2016
8th annual
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide
contents of the 8th Annual Ultimate Summer Festival Guide Contributors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Yeah Baby!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 DINAH D Guerilla Ethnomusicologist: Malcolm Aiken. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 DAVE O RAMA Authentic Sound. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 KYM GOUCHIE BC Drummers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 JOY MULLEN More Cross Border Woes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 - 13 CAROLYN MARK Summer Plans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Cam Penner May Festival Listings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 - 19 June Festival Listings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 - 27 India Heritage Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 - 29 NINA BUDDHDEV July Festival Listings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 - 38 & 44 - 50 MAP by RIKA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 - 41 Spirit Kisses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 - 43 COCO LOVE ALCORN LongWalkShortDock Q&A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 RICHELLE NEWSON Barkerville: Solid Gold. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 JAMES DOUGLAS August Festival Listings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 - 58 September Festival Listings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 - 62 Supernatural: Special Woodshedding Edition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 - 65 RICHARD CHAPMAN Northeast Festivals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 LYDIA HIBBING Reviews: Brandon Hoffman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69 Reviews: Dave O Rama. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 - 71 Reviews: R. Doull. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 - 77 Review: Harper D.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 About the Cover Artist: Wanda Lock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Issue 116 May/June 2016 c/o: PO Box 1150 Peachland, BC V0H 1X0 604 999 4141 bcmusicianmag.com hello@bcmusicianmag.com
Publisher & Editor & Production Leanne V Nash lvnash@bcmusicianmag.com Ads & Distribution & Listings Sarah Fahey sarah@bcmusicianmag.com Advertising Brian Highley brian@bcmusicianmag.com
Purchase a subscription or individual copies online at bcmusicianmag.com /store Find a comprehensive list of year round festival listings online at bcmusicianmag.com /view-festivals
This year’s cover is from an original work by Wanda Lock wandalockart.com Camping in the day & night mixed media on paper 22” x 30’’ 2016
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016 Cover Artist Wanda Lock Friend to All Paul Crawford paul@bcmusicianmag.com Canada Post Agreement 41440066 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.
www.bcmusicianmag.com | Twitter: @bcmusician | Facebook: /BCMusicianMagazine
contributors Brandon Hoffman has been living in
a tiny cabin in the outskirts of Williams Lake fowp working on experimental electronic music under the name Blocktreat.
Joy Mullen aka Joy On Drums, has
been playing drums for over 25 years. The Vancouver based musician has been writing, recording and touring with the likes of Cris Derksen, e.s.l., Miss Quincy, Rae Spoon, Christa Couture and Joyce Collingwood. She helped found Girls Rock Camp Vancouver and currently teaches at Rufus Drum Shop. joyondrums.com
Kym Gouchie is
a member of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation in Prince George, BC where she was raised among musicians. Inspired by her eclectic background, this mother of four adult children and grandmother of six, draws on the sometimes harsh realities of searching for her own identity as an Indigenous woman who has been no stranger to adversity. Yet somehow her experiences are translated into lyrics that elevate our hearts. An artist with a social conscience, Kym is a favourite among the music festival circuit. kymgouchie.com
Nina Buddhdev is India Heritage Trust’s CEO for global partnerships for global touring & exchange partnerships for Indian Classical art, poetry, music & dance projects. Nina is currently developing the Indian Classical Music Youth recital program with BC mentors and organisations. Nina owns Vois Créatives that serves as a ghostwriter for orators, public figures, media content, traditional artists, publications & thematic presentations, regeneration & special projects.
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Dinah D is a music
Coco Love Alcorn Whether she is
criss-crossing Canada on one of her own headlined tours, improvising and collaborating on festival stages or genre hopping on side projects, Coco Love Alcorn follows her spirit. That indelible energy has taken her to many of Canada’s most notable music venues and festivals, and helped her to grow a devoted fan base across the country. cocolovealcorn.com
Cam Penner lives
in the woods, on a mountain by a river. He is currently touring his new album Sex & Politics, with long time music cohort Jon Wood. Catch them as they bring their traveling show to your fine town. @campenner | campenner.com
breathing upright bassist. She also breathes air. And is awaiting the invention of inflatable basses...still.......... waiting..............!
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.
Carolyn Mark
is an in-famous West Coast Boozy Chanteuse. She currently lives in the moment. carolynmark.com
Lydia Hibbing is an artist, musician, writer
and arts advocate living in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. Lydia is Vice-President of the Peace Liard Regional Arts Council and believes The Arts play a pivotal role in shaping our communities. Lydia exhibits her artwork throughout Canada and currently has work on tour in Alberta. Lydia has achieved much in her short musical career including supporting The Sam Roberts Band, writing and recording with B.C. rapper Stretch-9 and performing regularly at Grizfest and West-Mo Days. At the moment she sings and plays the keys with The Mechanical Botanicals, an acoustic duo from Tumbler Ridge, B.C.
Richard Chapman has worked 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.
James Douglas is a producer,
director, writer, actor, and educator specializing in historical interpretation, historical theatre, broadcast and independent media recording, communications, public relations, and arts marketing. He is currently the General Manager of Histrionics Theatre Co. and Manager of Visitor Experiences at Barkerville Historic Town & Park.
Richelle “Roco” Newson is a writer,
social media, PR and music industry professionals hailing from Vancouver, B.C. Canada. Deeply passionate about music, arts and festival culture she is the co-founder of the music festival blog bettyandkora.com. A site dedicated to sharing experiences, stories, music, photography and media from festivals, concerts, good times and everything in between.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
Yeah Baby, it’s Festival Season! by Dinah D
Most Canadians enjoy summertime... finally fabulous weather and many music festivals and outdoorsy activities that can be had. Here in BC we have so many different climates that ‘summer festival weather’ can mean anything from 5 degrees celsius with fine drizzling mist to blazing hot 35 degree desert temperatures. Festival season can also mean a mad-dash homeon-Tuesday-gone-on-Thursday tour season for some musicians, myself included! I have found that versatility has been my biggest ally. I perform mostly with an upright bass these days but I have been spotted with a uke, banjo or guitar from time to time. I am also a songwriter, singer, storyteller, travel manager, booking agent, band manager, producer, financial adviser, distributor, web manager, publicist and grant writer for my bands. Independent musicians have to be spiders with 8 legs just to keep up...and with two bands on the road at the moment all that gets doubled. The reason we endure all this madness is so we can get on that stage and share our music with an appreciative audience. Really, that makes all the ‘behind the scenes’ stuff worthwhile. Also many musicians only get paid when they step on stage which leads me to right here and now- summer festival season is upon us, people! Ah, summer festivals, how I love thee!! Jogging from stage to stage to catch a snippet of as many acts as possible, or falling asleep at a stage listening to several bands waft through. Playing these fests is as fun, challenging and rewarding as attending them and deciphering the festival guides. Behind the scenes of all music festivals are a sea of volunteers and staff who run it. Often there
are literally little roads behind the fence screens where musicians get driven around in golf carts in order to make the super tight turnarounds for sets and workshops. As an upright bassist, I need to get around on these carts plus they are really fun to ride with a huge upright bass...instant clown car! Let us imagine for a moment that we are sitting at our favourite summer music fest, on a blanket, in front of the stage watching a band we are really enjoying...ah! The sound crew are doing a great job and the music volume is just right, as is the ‘people watching’ with everyone in their full summer plumage... You have a bag of mini donuts and a frosty beverage...this is the life...! I hope everyone has this opportunity this summer! Some of my favourite human connection moments have happened in the audience at music festivals across Canada. New faces, friends I lost touch with or certain folks that I only see from year to year at music festivals. This happens for the performers as well as we get to touch base with our peers backstage either eating, in passing (high fives in the golf carts!), or lounging and listening from backstage. For touring musicians, the music fest atmosphere is also one of the only opportunities we have to see eachother perform. What a great way to catch up with both audience and peers...ah...! Getting ideas? My ears and eyes are always open for new projects and exciting new playing opportunities. The next article (Part 2) will be a festival application tutorial equipped with do’s and don’ts for musicians looking to get busier in the summertime. Happy jamming and see you out there this summer!
Kerplunks playing a fun summer reading fest, 2015. photo submitted
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Dinah D and The Contraband Swingclub, 2014 photo J. Kirk Photography
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
Guerilla Ethnomusicologist
Malcolm Aiken
Goes Deep Into The Trenches
malcolmaiken.com “I consider myself a guerilla ethnomusicologist. I’m really in the trenches playing and recording music in the field.” This talented trumpet player is also a gifted producer, responsible so far for helming two Tanga albums as well as two releases by his salsa group Mazacote, including the band’s recent EP Nueva Era. Mazacote is a real family kind of group. We have a lot of fun. It’s a six piece Latin group that has been together for eight years and these are all musicians I grew up playing with.” Also known for his work as a jazz musician Aiken has overseen the recording of his 2010 debut solo album Paper Star and he’s currently working on his second, once again with his Malcolm Aiken Quartet. “I definitely have a background in jazz, playing in big bands and listening to the music of Miles Davis and Chet Baker and artists like that when I was growing up.” Having recently come off a workshop
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by Dave O Rama
Vancouver horn man Malcolm Aiken got his big ears from his family. Both his mother and father were avid music fans when he was a kid and their deep interest in international styles opened his mind at a very young age. Then as he began to study music it was the mentorship of renowned Vancouver music instructor and percussionist Sal Ferreras who Aiken explains “opened a lot of doors for me as far as playing world music and studying it in a more academic way.” Inspired, Aiken went on to eventually complete a masters degree in Ethnomusicology at the University of British Columbia, which he admits was “a great experience to really study world music in depth and do some real deep research. I think it fueled me and inspired me to do what I now do today.” I catch up with the handsome young musician by phone just before he takes to the stage at Vancouver’s Guilt & Company with his world fusion group Tanga. “A lot of work I do is with the record label TrebleFive,” a company Aiken started in 2010 with his “musicophile” brother Claran. “We travel a lot and go and do site recordings and work with different artists, primarily in the Latin America and the Caribbean region.” The Aiken brothers dedication to deep field work produced some fine results in 2011 when a core group, comprised of representatives from TrebleFive and Tanga, decided to set their sights on Havana to record sessions with a multitude of Cuban talent. Aiken and his crew combed the streets and clubs of Havana every night seeking out musicians and singers, then would wake up every morning to conduct recording sessions with their new recruits. Aiken confesses, “this was one of the most craziest endeavours I have ever been on, and in the end, one of the most rewarding.” The sessions were first recorded rough in a makeshift pop up studio hotel room studio and then percussion was added in the second phase at the studios of Septeto Nacional Studios de Ignacio Pineiro in Central Havana. Following the Havana sessions the crew took the recordings back to Vancouver where they worked with the rest of the Tanga crew and a number of guests, including C. R. Avery, Silvana Kane, Kyprios and Jimmy Bosch, who added their contributions to a treasure trove of recordings they had in the can. The result would be Tanga’s sophomore 2013 release, Havana Electro, a record with one foot firmly planted in traditional Cuban rhythms, while incorporating, funk, hip hop, dancehall and global fusions.
program at the Banff Centre for the Performing Arts Aiken will be joining renowned American trombone player Jimmy Bosch for some teaching opportunities in Japan later in the year. But as festival season approaches, a time when all of Aiken’s various project are coming in demand for live performance work this tenacious musical nomad has been investing a lot of his time in the post production work associated with the latest Tanga field adventure, Quito Electro. “The economy is currently booming in Ecuador and a lot of money is being funneled into arts programs, festivals and other cultural initiatives and we were approached by a production company in Quito that wanted to do some collaborative projects. So in January of 2015 we took a crew of six people from TrebleFive and Tanga and traveled down to Ecuador with some rough song concepts and a few bed tracks in hand
as well as an outline for some documentary ideas.” Once again the TrebleFive crew built themselves a makeshift studio and then sought out local Ecuadorian talent to participate in the project. “We spent ten days in a van traveling to various spots, recording different artists and having some really great experiences. Again, from the seed of an idea it became this really beautiful thing.” While Aiken and his various musical outfits put in several live appearances during the summer 2016 festival season, behind the scenes he will be hard at work with his Tanga crew put the finishing touches on the Quito Electro project which he hopes to release in early September. You can catch Tanga July 22 and 23 as part of the Squamish Wind Festival and his salsa group Mazacote will be performing July 1 at Londsdale Quay, North Vancouver BC.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
\ s l a v i t s e F \ e u s Is 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, we have you covered.
Comprehensive listings of Festival City and area’s seasonal offering
April 28 - COMING -
Authentic Sound
by Kym Gouchie
RedWorks Photography
It’s never too late they say! I am just a year past 50 and have been singing for most of my life. I never lost sight of my dream which was to record an album of original songs. In June 2014 I did just that! It was in the wake of a life shattering experience that a series of healing songs were born and then the perfect timing of an Aboriginal Arts Development Award plus the generosity of a kind hearted friend that allowed me to record my first album, a five song EP titled ‘Mountain of Youth’. The entire album is 100 % analog which means that it was recorded on reel to reel tape as opposed to the digital method of recording with computer software. The authentic sound and organic process is what I love about analog. Every instrument and vocal is recorded live and is played again and again for accuracy. The sound is warm and rich with spirit. I was living in Penticton, BC at the time and was shopping around for a studio to record my first album when I heard about Thurein Myint’s analog studio located in Summerland, BC, which wasn’t too far away. I was familiar with Thurein because he had given my daughter guitar lessons at a local music school. In 2014, I had the privilege of playing music with him and that was when I decided that I wanted to record my album in his studio. Thurein is much more than a music teacher and multi-instrumentalist. He is an analog engineer and production guru! In his younger years back 10 BC Musician Magazine’s
Kym Gouchie with Thurein Myint in the booth at Ellis Avenue Analog Studio, Summerland, BC. photo supplied
in Burma, he worked in his sister’s Analog Recording Studio as an audio engineer, quality control supervisor and was also a record master cutting engineer. He had a dream to build his own analog studio and he’s done just that! Ellis Avenue Analog Studio in Summerland, BC has become my happy place and Thurein Myint (meaning ‘the sun above’) is now one of my good friends and musical mentors. With an EP and a recently released single under my belt, I am back in the studio recording my full length album ‘Northern Shining Star Woman’, a compilation of contemporary and traditional music which is scheduled for release in June 2016, just in time for the summer festivals.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
BC DRUMMERS
A new series with JOY MULLEN, Part 1: Jazz and Experimental
Rolling Stone just released the “100 Greatest Drummers ArtsWells Festival in Wells, BC, and appreciates their support for multi-
Of All Time” list, and while I admit there are quite a few on this list who I admire, I have personally always been more influenced and inspired by watching the up close and personal live shows of the small local shows. Here is a series that gives us a chance to find out what makes some great BC drummers tick. Mili Hong moved to Canada from Korea 10 years ago to study music at Capilano University. She loves playing swing music, but wouldn’t consider herself simply a jazz drummer. For her, playing different kinds of music is meaningful and delivers a connection to others. “I mostly play other musician’s music and really love it because working with different artists always gives me different ways of seeing and thinking about the world” When asked about her favourite local drummers were she replies, “Dylan van der Schyff’s playing gives me lots to think about in terms of playing and not playing. Creating some space is one thing, but being solid drummer at the same time is hard. Another great drummer is Joe Poole. He is a versatile drummer who can play any kind of music. He has numerous amounts of distinctive style/ideas that he sounds interesting every time when I hear him.” Her practice routine includes 30 minutes of rudiments using a metronome. “The click only happens every bar instead of every quarter notes, which I believe it helps internalizing time better in long term.” She also works on 4-way co-ordination to have less physical limitations during improvisation. She is left handed, but plays drums in the right-handed way. “I didn’t know people played reversed kits until later! So, my hands have different process of development over the years and I still struggle more with my right hand in general, but I like how my left hand could comp very quietly.” She practices writing with her right hand 10 minutes a day. Ben Brown is a rebel on the kit with an innovative approach to drumming. Whether he is doing a 6 month solo tour in Europe performing only on a suitcase, or organizing music and dance collaborations, he is always pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a drummer. “I’m trying to find the moonwalk on my drum kit. I’m incorporating my studies with Dame Evelyn Glennie and collaborations with contemporary dancers to create a new physical approach to the kit.” Ben is constantly working to shake the stigma that drums need to take up a lot of space sonically and physically. He is currently developing a series of drum, voice and dance solos that will be performed only on the floor tom. Ben won a Juno with the band Pugs and Crows. He also performs with Alicia Hanson and occasionally he performs in a father/son duo with his dad. In the past he was successful working as a session drummer for hire, but he discovered his real passion is working with contemporary dancers. He facilitates an improvisational series called Music and Movement (MAMM). When asked what bothers him about being a musician he brings up the disproportion of gender in music. “There is a staggering imbalance of men to woman musicians performing on gigs here in Vancouver and everywhere I’ve travelled.” Ben works hard, touring the small towns and festivals in BC as well as venturing out to Europe on a regular basis. As an experienced road musician, he has lots of great advice for folks hitting the road. “I remember drummer Dave King saying to write letters on the road. It’s true. I’m hooked on sending postcards.” Being persistent and succinct in your dealings with bookers and media is important. He also advises folks to stay active on the road with activities like yoga, meditation, swimming in BC lakes, or doing squats while brushing your teeth. His favourite place to play is
disciplinary projects like dance and visual art. Ben has studied with Evelyn Glennie and takes into account her teachings of feeling sound. He is also addicted to the visual maps of George Marsh, and also regularly practices Michael Vatcher’s 4-way independence methods. When he isn’t on the road touring, Ben teaches music at Sarah McLaughlin School of Music. He also does musical accompaniment for All Bodies Dance, a class for all sorts of different dancing bodies, including folks in wheelchairs or those who are hard of hearing. He calls it, “One of the greatest hangs I get to be a part of.” Next issue we talk to country and folk drummers.
Above Ben Brown. Below Mili Hong. photos supplied
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Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016 11
The Cost to Cross by Carolyn Mark Just walking the manager. Carolyn and Chuy in Highland Park, Los Angeles, California. photo by Cynthia Wigginton.
Fasten your seat belts and get ready for the blinding excitement of Administrative Touring Chores (ATC).
mont!”*) and depending on when you want to tour, you may have to buy another quarter which is another $50.
you need it fast: $110 for “Urgent” (next day), $50 for “Express‚“ (within 2-9 business days) and $20 for “Standard” (on or after 10 days).
Today’s topic: Border Crossing!
Still awake? Good.
The current fee for applying for a P2 Visa is $325 USD, plus a $100 CAD fee to AFM Canada for administration costs. An additional $20 fee is applied for each additional musician in a group. For example, the administration fee for a (4) piece group will be $160 [$100 + $60 for the 3 additional musicians].
The union dues and visa processing fees are paid to the AFM, which stands for the AMERICAN Federation of Musicians which makes me feel that they don’t exactly have my Canadian back.
P2 Visas should be applied for at least 90100 days in advance but if this is impossible, you can apply for “Expedited Processing” (which takes 25 days) to the tune of $1,225 USD (that’s $1610 in Canadian) in addition to the the $325 USD mentioned above but lately there are stories about bands paying the expedition fee and not getting their permits in time.
