BC Musician Magazine, Issue 80 by BC Musician Magazine

Barkerville is a proud supporter of the ArtsWells Festival. In 2009 concerts were held in historic St. Saviour’s Church. Visit www.artswells.com for 2010 info. ARTSWellS PHoToS: MIke FAWCeTT

When Billy Barker “struck pay” on Williams Creek in 1862, British Columbia’s gold rush town was born. Today, the Cariboo Gold Rush is in full swing and Barkerville is still teeming with fortune seekers from all over the world. See the blacksmith and miners at work, ride the stagecoach, take in some live theatre, tour Barkerville’s main street and Chinatown, pan for gold, attend a class at the schoolhouse, witness the “Hanging Judge” in action, enjoy an old-fashioned meal, visit with local residents – it’s all here! In fact, there’s so much to see and do, why not plan to stay overnight at one of our B&Bs or campgrounds? Barkerville welcomes visitors from mid May to late September. Please call 1-888-994-3332 or visit www.barkerville.ca for more info.

You’ll treasure the experience!

CO NTENTS May - June 2010, Issue 80 ISSN 1918 -560x 80 Contributors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 & 3 Take your kids to ArtsWells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 BY CARLA STEPHENSON

Vancouver Island Music Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Diversions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Campbell Ouiniette vs. The Calgary Folk Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 BY CAMPBELL OUINIETTE, FESTIVAL MAN

Nail that Note . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 BY ANDREA LAW

Salvation admidst the Stetsons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 BY BARBARA BRUEDERLIN

Music and the Bard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Young Music Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Please send us your letters! You can also send us CDs and we’ll do our best to have them peer reviewed. Plus we’ll use them for our subscriber giveaways. BC Musician Magazine is published by Patanga Steamship Co. PO Box 1150 Peachland, BC V0H 1X0 604.999.4141 www.bcmusicianmag.com info@bcmusicianmag.com

BY BASHU NAIMI ROY

The Kingdom of Shambhala . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 BY MICHELLE FRYER

Discover Discovery Coast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 My Summer Vacation, Part II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Publisher, Editor Leanne V. Nash Associate Publisher Joanne Layh

BY CAROLYN MARK

Festivals and Sleep Deprivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 BY LIONEL CONANT

Festival listings May - June . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 - 23 Festival listings July . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 - 27 Festival listings July - August. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 - 31 Festival listings August - September . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 - 34 Brasstronaut at SXSW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 BY TARIQ

PINUP: The Sojourners and Paul Pigat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Advertising & Marketing Representative Nikki Inkster ads@bcmusicianmag.com Advertising & Marketing Representative, Lower Mainland Christina Zaenker zippy@bcmusicianmag.com Design Shawn Wernig

BY ADAM PW SMITH

No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. Canada Post Agreement 41440066

We’ve been offline for a while, but are very happy to be back. We would love to hear from you, so please send letters, CDs for review, or join our Facebook Group (it’s easy to find!). Special thanks to our contributors! Many more will be back in our next issue (July/August). If you want to join us as a contributor, please email lvnash@bcmusicianmag.com. Thanks to the many people who help us with distribution, ideas, moral support, and love, including Neil Burnett, Joshua Estabrooks, Colin Lock, Mehdi Naimi, Connie Roth, Carla Stephenson, Christina Zaenker. Please subscribe! Just $30, and that includes all taxes (GST, PST, or HST... whatever it is after July 1). Email info@bcmusicianmag.com or mail your cheque to PO Box 1150, Peachland, BC V0H 1X0. Make sure to read this issue carefully as there are a few contests lurking throughout.

ISSN 1918-560X

CO NTRIBUTORS Carla Stephenson has been involved in the underground Canadian music industry for years. She and her husband owned a venue on Vancouver Island and are now owners of Underground Arts Railroad, a website that connects musicians to venues across Canada. She now lives with her touring musician husband and their two amazing kids in Ymir BC where they continue to support indie musicians at the Ymir Schoohouse. After numerous international tours, festival appearances, airplay on national radio in 7 countries, and slots on tour with artists such as Billy Bragg, Kaizers Orchestra, Balkan Beat Box and the Be Good Tanyas (who covered his song “Light Enough to Travel,” selling over 100,000 cop-

ies), Geoff Berner has garnered critical acclaim and a cult following for his sharp songwriting and cabaret performance style. “I want to make original klezmer music that’s drunk, dirty, political and passionate.”

Adam P W Smith is a Vancouver-based photographer who specializes in shooting live events using available light. He’s been involved in the Canadian independent music scene for over thirty years. He can be found lurking the shadows of small venues, waiting patiently for the right moment. Some of his best work is exhibited on his photoblog - www.adampwsmith.com/photoblog. He likes gin.

