diallo has toured extensively, won himself a fistful of awards, including a JUNO for his collaborative work with the African Guitar Summit. He was the subject of the Canadian documentary Best of Both Worlds and has released seven highly praised solo recordings of West African flavoured music. After a handful of live performances on the west coast this spring Diallo reconnected with some of his fellow African Guitar Summit alumni for a reunion tour of Alaska that took place in the first half of March. In recent years Diallo has also conjured another grand collaboration with the formation of his West African Summit. Diallo took the time to explain the concept to me when he stopped in on my radio show The Lovecast this past spring while on a short tour of Vancouver Island. “West African Summit is a large eight piece band that I put together with some friends, traditional African musicians mostly based in Europe. We performed last year at events like the Mission Folk Festival and the Edmonton Folk Festival.” The first West African Summit performances were collaborations with choreographer Alejandro Ronceria and featured African master percussionist Naby Camara and kora virtuoso Prince Diabaté. These performances also included the kinetic talents of N’nato Camara and Mariama Camara, a couple of the most gifted African dancers on the scene. Diallo gets my attention when he reveals that there’s a West African Summit recording on the horizon. “We have a very good live recording of the West African Summit that is currently in the mastering stage.” Good news for sure from this musical multitasker who also recently released an African electro collaboration with Quebec multimedia production crew Quicksound. The result was Quicksound and Alpha Yaya Diallo present Mosulu, a funky house album that incorporates Diallo’s dynamic voice and guitar improvisations. “Quicksound are young guys who work with electronics. Club music with really heavy beats. They have worked with people like Shakura and Cirque Du Soleil. It’s very good. It’s a very powerful sound, some really heavy beats.” It’s no surprise that Diallo is open to exploring music from different perspectives. As a child in Guinea Diallo followed his father, a doctor in demand, all around the country. Through his travels he was exposed to the incredible cultural
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diversity of Guinea as they frequented border towns. He also became familiar with the musical traditions of Mali, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Liberia and even the Cape Verde islands off the coast. When Guinea achieved independence in 1958 the new Marxist government, formed by Ahmed Sékou Touré’s Democratic Party of Guinea, created a cultural enrichment model that was similar to that of Cuba. “Touré promoted a lot of culture in Guinea, Ballet, percussion and so on. At the time every family had a member who was being trained in music.” This government-sponsored cultural agenda provided Diallo with an extensive education in traditional Guinean music and molded him into a very gifted percussionist. Yet, the instrument that would really capture his ear and his heart would be the guitar. “I totally fell in love with the guitar. I started the guitar at a very young age, probably six or seven. I would spend a lot of my time trying to build things that would create a guitar sound.” With its new connection to countries like Russia, China and Cuba, citizens of Guinea such as Diallo became exposed to foreign forms of music and it was this cultural interaction that influenced Diallo’s love for the guitar. “Guinea was a closed country at the time but I managed to get my hands on tapes by bands like Orquesta Aragón and other very old organic Cuban music.” So, Diallo’s future music career was formed from both a conscious government investment in the arts and his own broad exposure to the rich musical and cultural heritage of West Africa. When speaking with Diallo it becomes clear that his life experience has instilled in him an openness to musical exploration and an appreciation of both traditional and contemporary forms of musical expression. With the release of his West African Summit live recording on the horizon and the promise of a new solo release in the very near future it’s hard not to be impressed by Alpha Yaya Diallo’s musical spirit. It’s clear that this three time JUNO Award winner has become a true Canadian cultural treasure. Alpha Yaya Diallo will be performing at several Canadian festivals this summer including Les FrancoFolies de Montréal, the Dawson City Music Festival, Edmonton’s Afica Day and at the Vancouver Island Music Festival. You can also find all of Alpha Yaya Diallo’s recordings on Jericho Beach Music at alphayayadiallo.com.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
reviews: r. doull The Afterthought West Coast Rock Posters and Recollections from the ’60s Rocky Mountain Books Harcover, 248 pages www.rmbooks.com