$325 USD is currently about $427 Canadian. You will also incur Fedex charges for shipping documents to Toronto. The P2 can be made to last for one year if you have scheduled contracted engagements every 30 days for 12 months. Each band member must also have their union dues paid up for the year ($170) but because of the now lengthy visa processing times (“Things are backed up in Ver-
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For a four-piece band yearly dues total $680 plus another $200 for the extra quarters which equals $880. So, currently, the total punishment for desiring to find yourself in California in February is $1477. Net income for 4 after any given US tour: NOT EVEN CLOSE TO $1477. It is also important to note that each band member’s passport must not only be current but valid 6 months after the date of the last contracted engagement. Passport renewal fees are currently $120 for 5 years and $160 for 10 years. There are, of course, extra fees if
Maybe put on some coffee or take a run around the block – it’s going to be a long night. There is the elusive 01 Visa for “aliens of extraordinary distinction” (!) which lasts 3 years, costs around $4,000, requires the services of a lawyer and requires evidence of the tangible admiration of your peers. (Prizes!) As of June 2014, American musicians wanting to tour in Canada are welcomed without first having to buy a work permit or join a union.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
But wait! This just in: According to the CFM (Canadian Federation of Musicians “formerly AFM Canada”) website, there are changes afoot: “The legislation, known as the Bringing Entertainment Artists to the States (BEATS) Act, will modernize the P-2 visa process for entertainment artists and speed up the admission process for applicants who want to perform in the United States. This reform will make it easier for Canadian artists to bring their talents to American consumers while not compromising U.S. security or border protection procedures in any way.” With a catchy name like that, they are sure to charm homeland security into just letting us all in! The AFM claims to have no updates on this. You know, it’s funny; one could almost get the impression that we’re not wanted. Yours in Canada for now, xo Carolyn Mark *Cyber attack in June, systems crash, people working around the clock to catch up!
summerpresented street music festival by the Revelstoke Arts Council June 25 June 26 June 27 June 28 June 29 June 30 July 1 July 2 July 3 July 4 July 5 July 6 July 7 July 8 July 9 July 10
Community Band Lowell Friesen Denis Severino Maritime Kitchen Party Stacie Byrne Andrew Smith Joanne Stacey Jessica Stuart Few Adam Lauze Band The Second Revival Mountain Music Duo Penny Sandborn Trio John Jenkins Denis Severino Joanne Stacey Sharon Shook
July 11 July 12 July 13 July 14 July 15 July 16 July 17 July 18 July 19 July 20 July 21 July 22 July 23 July 24 July 25 July 26
Mike Alviano Novasotiables Mike Alviano Al Lukas Lindsey Walker Band Ewan Macintyre Mountain Music Duo The Rev Novascotiables Tanya Lipscomb Steve Palmer Steve Palmer Partial to Pie Adam Lauze Band Basement Attics Charlie Burton
July 27 July 28 July 29 July 30 July 31 Aug 1 Aug 2 Aug 3 Aug 4 Aug 5 Aug 6 Aug 7 Aug 8 Aug 9 Aug 10 Aug 11
Charlie Burton Mat Duffus That Girl and Earl That Girl and Earl Good Enough for Dad Tanner James Saskia and Darrel Relative Jazz Maritime Kitchen Party Penny Sandborn Trio Willi Gaw Quartet Blackberry Wood Lofti Uppercut Wild Romantics Jen Lane Compassion
Aug 12 Aug 13 Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug 16 Aug 17 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug 23 Aug 24 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug 27 Aug 28
Christina Benty Stacie Byrne Sharon Shook Chicken-Like Bob Rogers The Rev John Jenkins The Staggers & Jaggs Pineapple Express Tanya Lipscomb Sister Speak Sister Speak Steve Hills Steve Hills Uncorked Uncorked Katie Marti
Concerts run June 25 through August 28, 6:00-9:00. For full lineup visit www.revelstokeartscouncil.com
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Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016 13
Summertime Good Time Music Everywhere Someone said the only thing better than music is silence. Yeah well that’s all fine and shmandy dandy but that person never spent a summer in B.C. surrounded by blue skies, warm rays, towering pines, endless rivers & lakes and live music. There is seriously more live music here than you shake a bottle of west coast addled IPA at. From live music in the park in Kamloops, music on Baker Street in Nelson, music under a gazebo in Revelstoke, music in a schoolhouse in Ymir, music on a floating stage in Kaslo, music on rodeo grounds in Coombs, and music by the sea in Bamfield (July 2 - 10). There is summer time good time music everywhere in this music loving province of ours. Shit, you can crowd surf your way from Fernie all the way to Haida Gwaii. There’s music for everyone. You wanna do a jig to some fine folks in polyester suits playing bucket string bass and banjos, you got it. You love doing the airplane dance with your tie dye flowing digs on, no problem. Wanna lose your mind and yourself to beats, sounds and colour. No worries. It’s here. It really is. There’s nothing truly like it. I once played a workshop side stagey thing with a eight piece band from Japan, a bluegrass trio from the Ozarks, a barefoot prancing jam band from the coast and an eighty three year underground blues legend from Lafayette. Say what. Say oh yeah What a mind blowing treat that was. That is what makes festival season so cool. It’s a mix up mash up of all things musical. You don’t always know what you’re gonna get and that’s the best part. Another thing, don’t worry about the big festivals. Yeah I know. Eminem. Yeah I know Jay-Z yeah yeah but have you ever heard of Tiny Lights. Last year I went and fell in love. I walked around from 14 BC Musician Magazine’s
by Cam Penner
venue to venue, hearing shit that I never had heard before. I was lifted. Not just by the collection of artists that blew my bearded face off but by the people. Conversation, ideas, and laughter. Laughter like my effin gut hurt so bad kind of laughter. What a weekend. I slept in the back of my truck under the stars. Could it get any better. It did. This year they invited me to do my song and dance thing on their stage. Say what. Say oh yeah. (Tiny Lights starts swinging June 10 - 12.) Then there’s Ponderosa Fest. What an undoubtedly sad year for the people of Rock Creek and area. What a sad year for all of B.C. The fires took their toll on us, some more than others. It’s something that needs the utmost attention. Something we can’t turn a blind eye to. So, I want to say kudos to Kris, Kia and the Ponderosa for persevering and bringing the festival back this year. They will be donating a portion of this year’s ticket sales to Habitat For Humanity Rock Creek projects. No corporate sponsors, no overpriced bottles of water, and no cramped campgrounds. Dig it. Like a phoenix boys. (Ponderosa drops Aug 19 - 21.) So yeah, take a chance. Take a road trip. Pack a tent. Leave your inhibitions at home. Take your socks off, why not. Do the airplane dance. Yeah someone will probably laugh but who gives a shit. Open your mind and ears to all things musically good and inspiring in this vast province of ours. Anyways, what I do know. It’s 3am in the morning and I’m sitting in a homeless shelter just rambling on, trying to stay awake, handing out pb & j sandwiches. Oh, but one thing I do know, if I’m going to a festival the only thing that’ll make it better is if Carolyn Mark is there. Goddamn right.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
E V E R Y
Summer
Story H H A A S S
MUSIC MUSIC IN IN THE THE PARK PARK
July July 1 1– – August August 31, 31, Every Evening, Every Evening, 7 7 p.m. p.m. -- 8:30 8:30 p.m. p.m. Riverside Park Riverside Park
KAMLOOPA KAMLOOPA POWWOW POWWOW July July 29 29 – – 31 31 Secwepemc Pow Secwepemc Pow Wow Wow Grounds Grounds
A A
ART ART IN IN THE THE PARK PARK
ARTISAN ARTISAN MARKET MARKET
July July 1 1 9 a.m. 9 a.m. -- 5 5 p.m. p.m. Riverside Riverside Park Park
May May 19 19 -- Sept Sept 29 29 Every Thursday, 10 Every Thursday, 10 a.m. a.m. -- 2 2 p.m. p.m. 400 block Victoria Street 400 block Victoria Street
5TH 5TH ANNUAL ANNUAL RIBFEST RIBFEST
HOT HOT NITE NITE IN IN THE THE CITY CITY
August August 5 5 -- 7 7 11 a.m. 11 a.m. - 9 9 p.m. p.m. Riverside Riverside Park Park
August August 7 7 -- 9 9 Downtown Kamloops Downtown Kamloops
VISIT VISIT US US ONLINE ONLINE FOR FOR MORE MORE EVENTS EVENTS & & FESTIVALS FESTIVALS W W W W W W .. K K A A M M LL O O O O P P S S T T H H II S S W W E E E E K K .. C C O O M M
photography by Pat Campbell photography by Pat Campbell
may festivals Salt Spring Studio Tour
Great Okanagan Beer Festival
May 1 - Sept 30 Various Studios Salt Spring Island, BC saltspringstudiotour.com
28 studios to discover on the tour. Maps are available at BC tourism information centres, in marinas, hotels and B&Bs, on all three ferries serving the island and online.
8th Annual Red Ride Tour
May 3 - May 28 Various Communities Across Canada redridetour.com
Indigenous musicians hit the road across Canada for the sixth incarnation of the Red Ride Tour. Founder Kristi Lane Sinclair kicks the tour off in North Bay, ON, visiting cities, reserves and smaller communities all the way back to BC. BC dates are May 20 in Lytton, May 21 in Victoria, May 24 in Vancouver and May 28 on Haida Gwaii.
Brackendale Bluegrass Festival May 7 Brackendale Art Gallery, BC brackendaleartgallery.com
May 12 - 14 Waterfront Park, Kelowna, BC gibbonsevents.com/great-okanaganbeer-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.
Ederlezi Festival
May 13 - 15 Grandview Legion, Vancouver, BC orkestarslivovica.org
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.
EXPERIENCE THE
LARGEST HISTORIC
14th annual festival showcasing BC bluegrass bands.
Good Will Shakespeare Festival May 11 - 14 Summerland, BC goodwillshakespeare.ca
A three day secondary student intensive theatre festival. The Festival brings world class performers, such as Baba Brinkman, Holly Adams, Aldo Billingslea, Bobby Bovenzi and many others to Summerland where an array of subjects such as theatre, art, TV and Video, vocal, writing, improvisation, costume design, set design, acting, makeup and directing are covered.
SITE IN WESTERN NORTH AMERICA CELEBRATING ARTS & CULTURE
FOR MORE THAN 150 YEARS. Annual sponsor & venue for ArtsWells Festival of All Things Art
The festival includes showcases in music, dance, and spoken word, the world premiere of three one-act plays, a visual arts exhibit, variety shows featuring improv, drag, circus arts, and much more. All of this is created by local artists between the ages of 13-24.
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May 13 & 14 Trade and Convention Centre, Penticton, BC thedreammusicfestival.ca
The Dream Cafe Co-op proudly presents the 2016 Dream Music Festival - where the Blues and Rock visit their Gospel roots! The festival is held at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre.
Cottonwood Community Market Stage May 14 - Oct 29 Cottonwood Falls Park, Nelson, BC ecosociety.ca/markets
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, and a great selection of prepared savory and sweet foods. Also features a variety of unique products including jewelry, artwork, body wear products, 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.
Manito Ahbee Festival
May 18 - 22 Multiple Venues, Winnipeg, MB manitoahbee.ca/home
A gathering that celebrates Indigenous culture and heritage to unify, educate and inspire. This 5 day festival kicks off with the lighting of the Sacred Fire and includes the Indigenous Music Conference, Youth Education Day and International Pow Wow.
UNO Fest
May 18 - 28 The Intrepid Theatre Club and The Metro Studio, Victoria, BC intrepidtheatre.com 14 acclaimed and experimental solo shows from across North America.
Ignite Youth Driven Arts Festival
May 11 - 21 The York Theatre, Vancouver, BC igniteyouthfest.ca
The Dream Music Festival
Barkerville Historic Town
BARKERVILLE G LD AND NEW SINCE 1862. 1-888-994-3332 • www.barkerville.ca
A NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE of CANADA
May 19 - Sept 25 Barkerville Historic Town, BC barkerville.ca
Barkerville opens its seasonal interpretation schedule with street performances, mining demonstrations, court sessions, oldfashioned shopping and more. Enjoy the full Barkerville experience during the day, catch a restaurant before it closes for the night, or have a quiet evening picnic and stroll through the town and park after hours.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
228 Front Street
Quesnel BC 250.992.5812
MAY 7 MAY 12 MAY 13 MAY 14 MAY 26 MAY 27 MAY 28
RCMA Open Mic Karaoke Shred Kelly Quesnel’s Entertainer of the Year Karaoke Burlesque Show Barkerville Brewing Concert Series: Nick Gilder and Sweeney Todd
JUNE 8 Party on High Street JUNE 9 RCMA Karaoke JUNE 10/11 Frenzy JUNE 16 Entangados (una banda de paya S.O.S.) JUNE 17/18 Static JUNE 23 Karaoke JUNE 25 The Woody James Band
Modern live music venue with high quality sound equipment stage featuring live shows
& djs
weekly!
&
pub ~ restaurant ~ free pool
New shows are announced regularly. Please check the events calendar on our website for the most accurate show schedule.
www.occidentalquesnel.com
BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016 17
may festivals Attack of Danger Bay Longboard Race
May 20 - 25 Pender Harbour, BC coastlongboarding.com/dangerbay
Cash podiums, slide competition, live bands, camping, longboard hockey tournamant. No onsite parking for events; use shuttle provided.
Kaslo May Days
Seafest-Cortes
May 21 Cortes Island, BC ourcortes.com/activities/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 21 - 23 Vimy Park Gazebo, Kaslo, BC kaslomaydays.com
The weekend will be full of entertainment for the whole family. Be sure to stop by Vimy Park Gazebo to catch the variety of acts that will take the stage throughout the weekend.
Okanagan Zone Theatre Fest
May 21 - 28 Frank Venables Theatre, Oliver, BC theatrebc.org/zone-festivals
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 performance. The winners of these Zone Festivals then proceed onto the Annual Provincial Theatre Festival held in July.
Opera Nuova Opera & Music Theatre Festival
May 21 - July 3 Multiple Venues, Edmonton, AB operanuova.ca/vaf
Every year NUOVA endeavours to share exceptional artistry in intimate venues. NUOVA has made changes to the festival
Eco EcoSociety Cottonwood 2016 Community marketFest market street Parties
Every Saturday Two stages of live May 14 to music & 100 vendors! October 29 6 pm to 10:30 pm Live music from 10 June 24, July 22, am to 2:30 pm August 26
ecosociety.ca | 250.354.1909
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to make concerts more accessible and create theatrical experiences that are highly memorable.
May 21 - 23 Topaz Park, Victoria, BC victoriahighlandgames.com
The Annual Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival will take place over May long weekend at Topaz Park.
Cathedral Village Arts Festival May 23 - 28 Cathedral Area, 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. Participate and enjoy the arts in all of its diversity.
Lightning in a Bottle
May 25 - 30 San Antonio Recreation Area, Bradley, California, USA lightninginabottle.org Celebrating Art, Music, Performance, Sustainability and Life. The history of LIB spans more than a decade of making miracles and catching Lightning in a Bottle!
Surrey International Children’s Festival
May 26 - 28 Surrey Arts Centre and Bear Creek Park, Surrey, BC surrey.ca/childrensfestival
The annual Surrey 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 25 - 29 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.
Canadian Rockies Cowboy Festival
May 27 - 29 David Thompson Resort, Nordegg, AB davidthompsonresort.com/ specialevents.htm
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.
Curbside Night Market May 27 - Aug 26 Downtown, Vernon, BC downtownvernon.com
Head downtown the Last Friday of the month May through August for the new Curbside Night Markets. Each night market will have a live band headlining, local wineries and artisans, restaurant patios and street food plus late night shopping at local merchants. Along 30th Avenue.
Juan De Fuca Festival of the Arts May 27 - 30 Port Angeles, Washington, USA jffa.org
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 after-hours program and so much more.
Lund Shellfish Festival
May 27 - 29 Lund, BC 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.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
may Northwest Folklife Festival May 27 - 30 Seattle Centre, Seattle, Washington, USA nwfolklife.org/festival
An annual festival of ethnic, folk, and traditional art, crafts, and music that takes place over the Memorial Day weekend. It brings together more than 6,000 musicians, dancers, and other performers.
Sasquatch!
May 27 - 30 The Gorge Amphitheater, Washington, USA sasquatchfestival.com
Sasquatch! showcases indie rock bands and singer-songwriters, but also alternative rock, hip hop and comedy acts, all at a unique setting.
European Festival
May 28 - 29 Swangard Stadium, Burnaby, BC europeanfestival.ca
The European Festival Annual celebrates the authentic sights, sounds and tastes of Europe. . A chance to experience the diversity of European culture, cuisine, entertainment and more.
N& IT UNIO RTS present D E R C IS IN A INTEGR OUNTA M D N ISLA
BIDS S W E BR BBQ and a
er Fundrais n io t c u Live A & Diner
Kettle River Art Club Show May 29 - 29 Greenwood, BC greenwoodcity.com
4 Juton1e 1:00pm
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.
5:30
Seabird Island First Nations Festival May 28 - 29 Agassiz, BC seabirdisland.ca/index.php/ community/first-nations-festival
Three-day celebration demonstrates First Nations heritage through friendly competition and sport. Offers youth, young adults, and adults alike an opportunity to showcase their culture and history through Soccer, Ball-Hockey, War Canoe races and Sla:hal.The Seabird Island First Nations Festival is a drug-free cultural event that promotes healthy lifestyles and wellbeing.
l, Quesne
BC
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BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016 19
june festivals Elevate Arts Festival
Envision Twilight Concert Series
June 2 - 4 Downtown, Courtenay, BC elevatethearts.com
A 3 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. Engage the elevation! Did we mention it’s all free?
Music Waste Festival
June 2 - 5 Multiple Venues, Vancouver, BC musicwaste.ca
Annual music, comedy and arts festival, featuring 100’s of acts in venues spread across the city.
Nextfest
June 2 - 12 Multiple Venues, 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!
Bard on the Beach
June 3 - Aug 26 Fraser River Heritage Park, Mission, BC heritagepark-mission.ca/ twilightconcerts.html Presenting 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 7-8pm.
Pagosa Folk ‘N Bluegrass
June 3 - 5 Pagosa Springs, Colorado, USA folkwest.com
Family friendly music festival with on-site camping, workshops, late night stage, vending, and epic pickin’ circles.
Pender Harbour Blues Festival
June 3 - 5 Pender Harbour, BC 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.
Summerland Action Festival
June 3 - 5 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 4 Brentwood Bay, BC brentwoodbay.info
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.
Back-Alley Concert Series
TBA The Firehall Brewery, Oliver, BC firehallbrewery.com
Check website for concert dates and performers. Beverage garden, fresh craft beer, local wines. Tickets pre-sold at Pappa’s Firehall Bistro - No Minors Centennial Park Campground Nearby.
Heart of the City Festival Edmonton
June 4 - 5 Giovanni Caboto Park, Edmonton, AB heartcityfest.com
June 3 - Sept 24 Vanier Park, Vancouver, BC 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.
Castlegar Sunfest
June 3 - 5 Castlegar, BC castlegarculture.com/culture-guide/ castlegar-sunfest
Events happen around town and can be fun for the whole family.
A music and arts festival, part of the rich cultural climate in Edmonton’s core since 2004, taking place in Little Italy’s Giovanni Caboto Park.
PotashCorp Children’s Festival
June 4 - 7 Saskatoon, SK potashcorpchildrensfestival.com
Located in Saskatoon, it is the only international multidisciplinary arts festival dedicated to children in Saskatchewan.
Chetwynd International Chainsaw Carving Championship
June 9 - 12 Chetwynd, BC facebook.com/Chetwynd-International-Chainsaw-Carving-Championship The best Chainsaw artists from around
20 BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
june festivals the world will gather for the 12th annual carving competition. Over 20 unique sculptures are part of the interesting outdoor gallery of chainsaw carvings displayed in the streets throughout the town. The weekend draws thousands of people for food, fun and music while watching the chainsaw artists vie for top prizes. Brochures for self-guided tours are available at the Visitor Centre.
1913 Days
June 10 - 15 Sylvan Lake, AB sylvanlake.ca
Parade, kidszone, family activities.
Interior Savings Fat Cat Children’s Festival
June 10 - 11 Waterfront Park, Kelowna, BC 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. And don’t forget the parade, it will be too much fun again this year.
Kluane Mountain Bluegrass Festival June 10 - 12 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 6 - 10 Whitevalley Community Centre, Lumby, BC
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.
lumbydays.ca
Lumberjack show, sporting events, live music, art show and market, vendors, kids zone and more.
Performance in the Park - Banff
June 10 - 11 Banff, AB banfflakelouise.com/Area-Events
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.
Seafest-Prince Rupert
June 10 - 12 Prince Rupert, BC prspecialevents.com/seafest.html
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 10 - 12 District Ice Center, Taylor, BC calendar.powwows.com/events/spiritof-the-peace-powwow A traditional Powwow held 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
June 10 - 12 Rodeo Grounds, Summerland, BC summerlandbluegrass.com
Tiny Lights Festival
June 10 - 12 Ymir, BC 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 11 - 15 Various Locations, Lloydminster, AB artswithoutborders.ca
Downtown street festival, art walk, main stage entertainment, art market, film showings, readingsand more.
City of Bhangra Festival
June 11 - 18 Vancouver and Surrey, BC 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.
Schedule provides many hours of on-
Balancing Peak Performance with Peace of Mind www.emmajarrett.ca
BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016 21
june festivals Sweetwater905 Music Fest
June 11 Sweetwater Road, near Rolla, BC sweetwater905.com
2016 will be another spectacular year of music, literary, visual and performance art. There will be three one day festivals, showcasing each art medium. Sweetwater 905 Music Fest will promote local, regional and Canadian music. Focusing on the singer song writer; musicians will demonstrate their talents.
Children’s Festival
June 12 Arts Centre, 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.
PRISMA - Pacific Region International Summer Music Academy June 13 - 25 Willingdon Beach and Evergreen Theatre, Powell River, BC 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. Daily musical events. Tickets can be purchased online.
Music in the Park - Ashcroft
June 15 - 29 Heritage Place Park, Ashcroft, BC windingriversarts.ca
Winding Rivers Arts & Performance Society presents Music In The Park Concert Series. This year there will be two concerts, June 15th and June 29th. Bring a chair, a blanket, a picnic dinner or buy dinner from one of our food vendors.
WOW! Wednesday On the Wharf
June 15 - Aug 31 Marine Peace Park, Salmon Arm, BC salmonarmartscentre.ca/wow
WOW! is a series of summer Wednesday evening musical concerts at Salmon Arm’s Marine Park. Musical styles ranging from jazz to rock, funk to folk are
22 BC Musician Magazine’s
offered from mid-June through to the end of August. Held in the Park’s gazebo, listeners are invited to bring a deck chair or blanket and enjoy the music. Concerts begin at 6:45pm, and go until 8:30pm. Admission is by donation.
Crossroads Blues Festival
June 16 - 18 Happy Dell Park, Kettle Falls, Washington, USA crossroadsstage.com
The first annual Crossroads Blues Festival in Kettle Falls, Washington! Thursday night at Northern Ales Brewery will feature Anita Royce and the High Rollers no cover charge. Friday kicks off with Vantage Point, Charlie Butts & the Filter Tips and the Sara Brown Band. Saturday’s lineup includes Borderland Blues, Northern Aliens, Atomic Jive, Bakin Phat, and the Bobby Patterson Band (formerly of The Fat Tones). Admission is $30 for a Weekend Pass, or $20 for Friday/$25 for Saturday if you can only make one day. Camping available.
G Fest
June 16 - 18 Love-Hatbox Sports Complex, Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA gfestmuskogee.com
Some of the best Country, Rock and Americana music intertwined with some of the area’s finest festival food.