Barbara Bruederlin is a freelance writer in Calgary. She is trying to single-handedly to save the arts community in Canada by promoting struggling musicians and theatre troupes. Her reviews are regularly linked on the press pages of the Calgary Folk Music Festival and Sage Theatre. Barbara also maintains an insanely popular blog, Bad Tempered Zombie. Her writing has been published in Prairie Fire Magazine, Swerve Magazine, Kitschykoo! Subcultural Magazine, and Alberta Views Magazine.

Lionel Conant lives in the wilds of North Central BC near Fort St. James with wife Rosemarie and “son” Ryan, along with the canines Bilbo, Wiser and Coco. He wants you to know he didn’t mean what he said that day and he’s very sorry. Lionel is a former Christian minister who currently practices dirty hippie Paganism and loves the idea of Dark Matter.

Bashu NaimiRoy is 18 years old,

and writes songs like building Lego. He will believe anything as long as it doesn’t put walls between people.

Marion Michelle Fryer Esqueda Born and raised in the town of Jocotepec located on Lake Chapala in Central Mexico, Michelle has recently graduated from the Universidad de Guadalajara. She is currently working with a collective of visual artists and musicians to implement a major public art project and street arts festival in the heart of Guadalajara. She is also active working with the indigenous people of Chiapias to preserve their culture and ﬁght for their rights to their traditional lands. Michelle travelled to Canada for the ﬁrst time last summer and attended a number of festivals and has incorporated a number of ideas into her projects back at home.

BC Musician | May - June 2010

From her childhood on a dairy farm in Sicamous, Carolyn Mark has travelled thousands of miles entertaining crowds of 4 to 4000... touring Canada, the United States, the UK, Norway and Italy. She has shared the stage with such talented musicians as Jenny Whitely, Hank & Lily, Luther Wright, Sarah Harmer, Kelly Hogan, Lederhosen Lucil, Geoff Berner, Joel Plaskett, The Handsome Family, Neil Hamburger, JT and The Clouds, The Shiftless Rounders, NQ Arbuckle, Wanda Jackson, The Waco Brothers, The Sadies and Blue Rodeo.

Get on board.

Subscribe to BC Musician Magazine for only $30 / year.

Bob Masse

designed our special Festival Guide cover

Tariq found his way to songwriting after completing a degree in theatre. In 1998, he released an album called The Basement Songs (EMI) that earned him a Juno nomination for Best New Artist. His passion for music led him to Vancouver in 2006 where he joined the ranks of CBC Radio 3. These days, he is writing songs for a new album and playing guitar and lap steel in the Vancouver band Brasstronaut.

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 www.northernelectric.ca.

Sallying forth as an apostle of culture,

Andrea Law plied her trade for many

years as the quintessential quirky librarian. She devoted many years to the service of education and intellectual freedom, ﬁrm in the belief that “knowledge is power”. She recently abandoned that axiom to explore the darker side of philosophy, ergo “ignorance is bliss, and so is chocolate”. Andrea plays double bass for the Vancouver indieroots band Willy Blizzard.

We love the cover that Bob Masse designed for the 2009 Summer Festival Guide so much that we asked him to change up the colours a bit so that we could enjoy the grooviness all over again. Canada’s foremost rock poster artist Bob Masse absorbed the influence of the psychedelic era to create eye-popping yet elegantly stylized art-nouveau designs distinguished by their fluid linework and intricate figures. A native of Burnaby, B.C. Bob Masse began drawing as a child, regularly competing with his cousin to determine who could sketch the most images of Bugs Bunny; Mad Magazine was also a profound influence and Masse copied each new issue from start to finish. As a teen Masse earned spending money during the holidays by creating cardboard Santas and decorating windows for his neighbors; he later painted pinstripes and flames on cars and even produced Big Daddy Roth-styled monster t-shirts for his school friends. After graduation, Masse went on to attend art school in Vancouver. A fixture at local coffeehouses, he was eventually tapped to illustrate posters advertising upcoming folk music performances among them a date by a then unknown artist, Bob Dylan (whose name Masse accidentally misspelled “Dylon”). With the rise of folk-rock, Vancouver played host to concerts from the Grateful Dead, the Jefferson Airplane and the Steve Miller Band with Masse contributing increasingly psychedelicized artwork for their appearances. In 1966 he travelled to San Francisco and a revelatory journey to the Haight-Ashbury district brought Masse into direct contact with the poster art of the Fillmore Ballroom and the Family Dog which profoundly influenced his later work. Returning to Vancouver, Masse befriended the local band The Collectors and travelled with them to Los Angeles spending the final years of the 1960s living in the Laurel Canyon area and hanging out with the Jefferson Airplane, Big Brother & the Holding Company and Taj Mahal. As 1969 drew to a close, he returned to Vancouver producing a series of posters for local venues including the Retinal Circus, Moose Valley Farms and Gassy Jack’s, and as the times changed, he subsequently turned to commercial work illustrating for McDonalds, the Expo Space Station, CP Air and countless others. Masse additionally designed numerous business logos among them the ubiquitous orange-furred fox for radio station C-FOX which is among his most enduring creations. During the 1980s, Masse’s focus turned to Hollywood and he created posters for smash films including Total Recall and Back to the Future III; he also worked on the television series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. As rock concert art began to enjoy a surge in popularity during the following decade, Masse returned to the medium with renewed force producing a steady stream of posters for the first time since the 1970s. Creating lush visuals which incorporated the psychedelic spirit of his previous work while at the same capturing the essence of his contemporary subjects, Masse produced memorably beautiful posters advertising appearances by such notables as the Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tori Amos and Alanis Morissette. Bob Masse continues to work creating posters for a wide range of clients looking for a unique and memorable image. He lives and works out of his studio located on Saltspring Island. For further information and additional images, please check out his website at www.bmasse.com or you can find a selection of his iconic posters for sale this summer at the Penticton Art Gallery located at 199 Marina way, Penticton, BC.