The Afterthought was an important venue in Vancouver for the development of the psychedelic rock music scene with its accompanying poster art and light shows. It wasn’t the first. That honour goes to the Advanced Mattress Coffee House, and there were other clubs around during this time, like the Lighthouse on 4th Ave. But the Afterthough was arguably the most important. It ran from the beginning of November, 1965, to the end of August, 1967, when the promoter, Jerry Kruz, had his license lifted by the City of Vancouver. It occupied several different locations and had its longest runs at the Pender Auditorium and finally the Kits Theatre (now the Russian Centre on 4th Ave). In this book Kruz reproduces chronologically all of the posters created for The Afterthought along with posters for other events he was associated with, such as the first Grateful Dead free concert in the Stanley Park gazebo, or the 1967 Teenage Fair held at the Kitsilano Armories. All the posters are reproduced in colour and to accompany each poster image Kruz contributes his recollections of the event. The posters are interesting both as artworks, in particular for the development of the styles of Bob Masse and Frank Lewis, and as a visual record of the rapid changes to the music itself. An early Afterthought event featured The Centaurs who were essentially a really (really, really) good cover band. The San Fran-
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janeeamon.net
people together romantically. It is as if she uses the stage as a perch to observe the behaviour of the audience and then creates lyrics about their individual idiosyncrasies. She works in a style that is relaxed and rooted in swing based blues. The CD can be heard in its entirety on her website and can be ordered either as a hard copy or a download. Her live performances are relatively infrequent, so this CD may be the best way to catch her this summer.
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We publish reviews in every issue, but the September/October issue is when we try to catch up with many of the recordings we have received through the year. Please send to PO Box 1150, Peachland, BC V0H 1X0. We do try to listen to everything. And now, everything we review gets mentioned and sampled on BCMM Radio Love on Peach City Radio: www.peachcityradio.org/programs/music/bcmmradiolove
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Jane Lee
This is the first jazz CD from Kelownabased Jane Lee who has recorded several folk CDs in her earlier incarnation as Jane Eamon. Ten tracks, seven written by her, one from Duke Ellington, one from Harold Arlen, and one from producer Andrew Smith. In addition to her vocals and acoustic guitar she is accompanied by a four piece of Neil Fraser on electric guitar, Eric Disero on piano, Andrew Smith on bass and Zachari Smith on drums. She has an eye for detail and her lyrics often remark on the small things that bring
Su
She’s The Girl
cisco bands start to arrive and play; in particular The Grateful Dead, the Jefferson Airplane, Big Brother & The Holding Company, The Steve Miller Blues Band and Country Joe and the Fish; they interact with the local musicians and the Vancouver bands up their game. The Black Snake Blues Band is formed (no one locally had even seen a Flying V guitar until Joe Conroy started playing one). Jabberwock becomes My Indole Ring. The United Empire Loyalists introduce long form experimental jams. The Painted Ship create masses of angry swirling sound based around Ken Wain’s Hammond organ. Kruz’s memories tend to be discursive and highly personal, in part devoted to explaining and justifying his own actions. This is not a definitive history of the time, but it is a useful view through one lens. The book is enhanced with a selection of writings from other contributors, a table of the major bands and musicians, a selected discography and suggestions for related reading.
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reviews: dave o rama Fruit Flies
The Nobodies
sunbelt.bandcamp.com For just two musicians The Nobodies sure do make a lot of noise. The second recording from this Montreal based Okanagan bred duo, Fruit Flies, is a mind bending junk yard opera marinated in ragbag western musical traditions.
Dance Your Spiritis Masimba Marimba
masimbamarimba.com If you are seeking a joyous noise to lift your spirits during those most challenging times I personally prescribe large doses of marimba music. Much like their musical offspring, the Trinidadian steel pan drum, marimbas possess the dual identity of both melody and rhythm propelled by a powerful sonorous force. Marimba bands take control over the pulse of your heart and the vibration of the ground beneath the feet of the dancers they serve. I’ve been both surprised and elated at how Marimba collectives have been popping up all over the BC coastal community for many years now. Early incarnations like Muzuva Marimba,
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At first listen Fruit Flies comes off as low-fi and very rough around the edges. But it quickly gets under the skin, and as with many well executed works of art this recording keeps getting better with age. Self described as “psychedelic swing trash” and “psych noir” I believe Jared Jackel and Carson Ruhland are limiting themselves with those descriptions. Or maybe they just have as much difficulty describing their sound as I do. Jackel and Ruhland incorporate an impressive assortment of instrumentation into the mix including guitars, bass, drums, keys, percussion, banjo, harmonica and my favorite, a liberal helping of kazoos. At times The Nobodies sound like the house band in some derelict juke joint in the deep swamp while other numbers conjure up a vaudevillian nightmare or the flavor of a Brechtian cabaret performed by the inmates of a mental institution.