Levitation Vancouver
June 16 - 18 Malkin Bowl, Vancouver, BC levitation-vancouver.com
Levitation Vancouver’s programming maintains the spirit of LEVITATION in Austin, TX, offering a wide range of international and local talent across the musical spectrum, with an emphasis on artists with an experimental and/or psychedelic edge. The main festival grounds at Malkin Bowl will also have food trucks (Tacofino, The Juice Truck, Local Omnivore), complimentary bike valet for pass holders, water stations & a special Levitation + Burger Records merch area! This venue is all ages w/ 19+ bar. Get your Malkin Bowl 2-Day Passes, plus choose which Night Shows you’d like to see at multiple venues downtown.
Miners Memorial Weekend June 16 - 18 Museum, Cumberland, BC cumberlandmuseum.ca
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.
Sam Steele Days
June 16 - 19 Spirit Square, Cranbrook, BC samsteeledays.org
Cranbrook’s annual festival 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.
Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival
June 16 - 19 Seldovia, Alaska, USA seldoviaartscouncil.net/seldoviamusicfestival Presented by the Seldovia Arts Council
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
june festivals featuring fine musicians and performers from Alaska, the United States, and beyond.
Aboriginal Cultural Festival
June 17 - 19 Royal BC Museum, Victoria, BC aboriginalbc.com /victoria-aboriginal-festival
Three days of spectacular performances on an outdoor stage in the plaza at the Royal BC Museum in the heart of downtown Victoria. Each day starts with performances from the two local Host Nations and follows with shows from Aboriginal performers from across the province.
Annual Beaumont Blues & Roots Festival
June 17 - 19 Four Seasons Park, Beaumont, AB bbrf.ca
Presenting the Alberta capital region with the best in live Canadian blues, roots, folk, rockabilly and country music. Providing high quality live music for all ages.
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.
Kaslo Art Walk
June 17 - Aug 31 Downtown Kaslo, BC kaslochamber.com/community /comm-events.php
The Kaslo Art Walk is an annual summer event that partners local businesses with local artists of all mediums. To enjoy this self guided tour pick yourself up an Art Walk map at any downtown business and peruse Kaslo’s businesses and their artists.
North Country Fair June 17 - 19 Driftpile, AB lslncca.ca/current
A fantastic celebration of the summer solstice, camping, friendship and music. Summer Solstice, sometimes known as
FernFest
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.
Gibsons Landing Jazz Festival June 17 - 19 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
June 17 - 19 Multiple Venues, Victoria, BC pgnb.ca
Brand new music, arts and multi media event. Pretty Good Not Bad is organized and executed by Victoria’s Pretty Good Society, an evolved continuation of the programming, curation and production work presented from 2009 to 2015 by Animal Productions and sub|division. Bolstered by members of CFUV and local event promoters Urban Therapy, the non-profit is dedicated to supporting Victoria’s vibrant creative community.
Sooke River Bluegrass Festival
June 17 - 19 Sooke River Campground, Sooke, BC sookebluegrass.com/festival
Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival
FernFest is a music and arts festival & neighbourhood celebration that began in 1995. The weekend is filled with 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 our local music scene.
June 17 - 20 near Ponoka, AB freezerburn.org
Pretty Good Not Bad
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.
June 17 - 18 Fernwood, Victoria, BC fernwoodnrg.ca/events-directory/ fernfest
Freezer Burn
Midsummer, Litha, or St. John’s Day, 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.
June 17 - 19 Vancouver, BC dragonboatbc.ca/home
JUNE 16-19, 2016 • MALKIN BOWL + NIGHT SHOWS
FLYING LOTUS • TYCHO
THE GROWLERS • oF MONTREAL THEE OH SEES • FIDLAR • ALLAH-LAS
THUNDERCAT • HOLY FUCK • WHITE LUNG COM TRUISE • SHABAZZ PALACES • HINDS SUUNS • CHERRY GLAZERR • NOTHING MORGAN DELT • HOLY WAVE • BOOGARINS DEAD GHOSTS HERON OBLIVION • SACRI MONTI FROTH • BLACK MASTIFF DADA PLAN • LOUISE BURNS SUMMERING • ERIC CAMPBELL & THE DIRT • DID YOU DIE SHAUNIC • NINA MENDOZA • AND MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED! FOOD TRUCKS • BIKE VALET • ALL AGES • CHILL ZONES • 19+ BAR
This annual festival is a free event featuring the colourful Eye Dotting 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.
Summer Solstice Festival d’ete
June 17 - 18 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.
TICKETS: LEVITATION-VANCOUVER.COM
BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016 23
june festivals Willow Creek Cowboy Gathering June 17 - 19 Stavely Arena, 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.
Car Free Vancouver Day June 18 - 19 Vancouver, BC 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.
Sunshine Festival
June 18 Downtown, Vernon, BC downtownvernon.com
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 cafe. Downtown Vernon 30th Avenue.
Surrey Fest Downtown
June 18 Central City Plaza and North Surrey Rec Centre, 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.
Midnight Sun Festival
June 19 Fairbanks, Alaska, USA downtownfairbanks.com
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, paddlers river slalom race, break dancing, pony rides, vintage motors, BBQ cook-off, gold panning, break dancing, celestial shopping, and fabulous food.
Music by the River
June 19 - Aug 21 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 19, July 10, July 21 at 7pm and August 21st at 3pm.
OUTstages
June 21 - 25 Intrepid Theatre, Victoria, BC intrepidtheatre.com
OUTstages is Victoria’s first queer theatre festival. A week of outrageous stories, surprises, parties and performances from and for the queer community and beyond.
Sled Island Festival
June 22 - 26 Multiple Venues, Calgary, AB sledisland.com
Five days of thoughtful, eclectic programming with an independent spirit, featuring over 250 bands plus comedy, film and art in more than 35 venues.
Theatre Royal Summer Gala
June 18 Barkerville Historic Town, BC barkerville.ca
Kick off Barkerville’s summer season with a double-header of musical theatre fun on Saturday, June 18th at the Theatre Royal’s summer show premiere. A 4pm 1940s “live” studio radio hour, followed by trip back in time for a 7pm 1860s musical comedy revue.
24 BC Musician Magazine’s
Victoria’s Ska & Reggae Festival June 22 - 26 Ship Point and Multiple Venues, Victoria, BC victoriaskafest.ca
Victoria BC Ska Society presents the 17th Annual Ska & Reggae Fest bringing fans the best ska, reggae, dancehall, dub, rock, jazz and Latin music from across the world.
Casse-Tete A Festival of Experimental Music
June 23 - 26 The Exploration Place, Prince George, BC cassetetefestival.com Featuring improvisation, free jazz, avant-garde 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.
Long Days Night Music Festival
June 23 - 26 Swift Current, SK windscapekitefestival.ca/long-daysnight-music-festival/long-days-night
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.
The Works Art and Design Festival June 23 - July 5 Downtown, Edmonton, AB 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.
39 Days of July Cowichan Summer Festival
June 16-18, 2016
Kettle Falls, Washington
crossroadsstage.com
June 24 - Aug 1 City Square, Duncan, BC showroomproductions.ca
Live entertainment weekdays from noon till 8pm. 5 Walkabout Wednesdays in the City Square and musical acts each Wednesday evening from 7:30-10pm. Weekends start at 11am and go thru till 8pm. Evening concerts in the park Sunday and Saturday evenings.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
we’ve got it goin’ on!
SUMMER 2016
— More at SunPeaksResort.com/Events —
S GE L A T! AL EVEN
June 11–12 NEW! Skate Sun Peaks June 18–19 NEW! 5k Foam Fest June 24–26 NEW! Kids Fest June 25
Lift and a Lager
July 1–3
Country Fest / Mountain of Beer & Chili Cook-Off
July 8–10
Concert Series: Sam Roberts Band
July 11–22 Quilting in the Mountains July 16–17 Flashback July 23–24 DH Mountain Bike National Championships July 29–31 Canada’s Alpine Blossom Festival July 30
‘Reach the Peak’ Tod Mountain Summit Hike
Aug 6–7
Midnight Sun Art & Film Festival
Aug 12–14 7th Annual Retro Concert Weekend Aug 19–21 Concert Series: Alan Doyle and The Beautiful Gypsies Sept 3–5
Peaks Pedal Fest
Sept 4
Yeah Bru! Classic Dual Slalom Race
Sept 10
The North Face Dirty Feet Mountain 50km & Relay (Canadian 50km National Championships)
Sept 11
The North Face Dirty Feet Mountain Run
Sept 17–18 NEW! BC Enduro Mountain Bike Race
st s! mo kend e we
Sept 24
Reebok Spartan Beast and Ultra Beast
Sept 25
Reebok Spartan Sprint
SUMMER 3 for 2 package:
BOOK 2 NIGHTS, GET 3RD free! Book online or call 1.800.807.3257
Dates and events subject to change
june festivals Inshala Festival
Campbell Bay Music Festival June 24 - 25 Mayne Island, BC campbellbaymusicfest.com
The Campbell Bay Music Fest presents emerging artists in a diverse array of genres.
Edmonton International Jazz Festival June 24 - July 3 Multiple Venues, Edmonton, AB 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.
Nicola Valley Arts and Culture Society JULY 1 – AUG 13
MERRITT ART WALK 2016
COURTHOUSE ART GALLERY & IN MANY MERRITT BUSINESSES
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Merritt is Festival Central this Summer
June 24 - 27 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.
MarketFest
June 24 - Aug 26 200 and 300 Blocks of Baker Street, Nelson, BC ecosociety.ca/markets/market-fest
MarketFest is back for three nights this summer! Friday June 24, July 22, August 26 on Downtown Baker Street is transformed into a lively night market featuring 100 vendors, two stages of live music, dance performances, kids’ entertainment and more. MarketFest is fun for the whole family, and is not to be missed. The MarketFest runs from 6 pm to 10:30 pm. A $5 donation for admission is kindly requested for anyone over 18. Everyone is welcome, whether you make a donation or not!
Penticton Elvis Festival
June 24 - 26 Penticton, BC pentictonelvisfestival.ca
The 3-day Festival is 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.
JULY 8 - 12 BASSCOAST FESTIVAL basscoast.com
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JULY 28 - 31 ROCKIN’ RIVER FEST rockinriverfest.com
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Pick up the Ultimate Summer Festival Guide at the Merritt Herald office
@MerrittHerald
Daily musical events!
orchestra-academy.ca
Tickets can be purchased online
Box 9 2090 Granite Ave, Merritt BC V1K 1B8
250 378 4241 | merrittherald.com
26 BC Musician Magazine’s
PRISMA 2016 JUNE 13 – 25
orchestra-academy.ca/tickets
At the PRISMA office in the Mall and at the door one hour before concerts at the Evergreen Theatre, Powell River, BC
SASKTEL Saskatchewan Jazz Festival June 24 - July 3 Multiple Venues, 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.
TD Victoria International JazzFest June 24 - July 3 Multiple Venues, Victoria, BC jazzvictoria.ca/jazz-fest
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.
Vancouver International Jazz Festival June 24 - July 3 Multiple Venues, Vancouver, BC 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.
Revelstoke Street Fest
June 25 - Aug 28 Grizzly Plaza, Revelstoke, BC revelstokeartscouncil.com/events/ 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.
SaskPower Windscape Kite Festival June 25 - 26 Swift Current, SK windscapekitefestival.ca
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
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
june festivals 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.
Community Festival
June 26 Deer Point Plaza, Calgary, AB facebook.com/CommunityFestivalDeerPointPlaza/timeline
A community event where neighbours come together to eat, listen to great music, relax, meet new people, while showcasing local businesses and artisans.
Greek Day on Broadway June 26 Vancouver, BC greekday.com
Takes place on Broadway, from MacDonald to Blenheim Street in Vancouver from 11am-11pm. Food and beverage vendors, market place, performances by dance groups, and a kids zone.
magic, with a playground and childcentered activities aimed at keeping little harvesters entertained and engaged. 4 Stages, 3 Nights, DJS, Live Music, Workshops, Performances, Conferences, art.
Dauphin’s Countryfest June 30 - July 3 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 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.
Eventide Music Series
June 30 - Sept 1 Centennial Square, Victoria, BC eventidevictoria.com
CFUV 101.9 FM, the City of Victoria and the
Round the Mountain
June 26 Kimberley, BC roundthemountain.ca
Victoria Downtown Business Association presents a 10 week free, all-ages, accessible, outdoor music series that takes place every Thursday from June 30 to September 1. All shows run from 6-9pm in Centennial Square, except the first show which is taking place in Ship Point.
Funtastic Festival
June 30 - July 2 Vernon, Armstrong & Enderby, BC funtasticsports.ca
The Funtastic Summer Festival features four nights of 70s, 80s, 90s & Country music under the stars at the region’s biggest outdoor concert. Beverage gardens, daytime contests, and more than 4500 athletes participating in more than 616 slo-pitch games for North Americas largest slo-pitch tournament.
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.
Pacific Rim Summer Festival June 30 - July 9 Tofino & Ucluelet, BC pacificrimarts.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.
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.
Giants Head Freeride-Long Board Race June 27 - 29 Summerland, BC giantsheadfreeride.com
Penticton Rib Festival
Music. Skateboarding. Camping. Three full days of shuttled runs, lake jumping, and camping at the rodeo grounds.
June 30 - July 3 Lake Okanagan Park, Penticton, BC pentictonribfest.com
Sacred Music Dance Camp
A full weekend of fantastic family fun. Rib cook-off between four champion barbecue teams from across Canada, music throughout the entire event, entertainment and activities for children and youth, beverage garden and loads of vendors.
June 29 - July 3 Johnsons Landing Retreat Center, BC JohnsonsLandingRetreat.bc.ca
Certified dance leaders, lead the Dances of Universal Peace for a heart opening experience. Limited to 50 dancers so register early. Karma Yoga trades available. Free Camping.
Tall Tree Music Festival
June 30 - July 3 Browns Mountain, Port Renfrew, BC talltreemusicfestival.com
Astral Harvest Music & Arts Festival June 30 - July 3 Driftpile, AB astralharvest.com
Tall Tree Music Festival is one of BC’s premiere music festivals, with three epic days of music, activities, camping and the great outdoors.
Family-friendly atmosphere is part of the
BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016 27
Indian Classical Music & the India Heritage Trust
by Nina Buddhdev
As Canadian Arts & Culture
sees a noticably colourful trend, the world heritage arts scene in BC is set to soar in 2016. The Asian Classical arts scene, in particular, has taken an interesting turn over the last ten years. More and more Traditional classical presentations that tour the west coast recognise the reciprocity in BC and visiting artists are calling for more support for cultural programming to support cultural arts reach BC’s global audiences. Over the previous ten years so many small organisations, families, artists and students have gathered their resources to make available opportunities for Asian classical music presentation to our communities. The joy I have seen in audiences and facilitators is that of cultural pride and the satisfaction of sharing the historical nature that comes with classical arts. The efforts of many niche organisations, students and teachers have catalysed much momentum and 2016 is taking a progressive turn. As an artist first & having been a presenter, curator, educator, producer, promoter, tour manager and artists’ agent,
I have been extensively involved in the cultural movement. I see the rising interest in cultivating global partnerships for Asian Heritage students, teachers and visiting artists. I have found BC‘s cultural music development very interesting as the cultural sector calls for more accessible representations. There is so much happening in BC yet often we are less informed about niche styles of music if we are outside of the cultivated networks. A group of BC based teachers and students have formed a central group called Bandish Baithak Network, (BBN). Via this hub BBN, plans to raise connectivity, participation, collaboration and more access to the experience of such music and build awareness. The aim is to establish a purpose, connect & inspire, artists, students, patrons and followers of classical arts in Canada for the merit the art form as a primary call of artistic enquiry. India Heritage Trust nurtures this movement as an overarching role. The gallery concert ‘Baithak’ tradition appeals to many aficionados, world culture enthusiasts & intellectuals, particularly to those who enjoy the engagement & rapport with the artistic language & the
Indian Classical instruments. photo supplied.
28 BC Musician Magazine’s
chemistry of classical arts. Bandish means to feel connected via the Raga (melody, tone, mood) & Tala (rhythm). ‘Baithak’ is the traditional style of a musical gathering centred around the relationship between the music and its significance to our common affective domain The BBN is musicians advancing musicians; this spirit has developed an Indian Classical vibe in various parts of BC with school presentations, music department collaborations, gallery events, home concerts, exchange projects & enterprise partnerships. At BBN, students, readers, writers and cultivators of Indian performative arts convene with a common frequency to share the Shastriya (heritage, classical) art forms with our BC world music community. Shared is a discerning taste, informed perspectives, the expectation for artistic excellence, appreciation for fellow musicians and the opportunity to relish the traditional etiquette. BBN aims to build upon our joint commitment & interest for the classical arts of the ancient Samaveda traditions. As a supportive continuum, we strive to create an opportunity for visiting masters, aspiring & emerging musicians to further impact cultural & social engagement with the spirit of alliance and accessibility. An integral aspect of BBN is the development of the youth recitals which gives a much-needed platform to the students of Asian classical arts to share & relate their cultural music to their global lifestyle. This collective is for all the group members to develop and share projects as a pivot point for Indian Classical music, cultural exchange and collaboration. Via this collective, we hope to share event information, support the arena of the Classical Arts & underpin the successes achieved by the established patrons who have worked for many years toward the activities we see happening in BC today. Bandish Baithak Network works with a shared mandate to mobilise the cohesive development of provincial Heritage Arts & engage progressive collaborations, led by the merit of the artform that perpetuates the freedom of artistic following.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
RELIVE THE CLASSIC SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE. LEARN. LAUGH. PLAY. IMAGINE.
MUSIC LINEUP
PERFORMANCE ART
ACTIVITIES AND WORKSHOPS
BC Sitarist Sharanjeet Singh Mand
A look into what’s happening in the Lower Mainland MAY 6th, Global Tabla Master, Pt. Yogesh Samsi, who is BC’s visiting Tabla educationalist, presents ‘The Art of Tabla’ at Vancouver Community College, as part of the Asian Heritage Month. MAY 7 TH. CARNATIC MUSIC. Vidushi Gayathri Venkataraghavan (vocal), Sri Mysore Srikanth (violin), and Sri Neyveli Skandasubramanian (mridangam), from India, come and perform a Carnatic Music Concert on Saturday, May 7, 2016, at the Sai Center, 2215 East Pender Street, Vancouver. MAY 15th, the prolific Pandit Harvinder Sharma visits BC as part of his Sitar music project. Concert on 15th May at Burnaby Hall, a Silk Route production. MAY 22nd, The Gundecha Brothers visiting BC as part of their Canada & US tour of vocal education workshops and recitals of Dhrupad, the ancient style of Indian Classical vocal. Dhrupad Concert at the Laura Muir Performing Arts Theater New Westminster. On July 2nd we welcome Pt. Jasraj ji with Pandita Tripti Mukherjee, Pt. Rattan Mohan Sharma, Pt. Aditya Narayan Banerjee for the PJSOM’s Silver Jubilee Celebration at Michael J Fox Theatre Burnaby. On July 30th & 31st, BC sees a two day Summer Sangeet Samelan (Indian classical music symposium) at the Michael J Fox Theatre. Virasat Foundation and community collaborators bring to BC an ensemble of distinguished, world-renowned Classical Master Musicians, next generation accompanists & BC’s emerging classical musicians. This collaborative project is conceived and arranged by dedicated patrons, musicians, enterprise and mentors. In September to October, we have visiting artists from the UK, Ustad Shahbaz Hussain - Tabla with Arnab Chakrabarty - Sarod, they will be available for presentations from 29th Sept- 2nd Oct with Mohamad Assani. Carnatic flautist, Shashank Subramanyam, may also visit us in BC later in the fall. The best way to support the development of the classical arts is to simply attend, meet the artists and explore the authentic platforms made available to us. For all artists’ information, organiser contacts, event details and supporting information, please visit the Bandish Baithak Network on Facebook.
KAMPERS MARKET + ART GALLERY + TALENT SHOW
FULL EVENT INFO & TICKETS AVAILABLE AT
KAMPFESTIVAL.COM
BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016 29
july festivals Adaka Cultural Festival
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.
July 1 - 7 Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre, Whitehorse, YK adakafestival.ca
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.
Kamp Festival
July 1 - Aug 28 Various Locations, Gibsons, BC facebook.com/Music.Landing
Free outdoor concerts every weekend all summer long (except July 23 & 24) in Gibsons. Please check face book page for various locations and times.
Music in the Park-Kamloops
July 1 - 4 Whatsan Lake Retreat Center, Kootenays, BC kampfestival.com
KAMP Festival is a summer camp for adults. A three-day weekend adventure in recreation and art creation. 3 night celebration of music and dance. 50+ workshops, games and activities, yoga & wellness programming, delicious locally sourced meals, talent show and more.
Lighthouse Bluegrass Music Festival July 1 - 3 Meadowood Community Park, Qualicum Bay, BC lighthousebluegrass.com
Premiere pickin festival. Excellent facility, 5 minutes to the ocean, first class music & camping on grounds.
Luminosity Project
July 1 - Aug 31 Riverside Park, Kamloops, BC tourismkamloops.com/music-in-thepark-in-kamloops-british-columbia
Free musical entertainment every evening during July & August in the Rotary Bandshell, 7-8:30pm. Bring a picnic and lawn games. Friday evening performances at McDonald Park 7-8:30pm.
Smithers Midsummer Music Festival July 1 - 3 Smithers, BC smithersmusicfest.com/index.php
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.