BC Musician | May - June 2010

TAKE YOUR KIDS TO ARTSWELLS Experience the magic of artswells, there is a little something for everyone... By Carla Stephenson For our family, summer is the time to pack not only sound gear, guitars, drums and mics in the car but also swimsuits, coolers, tents and two awesome kids. There are only a few times in a year where touring musicians are able to gather as a community; Artswells is our favourite. Artswells is a magical festival because there is something for everyone in our family. As a musician it is a place to let your guard down and relax, surrounded by your peers. Spontaneous jams abound and it is a treasure chest of insider information about the little venues across Canada. Musicians, fans, volunteers and local residents live for a weekend in a five block radius so there is no barrier between performers and audience. Being the wife of a musician and running a small music venue in a tiny Canadian town, my life can get pretty lonely except for the highlight of musicians visiting us to play in our venue. I know that there are many partners of musicians living all over the country holding together, house, children, and mundane responsibilities. Wells is the time we can all bring our families together and talk about the challenges of having our partners gone for 6 weeks at a time and trying to juggle gigs until 3 am and having to get up with the kids at 6 am. Nighttime is my favourite in Wells. It is so great to be able to bring our kids with us to see our friends perform. And all of us being able to shake our booties until the wee hours is great. The set up is great for kids; the camping is close to all of the venues so it is possible to put the kids

to bed and take turns checking on them. I think it is most special for our kids, however. Kids rarely have the opportunity to see the musician parent on stage in front of an appreciative audience because most gigs are in bars. It can be difficult for them to understand why the parent is away for so long and what they are doing. Here they can dance to their parents’ music and see the love of performance. At home our kids are always the strange ones in school. They are always

trying to explain that, “My daddy is going to work tonight … he comes home at 3 am… or “That’s my dad on the radio.” Last year, in the merchandise store at Artswells, I witnessed the best scene ever: Corwin Fox’s daughter and our son in a my-Daddy-has-made-moreCDs-than-your-Daddy competition. It seemed so normal! The magic of independent Canadian festivals, especially Artswells, is the licence to let it all hang out and to truly find a place to gather as a community.

The vancouver island music festival If there was ever a summer to consider heading over to Vancouver Island for some festival magic - 2010 is it! Vancouver Island MusicFest takes place July 9-11 and offers music fans a quintessential west coast festival experience complete with rural riverside camping, beautiful sunsets, magical kids activities, 6 stages of music, interactive workshops, amazing green festival initiatives, on site art projects, tasty food and drink, funky arts and crafts and a warm welcoming west coast vibe! 2010 performers include Little Feat, a last-man-standing example of what used to be the norm in American music — a fusion of a broad span of styles and genres into something utterly distinctive. Feat took California rock, funk, folk, jazz, country, rockabilly, and New Orleans swamp boogie and more, stirred it into a rich gumbo, and has been leading people in joyful dance ever since. Add to that one of the greatest songstresses of all time, Roberta Flack; folkabilly songbird,Nanci Griffith; top tier soul singer,

Joan Osborne; and over 70 other acts and you have an unforgettable musical adventure ahead of you! For 15 years Vancouver Island MusicFest has been bringing world class roots and world music to Vancouver Island and people are definitely catching on. Over 8000 people are part of the festival family each year as volunteers, audience, performers and community partners. This winter VIMF made the top 10 festivals roster on CBC Radio 3 and Outside Magazine names VIMF one of the top 25 outdoor festival in all of North America in 2009. This is due to both the stellar musical line ups and the innovative green programs the festival has tackled over the years including going plastic water bottle free in ‘09. If you haven’t had the chance to discover this gem of a festival tucked away on the inside coast of Vancouver Island you might want to start making travel plans now. See you this summer in paradise...you may never leave! www.islandmusicfest.com

BC Musician | May - June 2010

BC Musician Magazine is a very different music magazine.