But just when you think you have them pinned down The Nobodies launch into strange bastardizations of lounge jazz (Alias And The Alibis), barrelhouse boogie woogie (Daily Dose), ghost rider cowboy blues (The Moocher) and Balkan psycho punk polka (Moldy Bread). Leaping out at you from many musical directions, some difficult to describe, Fruit Flies is a record boiling over with humor, creativity, inspired performance and, as I already mentioned, kazoos! Definitely one of the more unique releases I have encountered in the last few years. I can only imagine how interesting The Nobodies would be to see in a live setting. Beyond its ragged hillbilly blues Fruit Flies comes off like deranged musical theatre performed by hyperactive kids who have spent way too much time under the sink huffing the bathroom cleanser. And don’t forget, there’s kazoos!
the original host of the west coast marimba bug infecting other regions where collectives like Malaika Marimba (Cowichan Valley), Kumabana Marimba (Errington), Kunaka Marimba (Vancouver), Mufaro Marimba (Victoria) Kutapira (Vancouver) and Makeke Marimba (Lasqueti Island) have sprouted mallets and adopted a profound love for African rhythms. Masimba Marimba, a similar group of idiophonatics based in Duncan BC exclaim that they play their music “joyfully” and this sense of joy is more than evident on their new CD release Dance Your Spirit! So evident that the exclamation point in the title is almost rhetorical. Mentored by member Ted Wright since 2007 Masimba Marimba approach this recording with a well honed appreciation of rhythmic complexity and coral tradition. Wright composed three of the pieces on the album including the groove heavy Shake Off The Fleas, a track that would inspire most dance floors. Many of the marimba collectives I have encountered on the west coast transcend common differences such as race, gender, age and experience, where the openness to new blood in the form of new teachers and new members is another important part of this musical experience. It’s obvious to me that this music celebrates life. But it also celebrates the collective experience of learning. And I sense
that this is what appealed to the individual members of Masimba Marimba. The core inspiration that continues to bring them together on a united journey into percussive expression. You can almost feel it in the musical emotion and enthusiasm emanating from this recording. But it’s even deeper than that. I sense that the contrast between the jubilant southern African pulsations on Dance Your Spirit! and the more dire subject matter presented in many of the traditional compositions on the recording are symbolic of the intended healing powers of the marimba’s magic voice. That magic has been successfully harnessed here by Masimba Marimba as a multifaceted musical gift presented to departing member Ruby. Performing with the group since she was sixteen, Ruby moves on to other regions of the planet while Masimba Marimba welcomes new members Rita and Tracey. And so the cycle continues. A documentation of songs the band members learned during Ruby’s tenure with the collective, Dance Your Spirit! is a pulsating tonic of joy that celebrates the magic, spirituality and inspiration of African musical traditions. Beautifully recorded at The Port Theatre in Nanaimo by Zak Cohen, Dance Your Spirit! is a musical celebration of life; a sonic rejuvenation for all of those in need.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
derived from simple ingredients where the end result produces unexpected and pleasurable complexities. Blais is definitely a singer to keep in your peripheral. And, considering her social media output, I’m pretty sure we can expect more delicious offerings in the coming years from this talented and paradoxical attention seeker.