Victoria Pride Festival
July 1 - 4 TBA, West Coast, BC luminosityproject.ca
3 Nights of a collection of cutting edge musicians, artists, teachers, and visionaries from around the globe.
Merritt Art Walk
July 1 - Aug 13 Downtown, Merritt, BC nvartscouncil.com
Pick up your Art Walk books from the Information Centre or various businesses that have the Art Walk logo and check out the great art work on display.
Mountain Mosaic Festival of the Arts July 1 Kinsmen Beach, Invermere, BC columbiavalleyarts.com
Free festival for the whole family following the Canada Day Parade. Enjoy the Home Hardware Festival Stage featuring live entertainment. Art Tents, Build-a-Boat
30 BC Musician Magazine’s
Music in the Landing
July 1 - 10 MacDonald Park, Victoria, BC victoriapridesociety.org
The Parade (Government/Pandora) and Festival (MacDonald Park) will be held on Sunday, July 5, featuring live bands, drag performances, vendors, food fair, community groups, children’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.
Vilna Cowboy Fest
July 1 - 3 Vilna, AB vilnaagsociety.com
You will truly be entertained, educated and educated on the subject of cowboy culture. Fabulous fun. Awesome entertainment.
Whistler Longboard Festival July 1 - 3 Whistler, BC whistlerlongboard.com
The Whistler Longboard Festival is a multi-day downhill skateboard event where top racers take on a world-class track. 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, afterparty, special events, a beer garden and finish line view.
Comox Valley Youth Music Camp and Festival of Summer Sounds July 2 - 24 Mark Isfeld School, 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.
Destination Mainstage
July 2 - 9 Chilliwack Cultural Centre, BC theatrebc.org/destination-mainstage
The Annual Provincial Theatre Festival for community theatre groups throughout BC. More than 60 community theatre clubs participate in Theatre BC Zone Festivals held in April and May. Winning plays from 10 Zones bring their plays to this 7 day festival.
First Saturday in Kimberley July 2 - Oct 1 Downtown, Kimberley, BC kimberleyarts.com
Celebrations of arts, culture & heritage. Every first Saturday of the month from July to October, downtown Kimberley. Live entertainment, Arts Avenue, art & craft demonstrations and more.
Open Air Performances
July 2 - Aug 28 Lake Country, BC openairperformances.com
Free concert performances Saturday evenings 6pm. Various locations please check website for details.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
2016 May to September Events
Oliver
Highway 3A, The Crowsnest - Oliver to Christina Lake
Pick up your copy of the 8th Annual Ultimate Summer Festival Guide at Oliver Chronicle, Super Valu and Buy Low Foods May 21–28, Okanagan Zone Theatre Festival, Frank Venables Theatre, theatrebc.org/zone-festivals June, July & Aug, Back Alley Concert Series, Firehall Brewery, firehallbrewery.com July & August, Thursday Nights, Oliver Music in the Park, Oliver Community Park, oliverartscouncil.org July 7 & 9, Oliver Sunshine Festival, Oliver Community Park, www.oliverrecreation.ca
Osoyoos
Pick up your copy of the 8th Annual Ultimate Summer Festival Guide At Elvis Fine Jewelery, Osoyoos Times, Owl Pub, Sage Pub & Liquor Store, Jo Jo’s Cafe, A New Leaf Café, Spirit Ridge Resort and Wander July 1, Annual Cherry Fiesta July & August, Music in the Park Friday nights at Gyro Park, www.osoyoos.ca/content/music-park
Rock Creek
Pick up your copy of the 8th Annual Ultimate Summer Festival Guide, at Rock Creek Gas Station Aug 19-20 Ponderosa Arts & Music Festival, Rock Creek Fairgrounds, www.ponderosafestival.com Sept 17-18 Rock Creek Fall Fair, Rock Creek Fairgrounds, www.rockcreekfallfair.ca
Greenwood
Pick up your copy of the 8th Annual Ultimate Summer Festival Guide at the Greenwood Museum and Deadwood Junction May 28-29 Kettle River Art Club Show, www.greenwoodcity.com August 26-28 Greenwood Bluegrass Festival, Greenwood City Park, www.greenwoodcity.com
Grand Forks
Pick up your copy of the 8th Annual Ultimate Summer Festival Guide at Happy Day 50’s Diner and at The GEM Theatre June 28 – July 3 Grand Forks International Baseball Tournament, James Donaldson Park www.grandforksbaseball.com August 5–6 CannaFest, James Donaldson Park, www.cannafest.ca
Christina Lake
Pick up your copy of the 8th Annual Ultimate Summer Festival Guide At Lisa’s Bistro at Christina Lake Welcome Centre (Living Arts) July 8-10 Christina Lake Summer Homecoming Festival, Main Beach, www.facebook.com/ChristinaLakeHomecoming
Times osoyoos
Chronicle
Christina Lake
july festivals Parks Alive!
July 2 - Aug 31 Multiple Outdoor Venues, Kelowna, BC festivalskelowna.com Parks Alive! present live concerts and other art based activities throughout July & August in many of Kelowna’s most unique outdoor venues. Events Tuesday through Saturday evenings, and every second Sunday afternoon.
Penticton Scottish Festival
Summer Sounds
July 3 - Aug 28 Beacon Park, Sidney, BC sidney.ca
Every Sunday in July and August, bring your lawn chair or blanket down to the park and listen to a variety of musical entertainment from 2 - 4pm.
Summer Sundays Concerts Port Moody
July 2 Kings Park, Penticton, BC pentictonscottishfestival.ca
Celtic groups gather to perform and compete in this annual event.
Saskatoonberry Festival
July 2 Mortlach, SK mortlach.ca/saskatoonberry_festival Community event for everyone!
Saturday Night Live Stage
July 2 - Aug 27 Ross Street Plaza, Salmon Arm, BC salmonarmdowntown.com/contact Saturday evening concerts from 7-8:30pm.
Spark the Vibe
July 3 - Aug 28 Rocky Point Park, Port Moody, BC summersundays.ca
Free concerts every Sunday, 2-4 pm. Featuring top Vancouver and area R&B, soul, funk and blues bands.
Victoria Conservatory of Music Summer Concert Series July 4 - Aug 5 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.
International Choral Kathaumixw
July 2 - 3 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.
Concerts in The Park - Ladysmith July 3 - Aug 28 Transfer Beach, Ladysmith, BC lrca.bc.ca
Sunset and Music at beautiful location. What better way to spend your Sunday evenings this summer? The Ladysmith Resources Centre Association invites you to Concerts in the Park, our weekly fundraiser. Picnic by the sea while you listen to our fantastic line-up. By donation.
Nelson Artwalk
July 3 - Aug 31 Downtown Nelson, BC ndac.ca
Vernon Street and Front Street present the work of local artists in business locations as venues and galleries.
July 5 - 9 Multiple Venues, Powell River, BC kathaumixw.org
Choral music fills this seaside community as choirs from around North America and overseas gather for common singing, concerts, choral and solo competitions, social events and seminars with
world-renown conductors. The Choir of the World at Kathaumixw, chosen best among all choirs, receives a Coast Salish totem pole, which in 2014 went to Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Jammin’ in Justice
July 6 - Aug 24 Justice Park, Vernon, BC downtownvernon.com
Take a well-deserved break every Wednesday afternoon. Jammin’ in Justice features smaller bands and entertainers, perfect for an outdoor lunch outing. Performances from 12-1:30 pm.
Music in the Park-Brentwood Bay July 6 - Aug 31 Pioneer Park, Brentwood Bay, BC mypeninsula.ca
Each summer in July and August, outdoor concerts on Wednesday nights from 6:30 to 8:30. 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 6 - Aug 31 Community Park, Nakusp, BC nakusparrowlakes.com
Free music for the whole family every Wednesday evening, 6:30-8pm. Everyone welcome. Bring a lawn chair.
Theatre Under the Stars
July 6 - Aug 20 Malkin Bowl, Vancouver, BC tuts.ca
Theatre Under the Stars presents two musical theatre shows a summer, performances alternate evenings of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast & West Side Story.
Wednesdays on the Water
July 6 - Aug 31 Peach Orchard Beach, Summerland, BC summerlandarts.com/events/wednesdays-on-the-water Families are invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets or even a picnic and enjoy the music. Beach access, playground, water park, fields & volleyball court on site. A different genre of music every week so there is a little something for everyone. Concerts start at 6:30 pm.
Local businesses along Baker Street,
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july festivals Civic Sounds
July 7 - Aug 26 Civic Plaza, Vernon, BC downtownvernon.com
Free summer outdoor concerts featuring live local bands every Thursday night from 7-9pm. Bring your lawn chair, a blanket and pick up a to-go dinner downtown and enjoy the music. Don’t forget your dancing.
Elephant Mountain Literary Festival July 7 - 10 Multiple Venues, Nelson, BC emlfestival.com
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.
Indian Summer
July 7 - 16 Vancouver, BC indiansummerfest.ca
A festival of arts, ideas and diversity.
Jazz at the Plaza
July 7 - Aug 18 Ross Street Plaza, Salmon Arm, BC salmonarmdowntown.com/contact Free, outdoor, evening concerts every second Thursday starting at 7pm.
Oliver Music in the Park
July 7 - Aug 25 Oliver Community Park, Oliver, BC oliverartscouncil.org
Experience live music paired with the best little night market in the Okanagan Valley on evenings. Market 4:30-8:30, Music 6:30-8:30 pm.
Oliver Sunshine Festival
July 7 - 9 Oliver Community Park, Oliver, BC oliverrecreation.ca
Come enjoy 2 nights and 2 days of free family-friendly fun. Friday night and Saturday live stage music and dance entertainment, beverage gardens, kids activities, food vendors & more at Oliver
BC Musician Magazine’s
Community Park & Stage. Parade Saturday at 10 am.
Performances in the Park Williams Lake
July 7 - Aug 25 Boitanio Park, Williams Lake, BC 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 7-8pm. All acts will be family friendly.
Winnipeg Folk Fest
July 7 - 10 Birds Hill Provincial Park, Winnipeg, MB winnipegfolkfestival.ca 10 stages of music to explore at this legendary family friendly festival.
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july festivals Atlin Arts & Music 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.
July 8 - 10 Atlin, BC atlinfestival.ca
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.
Basscoast Summer Festival
July 8 - 11 Merritt, BC basscoast.ca Each year Bass Coast offers an eclectic mix of emerging Canadian electronic producers alongside internationally renowned artists.
Bluegrass Jamboree at Pass Creek
July 8 - 10 Pass Creek Fairgrounds, Castlegar, BC bluegrassjamboree.ca
Lunch Box Stage
July 8 - Aug 26 Ross Street Plaza, Salmon Arm, BC salmonarmdowntown.com/contact
Fridays through July and August. Concerts run from 12:30-1:30pm.
Monster Energy Center of Gravity July 8 - 10 City Park, Kelowna, BC wetape.com
Canada’s Hottest Beach Festival features world class sports: Beach Volleyball, Basketball, 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.
Features open mic sessions, pancake breakfast Saturday, band scramble, and bluegrass gospel Sunday. Dry camping available. Child up to 6 free.
Calgary Stampede
tickets on sale now!
July 8 - 17 Calgary, AB 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.
Christina Lake Summer Homecoming Festival
july 30, 31 & august 1, 2016
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! Market, Demos, Displays, Music, Performances, Family Beach Party, Grand Finale “Light Up The Lake” Boat Parade for Cash Prizes & More!
Adrian Nation • Ayrad • Basia Bulat Bental, Byrnes, Ulrich • Cecile Doo-Kingue Fortunate Ones • John Wort Hannam Kacy and Clayton • Maria Dunn Martin Harley • Matt Andersen Milk Carton Kids • Ridley Bent • Sam Baker Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar • Young Uns + many more to come
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2 nights of on-site camping with parking, late night festivities, beer garden, and the best local food and craft vendors, featuring some of the NW’s best local reggae sharing the stage with a selection great touring acts.
Pembina River Nights
July 8 - 9 Rangeton Park, Evansburg, AB asmallshieldmusic.ca
Small intimate festival, family friendly, ckua listeners, good crowd, by the river, camping. Canadian and International musicians, all styles.
Sun Peaks Summer Concert Series 1
July 8 - 9 Sun Peaks Resort, BC sunpeaksresort.com/samrobertsband The 5th Annual Summer Concert Series kicks off with headliner Sam Roberts Band. Concerts are outdoors, rain or shine. Seating is not provided; please bring your own lawn or camping chair. Temperatures in the evening can be cooler in the mountains so bring a light coat or blanket.
The Phillips Backyard Weekender Victoria’s best backyard party. The back lot of Victoria’s Philips Brewery once again transforms into a 3 day concert venue.
Vancouver Island Music Fest
July 8 - 10 Comox Valley Fairgrounds, Courtenay, BC 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, eco-education areas, workshops, unique crafts, tasty foods & so much more.
Whistler Children’s Art Festival
Edmonton International Street Performers Festival July 8 - 16 Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton, AB edmontonstreetfest.com
July 8 - 9 Expo Centre, Enumclaw, Washington, USA nwrootsfestival.com
July 8 - 10 Philips Brewery, Victoria, BC phillipsbeer.com
festival lineup
July 8 - 10 Community Beach, Christina Lake, BC christinalake.com
North West Roots Festival
canmorefolkfestival.com ALL AGES | LIVE MUSIC | local acts
July 8 - 10 Village, Whistler, BC artswhistler.com
The heart of Whistler village will be transformed with tents, balloons and stages. This fun-filled weekend features
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
july festivals a multitude of hands-on art workshops led by professional artists in fine arts, crafts, theatre, multi-media, dance and music from across BC.
Greenwood Founders’ Day
July 9 Lion’s Park, Greenwood, BC 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 9 - 17 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 9 West 4th, Vancouver, BC shopwest4th.com/events
Features 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, bustling patios, giveaways, special activities, and licensed outdoor beer gardens.
Kimberley Medieval Festival
July 9 - 10 Kimberley, BC kimberleymedievalf.wix.com/kcbmf
Adstock
July 10 Memorial Peace Park, Maple Ridge, BC facebook.com /AdstockMapleRidgeSociety Adstock is a free, outdoor, alternative music festival in the heart of Maple Ridge. 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.
Music on the Wharf-Maple Ridge
July 11 - Aug 22 Port Haney Wharf, Maple Ridge, BC mapleridgemuseum.org/02_ events/02_01_03_music_wharf.html
The 2nd Annual Kimberley Medieval Festival includes an authentic Viking village, learn about the past, dress up, and come together for this free community event.
Twice in July, and twice in August on Monday nights at 7:30pm (except for the last Monday in August, which is at 7pm) 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.
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july festivals Billy Barker Days
Armstrong Metal Fest
July 14 - 17 Quesnel, BC billybarkerdays.ca
Quesnel’s Billy Barker Days is a free family festival celebrating our gold rush heritage. The festival features four days of entertainment for those seeking action, relaxation, fun and excitement.
Burn in the Fraser
July 14 - 17 Agassiz, BC burninthefraser.com
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 14 - 17 Craven, SK cravencountryjamboree.com
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.
Darrington Bluegrass Festival July 15 - 17 Darrington, Washington, USA 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.
Folk on the Rocks
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. Our endless blue skies and rolling green hills are a treat for the eyes, but that’s just the beginning of this extraordinary experience.
Ness Creek Folk Fest July 14 - 17 Big River, SK nesscreek.com
July 15 - 17 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.
Fraser Valley Music Awards
Variety of music, tons of artistic activities and workshops.
Pemberton Music Festival
July 14 - 17 Pemberton, BC pembertonmusicfestival.com
Nearly 100 performances and five stages over four glorious days of music, comedy, and camping on 300 clean, open acres in one of the most idyllic settings on Earth.
Timber! Outdoor Music Festival
July 14 - 16 Tolt-Macdonald Park, Carnation, Washington, USA timbermusicfest.com
Music and community in the beautiful natural environment of the Pacific Northwest.
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July 15 - 16 Hassen Arena, Armstrong, BC armstrongmetalfest.ca
July 15 - 16 Abbotsford Arts Centre, Abbotsford BC civl.ca/fvma
The inaugural Fraser Valley Music Awards is an initiative funded by the Canadian Radio Fund of Canada and sponsored by twenty local, provincial, and national organizations. The event will feature a compilation album of Fraser Valley music, a battle of the bands, nominee showcases, music education panels, and the main event on July 16. The FVMA mandate is to celebrate local arts and culture, honour and reward the talent and hard work of Fraser Valley musicians, help to launch the careers of emerging artists, bring the community together for an exciting special event, and provide a networking opportunity for all facets of the regional music industry - including music fans.
Kimberley JulyFest
July 15 - 17 Kimberley, BC kimberleyjulyfest.com
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.
Northern Lights Music Festival
July 15 - 17 Cooks Valley Campground, Piercy, California, USA northernnights.org
4 stages of music, camping, music and art in the Redwoods.
South Country Fair
July 15 - 17 near Fort Macleod, AB southcountryfair.com
South Country Fair is a rural, peace-oriented, camping, music and arts festival that manifests itself annually just outside Fort Macleod, Alberta
Sunshine Cabaret
July 15 - Aug 20 Gyro Park, Penticton, BC downtownpenticton.org
Live music featuring a wide variety of performers from rock n’ roll to jazz, country, blues, swing, etc there is something for everyone to enjoy. Friday and Saturday nights from 7-9pm. (no shows Aug 5 & 6)
The Sukunka Valley Awakening Music Festival July 15 - 17 near Chetwynd, BC valleyawakening.com
An annual electronic music festival in Northern BC. A mind expanding multiday event.
Unity Music Festival
July 15 - 17 Slocan City, BC unitymusicfestival.ca
This family friendly festival 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.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
july festivals Vancouver Folk Music Festival
July 15 - 17 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.
Victoria International Buskers Festival July 15 - 24 Victoria, BC victoriabuskers.com
Wild Mountain Music Festival July 15 - 17 Entrance Ranch, Hinton, AB wildmountainmusicfest.ca
Beer Tent, Kids Area, Food Vendors, Arts and Crafts Vendors. Trailer and Tent Camping on-site. Festival Shuttle Bus to and from Hinton. Store on-site for all your festival needs.
Winthrop Rhythm & Blues Festival July 15 - 17 Winthrop, Washington, USA winthropbluesfestival.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 In-
Faris Amine
ternational Buskers Festival. Our event is a family oriented, free-to-attend festival presented on mostly outdoor stages.
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.
All Folk’d Up in Montmartre
July 16 - 17 Kemoca Regional Park, Montmartre, SK allfolkedup.clickfuturedigital.com Family friendly event with three days of music on two stages.
CanolaFest
July 16 Peace Island Park, Taylor, BC moosefm.ca
The Peace Region’s newest Music Festival brought to you by 100.1 Moose FM.A long line-up of local and visitor musicians will make this one day festival a hit in the Peace Country. Food vendors, camping throughout Peace Island Park, river boating nearby and a possible beer garden are in the plans.
Cates Park Concert Series
July 16 - Aug 27 Cates Park, North Vancouver, BC musart.ca
Free, outdoor concert series that occurs on Saturdays in July and August from
BRUCE COCKBURN • HAYES CARLL • LORD HURON • SAN FERMIN M. WARD • SHANE KOYCZAN • MARTIN AND ELIZA CARTHY LES NOCES GITANES • GEOFF BERNER • FLAVIA NASCIMENTO OH PEP! • OYSTERBAND • LITTLE SCREAM • YEMEN BLUES NAHKO AND MEDICINE FOR THE PEOPLE • ELIDA ALMEIDA ME XICAN INSTITUTE O F S OUND • L AKOU MIZIK KAUMAKAIWA KANAKA‘OLE WITH SHAWN PIMENTAL THE HARPOONIST & THE AXE MURDERER • JOJO AMOT TRAD ATTACK • KARIM SAADA • TEN STRINGS AND A GOAT SKIN
Lucy Ward
thefestival.bc.ca
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july festivals 4-7pm 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.
Chemainus Bluegrass Festival
July 16 - 17 Waterwheel Park, 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.
Cortes Days
July 16 Smelt Bay Provincial Park, 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.
Flashback Weekend
July 16 - 17 Sun Peaks Resort, BC sunpeaksresort.com/events-and-festivals/event.aspx?c=1&e=2470 Start digging through your closet and get out your best flashback attire and your dancing shoes for the 2nd Annual Flashback Weekend. Don’t miss out on a weekend filled with bands performing the best of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, Knights of the Sun: Medieval Tournament Theatre and much more!
Grassy Plains Summer Festival
July 16 - 17 Grassy Plains Community Hall, Burns Lake, BC grassyplainshall.ca Music, fun and dancing!
Calgary Folk Music Festival
July 21 - 24 Prince’s Island Park, Calgary, AB 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.
Cascadia
July 21 - 24 Masonic Family Park, Granite Falls, Washington, USA cascadianw.com
Featuring three days of camping with music, art, workshops, performances & artisan vending. Family Friendly & Party Approved.
Columbia Gorge Bluegrass Festival July 21 - 24 Stevenson, Washington, USA 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.
Filberg Park Summer Concert Series July 21 - Aug 25 Filberg Heritage Park, Comox, BC filberg.com
A series of evening concerts in beautiful Filberg Park. Bring a picnic or make a reservation at the Filberg Tea House for an early dinner. Check website for dates.
Motion Notion Music Festival
July 21 - 25 Beaverfoot Lodge and Festival Grounds, Golden, BC motionnotion.com
A world-class electronic music festival with five artistic stages at a spectacular venue as well as workshops and yoga.
Rock of the Woods
July 21 - 24 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.