The 11th Annual D i s c o v e r y C o a s t M u s i c Fe s t i v a l July 24th & 25th A stunning location to sit back and enjoy renowned performers, including Jim Byrnes, Celso Machado, Carolyn Mark, The Sojourners, Connie Kaldor, and many, many more! This year we have a newly built stage, concession stands, and an innovative children’s zone. Weekend Pass $35 at the gate.

w w w. b e l l a c o o l a m u s i c . o r g

Artwork by Paula Scott

Robson Valley Music Festival AUGUST 20 21 22

www.robsonvalleymusicfestivalbc.com

BC Musician | May - June 2010

Theresa Pasaluko Sound of Town www.cdbaby.com • iTunes • myspace.com/theresapasaluko

In the relative isolation of northern BC small town life, Theresa Pasaluko has spent many hours in solitude, singing, playing guitar and writing songs that reflect on life and its various casualties, complications and accomplishments. Theresa’s warm and powerful voice conducts emotion like copper wire conducts electricity and her honest and direct songs use roots, alternative, country, and rock influences to expose that wire. At the age of 22, having honed her craft on folk festival stages, at pubs, bars and coffee houses she has shared the stage with Canadian luminaries. Theresa has recently recorded her first CD “Sound of Town” with producer, multiinstrumentalist Jordy Walker, which is available online at www.cdbaby.com and also on iTunes. After releasing a demo last year Pasaluko continued to work on her first album and what came to be was an album full of energy and fervid emotion, solid direction and a clear example of a fresh sound that is sure to make big waves in the Canadian music scene.

diversions How well do you know British Columbia? Chilliwack Fort Nelson Hudsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hope Abbotsford Port Moody 100 Mile House Watson Lake Prince George Lytton Boston Bar Lytton Hotel Lac La Hache Clinton Prince Rupert Victoria Hope Duncan Quesnel Williams Lake Kelowna Salmon Arm Merrit tGrand Forks Creston

Land of Dinosaurs & Dams The Jewel of the Boundary Gateway to the Yukon City of the Arts The Great Outside Handcrafted Log Home Capital of Canada Stampede Capital of BC A City in the Country Ripe with Surprises The Gateway: Yours to Explore Centre of the Fabulous Fraser Canyon Welcome to Resource-full Home of the World Famous Jelly Roll! The Longest Town in the Cariboo Gateway to the Cariboo City of Gardens Chainsaw Carving Capital of Canada City of Totems Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hot Spot Gold Pan City City of Rainbows Heart of the Shuswap Country Music Capital of Canada The Heart of the Kootenays

Photo by Christina Zaenker

Draw a line from the place name in the left column to its slogan on the right. Answers on page 36.

Festival-goers (and BC Musician readers) at Arts on the Fly, Horsefly, BC 2009.

BC Musician | May - June 2010

calgary folk festival Campbell Ouiniette Vs Calgary Folk Festival By Campbell Ouiniette The Festival Man

This is an excerpt from the recently discovered Memoirs of Campbell Ouiniette, former head of Bombsmuggler Incorporated Music Management, manager at one time or another of many illustrious folk, country, world music and other artists. Ouiniette died several years ago at a music festival in Greece, in a tragic speaker column collapse. The packets of copiously-stained, longhand-scrawled legal notepads were unearthed in a steamer trunk, found in the basement of the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Convent and Residential Young Ladies’ Finishing School, in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, when that worthy institution was closed and demolished last summer. Special thanks to accordionist and archivist Geoff Berner, who has managed to decipher Ouiniette’s idiosyncratic handwriting.

BC Musician | May - June 2010

In this excerpt, Campbell Ouiniette is at the Calgary Folk Festival, handling several artists, and up to various shenanigans. …so at that moment, I just found myself unable to cope in the complex hand-to-hand social battlefield of the backstage beer garden, where managers, agents, bookers for festivals, and lastly, musicians and the people they are hoping to sleep with, congregate in a drunken, milling hornet’s nest. I needed hard liquor, and I needed music. I gripped the Nalgene bottle full of Scotch in my bag and marched out to hear Paddy McGraw. Not too close to the stage, just back a bit, and to stage left, where I could see the man do his thing without worrying about people jockeying around me for a better view. Or so I thought. Paddy McGraw, 83 years old, the mentor for all the young Cape Breton fiddlers who came down to Toronto out of Nova Scotia and got their hair up in a gelled quiff and laid their birthright down on top of generic 90s hip-hop beats that Chuck D wouldn’t have bothered comment on as he tossed them out the studio window, Paddy McGraw, still better than them all, still innovating and messing around with the tradition in ways that few would understand but some could feel. Watch those fingers if you like, for their uncanny speed, even in their 9th decade, see the fingers fly, but listen, listen to what he’s doing. He’s got a hold of the tune so it’s talking about the fire of his youth, and the regrets of his middle age and the return to the home note is a coming-to-terms with it all in old age that never entirely resolves, an intentional dissonance filled with awe at the things a man can see and do in one lifetime and still never really understand the world and its terrible wonder, a dissonance that announces that this musician hasn’t finished his story, and just maybe if there’s any pretty ladies out there interested, this old boy still has a few surprises up his kilt, and the hustle just might still be on, no quarter given. This is a tune that every student of celtic fiddle from St. John’s Newfoundland to Galway to Newcastle Upon Tyne to Osaka, Japan is taught in their first year, a tune that was played a hundred thousand times by travelling minstrels under a thousand different names, the way you do when you’re in that life, “Oh, your Excellency, your hospitality has been so perfect and kind, I’ve been inspired to write a piece of music for you, and with your permission I’d like to name it for you, the Duke of Bunbury’s Reel” or whatever the name of your patron that night might be… “Excuse me!” I turned. A late-middle-aged, bearded, pot-bellied man in yet another Genuine First Nations sweater, with his wife, who resembled him.