Vancouver’s Orkestar Šlivovica continue creating audio love letters to the brass band music of the Balkans with their second CD release SA!, a Romani word meaning “everything.” Packed solid with thirteen predominantly classic Serbian and Romani traditional compositions, Orkestar Šlivovica invites the listener on their journey of discovery through the magical realm of Guca music. Guided by their long time mentor, Serbian flugelhorn master Demiran Cerimovic, the ever-evolving Vancouver big band now boasts fifteen members on this sophomore recording. Cerimovic has been visiting Canada and performing with the group for several years now and contributes two original songs to the CD while Orkestar Šlivovica’s flugelhorn player and vocalist Sky Lambourne also stands out with the original composition Bottle of Slivo. Sa! possesses a very traditional flavour and almost sounds like a live recording
documented during a festive Serbian feast or a rowdy Romani wedding. The performances are strong and the music is infectious and the band’s lead singer, Mythical Man, does a solid job sorting out the arrangements. Their collective vocal chops are strong and percussionist Kristina Zalite does a beautiful job singing the lead on the traditional Serbian tracks Ja Urani Jutros Rano, Niska Banja and on the popular traditional Romani song Ederlezi Avela on which she shares vocal duties with the band’s other percussionist Michael Louw. My only real criticism of SA! would be in the area of production. The recording is very satisfying and has a very live sounding authentic sound to it but I feel there could have been more of an effort to capture the sheer power of such a huge brass and rhythm machine. More could have to done to bring forward the sheer magnitude of the sound that bands like this produce. Balkan orchestras are known to pump out a powerful sonic reverberation that comes from the combined force of the percussion section and bass brass like the tuba and the sousaphone. These elements produce the sonic equivalent of an earth tremor or rolling thunder that is unfortunately hard to place here. But, beyond this, SA! is another great example of a group of musicians possessed with the passion to learn a style of music far removed from their Canadian origins. Orkestar Šlivovica’s dedication to the Guca sound doesn’t stop with their recordings as the band has also been very active in producing their own annual Balkan music festival as a way of introducing western Canadian audiences to this dynamic form of brass music. Over the last few years their Ederlezi Festival has taken place in Vancouver in early May and brings together traditional Balkan orchestras from as far as eastern Europe and as close as Seattle Washington to celebrate their love for the Guca trumpet traditions. This year the festival will be held May 8 and 9 at the Grandview Legion on Commercial Drive and will feature Demiran Cerimovic, Seattle’s Bucharest Drining Team, Orkestar Zirkonium, The M9, Orkestar Šlivovica and a number of other traditional folk dance troupes. Find out more about the band and the Ederlezi Festival at orkestarslivovica.org.
BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015 77
Rain Knee Haley Blais
haleblais.bandcamp.com Haley Blais is a humorous and snarky young YouTube blogger from Kelowna, BC who also happens to possess a beautiful voice and some decent songwriting chops. Known on her torturedteenagestyle video blog for her sardonic monologues, friendly collaborations and sombre song covers, usually strummed out on her tenor ukulele, Haley Blais is pretty entertaining. In contrast with her commonly mischievous musings her own music is actually quite serious and melancholy. But in a good way. Now based in Vancouver, this classically trained vocalist gave up the beginnings of a classical music career as a teenager to pursue the life of a folk singer. I came across Rain Knee on bandcamp, not knowing anything about Haley Blais’ social media output, and was almost frightened away by the pink tongued puppy collage that was likely referencing her four song EP, Lonely Songs for Dog Lovers, which she released in the fall of 2013 along with a very fine video for the track Virginia. I found myself pleasantly surprised by the subtle beauty and simplicity of her new three song EP, which Blais released on Bandcamp in late March. The three tracks on Rain Knee exude the atmosphere of grey rainy days permeated with the pungent scent of lilac nectar; rusty emotions lubricated with peach brandy. Blais’ music is subtle and wistful, meandering from the pastoral Americana sound of I Will Love You More Than I Did Today to the track Throne which creaks with the dusty tones of a crackly old music box. Haley Blais’ vocals are profoundly forlorn and yet sweet as honey, dripping with reverb and layered with harmonies served up like a filo dessert for your ears. Rain Knee is an understated offering
SA!