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Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
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Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
Spirit Kisses by Coco Love Alcorn Last summer at the ArtsWells Music Festival I kissed about 15 people in one day. Let me explain. I got to spend a lot of time that summer on the west coast, playing music, enjoying nature, hanging out with amazing people. By the time I reached Wells I had already sung at 4 other groovy BC festivals in quick succession: Tiny Lights, Campbell Bay, Starbelly Jam and Kispiox. I had such a festival glow on by then that I was practically emitting light! But the kisses, you want to know about the kisses. I don’t remember exactly how the idea came to be, but as soon as it popped into my head it was many things. It was interesting, fun, explorative, bold, raw, celebratory, adventurous and that list could go on for quite a while but mostly‚ it was about connecting. This was not a hedonistic act. I dubbed them ‘namaste kisses’ and presented them as such. Namaste translates loosely to, ‘the light in me recognizes the light in you’, or so a yoga teacher once told me. Yup, pretty groovy, these were spirit kisses. kisses, kisses, spirit kisses oh what a lovely concept this is but what the heck is a spirit kiss I’ll try to shed some light on this The body, the mind, the heart, the soul. We are all of these things, all of the time. We often use those 4 words to describe certain aspects of what we’re experiencing or to process things that have happened but they are all intrinsically linked and part of our greater whole. I called them namaste kisses (or spirit kisses) to put a focus on what our spirits found in the experience. To present them as such meant that anything happening on a physical, emotional or mental level was a subplot, phew! And the fact that each kiss was part of an art project style group of kisses also took the pressure off. They were expressions of openness, generosity, community, and pure human love. Spirit kisses are not first base kisses driven by lust. They are not trying to go anywhere except smack dab into the middle of the moment. But even with all my talk of openness and pure human love, I know that a kiss is a powerful thing and not to be approached
as trivial. I was careful to offer these kisses to people who were adults, people who I knew and trusted, and everyone was either single or had all the necessary ‘permission slips’ signed. And I think my intent would have been pretty clear even if I wasn’t calling them namaste or spirit kisses. To me, life is a journey of collecting kindred spirits and connected moments. Where does my spirit most readily come out to play? In music, in nature, in the arms of a lover, and when I take chances and push myself just ever so slightly past my comfort zone. These days, cell phones, the internet and social media encourage so many of our interactions to be digital, lazy, safe, buffered, muted, self directed, self controlled, contained, constrained, narrow, following paths of what is expected and rarely challenging. They all deliver a fast food style of engagement that lacks the hearty fibre of organic chemistry that can only be found in person. Our culture has grown addicted to the quick and easy dopamine hits we receive every time someone ‘likes’ our most recent photo or post. Everything is constantly speeding up but our souls still shine the brightest at a slower tempo. Every kiss is an opportunity to slow down. Every kiss is an invitation to be brave and vulnerable. I would even go so far as to say that kisses are like snowflakes and no two are ever the same. We have so many ways of hiding in plain site. We have safe outfits and conversation topics, safe opinions and safe reactions. But certain things we do have the inherent ability to draw more truth from us. More of our nougatty centre is revealed in a kiss. We can’t help but be ourselves when we kiss another person. There is nowhere to hide. A kiss brings the moment into focus and brings our inner self closer to the surface. I am always on the hunt for those experiences where colours look brighter, ideas are blooming, inspiration is bountiful and everything seems possible. This is what draws me to music. This is what draws me to people. This is why I will always love music festivals. And this is why I kissed all those excellent humans that day. And yes, I’m going to ArtsWells again this year. And no, I will not be setting up a kissing booth! Just like many of the best moments in life are, this was a beautiful and unexpected one off. :)
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july festivals Theatre on the Edge Festival
July 21 - 24 Shuswap Theatre, Salmon Arm, BC shuswaptheatre.com
Theatre on the Edge is Shuswap Theatre’s summer festival. Performances run from noon to night, pick your show, pick your time. Theatre productions come from the Shuswap and beyond.
WIND Festival
July 21 - 24 Squamish, BC squamishwindfestival.com
Celebrating 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 fun for all ages.
Dawson City Music Festival 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.
Diversity Festival
July 22 - 25 Shingle Beach Campsite, Texada Island, BC diversityfestival.ca
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.
Gateway Fest
The Gateway Festival is an outdoor, family-friendly, 3-day celebration of music and culture. Bengough is just north of the historic Big Muddy Badlands.
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July 22 - 24 Forest Grove, 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 (EDM). Workshops, Eclectic Vendors and Food. Everyone Welcome! Camping. Festival with a great vibe and setting. Kids free.
Interstellar Rodeo Edmonton
July 22 - 24 Amphitheatre in 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 year’s amazing line-up.
Islands Folk Festival
July 22 - 24 Providence Farm, Duncan, BC islandsfolkfestival.ca
July 22 - 24 Dawson City, YK dcmf.com
July 22 - 24 Bengough, SK gatewayfestival.com
Hootstock Festival of Music, Dance and Spoken Word
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.
K Days
July 22 - 31 Edmonton, AB k-days.com
K-days is a tribute to Edmonton’s history and a door to the future. Family fun, adventures in wine, food and spirits, and a long list of some of the finest musical acts in Canada.
Kispiox Valley Music Festival July 22 - 24 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 22 - 24 Fraser River Heritage Park, Mission, BC 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.
Renton River Days
July 22 - 24 Renton, Washington, USA 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.
Rock the Shores
July 22 - 24 West Shore Parks & Recreation, lower fields, Colwood, BC rocktheshores.com
Biggest rock event on Vancouver Island.
Sasquatch Gathering
July 22 - 24 Rangeton Park, AB sasquatchgathering.com
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 22 - Aug 8 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 Islands. Wander through our 17,000 square foot gallery, and enjoy all types of live music from classical to folk, bluegrass and jazz.
Street Performers Festival July 22 - 24 Grande Prairie, AB gpstreetfest.com
Bringing jugglers, acrobats, musicians, installation artists, facepainters, and many other assorted entertainers from around the world to Grande Prairie.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
july festivals Ukee Days
July 22 - 24 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.
Bella Coola Music Festival
July 23 - 24 Fall Fairgrounds, 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. This year’s amazing line up includes: Jill Barber & Matthew Barner, Bend Sinister, Nick Sherman, Amelia Curran, Murray Porter, Quique Escamilla, The Crooked Brothers and many more
Caribbean Days Festival North Vancouver July 23 - 24 North Vancouver, BC 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.
Downtown Kelowna Block Party July 23 Kerry Park & Bernard Avenue, Kelowna, BC downtownkelowna.com
Kelowna is closing the streets of the downtown for 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..
BC Musician Magazine’s
Enderby Arts Festival
July 23 Enderby, BC enderbyartscouncil.ca
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.
Gibsons Sea Cavalcade July 23 - 24 Gibsons, BC seacavalcade.ca
The Annual Sea Cavalcade has a funfilled 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.
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july festivals Kootenay Festival
July 23 Millennium Park, Castlegar, BC Kootenayfestival.com
Featuring live music, dance, performances and cuisine from the diverse cultures represented in the Kootenay region.
Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows Country Fest
July 23 - 24 Albion Fairgrounds, Maple Ridge, BC mrpmcountryfest.com Music, agriculture, food and fun... in BC farm country. Admission is free.
Nakusp Medieval Days July 23 - 24 Nakusp, BC medievaldays.ca
Come to Nakusp this July to experience everything that makes medieval culture so great! This weekend is all about celebrating life during the period 600-1600 AD.
Powell River Sea Fair
July 23 Willingdon Beach, Powell River BC powellriverseafair.ca
Sea Fair is the longest running festival in Powell River. This 3 day festival brings the community together with entertainment, vendors, fireworks and midway at Willingdon Beach.
Shorefest
July 23 - 30 Vancouver, BC hondacelebrationoflight.com
July 23 - 24 Holland Park, Surrey, BC surrey.ca/fusionfestival
The ultimate celebration of food, music & culture.
Calgary International Blues Festival July 25 - 31 Shaw Millenium Park, Calgary, AB 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.
Victoria Summer Music Festival
July 26 - Aug 11 Phillip T. Young Recital Hall, Victoria, BC vsmf.org Presenting the best in chamber music. 6 evening concerts at 7:30pm.
Big Valley Jamboree
July 28 - July 31 Camrose, AB bigvalleyjamboree.com/bvj
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
Free community concert series during the Honda Celebration of Light an annual musical fireworks competition held every summer in Vancouver.
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Surrey Fusion Festival
July 28 - Aug 6 Hornby Island, BC hornbyfestival.bc.ca
mainstage concerts, children’s workshops, also featuring spoken word and visual arts.
Mt Baker Rhythm & Blues Festival July 28 - 31 Bellingham, Washington, USA bakerblues.com
The Mount Baker R&B Festival has, from the beginning been dedicated to Keepin 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 pass, 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.
Rockin’ River Music Fest July 28 - 31 Merritt, BC rockinriver.com
Don’t miss this 4 day country music festival with over 25 bands, on-site camping. Kids 12 and under are free.
Sunfest Festival
July 28 - July 31 Cowichan Exhibition Grounds, 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.
The Hornby Festival is 10 days of festivities in mid-summer including multi-genre
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
“Paint the Camper!” and Longwalkshotdock photos supplied
The 17th annual Motion Notion Festival is set to take place in one of the most beautiful locations the Rocky Mountains has to offer Beaverfoot Lodge near Golden, BC, Canada. We asked Kora (Richelle “Roco” Newson), one half of the BC blogger duo, Betty and Kora, to interview Vancouver-based, Motion Notion resident DJ and living legend, Longwalkshortdock. What does festival community mean to you? LWSD - Festival community is a broad spectrum really... Listening to great music and hanging out with your best friends is the obvious surface value benefit, but on a closer inspection I think it represents the way a lot of festival goers wish day to day life could be all the time. It would be really fun to listen to rad loud music and wear silly costumes 24/7/365 (and sometime we do haha) but I think part of the waiting process for each festival as its own entity enhances the enjoyment when you get there. The community vibe your talking about is really intensified by this. Everyone was been planning ideas, costumes, groups of friends, events, camp themes etc and when people come together to finally enjoy all of this as a group it really starts a chain reaction of positivity and acceptance. I think that’s one of the reasons you can have an amazing time at a festival with your whole crew, or totally solo not knowing anyone before you get there. It’s certainly a more laid back, casual and creative way to communicate with other humans. In your day to day life, you might see an interesting person on the street, on the bus etc, but because there’s not necessarily a common ground connecting you, you may not end up meeting or interacting with that person. This might not be true for all types of people, but for me, it rings true. (I’m kinda shy and keep to myself in the city within my day to day life). At festivals and with my occupation it allows me
to access a truer form of myself, or maybe what I aspire to be all the time with a greater level of confidence and creativity. You get to leave a festival with these feelings and experiences and apply them to who you wanna be back in your day to day life. The community thing just sort of “happens”. Your almost forced to be a part of it although not many people go there to avoid it, rather embrace it. You really get drawn into something that feels very real and emotional, sometimes with total strangers that end up as life long friends. It really must be experienced to be fully understood. Happened to me my very first time I went to one at Soundwave 2004, and I barely knew a soul, basically transformed the direction of my life into some pretty great stuff. Like anything or place worth seeing or doing, its the people that make it really significantly rewarding. It’s a known fact in the musical community that your inspiration to make music began with some good old fashion video games. What is your favourite video game currently? How has the gaming industry changed since you started? LWSD - Wow yes, this is true. Gaming was and is still a big part of my life. It’s true I likely wouldn’t have been drawn to music as much early in life without video game music. It’s really hard to pick a current favorite cause I always keep lots on the go. I’m STILL exploring Fallout 4, Destiny is always hijacking my time, Salt and Sanctuary, Dark Souls 3, Just crushed Far Cry Primal, and the ever popular phone obsession that is Final Fantasy Record Keeper. What I am REALLY stoked for is the new Uncharted that comes out in a few weeks and a few weeks after that the new DOOM. That is gonna be nuts. NUTS. No man’s sky after that... damn. I’m pretty on it. I’m always looking forward to whats happening next in that world. The things that have changed the most, other
BC Musician Magazine’s
than the obvious technological advantages of better sound and graphics etc is the depth of character and emotional value of stories and characters in the games themselves, and most of all the advancement of communication and cooperation between gamers. Playing vids with people used to mean having your buddy over and sharing a tv, and although thats still very much a thing, the world of possibilities has really blown wide open. When I got hooked on Final Fantasy 11 and World of Warcraft which were the first MMORPG’s I played I was blown away at how engaging it was to type messages out and connect with literally anyone you came across in those worlds. I remember meeting some dudes from Kansas one time and running quests with them all day and they were hilarious and we all benefitted and got killer drops and shit then I never heard from them again. The next day you meet some new people. Now because the bandwidth is so powerful you can just wear a headset and talk. Basically when I log on, I jump in a chat party with like 8 of my good friends and it’s like we’re all hanging out at the pub while we help each other do these elaborate missions that are made for big cooperative teams. It’s super fun. I play with a ton of very talented people from the music community on the regular too. Some of our raid groups would actually make a pretty killer festival line up haha. Good times.
The rest of this interview can be found on our website: www.bcmusicianmag.com
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016 47
july festivals Wanderlust Festival
July 28 - Aug 1 Whistler, BC whistler.wanderlustfestival.com
Wanderlust is a 5 day celebration combination of yoga, music and nature.
Alpine Blossom Festival
July 29 - 31 Sun Peaks Resort, BC sunpeaksresort.com/events-and-festivals
The village will be host to entertainers and activities, including Live performances by Coco Jafro, Steve Kozak and more, a kids zone with games, face painting and bouncy castle, outdoor evening movie and more. This time of the summer season is when the alpine wildflowers are at the height of their bloom. Take a scenic ride on the Sunburst Express chairlift for access to hiking trails.
Annual Yellow Wolf Intertribal Powwow
July 29 - 31 Bottom of Stelly’s Cross Road, Brentwood Bay, BC
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 be Powwow singing and dancing, opportunities to purchase cultural arts and crafts, special entertainment and First Nations cultural foods including a salmon BBQ.
ArtsWells Festival Of All Things Art July 29 - Aug 1 Wells, BC artswells.com
taking in all the great artists, the local flavour of nature trails, historical sites, artisans, and friendly folk!
Barkerville Stage, Artwells Festival July 29 - Aug 1 Barkerville Historic Town, BC barkerville.ca
Visit Barkerville’s ArtsWells stages for amazing acoustic musical presentations, July 29th to August 1st. Our iconic and spectacular St. Saviour’s Church venue was constructed in 1869 by Reverand James Reynard of Barkerville, and the reconstructed Methodist Church building offers outstanding audibility. Be part of this fabulous festival and the history that surrounds it.
Blueberry Bluegrass Country Music Festival
July 29 - 31 Heritage Park, Stony Plain, AB blueberrybluegrass.com
Western Canada’s largest bluegrass fest! Great outdoor concert stage in Heritage Park.
Connect Festival
July 29 - Aug 1 Besant Campground, Moose Jaw, SK connectfestival.ca
Connect Festival started 21 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.
Coombs Bluegrass Festival
This is a four-day outdoor & indoor event designed with community in mind. We hope that you will enjoy the weekend
July 29 - 31 Coombs Rodeo Grounds, Coombs, BC sites.google.com/site/coombsbluegrassfestival
July 23 & 24, 2016
Coombs Bluegrass Festival is the oldest in BC. If you have not yet experienced a bluegrass festival, here is a wonderful opportunity to explore what bluegrass music is, the history, see top quality bluegrass music and meet the people. Join them for a fun filled weekend of bluegrass & camping at the Coombs Rodeo Grounds.
Electric Love Music Festival
July 29 - Aug 1 TBA, BC electriclovemusicfestival.com
Five well-seasoned, hand-picked production companies have united their years of experience. Action packed, one-night festival offers festival-goers a lush space to dance and be free in the midst of stunning mountains, waterfall backdrops as well as the river’s edge. Up and coming local talent and world renowned DJs.
Filberg Festival
July 29 - Aug 1 Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park, Comox, BC filbergfestival.com
The annual four-day Filberg Festival is the art event of the summer! Held each BC Day long weekend, the Festival features more than 130 artisans, lively entertainment and great food for all ages at the beautiful 9-acre waterfront Filberg Heritage Lodge and Park.
Fire n Water Music Festival July 29 - 31 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.
Featured Artists Jill & Matthew Barber Nick Sherman
Bend Sinister Tickets on sale May 1st
www.bellacoolamusic.org
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Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
Musical Adventures in Barkerville, BC are Solid Gold
by James Douglas
Most everyone who has grown up in BC will have heard the incredible story of William “Billy” Barker, and the historical legacy he left behind after the great Cariboo Gold Rush of the 1860s. What some may not realize, however, is how culturally rich that legacy was, and how fervently the town of Barkerville (named in Billy’s honour) has continued the tradition of hosting and supporting artists and musicians of all stripes for more than 150 years. Each summer season at what is now called Barkerville Historic Town & Park kicks off with a premiere of the Theatre Royal’s daily musical-comedy and dramatic presentations. Founded by the Cariboo Amateur Dramatic Association back in 1865, the 2016 Theatre Royal Gala will provide a trifecta of cultural edification and terpsichorean delights. At 1:00 PM on Saturday, June 18, the festivities begin with The Fred Wells Show, a 60-minute humorous and dramatic monologue about the man who put the Wells in ArtsWells during the second great Cariboo Gold Rush of the 1930s. At 4:00 PM Newman & Wright Theatre Company’s ensemble cast hits the stage – and the “airwaves” – with the latest edition of their Cariboo Gold Radio Hour, a 1940s-style live “radio broadcast,” followed by The McGuinley Family Musical Troupe 1860s-style musical-comedy revue, at 7:00 PM. July 2016 ushers in two very different, albeit equally amazing, annual cultural festivals in quick succession: Barkerville’s yearly Aboriginal Celebration (Saturday, July 9) and the ever-popular ArtsWells Festival of All Things Art (Friday, July 29 to Monday, August 1). The former welcomes artisans and dancers from the St’at’imc, Xatśūll, and Lhtako Dene Nations to share and celebrate their cultures and connections to the Gold Rush Trail, while the latter invites the acoustic side of Wells’s nationally-lauded, 120+ performance music and art festival into the achingly beautiful historical venues of St. Saviour’s Anglican and the Wesleyan Methodist Church. The significant contributions made by Barkerville’s Chinese community are honoured each third weekend in August at the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, through daytime activities, music and dancing in the evening, a Chinese lantern parade at dusk, and a spectacular nighttime fireworks finale. This year, Mid-Autumn Moon (Saturday, August 20) boats the staggering musical talents of master Ben Zhou, who performs seven different ancient Chinese instruments while taking his audience on an incredible journey through more than 3,000 years of musical storytelling, and Joffreytrained ballerina Capri Aspe performing several breathtaking traditional Chinese dances. From Eastern exoticism to the Western frontier, Barkerville in September plays host to the Cowboy & Drover Jubilee (Friday to Sunday, September 5-7). Four historic musical venues, a cowboy poetry stage, authentic horse packing demonstrations, “boot hill” cemetery tours, and two-nights of dancing at the House Hotel Saloon make for an exciting foray into BC’s gold rush cattle-drive culture. Amidst the bustle of Barkerville’s summer festival calendar lies plenty of on- and off-season performance and recording venue opportunities and facility rentals, including year-round accommodations in a spectacular Cariboo foothills setting, as well as music video location shooting that is second to none. For more information on any or all of the listed adventures, visit barkerville.ca.
BC Musician Magazine’s
ArtsWells performance photo Carleigh Drew
Ben Zhou photo Thomas Drasdauskis
Carpi Aspe photo Carleigh Drew
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016 49
july festivals Terrace Riverboat Days
Glacier Challenge
July 29 - Aug 1 Centennial Park, Revelstoke, BC glacierchallenge.com
Thousands of people from across Western Canada and parts of the US gather for a friendly weekend of bats, balls, beer and beats. Register a team or just come for the live music and fun atmosphere.
Harmony Arts Festival 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.
Kamloopa Pow Wow
July 29 - 31 Tk’emlups Indian Band Powwow Grounds, Kamloops, BC tourismkamloops.com/kamloopa-powwow-in-kamloops-british-columbia
One of the largest celebrations of First Nation’s culture and heritage in Western Canada. Held at the Secwepemc Pow Wow Grounds along the South Thompson River.
Kaslo Jazz Etc.
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 unique location provides a natural amphitheater surrounded by pristine wilderness to enjoy while watching the performances on the floating stage nestled on the shoreline of Kootenay Lake.
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A large community festival, parade, fireworks, sports and concerts in the park.
White Rock Sea Festival
July 29 - 31 White Rock, BC whiterockseafestival.com
All day live entertainment, sand castle sculptures, food vendors, torchlight parade.
July 29 - Aug 7 West Vancouver, BC harmonyarts.ca
July 29 - 31 Kaslo, BC kaslojazzfest.com
July 29 - Aug 7 Terrace, BC riverboatdays.ca
World’s Invitational Class A Gold Panning Championships July 29 - 31 Peace Island Park, Taylor, BC districtoftaylor.com
Champion goldpanners return to defend their titles and panning skills are demonstrated and taught to newcomers. Fun family events such as bannock baking, claims staking and metal detecting along with a variety of children’s activities.
Canmore Folk Music Festival
July 30 - Aug 1 Centennial Park, Canmore, AB canmorefolkfestival.com
The Canmore Folk Music Festival is a weekend-long event in the heart of the Rockies - with music, food vendors, craft vendors and plenty of activities for the whole family.