Campbell quiniette - festival man “Excuse me! We’re trying to enjoy the music.” “Well, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t enjoy it, it just takes a leap of imagination and a bit of human feeling.” “You’re standing in the sitting area.” “Alright, I’ll sit down.” I plunked myself to the ground. “You can’t sit here, we got here at 9 am to put our blanket down here.” Oh, there it was. The dark slowly revealed the tartan blanket, the plastic cooler, the stupid, stupid chairs with the festival logo on them. Christ. “Well, I’m either going to sit here or stand here. This is my man Paddy McGraw and I’m not going to miss him.” “Well, this is our spot.” I turned to the man and growl. “So go call the cops. You’ll miss the greatest fiddler alive for the sake of your own pettiness.” The man and wife mounted an assault on my presence in the usual Canadian way. A low-level, muttering dialogue about some people thinking that the whole world was made for them and the rules don’t apply to them and was that alcohol they smelled because you’re not allowed to drink alcohol on the festival grounds outside the beer tent and some people were going to get thrown out on their ear. In a perfect answer to a prayer I didn’t even know I’d specifically uttered, Paddy finished his reel, lowered his fiddle and launched into a bizarre, furious shouting rendition of the old folk song “Come On Ye Bold Canadians,” a battle hymn from the War of 1812, forgotten for decades everywhere but the little outports of Cape Breton: Come All Ye Bold Canadians Come All Ye Bold Canadians and gird your trusty might! Let’s make the American libertines regret they picked a fight! For Order and Good Government, we’ll fight for what is right! Come All Ye Bold Canadians and gird your trusty might! The perfidious rebels snuck across our border by the score, They raped the nuns on tables, threw the babies to the floor. (what cads!) But Invincible General Brock was ready when he heard the call, (bugle blows) He drove them back and now he’ll chase them over hedge and wall. So Come All Ye Bold Canadians Come All Ye Bold Canadians and gird your trusty might! Let’s make the American libertines regret they picked a fight! For Order and Good Government, we’ll fight for what is right! Come All Ye Bold Canadians and gird your trusty might! Around the world Canadians are feared as soldiers bold.

Loyal and obedient, we’ll kill and die when told. (Yes, sir!) Liberty is not for me, I know my rightful place: Upon my knees before Our King whom God enthron’d with Grace. Come All Ye Bold Canadians Come All Ye Bold Canadians and gird your trusty might! Let’s make the American libertines regret they picked a fight! For Order and Good Government, we’ll fight for what is right! Come All Ye Bold Canadians and gird your trusty might!

And I was roaring along with the chorus, and pretty soon most of my neighbours were, too, till we came to what I knew (but they didn’t) was coming, the horrifying final verse: No matter where they run and hide, we’ll chase them down like dogs. We’ll burn the hated White House down with kerosene and logs. A Godless slave of Liberty deserves just what he gets, Their livestock, wives, and unborn brats will feel our bayonets!

I collapsed in a drunken shattering cacophony of my worst barroom laughter, spluttering saliva in a generous radius with each guffaw. I went backstage, waiting for McGraw to be helped down the backstage steps by a young lady volunteer. I told myself that I just had to shake this man’s hand, because he is the Real Thing, but also of course I was leaving while the getting was good, slipping into the dark and past the backstage security sentry with my all-access pass before Mr. and Mrs. Short Chair actually managed to find a security volunteer to sick on me. The young blonde volunteer was laudably conscientious in her efforts to get the old feller to solid ground, letting him lean into her when he almost missed the second to last step. “Oopsa-daisy.” “Thank you so much my Dear,” he said, with a kindly twinkle of his eye. “That last step was a doozy.” “My pleasure, Mr, McGraw. Great set tonight! I love your music.” “Well thank you, thank you.” I politely drew closer to this legendary figure, as the young volunteer gamboled away toward her next assignment. I suppose there’s just something about my appearance or demeanor that makes people comfortable enough to say what’s on their mind, because as I approached him, he looked me in the eye, grinned, motioned with his head toward the departing young lady and said, “I’d like to get that greased up and on all fours on the hotel carpet, eh?”