Orkestar Šlivovica orkestarslivovica.com
Fingers of sleepy dark cloud scratch lazily at a fat summer moon as I lay back in the long cool grass where the fire still keeps the falling dew at bay. Somewhere in the darkness Dave Bidini is crooning the assets of the land he loves most. One that I have never seen, but I trust his judgement, he seems like a good enough fellow. I am beyond the reach of the firelight, on the far outer edge of a crowd of people gathered enthusiastically around a raging bonfire. They’re talking, drinking, smoking, drinking, laughing, drinking, kissing, drinking and of course, singing and drinking. At this party the bass is upright and the boom box is oral. It’s midnight, the end of August at the end of the Edge of The World. Aaaah! a good music festival memory, one that briefly lights up the darkened corners of the mind that time is slowly redeeming. The good ones seem to sweeten over time. Like Gulf Island raspberries dripping between the thorns in the summer’s heat. We naturally immortalize them into ideal moments of blissful pleasure where the averages of life sink to the bottom of the keg allowing the juicer bits to bubble forth and over-ripen. Sugary little cocktails in our brains. We tap them when we are happy, sad, forgetful, longing, in need of inspiration or just want to escape back, to feel once again those same good feelings. Maybe sweeter now, in hindsight. Like those raspberries in the summer heat. Now I am by no means a seasoned festival “go-er,” or a seasoned anything for that matter. To be perfectly honest, the first real music festival I ever attended was because my band was playing it. My memories are but a mere parking ticket compared to the lengthy shindig rap sheets stuffed in the glutted glove boxes of many a festival go-er, who criss-cross Pac-Man-like up and down this province, climbing every mountain, fording every stream, following every rainbow… their red taillights drawing abstract astrological formations into the night sky, the festivals their constellations. I both envy and admire their commitment to a good time. A toast! someone tap a keg. Now, having had the good fortune to be playing a festival, a “player” if I may, is quite the treat. That hand-painted “All
78 BC Musician Magazine’s
by Rika
edge of the world photo by jason shafto
of raspberries & ritual
Access” wooden tag hanging from that drifter-with-a-banjo’s sweaty brown neck ain’t just hippy bling. That little piece of ID documentation opens up some pretty nice doors both in front of the House and out the back. Be they gymnasium fine dining, hot running water, mobile homes, tee-pees, smoked salmon by the bucket, warm kitchens full of happy cooks, backstage boogies, lacrosse-ball hockey, masseuse/stage managers and full moon parties with free beer to name but a few. It’s anything but a hard knocks life for us. In fact, it’s pretty darn juicy. The fattest raspberries on the vine morph into sun-kissed faces, those smiles, that seething mass of happiness ebbing and flowing before us to the beats we are dishing out. Be it the sweaty downstairs hall at Artswells or the open-sky tree-lined fields of Haida Gwaii. Now for those readers who are not Players, don’t feel amiss. You, the festival go-er doesn’t suffer too badly either. Gleefully detached, is a good description of some of the audiences I’ve seen, communally lost in auditory rapture. Far away from the everyday, enveloped in the warm pulsing hug of music reaching affectionately out from the stage. (Doug-the Hug-Koyamastyle). Blissed the f%^# out, festival day after festival night, a sea of glowing faces, eyes closed, bodies moving. Welcome to the congregation brothers and sisters; our saviour is sonic and there is no need for seating. Like the summer past and the summer before that, the approaching festival season begins with the arrival of this little gem of a resource, The BCM Ultimate Summer Festival Guide. The “Good Book” of carousing. The North Star of celebration navigation. The enlightened compass by which so many of us will plan our tours and trips, vacations and vocations. Surely the Chinese philosopher Laozi was referring to it when he said, “A journey of a thousands miles begins with one small magazine…” Here it is, your starter gun to the summers rhythmic rituals... BANG! Enjoy, my friends, you little Pac-men and women, Players and Goers, here’s to raspberries and bubbling cocktails. I will see you out there! Bliss the f%^# out, brothers and sisters, bliss the f%^# out.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2015
Pre-Festival Workshops July 28 - 31
Stephen Fearing
Linda McRae
Melisa Devost
Ndidi Cascade
Corwin Fox
Tereza Tomek
Songwriting with Stephen Fearing & Linda McRae
Sing About It with Melisa Devost Youth Songwriting & Rhythm with Ndidi Cascade, Corwin Fox & Tereza Tomek
Presented by
ISLAND MOUNTAIN ARTS An experience like no other. 1 - 8 0 0 - 4 4 2 - 2 7 8 7 • w w w. i m a r t s . c o m