Comox Nautical Days
July 30 - Aug 1 Comox, BC comoxnauticaldays.ca
Tons of live local music, plus the Bullhead Derby, Canoe Jousting, Dragon
Boat Races, Build, Bail & Sail, and much more. Free and great fun for the whole family.
Grizfest
July 30 - 31 Tumbler Ridge, BC grizfest.com
A music festival in the mountain wilderness catering to all kinds of diverse music selections. Rain, shine or snow Grizfest 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.
Maple Ridge Caribbean Festival
July 30 - 31 Albion Fairgrounds, Maple Ridge, BC caribbeanfest.ca
Continuous music provided by 15 live bands from the Lower Mainland’s Caribbean community, featuring Reggae, Calypso, Salsa and Soca music.
Folklorama
July 31 - Aug 13 Winnipeg, MB folklorama.ca
Folklorama promotes the ethno-cultural diversity of Manitoba through entertainment, public celebrations of culture and education.
Vancouver Pride Parade July 31 Vancouver, BC vancouverpride.ca
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. Noon3pm, parade begins at Robson Street and finishes at the Sunset Beach Festival.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
25
YEARS OF THE KASLO JAZZ ETC. FESTIVAL
Kaslo Jazz Etc Festival is celebrating it’s 25th Anniversary this summer, and with an explosive lineup that celebrates both the past and the future – this is a true family oriented event that’s getting lots of buzz around the Kootenay’s. “We really wanted to rally around the 25th Anniversary and make it something special for the patrons who have supported us over the years, and also excite the locals in the West Kootenay’s” says Executive Director Paul Hinrichs The festival will once again take place in Kaslo Bay Park on the infamous floating stage during the August long weekend (July 2931, 2016). Featuring a hybrid of international, Canadian, and BC acts – there is truly something for everyone. Boasting headliners such as Michael Franti and Spearhead, Rising Appalachia, Frazey Ford and Delhi 2 Dublin, as well as an abundance of local and independent artists – it seems as though the tide has shifted for Kaslo Jazz Etc Festival. “We’re definitely leaning more on the ETC this year. It seems that traditional jazz isn’t exclusively what patrons have been wanting to see, and we believe that jazz is such a broad genre, and so open to interpretation – it gave us some flexibility to bring in more contemporary acts, but still have it appeal to those with jazz sensibilities.” Said Hinrichs. Currently in his inaugural year working for the festival – it’s no small feat to take over a flagship event, and celebrate a milestone such as the 25th year, all at the same time. “Luckily, this is such a well run and established Organization that getting the wheel’s turning for my first year wasn’t as hard as one might imagine. I was the Artistic Director last year, so already had a general sense of how things operated.” Hinrichs continued. He also noted that Kaslo shares a 25th anniversary with local Nelson BC brewery – the Nelson Brewing Company – and that the serendipity of that makes them a perfect fit with each other. “For years, NBC was the main supplier at Kaslo Jazz Fest, and one of my first priorities was uniting us again for this shared anniversary. They are the home team, and we’re thrilled to have them back on board.” Hinrichs noted the vision for the festival was quite simply – “This year, we want to have a birthday party, and everyone is invited”. The festival takes place in the small mountain town of Kaslo BC, but Kaslo Jazz Etc Festival makes it feel like a thriving urban center every August long weekend. With free programming around town, a vendors market in Front Street Park, camping options for the whole family, as well as three days of fantastic music – this is an opportunity to experience world class music in an intimate setting. Something you don’t often see in summer music festivals. “We really pride ourselves on the Kootenay vibe.” Concluded Hinrichs. “It’s not easy to produce events with world class performers in a small outdoor venue, but for 25 years, Kaslo Jazz Fest has done exactly that. I’m just thrilled to be leading this celebration for such a fantastic festival, in such a beautiful part of the world.” Tickets and info can be found at kaslojazzfest.com
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august festivals Peach Festival
Aug 3 - 7 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
Aug 4 - 8 Orcas Island, Washington, USA doebayfest.com
This four day festival features music, food, drink, camping and activities in a unique setting.
Edmonton Folk Fest
Aug 4 - 7 Gallaghar Park, Edmonton, AB edmontonfolkfest.org An irresistible festival. World-class folk music festival.
tival 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.
Regina Folk Festival
Aug 6 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.
Kimberley Kaleidoscope Arts & Culture Festival
Aug 5 - 7 Victoria Park, Regina, SK reginafolkfestival.com
The Regina Folk Festival draws great acts and great crowds to the Queen City each summer.
Shambhala Music Festival
Aug 5 - 8 Salmo, BC 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.
Aug 6 - 13 Kimberley, BC kimberleyarts.com
8 day celebration of all the arts and culture for the whole family.
Midnight Sun Art & Film Festival Aug 6 - 7 Sun Peaks Resort, BC sunpeaksresort.com /events-and-festivals
An exciting arts experience. Details to be announced soon, check website.
Okanagan Pride Festival Aug 6 - 13 Kelowna, BC okanaganpride.com
Jammin’ in Jubilee Concerts in the Park
An open, inclusive, inter-faith, ecumenical gathering to celebrate diversity and inclusion.
Aug 4 - 25 Jubilee Park, Abbotsford, BC jaminjubilee.com
Richmond Maritime Festival
Live music August 4th, 11th, 18th, & 25th. Art Market open at 6 pm, music starts at 7.
The Festival at Sandpoint
Aug 4 - 14 Lake Pend Oreille, Sandpoint, Idaho, USA festivalatsandpoint.com
Annual summer concert series with eight nights of eclectic music under the stars on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille.
CannaFest
Aug 5 - 6 James Donaldson Park, Grand Forks, BC cannafest.ca CannaFest combines the power of rock music with the education of the healing power of pot. Western Canada’s largest Classic Rock Festival.
Edge of the World
Aug 5 - 7 Tlell Fall Fair Grounds, Haida Gwaii, BC edgefestival.com Opening and closing with traditional Haida song and dance, EOTW music fes-
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Burnaby Blues & Roots Festival
7th Annual!
From Blues to Rock, Country to Folk... Featuring:
The Chris Buck Band The Boom Booms Sean Ashby Folky Strum Strum ...and so much more! Kids’ Zone! Great Workshops! Exciting Vendors!
August 12 & 13, 2016 Spences Bridge, BC desertdaze.ca
Aug 6 - 7 Britannia Shipyards, Richmond, BC 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.
Salt Spring Garlic & Music Fest Aug 6 - 7 Salt Spring Island, BC saltspringgarlicfestival.com
Celebrating music and food growing.
Aboriginal Music Week
Aug 9 - 13 Winnipeg, MB aboriginalmusicweek.ca
Aboriginal Music Week is a music festival presenting Native, Metis, Inuit, and Indigenous artists who perform hip hop, electronic, traditional, world, folk, rock, country, and blues music.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
august festivals Flowmotion Summer Meltdown Aug 11 - 14 Darrington, Washington, USA 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 so much more.
John Arcand Fiddle Fest
Aug 11 - 14 Windy Acres, Saskatoon, SK johnarcandfiddlefest.com
The aim of this festival is to promote Metis cultural traditions through the preservation and promotion of fiddle music and dance and to provide a forum to showcase youth, talent and culture.
Manitoba Electronic Music Exhibition Aug 11 - 14 Multiple Venues, Winnipeg, MB 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.
Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts
Aug 11 - 14 Rockwood Centre, Sechelt, BC writersfestival.ca
Burrard Inlet Fish Fest
and exciting, new voices with opportunities for writers and readers to mingle amidst Rockwood’s heritage gardens.
Join Canada’s longest running summer gathering of Canadian writers and readers, featuring established literary stars
Aug 12 - 14 Rocky Point Park, Port Moody, BC bifishfest.wordpress.com
Yukon River Side Art Festival
A community engaged art event. Again this year’s event is a green, solar, wind and bicycle powered performance stage.
Aug 11 - 14 Dawson City, YK kiac.ca/artsfestival
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.
Come By The Hills Music Festival Aug 12 - 13 Mishtahiya, AB 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.
7th Annual Retro Concert Weekend Aug 12 - 14 Sun Peaks Resort, BC sunpeaksresort.com/events-andfestivals
Desert Daze Festival
Aug 12 - 13 Spences Bridge, BC desertdaze.ca
Get on your dancing shoes and enjoy three days of serious rock and roll at Sun Peaks. This weekend of outdoor tribute band performances has become a favourite among local residents and guests. With the lush forest as the backdrop and outdoor patios just steps away from the concert venue, it doesn’t get much better than this.
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.
Interstellar Rodeo Winnipeg
Bear Creek Folk Festival
Aug 12 - 14 At the Forks, Winnipeg, MB interstellarrodeo.com/Winnipeg
Aug 12 - 14 Grande Prairie, AB bearcreekfolkfest.org
Interstellar Rodeo is brought to you by Sixshooter Records and 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.”
Grande Prairie hosting its first annual Folk Music Festival, featuring over 30 artists. Offering a shuttle service between a local campground and the festival site.
3 Day Waterfront Music Festival August 19th to 21st Friday evening | 3-bands Saturday | All Day Music Sunday | Musician Workshops
Kinsmen Beach, Invermere, BC 250.342.4423
info@columbiavalleyarts.com
MusicFest Food & Refreshment Village
Like Us on Facebook at Facebook/Invermeremusicfest
Check out our website for Tickets · Details on Bands · Map · Sponsors · Volunteering · www.invermeremusicfest.com
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Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016 53
august festivals Northern Lights Bluegrass Festival Aug 12 - 14 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.
Robson Valley Music Festival
Aug 12 - 14 Dunster, BC robsonvalleymusicfestivalbc.com
riders and bike lovers from all around the world gathers to crown champions and revel in the mountain biking revolution.
Aug 12 - 14 Inner Harbour, Victoria, BC victoriadragonboat.com
Three days featuring exciting dragon boat races, entertainment on two stages, great food, activities for kids and families, and more.
Wapiti
Aug 12 - 13 Annex Park, Fernie, BC wapitimusicfestival.com
Wapiti hosts the best in Canadian Indie. Festival site 5 min from downtown. Bike check, craft beer, local wine & kids tent.
Whistler Crankworx Festival Aug 12 - 21 Whistler, BC crankworx.com
Columbia Basin Culture Tour Aug 13 - 14 Columbia Basin, BC 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.
British Columbia SwingCamp Aug 14 - 20 Sorrento, BC bcswingcamp.ca
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
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
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Local
the
Your Sunshine Coast weekly community paper Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
www.thelocalweekly.ca
Smuggler Cove Marine Provincial Park, Halfmoon Bay, BC
@localweeklynews
One of the coolest grass roots, multigenre music festivals in BC. The 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.
Victoria Dragon Boat Festival
august festivals 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 Aug 14 - 21 Centralia, Washington, USA centraliacampout.com
This is a relaxed event for musicians who like lots of jamming and hanging out with old friends and making new ones.
Gabriola Theatre Festival Aug 18 - 21 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.”
Otalith Festival
Aug 18 - 20 Ucluelet, BC otalithfestival.com
Otalith takes place at multiple venues throughout Tofino & Ucluelet, BC, showcasing 30 acts over two days.
Pender Harbour Chamber Music Festival
Aug 18 - 21 Madeira Park, BC penderharbourmusic.ca/chambermusic
The 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
Aug 18 - 20 Shaw Millennium Park, Calgary, AB reggaefest.ca
Experience why this Calgary family event has become the premier summer Reggae Festival in all of Canada. Chill out with a brew in the Village, hang with the kidz in the Zone, savor the flavours of island spices and see what souvenir you’d like to
take home all while taking in some great live music. Come join the Rastagarian Movement.
Saskatoon Folkfest
Aug 18 - 20 Saskatoon, SK saskatoonfolkfest.ca/home For three days each year, Saskatoon comes alive with the sights, sounds and tastes of our ethnic heritage.
AH-FO-MAD
Aug 19 - 21 City Plaza, Surrey, BC festivalafrica.org
Presented by Festival African Heritage Music and Dance Society, this boutique festival features an electric, exciting and entertaining, music and dance, from the African perspective. International and emerging artists. Friday 6-10 pm and Saturday and Sunday, 10am-10pm. Best of African food and drinks and arts and craft market.
CalgaryReggaeFest
For tickets and info visit ReggaeFest.ca
ReggaeFest_YYC ReggaeFest_YYC
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august festivals Atmosphere
will include all genres of music for all ages. And a second day with Musician Workshops and Jam sessions.
Aug 19 - 21 Village, Cumberland, BC atmospheregathering.com
Intimate west coast festival showcasing live and electronic music, art, dance and workshops for all ages.
Blackberry Street Party
Aug 19 - 21 Boundary Expo Recreation Centre, Midway, BC members.shaw.ca/midwaymusicfest Bring your instruments and join in!
Aug 19 Powell River, BC powellriver.info/calendar
MoM Festival
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
Aug 19 - 21 David Thompson Resort, Nordegg, AB davidthompsonresort.com /specialevents.htm An amazing weekend festival complete with lively & talented performers, spectacular mountain scenery & a fresh lobster dinner. This music is guaranteed to get your toes a-tappin’ Don’t forget to check out the late-night jam sessions in our Pub once the mainstage closes. Come get your jig on! Located on Hwy 11 at Cline River, AB
Harvest Sun Music Fest Aug 19 - 21 Kelwood, MB theharvestsun.com
The Harvest Sun Music Fest is 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, the festival maintains an all-Canadian line-up throughout the festival’s duration.
Invermere MusicFest
Aug 19 - 21 Kinsmen Beach, Invermere, BC invermeremusicfest.com
Invermere MusicFest, a Waterfront Music Festival with the stage and festival grounds set on the picturesque shoreline of Lake Windermere. The fest lineup
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Midway Music Festival
Aug 19 - 21 Fort St. James Fair Ground, 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! Now held in the meadow at Fort St. James fair ground.
Picture Butte Jamboree Days Aug 19 - 21 Picture Butte, AB picturebutte.ca/visitors /jamboree_days.php
Archery, slo pitch, pancakes, family street dance, and lots more family fun.
Ponderosa Arts & Music Festival Aug 19 - 21 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.
Princeton Traditional Music Festival Aug 19 - 21 Princeton, BC princetontraditional.org/festival
The Festival takes place in the centre of Princeton, and begins with a public street dance and band. 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
Aug 19 - 21 Rosseau River, just south of St. Malo, MB rainbowtroutmusicfestival.com Three days of music, camping, good friends, bon fires, dancing, swimming, and so much more. Rock, electro, hip-
hop, blues, jazz, folk, garage, funk, reggae, and on and on.
Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival Aug 19 - 21 Salmon Arm, BC 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 its a great place to come together with family and friends. Kids 12 and under are free. Come join in the excitement!
Stony Plain Cowboy Music & Poetry Festival
Aug 19 - 21 Stony Plain, AB stonyplaincowboypoetry.com
A legendary historical tribute to cowboy poetry, music & art.
Sun Peaks Summer Concert Series 2 Aug 19 - 21 Sun Peaks Resort, BC sunpeaksresort.com/events-andfestivals/events-calendar
Details to be anounced soon. Check out events on the website.
Arts Alive in the Park
Aug 20 Powell River, BC powellriverartscouncil.com
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.
Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
Aug 20 Barkerville Historic Town, BC barkerville.ca
A must-see cultural showcase! The supremely talented Ben Zhou performs with seven different ancient Chinese instruments, taking the audience on an incredible journey through more than 3,000 years of musical storytelling, while Joffrey-trained ballerina Capri Aspe performs breath-taking traditional Chinese dancing. With activities throughout the day, music and dancing in the evening, a Chinese lantern parade at dusk, and a nighttime fireworks finale, Barkerville’s Mid-Autumn Moon Festival celebrates BC’s Chinese heritage, gold rush-style.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
august festivals Sweetwater905 Farm Day Aug 20 Rolla, BC sweetwater905.com
2016 will be another spectacular year of music, literary, visual and performance art. There will be three one day festivals, showcasing each art medium. Sweetwater905 Farm Day will promote the working farm through horse workshops, farm demonstrations, local artisans and farm tours. A dinner and family dance will finish off the evening.
Grindrod Garlic Festival
Aug 21 Grindrod Park, Grindrod, BC greencroftgardens.com
The alluring aroma of garlic draws you in to a whole series of competitions taking place at the Festival. Pull up a seat on the grass to listen to the live local bands performing from the porch of the Grindrod Hall, and check out the vendors 9am-4pm.
NimbleFingers Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Workshop and Festival Aug 21 - Sep 2 Sorrento, BC nimblefingers.ca
Two week-long workshops. Festival held on Aug 27th. NimbleFingers provides a friendly and non-competitive 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.
Blessed Coast
Aug 22 - 24 Squamish, BC blessedcoast.ca
Three days of live music & performance, local organic food, yoga, workshops, and camping on the coast.
Nelson Fat Tire Festival Aug 25 - 28 Nelson, BC nelsonfattire.com
This year marks the 20th Annual Fat Tire Festival celebrating all things bicycle. Parade, Show N Shine, cross country and downhill rides. Roots, rocks and rhythm party Saturday night
Shine on Festival of Music and Art Aug 25 - 28 Beavercreek Park, Kerry, MB
An annual festival held at the end of the summer, in celebration of a joyous season coming to a close. The finest music Winnipeg has to offer away from bustling civilization in the beautiful Sandilands forest.
Symphony Under The Sky
Aug 25 - 28 Heritage Amphitheatre, Hawrelak Park, Edmonton, AB edmontonsymphony.com
Columbia Basin Culture Tour Aug 13 - 14, 2016
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
Katya Coad - Sun Worshipper
www.cbculturetour.com
250-505-5505 • 1-877-505-7355
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august festivals Symphony Under the Sky celebrates 20 years, presenting 4 evenings of music ranging from classical gems to Hollywood hits, in a beautiful outdoor setting.
Greenwood Bluegrass Festival
Aug 26 - 28 Greenwood City Park, Greenwood, BC members.shaw.ca /greenwoodblugrass/index.html Presented by the West Kootenay Bluegrass group join in a weekend of camping, live performances, band scramble, and open mics. Concession stand and breakfast each morning.
Morden Corn & Apple Festival Aug 26 - 28 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.
Revelation: A Celebration of Music and Art Aug 26 - 29 100 Mile House, BC facebook.com /revelationmusicfestival
Aug 26 - 28 Shirley Macey Park, Gibsons, BC roguefest.ca
The Rogue Arts Festival is a 3 day outdoor, multidisciplinary arts festival including music, performance and visual arts, workshops, vendors, demonstrations, and whatever else is conjured up.
Summertime Blues
Aug 26 - 28 Nanaimo, BC nanaimobluesfestival.com
A true Blues Festival featuring renowned International, National and Regional artists held outdoors in a park on Nanaimo’s sparkling blue harbour. This year heading seminal British Blues Rockers Savoy Brown, southern US blues man Tommy Castro & The Painkillers, Canadian blues/ soul diva Shakura S’Aida, Nanaimo’s own David Gogo and 17 more. Nightly postconcert jam at The Queens included in admission. Get yer blues on: Chicago, Memphis, West Coast, Texas, Contemporary and Gypsy Blues. Woke up this mornin’, went to the park …
vEGGfest
Revelation is a 3-day mixed genre music festival taking place outside of 100 Mile House. Featuring some of the best Electronic and Hip-Hop artists that BC has to offer. Good music, good vibes, art, vendors, workshops, quality sound, lights and visuals.
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Rogue Arts Festival
Aug 26 - 27 Vegreville, AB veggfest.ca
A little bit of country and a little bit of rock & roll. A weekend of entertainment and culture in support of “that big egg.” Fetival kicks off Friday night with a concert featuring Tom Cochrane with Red Rider. Saturday’s performers include Charlie Major, Alberta born Corb Lund, and Give ‘Em Hell Boys. Check out full line up on website.
South Cariboo Garlic Festival Aug 27 - 28 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.
Cultural Heritage Festival Aug 28 - Sep 4 Tofino and Ucluelet, BC pacificrimarts.ca
Join the Pacific Rim Arts Society in exploring art forms that represent the diversity in the cultural heritage of the west coast
Deep Cove Daze Community Arts Festival
Aug 28 Panorama Park, North Vancouver, BC musart.ca The festival includes a main stage with bands and entertainment, a kid’s stage, an artisan village featuring all types of arts and crafts, a midway of rides for kids, food fair, sponsor booths, and a beer garden.
Interior Provincial Exhibition Aug 31 - Sep 4 Armstrong, BC 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.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
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september festivals Whistler Art Walk
Sep 1 - Nov 30 Whistler Village, BC artswhistler.com/events/artwalk
Whistler ArtWalk has moved to the fall. A two-month, self-guided walking tour throughout businesses in the village.
Four Corners Folk Fest
Sep 2 - 4 Pagosa Springs, Colorado, USA folkwest.vom/#!fourcornersfolkfestival
Folk West presents the 21st annual Four Corners Folk Fest. A family-friendly outdoor music festival on two stages, pickin circles, music workshops, and free children’s programming. On-site camping, beer, food and craft vendors.
Lytton River Festival Sep 2 - 4 Lytton, BC riverfestival.ca
Annual festival is a free event held on the 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.
Sunshine Music Festival
Sep 2 - 4 Palm Beach, Powell River, BC sunshinemusicfest.com
The Festival is a celebration of music from across Canada and the world. Craft market and vendors.
Kootenay Sufferfest
Sep 3 - 5 Kaslo, Nakusp & New Denver, BC kaslosufferfest.com
Annual mountain bike race, run and kids races too. Various locations and times. Check website for details.