BC Musician | May - June 2010

Nail that note By Andrea Law

Vancouver, BC

Have you noticed the proliferation of finger nail spas in recent years? The number of manicure and pedicure salons sprouting up in my neighbourhood gives me pause. Glancing at my rough and stubby fingers, I think, yeah, maybe my nails are a little shabby. Maybe my tour weary toes could do with a polish before sandal season sets in. I enter the nail bar and enjoy my first high since college, stoned from the heady industrial scent generated by the toxic mix of merch. “May I help you, Madam?” “Yes, I need the ‘Feel-Like-a-Lady Again’ French manicure!” Fully engaged in my quest for beautiful digits, I opt for the full treatment, effectively purchasing ten shiny new

acrylic finger nails. I’m offered customized artwork on the nail, for an additional fee. Feeling the urge to splurge on this spring day, I opt for a swirly flower motif. My first manicure has finally kicked in as I hit my cougar stride. First the high, then the let down. Here comes the inevitable every-woman guilt known as “Trivial Shopping Spree.” Chastened, I move on to music practice. Time to rehearse my pieces for an upcoming gig. I manoeuvre up against my upright double bass, taller than the average basketball player. I start going through my scales. Oh-oh. The nice new fingernails are getting in the way. I cannot actually feel my fingers or the strings. I switch to the bow. I’ll attempt some nice sustained notes. Oh-oh. I barely get a grip on the bow before it falls to the floor, rewarding me with a

BC Musician | May - June 2010

punitive “whack” that was not part of the repertoire. Abandoning bow and bass, I head for the piano. That’s the ticket, some meaningful melody will soon be mine. Not. My fingers don’t even touch the keys because the new fingernails are in the way. I end up with an unusual sound: a cross between a pileated woodpecker and an African click dialect. Having no choice, I head to the bathroom to assemble my arsenal: hot water, scissors, paint thinner, face mask. I remove the artificial nails, leaving discoloured, unattractive nail beds. My confidence wanes. How many women have suffered for their art? Shoving my hands in my pockets, I head out once again to the business district and enter the office. “May I help you, Madam?” “Yes. I need therapy.”

salvation amidst the Stetsons making a great festival. “We went to badtemperedzombie.blogspot.com a festival in our own province a little while ago,” they recount, “and it was “I feel like I’ve got a burst spleen hard to get information. No one knew right now,” Carolyn Mark laughs dis- where anything was. It was like the size missively, “and you don’t see me go- of the folk festival here and you’d go ing on about it.” Having just come off ‘where’s this at?’ and they’d go ‘I don’t a two-night stint as main-stage emcee know,’ so there were some people who for the Calgary Folk Music Festival, were just kinda … there.” and then having danced all night at the It’s a nod that Kerry Clarke, Artistic after-party, Carolyn was far too quick Director of the CFMF, can appreciate. with her trademark dirty laugh for that Citing organization, a great recycling stinking hot prairie morning. But her program and 1,500 volunteers contribassertion that she just likes to keep uting to what has been called the loosbusy went a long way toward explain- est and the tightest festival, she specuing what turned this particular musi- lates that “maybe it’s the cool, relaxed cian into a road warrior. vibe” that defines island time. “Here, It seems as though almost every mu- hippies and CEO’s co-exist,” she exsician in BC gravitates toward Calgary plains. at some point during good driving “What it boils down to are the peoseason, despite there being no short- ple,” Marcus Mosely insists, “the volunage of local festivals and a summer teers.” that lasts forever alongside the ocean. You can never go wrong giving props It doesn’t seem to matter if you are a to the volunteers. They are, after all, the slightly hung-over rebel cowgirl or a lifeblood of any festival. For a musician theatrically-trained gospel trio from on the festival circuit, the contingent of the Pentecostal Sanctified Church, volunteers can spell the difference bethere is a certain allure about the sum- tween a hellish stop and a sublime one. mer festival scene in Calgary that pulls Just ask Chad Van Gaalen about the afyou away from the coast and over the ternoon I inadvertently poisoned him at great divide. the record tent. In true frontier fashion, “Location, location, location,” was Calgary has a spirit of volunteerism that Marcus Mosely’s emphatic declaration, borders on the fanatical. when I sat down with the Sojourners Both Calgary’s venerable folk festiunder some shade trees by the river dur- val and the young upstart Sled Island ing last summer’s Calgary Folk Music Festival embrace their decidedly urban Festival. “This island is such a beautiful digs. According to Sled Island Festival scenic space.” director Zak Pashak, relocating the allPrince’s Island Park, which has been day main-stage show from the western home to the CFMF for 31 years, is an edge of downtown to the green oasis of uncommonly lovely spot, a green en- Olympic Plaza, nestled amongst steel clave in the middle of the Bow River and glass towers in the heart of downin downtown Calgary. But Vancouver, town, resulted in a 53% increase in which the Sojourners call home, is pass sales in their third year. With Sled hardly bereft of scenic locations. Mar- Island now securing two full days at cus Mosely, Ron Small and Will Sanders Olympic Plaza this summer and bookmaintain that while natural beauty is a ing a staggering 200 bands, Zak predraw, it really can only go so far toward dicts that “Sled version 4 will be where