Sweetwater905 Art Day Sep 3 Rolla, BC sweetwater905.com
2016 will be another spectacular year of music, literary, visual and performance art. There will be three one day festivals, showcasing each art medium. Sweewater905 Art Day will showcase an eclectic day of art installations, studio tours and an evening of spoken word, music, and collaborative mayhem.
Vancouver Island Blues Bash
Sep 3 - 5 Inner Harbour, Ship Point, Victoria, BC jazzvictoria.ca/blues-bash 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.
Victoria International Chalk Art Festival
Sep 7 - 11 Victoria, BC victoriachalkfestival.com
A two-day chalk art exposition across our beautiful downtown. From Government Street to Centennial Square, music stage, food village, artisans, and kids chalkers area.
Accordion Noir Festival
Sep 8 - 11 Multiple Venues, Vancouver, BC accordionnoirfest.com
Vancouver’s annual celebration of the world’s most misunderstood instrument.
Vancouver International Fringe Festival Sep 8 - 18 Vancouver, BC vancouverfringe.com
Celebration of theatre on Granville Island. More than 700 performances by 89 artists. With a final night of awards where the Pick of the Fringe is announced.
Annual Cowboy and Drover Jubilee Sep 9 - 11 Barkerville HIstoric Town, BC barkerville.ca
Featuring performances by Bud Webb, Ed Wahl, The Gordie West Band, Jeremy Willis, and Joey Only (with a special Saturday evening performance by Gary Fjellgaard at the Theatre Royal). Four musical venues, a cowboy poetry stage, authentic horse packing demonstrations, a boot hill cemetery tour, screening of Newman & Wrights Bonepicker film shorts, and two-nights of dancing at the House Hotel Saloon. Yeeha!
Jasper Folk Music Festival
Sep 9 - 11 Centennial Park, Jasper, AB jasperfolkmusicfestival.ca
The annual Jasper Folk Music Festival
BC Musician Magazine’s
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 a beautiful park bringing together an amazing backdrop with fantastic late summer sounds.
Pentastic Hot Jazz Festival
Sep 9 - 11 Multiple Venues, Penticton, BC 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. twitter.com/ pentasticjazz
Serenity Music Harvest Festival
Sep 9 - 11 Birch Island just north of Clearwater, BC serenitymusic.ca 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
Sep 9 - 11 Bellingham, Washington, USA shbangfest.com
A Festival of Ideas: Soapbox Derby, Live Entertainment, Art Installations and Workshops.
Lake Country ArtWalk Sep 10 - 11 Lake Country, BC artwalk-lc.ca
Lake Country ArtWalk, the largest of its kind in the BC interior, showcases original works of art and live performances created by visual and performing artists living in the Okanagan Valley. More than 300 artists of all media are exhibiting over 3000 original works of art. The event plays host to over 7000 visitors. Artwalk is truly a community event with many volunteers working hard to make this festival happen, and with community groups contributing in numerous ways. “Art Off the Rails” is this year’s theme.
Hills Garlic Festival
Sep 11 Centennial Park, New Denver, BC hillsgarlicfest.ca
Shop, eat, and enjoy live entertainment.
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september festivals A huge variety of harvest bounty, crafts, and food. Entertained on the main stage and a family entertainment tent.
Carving on the Edge Festival Sep 12 - 22 Shore Pier, Tofino, BC carvingedgefestival.com
Annual celebration of the West coast carver. The event showcases traditional and contemporary West coast wood carving with exhibits, forums, feasts, family programs and demonstrations.
Rifflandia Festival Sep 15 - 18 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.
Kootenay Book Weekend
Rock Creek Fall Fair
creativity and professionalism, cultivating a sustainable platform for inspiration in the Valley.
Sep 17 - 18 Rock Creek, BC 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 Sep 17 - 18 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!
Ursa Festival
Sep 22 - 26 Kelowna, BC ursafestival.com
First-ever arts, culture and technology festival for the Okanagan, to merge
Sep 16 - 18 Nelson, BC kootenaybookweekend.ca
Come together to talk about books and to share a love of reading. Discussions, author talks and more. Books selected a head of event.
Pender Harbour JazzFestival
the prince george winter music festival Join us for our TENTH annual Coldsnap Festival on our exciting new dates
th 1/6 Ad Sep 16 -Coldsnap 18 Pender Harbour, BC penderharbourmusic.ca/jazz
All styles of jazz from swing to Latin to gypsy to straight ahead fusion and Photo (in folder) firstto choice more. Many events are free. SweetBanjosandHarmonies-Play-
February 3rd to 11th, 2017
Sep 23 - 24 GWG Theatre, Chilliwack, BC chilliwackartscouncil.com/events/ chilliwack-childrens-arts-festival
The Chilliwack Community Arts Council presents the Chilliwack Children’s Arts Festival. Bring your family to G.W. Graham Middle Secondary School to take part in artsy fun for children of all ages.
Pass Creek Fall Fair Sep 24 - 25 Castlegar, BC passcreekfair.com
Live music, car show, dog agility show, horse show, carnival, kids activities and lots of exhibits.
Okanagan Vinyl Fest Presented by Peach City Radio
Sep 25 Seniors Drop-In Centre, 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!
Garden City Grooves Festival Sep 29 - Oct 1 Victoria, BC gardencitygrooves.com
The annual Garden City Grooves festival celebrates funk, soul and groove in live music venues all over beautiful and historic downtown.
house-photcreditJoyMiller Country Celebrations web and social media icons fb and
Sep 17 - 18 tw Campbell Valley Regional Park, Use logos Langley, BC below if there is room otherwise just the tag lie above metrovancouver.org BC Arts ThisHeritage fabulousCanada, fall tradition that Council, combines nature, and comCity heritage, of Princeagriculture George and Integris.
Culture Days photo Joy Miller
munity 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. 10am-4pm each day.
Chilliwack Children’s Arts Festival
Thank you to our incredible sponsors, funders, volunteers and the wonderful audience for your unwavering support of all our previous festivals.
Sep 30 - Oct 2 Lower Mainland, BC culturedays.ca
Through an annual three-day national celebration each September, hundreds of thousands of artists and cultural organizations in hundreds of cities and towns come together and invite Canadians to participate in free interactive and behind the scene activities to discover their cultural spirit and passion.
www.coldsnapfestival.com
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Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
Celebrating
20 Years
Sunday, October 2, 2016 - at the Oliver Community Centre More info at oliverfestivalofthegrape.ca Grape Stomp • Art Show • Kids Zone • Food Vendors Live Music • Trade Show • Wine Tasting
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.
We publish 6 times a year and distribute all over British Columbia, into Alberta, and probably very near to you. Visit www.bcmusicianmag.com/distribution for the really long list. There are other nifty things online at our website, like a Wall ‘O Reviews, searchable Venue Guide, and year-round searchable festival listings. Visit www.bcmusicianmag.com and find us at the main social outlets, Facebook & Twitter. We appreciate your support in every way. Why not buy a subscription for your emerging musician friend or festival loving relative? www.bcmusicianmag.com/store where it’s really easy to sign up.
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Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016 63
Festivals in NorthEast BC
by Lydia Hibbing
When talking about the festival scene in B.C., the Peace Region doesn’t always seem to get the attention it deserves. Perhaps it is the media’s preoccupation with commodities (which the area undoubtedly is rich in) or perhaps it is the population’s preoccupation with Donald Trump (also rich in commodities). Either way, the Region deserves attention as it is a hotbed of musical talent with new festivals springing up while the more established grow and reinvent themselves. Four of the regions premiere festival events are Grizfest, Canolafest, Awakening and Sweetwater905. While all of events showcase live music as the main theme, each definitely has its own flavour. The festivals are each located in a different corner of the Peace giving festivalgoers the ability to explore the area and enjoy music. First: Sweetwater 905 on June 11, Awakening July 15-17, Canolafest on July 16 and Grizfest July 30-31. Grizfest is a Music festival held yearly in Tumbler Ridge on the August long weekend (this year July 30-31). The Festival attracts music lovers from all over the region who flock to see such notable acts as The Trews, Trooper, Carly Rae Jepson, Wide Mouth Mason, Theory of a Deadman, George Canyon, Dragonette, and the Real McKenzies. The festival focuses on live music and on the Friday before the festival the grounds are opened to the public for a Battle of the Bands contest and live entertainment. This year Grizfest welcomes the legendary Tom Cochrane with Red Rider as well as multi-platinum selling band Simple Plan to headline the two day event. Full line-up and details at www.grizfest.com Canolafest was started in 2015 at Peace Island Park on the outskirts of Taylor and Fort St John. The one day music festival completely takes over the island park with music and entertainment for all ages. Last year’s event was a huge success with more than 1000 attendees. Organizers had wanted to create a festival incorporating local acts and touring bands. This year the festival will have two stages with Tim Hicks and The Chris Buck band headlining while twelve local acts fill out the shows. July 16 promises to be a jam packed and fun filled Saturday. Full line-up and details at www.canolafest.com Sweetwater 905 has been running for well over a decade and the festival belongs in a category of its own. Constantly changing and evolving, Sweetwater 905 is a celebration of all things creative. It combines music from every genre (literally. Think children’s, folk, rock, experimental metal, country et al.)
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George Canyon at Grizfest, 2013. photo Lydia Hibbing with Art demonstrations, installations, studio tours, poetry readings, horse clinics and farm demonstrations. Located on a farm outside Rolla (near Dawson Creek) the festival is a crowd pleaser. This year Sweetwater 905 is testing out a new format which spreads the festival over three one day mini festivals held in June, August and September. The Music Festival happens on June 11. Full line-up and details at www.sweetwater905.com Awakening is another festival recently added to the roster. July 15-17 2016 will mark the third anniversary for the three day event. Awakening is held in the remote Sukunka Valley somewhere between Chetwynd and forever. Electronic music is at the forefront of this event although acoustic performers have also taken to the stage. The remote location of the festival adds to the ambiance with music echoing through the valley well into the morning. This must be why it is 70km into the bush! Although the lineup for 2016 has yet to be announced if last year’s is any indication (i.e. Stickybuds, JPOD, Mat the Alien) it should be chock full of talent. Full line-up and details at www.valleyawakening.com Hopefully this has piqued your interest in the local festival scene in and around the Peace Region. Now get out there and enjoy some local music.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
Hwy 97 - Penticton to Vernon
2016 May to September Events
PEACHLAND
VIEW
Penticton
Summerland
Kelowna
Lake Country
Pick up your copy of the 8th Annual Ultimate Summer Festival Guide at Grooveyard, Saint Germain, The Elite, Penticton Visitors Centre, and many more, see complete list online bcmusicianmag.com/distribution
Pick up your copy of the 8th Annual Ultimate Summer Festival Guide at Good Omens and The Beanery.
Pick up your copy of the 8th Annual Ultimate Summer Festival Guide at Milkcrate Records, Underground Music, Mosaic Books and more
Pick up your copy of the 8th Annual Ultimate Summer Festival Guide at the Lake Country Art Gallery.
May 13 & 14, Dream Music Festival, Trade and Convention Centre, thedreammusicfestival.ca June 24-26, Elvis Festival, Lake Okanagan Park, pentictonelvisfestival.ca June 30-July 3, Rib Festival, Lake Okanagan Park, pentictonribfest.com July 2, Scottish Fest, Kings Park, pentictonscottishfestival.ca July 15 - August 20, Sunshine Cabaret, Friday and Saturday Nights (no shows Aug 5 & 6), Gyro Park, downtownpenticton.org August 3-7, Peach Festival, Main Stage Okanagan Lake Park, peachfest.com September 9-11, Pentastic Hot Jazz Festival, Various Venues, pentasticjazz.com September 25, Okanagan Vinyl Fest, Seniors Drop-In Centre, peachcityradio.org
June 3-5, Action Fest, Memorial Park, summerlandactionfestival.ca June 10-12, Bluegrass Festival, Rodeo Grounds, summerlandbluegrass.com June 27-29, Giants Head Freeride LongBoard Race, giantsheadfreeride.com July 6 – August 31, Wednesday on the Water, Peach Orchard Beach, summerlandarts.com/events/ wednesdays-on-the-water
Peachland Pick up your copy of the 8th Annual Ultimate Summer Festival Guide at Peachland View 4437 3rd Street peachlandview.com
June 10-11, Fat Cat Children’s Festival, Waterfront Park, fatcatfestival.ca/home Mid June to Late September, Pianos in the Park, 5 free, playable and accessible pianos will be installed in high profile, public spaces throughout downtown, festivalskelowna.com July 2 – August 31, Parks Alive, Tuesday through Saturday evenings, and every second Sunday afternoon, Various Outdoor Venues, festivalskelowna.com July 8-10, Centre of Gravity, City Park, wetape.com July 23, Block Party, Kerry Park and Bernard Ave, 3 stages of live music downtownkelowna.com
July 2 – August 28, Open Air Performances, Saturday Evening Performances, Various Locations, openairperformances.com September 9-11, Lake Country Art Walk, Theme “Art off the Rails”, Community Complex, lakecountryartwalk.ca
Vernon Pick up your copy of the 8th Annual Ultimate Summer Festival Guide at River City Records and Vernon Visitors Centre. June 18, Sunshine Festival, Live Music and Entertainment, Valley First Main Stage and Kalavida Stage, downtownvernon.com June 27 - August 26, Curbside Night Market, Last Fridays of June, July & August, 30th Ave, downtownvernon.com June 30 – July 3, Funtastic Sport & Music Festival, funtasticsports.ca July 6 - August 24, Jammin’ in Justice, Wednesday Afternoons, Justice Park, downtownvernon.com July 7 – August 26, Civic Sounds, Thursday Nights, Civic Plaza, downtownvernon.com
2by Brandon Reviews Hoffman maro 67 are definitely not constraining themselves to a particular genre, but incidentally blend together to make a totally cohesive sound. Members of Camaro 67 have cut their teeth playing in notable Vancouver dance bands like Miami Device, Mngwa, and Five Alarm Funk. It makes sense that these individuals would click together so easily. Nice one fellas. I hope they continue to have a lot of fun playing together for a really long time.
Neon Tundra
Neon Tundra
neontundra.bandcamp.com Neon Tundra is the experimental electronic moniker of multi-media artist Nikolas Tsonis. Nik quietly posted his debut self-titled EP to Bandcamp over the winter. It’s seven songs, and clocks in just shy of 20 minutes. Following his social media presence, I’m really glad to see he’s been testing the waters with this material live. Nik has put together something of a micro lo-fi chill-out masterpiece. Nik finds a perfect middle ground between cohesion and variety, making a record that is beautifully quirky from front to back. It draws from a pallete of VHS synth tones, field recordings, minimal beats, and blankets of reverb. Neon Tundra is reminiscent of Boards of Canada circa A Campfire Headphase, or Pole. This is music that doesn’t bash you over the head; It has a subtlety and depth that lets you sink in as far as you want to go. Nik definitely used a music-as-furniture ethos when putting these tunes together. Melodies and beats creep in and out, not ever fighting for your attention. All the pieces have plenty of room to breathe, and blend together with a casual grace you would expect of a much more experienced musician. It takes a few listens to fully appreciate how much is actually going on in each of these two-and-a-halfminute gems. The tone of the record is extremely gentle and warm. It reminds me of Brian Eno’s Music for Airports. Whether putting it on as a soundtrack for multi-tasking, or cranking it up on the headphones while laying in the dark, this music will make you feel better.
Burn Rubber, Not Your Soul
Camaro ‘67
camaro67music.com Georges Couling, keyboard player of Vancouver afro funk ensemble Camaro 67, sent me an advance copy of their debut record Burn Rubber, Not Your Soul. It’s a really good record. I mean that. I’m not just saying it because I want the best for Georges, although I really do. Full disclosure: I used to play in a band with Georges -lots of the members of Camaro 67 actually. I don’t want to give the impression that I’m at all envious of this new project, or that my level of stoke is at all influenced by my association to the band. Camaro 67 seamlessly blends afrobeat, funk, and soul grooves with a hard hitting horn section and crazy tight rhythm section. I’m really… really happy for all of them. I can tell Georges and the guys (including Jimmy Baldwin and Oli Gibson on guitar, Jim Bennett on bass, Roberto Cruz on percussion, Brendan Krieg on drums, Langston Raymond, Tim Sars, Dan Shook and Kevin Tang on horns) are really exploring their cooperative musical loves. Although they wear their influences proudly on their sleeves, they aren’t afraid of jumping off in different directions (such as a surprise feature from rapper Ndidi Cascade on the track Helicopter). Ca-
BC Musician Magazine’s
Keep an eye out for Camaro 67 on the festival circuit this summer, and on bandcamp at camaro67music. bandcamp.com.
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Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016 69
6by Dave Reviews O Rama Crazy Wild Bitches Mogli and the Dirty Sisters facebook.com/mogliandthedirtysisters Fine Line Genevieve and the Wild Sundays genevieveandthewildsundays.com
Road Side Attractions Fraea The Banshee fraeathebanshee.bandcamp.com Fraea The Banshee is a Victoria based solo artist with a unique voice and a minimalist approach to her depression era sound. Known on the Victoria roots music scene as an accordionist and a banjo player, on Road Side Attractions Fraea The Banshee holds it down solo, strictly with banjo and her haunting voice. The way Fraea approaches the nine songs on this recording evoke a world weary tone of a survivor weighed down by hard times, doped up on dilauded and inebriated on dandelion wine. This is old time hurting music reduced to its most basic components and Fraea The Banshee perfectly captures the mood with a rich yet ghostly drawl, like a disembodied yodel floating up from the depths of an abandoned coal mine. Fraea The Banshee’s music is marinated in heartache and distilled from the bones of Memphis Minnie and Billie Holiday. The music here is raw, mournful and incredibly understated. There’s a beauty in the sadness of this music, like an old pewter broach, shaken out of a raven’s nest, by an unrelenting gale.
70 BC Musician Magazine’s
Singer-songwriter Genevieve Charbonneau steps up front to lead her talented trio of Wild Sundays through twelve original acoustic treats filled with shimmering harmonies and polished musicianship. An active musical collaborator and trained dancer hailing from the Cowichan Valley, Charbonneau has played in several music projects, including the Twisted Vine String Quartet, and the award winning female choir the Balkan Babes. Backed by fellow Balkan Babe, Kelly Sherwin (Ain’t Dead Yet, Flash In The Pan) on upright bass, percussionist Laura Carleton (KivaBEAT) and multi-instrumentalist Chandra Crowe holding it down on mandolin, Charbonneau’s Wild Sundays float through your ears like bluegrass angels. All the musicians here have collaborated with one another in a variety of Vancouver Island bands and choirs, bringing with them a love for old timey string music, West African rhythms, and flavours from the Balkans, Turkey and the Middle-East. The playing on Fine Line is accomplished, the production by Wynn Gogol at One Ton Studios is highly polished, and the harmonies are glorious and truly inspiring. More sweet than salty and much more whimsical than jaded, the songs on Genevieve and the Wild Sundays Fine Line go down like cold ice tea in a sun kissed garden on a lazy hazy afternoon.
Straight out of the Slocan Valley, Mogli and The Dirty Sisters make something I would call new millennium mountain music. Their sound, a cross pollination of no wave, beat poetry, Christian spiritual, Appalachian string band music and new tribalism, transfused and served up as theater of the ear. Crazy Wild Bitches undulates with Mogli’s passionate vocals and complex poetics. The instrumentation is jagged and sparse with sister Julianna pumping out a primitive beat on an old suitcase and some other assorted thumpers while sisters Buzbee (accordion), Megan (violin) and Marissa (clarinet) interlace playful melodies around Mogli’s meandering banjoisms. The Dirty Sisters appearance is as intriguing as their sound. As if the mountain folk had been interbred with woodland critters and forced to perform as the cabaret act for some backwoods hillbilly circus. It’s an amalgamation of rodent and clodhopper enhanced by a myriad of tattoos, paint spattered dungarees, erect ears, cotton tails and ritualistic face paint. Mogli and the Dirty Sisters conjure up a look and a sound that’s a pungent blend of backwoods mountain music and pagan fetishism injected with a dose of magic realism and presented as medicine show performance art. Crazy Wild Bitches is an imaginative and feral piece work recorded and written by band leader Mogli and wrapped in some stunning album art by accordionist Buzbee. An inspired clump of creative insanity that I enthusiastically encourage you indulge yourself in.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
throwing down some wild harmonica on the track. With All Hopped Up! Hank Angel and his Island Devils whip up a big sizzling mess of jump blues and hillbilly rockers, steeped in tradition and yet hell bent on new horizons.