By Barbara Bruederlin

we really find what Sled is supposed to be.” There is something liberating and very inclusive about listening to live performances whilst lounging under a tree in the heart of downtown, in the company of passing office workers who stop briefly to watch and to listen, the engines of commerce grinding on behind them. It’s equally appealing to audience and performers alike. “You know what’s great?” Carolyn Mark quizzed me, after I bugged her to say something nice about the CFMF. “Lots of festivals, where you are staying is like an hour away from the site and that’s a big concern at the end of the night. Here, you are able to just stroll over and if you get lost, you can see the letters of your hotel, and you’re like, gawd there it is!” Even if you have blown the night dancing and eating lasagna at the afterparty, a downtown festival ensures that you can roll out of bed in ample time to take in a Sunday morning workshop in a shady grove, if the spirit moves you. Because there really is something spiritual in the community you find under those shade trees. “The greatest cathedral of all is the outdoors,” declare the Sojourners. “And Sunday sort of gives you license to take this gospel music and really do it. You can always get up and dance.” All three gentlemen nod in agreement. “You don’t have to know the words; if it’s moving you, then get up and do some holy dancing.” The lure of Calgary’s downtown festival scenario makes it worth setting aside any preconceived notions about the city’s traditional Stampede machismo. We’ve gone way beyond the Stetson. But with a plethora of other festivals, spanning an obscenely large land mass, to cram into a few short months, you might be better off to stay away from any slightly sketchy cookies offered by over-zealous volunteers.

Email info@bcmusicianmag.com with ARTSWELLS in the subject line by June 30 and be entered to win a pair of tickets to ArtsWells Festival of all Things Art.

BC BCMusician Musician | | May May- -June June 2010 2010

1011

live music! Come and hear fabulous performers in our friendly, fully-licensed bistro. We are proud to provide a welcoming venue for local and touring musicians. Join us for lunch, dinner, or just drinks & desserts.

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Coming up: June 4th & 5th: Jazzfest June 12th: Valerie Jackson & Paul Pinsonault are classical guitar duo Tinfish June 19th: Ron Campbell and the Blues Busters June 26th: Serena Eades, Anne Lumiere & Susann Richter are the Blackstrap Melissas August 12th: Alfie Zappacosta Keep an eye on www.wildbistro.com for details Music just about every night all summer-long! Looking to perform? Contact Bonar Harris: bonar@wildbistro.com

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MUSIC PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE AT BARD ON THE BEACH Music plays a huge role in creating evocative layering in each of Bard on the Beach’s 2010 Shakespeare productions. Murray Price will bring the sounds of acoustic guitar, classical Italian orchestrations, and early flamenco music to MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING to help position the action in Spanish-influenced Italy around 1910. Murray will also add texture to Bard’s production of FALSTAFF, drawing on the music, vocal and choral traditions of medieval England, Scotland and Wales as the action moves throughout Britain. For ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, Noah Drew will incorporate sounds from the exotic East to accentuate the tensions between Egypt and Rome, while Owen

Belton is tasked in HENRY V with underscoring the young king’s swing between quiet reflection and rousing oratory. The four plays run June 3 to September 25 in the two performance tents in Vancouver’s Vanier Park. An all-encompassing musical delight also awaits as Bard once again partners with UBC Opera Ensemble and members of Vancouver Opera Orchestra to present OPERA & ARIAS, this year featuring an inconcert staging of Puccini’s LA BOHÈME. There are four concerts, August 30 and September 6 at 1:00 & 7:00 pm. For full details on Bard on the Beach’s season, check www.bardonthebeach.org or call them at 604-739-0559.

eat@wildbistro.com

OPERA&ARIAS Featuring “LA BOHÈME” in concert

UBC Opera Ensemble Opera Orchestra Aug 30 & Sept 6 – 1:00pm & 7:00 pm

June 3- Sept 25

Under the tents in Vanier Park

604-739-0559

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BC Musician | May - June 2010

Opera & Arias 2009

and members of Vancouver

n e n s

t s s t . d

Opera & Arias 2009

s g

BC Musician | May - June 2010

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young music festival Photos By Anita Roy

By Bashu Naïmi-Roy The beautiful green locale of Community Park in the middle of Parksville, Vancouver Island is not usually home to the vibrant heady spectacle that is live music. And when it is, one is more likely to hear Elvis tributes than original compositions by local talent. But all things considered, it was only a matter of time until the Vancouver Island Young Music Fest came along to put things right. The latest in a series of two, the festival was organized by Rough Diamonds Creative Arts Society, and took place on a sunny Sunday August 30th to the delight of all. It brought 11 young music acts from all around the Nanaimoto-Parksville area (and one from Victoria) to a stage in the middle of Parksville to entertain a crowd of music enthusiasts

Kumbana Marimba band.