Imaginations kold outtheremusicpromotion.bandcamp.com
All Hopped Up! Hank Angel and his Island Devils hankangel.com I’m a sucker for that driving rockabilly sound and Hank Angel and his Island Devils lay it down like a dirty roadster on an oiled up country road. With over thirty years on the scene this sharp dressed Vancouver Island based Albertan represents the high standards and ongoing tenacity of our small yet devoted western Canadian rockabilly community. Hank Angel and his Island Devils are revved up, skin tight and pump out that pounding jungle beat full throttle. Beyond the one detour down lovers lane with the semi successful Tejano balladry of Te Amo Cariño, the rest of the tracks on All Hopped Up! are full on rockers. Angel’s voice is one part blues shouter, one part Texas twang and on an insane psychobilly track like Crash The Hop I can definitely detect a hint of tuberculosis served up with a side of demon possession. Veterans Andy Graffiti (drums) and Big Daddy Bo (bass) whip up an infectious beat that turns your extremities into skittering dust devils while Aiden Engel picks out a relentless storm of blistering southern fried licks that would leave vapour trails across a hardwood floor. The added dimension created by sax man Sean Winter is like gravy on your pie and he especially shines on songs like Honey Don’t Cool Off, and on one of my favorite tracks, Woman You’re Just A Pusher. Angel makes it hard to pick out the good ones because there’s so damn many, but I’ll also have bring some well deserved attention to the title track with its big bass groove, double entendres and road rockin’ lyrics. I’m also seriously addicted to the blues breakin’ get-down of Shakin’ In My Shoes, penned by Victoria bopper Slim Sandy and featuring him
Quickening Tina Jones tinajonesmusic.com On her debut solo release Gabriola Island singer Tina Jones presents the listener with a wonderful aural tapestry, a luxurious blend of acoustic folk, rolled in soul, seasoned with jazz and baked in the heat of a humid summers eve. Bassist Marisha Devoin and drummer Bill Hicks pour out a steamy and languid groove, their style reminiscent of early Weather Report, which later influenced the late seventies work of Canadian songstress Joni Mitchell. Over the top of this Jones and her other co-conspirators, Chad Geekie (piano and Fender Rhodes), Rick Salt (banjo and guitar, backup vocals), Duncan Symonds (acoustic guitar, electric guitars, steel guitar, pedal steel and banjo), and Hans Verhoeven (percussion), sow a garden of lush instrumentation that glistens and ripples with beauty and complexity. A gifted vocalist who possesses a mature voice that strikes a fine balance between strength and sensitivity, Jones has crafted a multidimensional piece of work that is both meditative and sonically complex. Her original compositions act as musical short stories, contemplative, like pages from a personal memoir. Having recently adopted the banjo as her main new instrument, but coming from a background in soul, and possessing a mind open to many styles of music, Jones effortlessly mingles a soothing mixture of influences, that combined, result in a truly pleasurable listening experience.
BC Musician Magazine’s
From what I can assess, kold is an ambient electronic industrial fusion excavated from the mind of Gregg Morrison in the deep remote wilderness of Alberta. Containing four distinctive tracks with the shortest clocking in at just over six minutes and the longest exceeding eleven, Imaginations emanates from your speakers like a digidelic fever dream. The opening piece called To The Children I Am Yet To Have swirls with electric insects as the sonic landscape squeals and sizzles over pulsating hydraulics. Happy Valentine’s Day Darling is a playful and twangy excursion into a musical territory reminiscent of the obscure San Francisco art collective The Residents, and it is easily my favorite composition on the album. Then We All Enjoy The Fire And Some Television hisses and squawks over a complex drone of strings and shortwave frequency fluctuations, giving it an ominous and cinematic tone that oozes with a Lynchian tonality dripping with suspense. kold ends this elegantly crafted collection of digital soundscapes with the airy A Perfect End To A Perfect Day. A composition bathed in tremolo guitar flourishes, electric wind and jangly ghost piano. Here, beneath the freeform, lies an incredible intuition that provides the arrangements room to incubate and then bloom into incredibly subtle sonic auras that ebb and flow like tidal fluctuations. This latest release by kold reverberates with digital mischief, and yet at its centre, is an organic mind.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016 71
Time to get outside
The Fitzhugh | 626 Connaught Drive, Jasper AB T0E 1E0 780 852 4888 | www.fitzhugh.ca | Twitter: @jasperfitzhugh
72 BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
14 Reviews by R. Doull
Plug It In
China Repair
chinarepair.bandcamp.com/releases
Eight tracks all written by guitarist and vocalist John Murphy. China Repair is a new band in the Lower Mainland and they describe their music as somewhere between alt-rock and experimental folk pop, citing as influences bands like The National, Flaming Lips and XTC. Pretty august company. But at least they are not like the great heaving mass of singer songwriters who compare themselves to Springsteen and Dylan. They are a five piece; in addition to Murphy, Al Willows plays drums, Jonathan Ryder bass, Caitriona Murphy on piano, violin and back up vocals and Talullah Winkelman on organ and accordion. The lyrics are smart, the music is snappy and the choruses have hooks. They pay attention to presentation. Apparently their live shows are theatrical and visually interesting. The songs are all posted to Reverbnation; other information about the band is on Facebook. But hello hello hello, China Repair, if you are out there, if you can read this, give us more to work with. Where did you come from? Oh please don’t go. Tell us about yourselves. You guys are great, we want to know more about you. Send us your biographies.
Brad Strang
home…and away
bluemountainrush.wix.com/brad-strang
lowellfriesenmusic.net
Brad Strang
The first time we heard of Brad Strang was on a train trip from Prince George to Jasper. The train made an unscheduled stop for lunch at the station in McBride and we went into the Whistle Stop Gallery where we met the wonderful local photographer Matthew Wheeler. The gallery was selling Strang’s chainsaw carvings and apparently he lived nearby. We heard later from a reporter in Jasper that he was using the money from the sale of the carvings to finance his first CD. It must have been a success because this eponymous CD is his third recording and it came to us from an address in Quesnel Strang wrote all fifteen tracks on this CD and he plays all the instruments. He said that it started as a traditional folk CD and then morphed in different directions as he explored the recording process. Several of his songs and his spoken introductions are available on YouTube. He is the definition of the rugged individualist.
BC Musician Magazine’s
Lowell Friesen
Lowell Friesen last appeared in these pages as a member of Ginger & Rose the folk duo he partnered with Jayme McKillop. This CD is his first recording as a solo and McKillop appears as a backing vocalist along with Maria Danvers in the same role. Friesen, who is based in Vernon, plays guitar and banjo, sings and wrote all twelve songs. He is backed by a mostly acoustic four piece including multi-instrumentalist and producer Ben Beveridge on guitar, fiddle and mandolin. Jonathan Tromsness plays bass; Aspen Beveridge contributes additional guitar and Greig Beveridge on drums. There are two performance videos of him as a solo on his website. His music is rooted in folk and country, with a hint of bluegrass, but he performs entirely in his own voice. He was a poet before he was a musician and his words carry the same weight as his music. Mastered by Corwin Fox at his Cumberland studio.
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016 73
Young At Heart
3 Days in Winter
Edie.ca
jonmillerdrums.weebly.com
Edie Daponte
Jon Miller Quartet
This is Edie Daponte’s second studio album. She is the house singer at the Beacon Landing in Sidney. Most of her appearances have been on Vancouver Island with forays into the Okanagan and the Lower Mainland. She has appeared at the TD Victoria International Jazz Fest and The Vancouver Latin Festival. Seven original compositions and six covers drawn from various sources including Abby Lincoln’s Throw it Away, Jobim’s bossa nova standard Dindi, and Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. In 2015 Seaside Magazine named her as a woman to watch. There are six performance videos posted to her website. Her constant accompanist is Joey Smith on guitar or bass and he also serves as her arranger. On this CD she is supported by eight backing musicians including Juno award nominated producer Joby Baker on two tracks. Many of her songs evoke a strong sense of place and that place, no surprise, is an island. Guy Lombardo’s A Sailboat in the Moonlight, her own paean to Sidney; Little Town by the Sea, Island Rain, Ride the Wind, and Honolulu City Lights by the Hawaiian songwriter Keola Beamer. All the tracks are in English although she also sings in French, Portuguese and Spanish. She sounds like she is in a comfortable, confident place. Her music sits high on the personal happiness scale.
74 BC Musician Magazine’s
Happy Guy Drummer Jon Miller has been active in the Victoria jazz scene since moving there in 2003, after a career that had taken him from McGill University through extensive gigging in Europe and the US. He is the most democratic of bandleaders. He contributed three compositions to this CD and each of the other band members contributed two. 3 Days in Winter is the second recording for the Quartet following their debut Orchidology. They have an open approach to the music and draw from a range of influences that cover the ground from a graceful ballad, Deja Vu, to something that sounds like a Captain Beefheart shakedown, Punk Bunk. The opening track, Vitamin D, could be an outtake from Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue sessions and composer Miller, acknowledges the nod to Davis as well as other less obvious sources. All of the musicians on the CD play to a very high level. Alto and soprano saxophonist Monick Nordine leads the Victoria Jazz Orchestra as well as her own trio. Guitarist Rob Cheramy is also a member of the Victoria Jazz Orchestra and teaches at the Victoria Academy of Music. Bassist James young has toured extensively and appeared on many recordings. There are three videos of the band playing tracks from this CD posted to Miller’s website. As with all good jazz this CD rewards repeated listening.
Whitey Somers
Motorhome Records reverbnation.com/whiteysomers Whitey Somers grew up in a musical household. He is the nephew of the great Canadian classical music composer Harry Somers who is probably best known for his opera Louis Riel. Unlike his uncle Whitey is a rock and roller. Now resident of Nanaimo, Whitey has been gigging on the island as a solo acoustic performer, fronting the Whitey Somers Band and as a member of Alexander’s Bluestime Band and The Jessica Benini Collective. This is his second full -length CD release and he appears on a number of compilation albums. There are a couple of videos of him on You Tube performing one track from this CD and one from his earlier release, YTCD. The ten compositions here are all written by Whitey. The band is a rock four piece with the addition of trumpeter Kolston Gogan on one track. In Whitey’s own words “Music of one sort or another would be a good way to describe my feel. No one style binds me, I let the music find me.”
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
Going down
Mississippi Live & The Dirty Dirty thedirtydirty.net
Heading North Most Meant to Be
Ross Douglas
rossdouglassongs.com Vancouver’s best Southern Rock band. Not Southern like the Allman Brothers but Southern like The Bottle Rockets. They are fronted by singer/ songwriter Connely Farr who moved to Vancouver in 2009 from Alabama after growing up in Bolton, Mississippi, so the South is in his blood. Originally he teamed up with producer Jon Wood to make the first Mississippi Live album. Wood also fronts his own band Flophouse Jr. and plays, bass, guitar and organ. They added drummer Jay B. Johnson who spent eleven years in the Blue Shadows and lead guitarist Ben Yardley from La Chinga to form The Dirty Dirty. These guys know the value of a riff and they can drill it into your brain. In 2012 our reviewer Richard Samwell (now deceased – RIP) said, “Farr has the laconic Southern habit of singing slightly behind the beat, which creates the simultaneous effect of looseness and propulsion.” Everyone knows Samwell was an idiot, but this may have been his one great observation. Farr drives the song from behind and doesn’t stop until he runs over you. Nine tracks, eight written by Farr and one, Hurtin’, by Jay B. Johnson. There are three videos posted to their website including a live performance of Bad Bad Feeling from this CD. There are also six songs available to hear in their entirety.
Nine tracks. This is his fourth collection of original songs. On first encounter he has an uncanny resemblance to Stan Rogers. He has a long background in theatre, musical theatre and as a piano player in various productions. He received a Jessie Award for Outstanding Musical Direction of the original Vancouver production of Angry Housewives, and he spent nine summers as writer, musical director and performer at the Theatre Royal in Barkerville, a crucible for entertainers. He learned the great lesson of musical theatre, change it up and make it funny if you want to keep them coming back. His theatre influences resonate through this recording. Our friend Julie Fowler, who runs ArtsWells, had this to say about Ross, “A one man vaudevillian whirlwind, Ross Douglas is a consummate and versatile entertainer. His live show is always a crowd pleaser with astute songs that blend history, comedy, theatre, a variety of musical genres and a litany of instruments (from keyboards to mandolins and ukuleles). Energetic and heartfelt, Ross is a pleasure to work with….”
Lydia Hol
lydiahol.com A modern folk singer known for her community work as well as her songwriting skills, Hol curates the annual Vancouver Acoustic Guitar Project, hosts a weekly songwriter’s showcase in Vancouver and works for The Rogue Folk Club. This is her first full-length recording and is a follow up to her six song EP, Boats, released in 2012. She has a large cast of supporting musicians here, fifteen in all. So the arrangements are naturally more expansive than the arrangements on Boats. The nine tracks are all written by Hol and include two co-writes, one with Mike Edel and one with Winston Hauschild. Hol describes the north as the last frontier, the last unknown and some of her material deals with risk taking, fear of taking risks, and exploration of the unknown outside you. One track, Loneliest Word, riffs on Wordsworth’s Daffodils (I wandered lonely as a cloud). Another, Mistress of the Track, tells the story of Canadian thoroughbred racehorse jockey Ron Turcotte. Turcotte was best known for riding Secretariat to win the US Triple Crown in 1973. In 1978 Turcotte was thrown from his horse, Flag of Leyte Gulf, at the start of a race in Belmont Park and he was left paraplegic. Her music is available from her website and she has several performance videos posted.
BC Musician Magazine’s
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016 75
Starlight Dreams
Kyler Schogen
Waltz With The Wind
Sun Cave Records reverbnation/kylerschogeninstrumentals
J D Miner
jdminer.com
Kevin Mitchell
reverbnation.com/kevinmitchellmusic
This is the third CD from this folk collective. Their first CD, Ain’t No Ordinary Hillbilly, sums up their stylistic approach. At various times they have been a trio and a quartet, now they are the core duo of Darryl Klassen on vocals, guitar, banjo and mandolin along with Chad Joiner on fiddle, clarinet and trumpet and joined by five supporting musicians. Fourteen songs all written by Darryl Klassen except Downtown 5th Str. Rag by Tony Ellis and the traditional instrumental Frosty Morning. The theme of their last CD was the railroad and this one is about water. But they are not exactly sailing songs, they are about the transformative power of water and the ways in which it can embody opposites. It can be violent and ruthless or it can be serene and mysterious. In most religions water is considered a purifier. Water is used ritually in Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, the Bahà’i faith, Shinto, Taoism and in Rastafarianism. So are these religious songs about water? Not exactly that either. As they sing in Silver Wind, “Lovers and the sea are just a part of the mystery, I’ll shape a sail to catch the wind, we’ll fly across the moon.”
76 BC Musician Magazine’s
Home In the Sky
This is guitarist Schogen’s fifth CD and his first all instrumental recording. It took him over two years to put it together. He plays steady gigs from Whitehorse to the Mexican border usually fronting the Kyler Schogen Band, a modern blues-rock aggregation with a flowing groove based style. The approach to this recording is more relaxed than his band recordings. There are several performance videos of him with different versions of the band and solo busking posted to YouTube. We asked Kyler what his motivation was to do an instrumental album was after four band releases? He said: “Sometimes playing solo gigs with a looper, I was doing a lot of noodling over different chord changes which started to develop into songs. There always seemed to be people there who wanted to know what album that was on. Also, I was enjoying it. I incorporated a classical guitar which I’d never really played before and it was all just too much fun. On this album, I didn’t have anyone else playing. I did this one myself. I feel like I’m a guitar player first and playing music without vocals can be quite liberating. We are just finishing up a new band album though, (to be released this May), that has some really great musicians on it.”
This is Mitchell’s fourth recording. The long time resident of Denman Island has learned some interesting lessons in over twenty-five years of performing. He has the road worn authenticity of someone who has had to work hard to engage listeners and he stated, “My main focus is now on connection with the audience and relaxing into the moment. My recent motto is less is more. Dynamics are key!” He has a large repertory of 150 original songs and he draws on blues, country, folk and reggae to frame his material. He has developed a fingerpicking style of guitar playing that allows him to sound like a oneman band. The thirteen tracks on this recording are all written by Mitchell. There are eight supporting musicians including vocals from Michelle Keir on twelve songs, Doug Cox appears on four tracks playing dobro and Manetti slide guitar, and co-producer Corwin Fox appears on six tracks playing various instruments. Bass player Oliver Heywood Jones backs five tracks. Last word to Mitchell, “My songs contain lots of imagery and metaphor and quite often speak to the social and cultural relations we engage in.”
Ultimate Summer Festival Guide 2016
Electric folk rock from this former member of Like a Martyr and Factories and Alleyways. This is his first full-length recording and follows his 2014 EP, That One Song. Ten songs all written by Allingham who is also the vocalist and rhythm guitarist. Mike Meroniuk plays lead guitar, Josh Denny-Keys on piano, Kyle Hayes bass and Alexander Glassford on drums.
Memory Electric
Jeremy Allingham jeremyallingham.com
Allingham draws on his background as a journalist to tell stories through his music. In addition to love and desire he finds themes in social commentary. Money Gods is about the confrontation on Burnaby Mountain between a citizen’s group and Kinder Morgan. The Brinkmen is about society’s failure to confront climate change.
Big Crime Baby
Jerk in the Can Sometimes Music jerkinthecan.com
A BC Musician Mag First: A review of a kids’ album by an actual kid:
Harper D
Some of the songs are about things that kids like, and some songs that are about being aware of the things around you. The second to last song is a lullaby but it starts of like a pop song and gradually grows in to a lullaby. Some of his songs are hip and some are soft. The lullaby is both. He sounds as if he is still a kid singing about the things he loves.
mr mojo
Mr. Mojo
mrmojo.net It is a great album to play on a road trip or just at home. It is active, exciting and good to dance to. The acoustics are great and you can really hear Mr Mojo with great expression and enthusiasm. The first song is very preppy that kids would love to play over and over again. His tone of voice is happy, and it pops out of the song.
When your kid is bored this is good to put on on keep them busy for a while. In between songs, he randomly starts laughing and kids would love that but it just scares me. He uses kids as backup singers too. He brings a lesson into each song. The idea of him being a child really gets through. Most children’s musicians are political and that is also the case here. On one song he is talking about keeping Jumbo wild. On tracks 2,6,7,8,9 and 12 Sat Nam Schafer on vocals. John Tucker with assorted instruments on most of the tracks. Lastly, the kids that helped Mr. Mojo out with vocals were Seneca, Sequoia, Satori, Jordan, Emily, Scarlett, Eliza, and Kip Eowyn.
BC Musician Magazine’s
Jerk in the Can are the husband and wife team Jessica Blaquiere and Marc Blaquiere, they describe themselves as a Vancouver based experimental industrial noise pop duo. Marc has appeared in these pages before as a former member of Kill City Kids and Go Ghetto Tiger. This recording is released on pink vinyl, cassette and CD by the Edmonton indie label Sometimes Music. Jerk in the Can have several videos posted to their website, some are performance videos of the band, some are purely performance art. Synthesizers, drum machine, samples, vocals from Marc and sometimes accompanied by saxophone. They wear matching black clothing with red converse all stars and red baklavas. Blue Man Group Tubes meets the Beastie Boys. And you can buy the an authentic Jerk in the Can on their website for $30.00. It’s a can containing a puppet figure called Mr. Braun. It looks like all the Mr. Brauns might be slightly different and related to the figures that occasionally figure in their videos. And they are wacky videos. My personal favourite was the Clown Bomb, but there was a kid sitting next to me who is afraid of clowns and she made me turn it off.
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Wanda Lock
web: wandalockart.com email: wandalock@shaw.ca
‘When I was a child every once in a while I would come across a dead animal, usually a bird, sometimes a mouse or other small rodent. After looking, observing and contemplating the quietness and beauty of the deceased creature, a few quick impromptu words would be said and I would bury the critter. A week or so later I would return to the burial sight and dig up the now decomposed body. I search the earth with anticipation, curiosity and uneasiness, much like my art making process in the studio. The world that one discovers when digging through the earth goes beyond the initial beauty of the dead creature, it reveals a world that talks about decay and nature and the cycle of life…and provides a far deeper understanding of the subject and its surroundings. This is what art can do, or, in my opinion, what art should do.’ Wanda Lock was born in Oliver, British Columbia in 1969. In 1989 she enrolled into the Fine Arts Diploma program at Okanagan College before transferring to Emily Carr College of Art & Design where she graduated in 1992 with a studio major in painting. Lock returned to the Okanagan in 1992, and since then she has had numerous exhibitions throughout the Okanagan and beyond. According to her significant other, Wanda watches too many coming of age movies. She is also known to listen to Pearl Jam and even a bit of Soundgarden while working in her studio. She is not sure what her fondness of grunge music or teenage angst movies have in common with her current body of work but she is convinced that all will become clear in good time.
2016 Ultimate Summer Festival Guide cover artist.
A PLACE WHERE
Photo: Kaslo Jazz Festival by Nick Diamond Photography
music moves you
Photo: Corazon Choir by Joel Pelletier
Photo: Kaslo Jazz Festival
Photo: Spirit Bar by Joel Pelletier
Visit nelsonkootenaylake.com/music NELSON • BALFOUR • AINSWORTH HOT SPRINGS • KASLO • LARDEAU • MEADOW CREEK
ISLAND MOUNTAIN ARTS Proudly Proudly Presents Presents
ARTSWELLS PRE-FEST WORKSHOPS SONGWRITING
/ July 26 - 29 with DAN BERN
Study the craft of songwriting with exemplary songwriter, who’s music is often compared to that of Bob Dylan, Woody Guthrie, Bruce Springsteen, Phil Ochs, and Elvis Costello. Funding available through FACTOR.
Fee: $449 till June 1, $499 Regular
FINGERSTYLE GUITAR
/ July 26 - 29 with KEN HAMM
Work with virtuoso, Ken Hamm at this workshop on blues guitar, incorporating elements of fingerpicking, open and alternate tunings, and slide guitar.
Fee: $429 till June 1, $479 Regular
COMPUTER MUSIC
/ July 26 - 28 with RAE SPOON & ALEXANDRE DECOUPIGNY Poster design by: Leya Anderson
This three-day workshop explores how computer music is made and how to use Ableton as a songwriting tool.
Fee: $323 till June 1, $359 Regular More information at
www.imarts.com / 1.800.442.2787