Born By Science: Brandon Cummings (left), Zaman NaimiRoy (right)

young and old (as well as anybody walking through the park). The music started at 4 in the afternoon with Jen Sublime, a singer-songwriter from Nanaimo, and rounded off at 11 o’clock with a performance by Joey Chaos, a dance-techno performer from Victoria. The audience received a mixed earful, with the styles of music ranging from prog-folk to piano pop to dark garage. They showed their appreciation with

dancing and clapping all day long. The festival was timed to coincide with the release of a Rough Diamonds compilation album featuring original material by five young local bands. The non-profit organisation plans to make the festival a regular event, and will be releasing more recorded material in the near future. The 2010 Young Music Fest will be held on August 28.

BC Musician | May - June 2010

www.roughdiamonds.ca

Th e Fantastic Ki ngdom o f Shambhala By Michelle Fryer Living in Mexico, I had heard of the rave culture but had never really been part of it, I had never gone to a music festival of this type. During my visit to BC for the summer of 2009 I got an invitation to Shambhala. And so it happened. I went to the Kootenays to see what everyone was so excited about. I had no expectations, no needs; I wasn’t a seeker. I arrived at Shambhala blank as a sheet of paper, willing to just go with the flow. After a winding dirt road we arrived at a modest entrance, not knowing by the looks of it what was waiting for us inside. As we got closer to the main area of the festival I could just see lines of parked cars, cars and more cars. So many people! Further ahead the dancing beams of light made their appearance, invading the night sky lighting up the dark clouds for a brief but surreal instant. Surreal? What am I saying? The real surrealism was about to come! Searching for a definition of “Shambhala” I stumbled upon this one on the Internet: “In the mythology of Bon, the native religion of Tibet, Shambhala was a Central Asian kingdom, the origin and center of the world whence issued all spiritual energies.”1 And so it was. To me it seemed as if time had stopped

and space had changed and I had en- witches, sorcerers and gnomes retreated tered another world (even though we to their shelters for a bit of sleep. The where a few miles from civilization). It most eager ones wouldn’t even think of turned into a world of its own, where leaving. fantastic creatures from the most diOnce the sun shined with all its verse colors, figures, contexts and ide- strength, everything seemed more calm, ologies converged. It was incredible to but the action did not stop. Most of the glide through the pathways surrounded fantastic night creatures gained human by trees. The images and sounds in- form again, relaxing by the stream, havvolved all of my senses, making every ing a swim (not me, the water was too journey to a different stage a delightful cold!). I strolled through the merchant adventure. booths (everything seemed more terI didn’t want to stop! Along the way I restrial during the day), bought someencountered fantastic characters cheer- thing to eat at the food stands, and just fully wishing “happy shambhala” with a walked through what at night seemed huge smile and an amazing good vibe. another world. I kept finding ever more From the stages the music surrounded tents and cars and people. But once the audience like a capsule, involuntari- again, the sun slowly hid behind the ly causing everyone mountains and time to dance in an enstopped and space ...the sun slowly hid behind chanting spell. Peochanged. We were the mountains and time ple dancing freely, all brought back enjoying the beat into the never endstopped and space changed. and the movement ing, fantasy world, We where all brought back of their bodies. filled with light and Some people would into the never ending, fantasy sound. The mythodo elaborate danclogical place surworld... ing, moving to the rounded by darkrhythm with a hulaness, the magical hoop or spinning their poi. And so the kingdom of Shambhala. night went by smoothly, exploring from I never saw a fight or heard an anone stage to another and back. Encoun- gry word during my stay. I will tell my tering a different beat in each destination friends in Mexico about it, and if I have and an exciting journey to get there. As a chance, will definitely visit again! darkness faded away some of the fairies, 1∙ http://www.shambhala.com/html/about/defined.cfm

BC Musician | May - June 2010

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Photo by Christina Zaenker.

Shara Gustafson peruses BC Musician Magazine during the 2009 Robson Valley Music Festival.

Get BC Musician Magazine by mail! Just $30, delivered to your door, for a year. Music life in BC, written, drawn, photographed, and reviewed by the people who live it.

BC Musician | May - June 2010

discovery coast music festival Named for the BC Ferry route that serves the central coast from June through September, Discovery Coast Music Festival is best known for its eclectic line-up and mellow family-friendly atmosphere. Located in the Bella Coola Valley on the central coast, the festival site is centred around the local fall fair grounds, between Bella Coola and Hagensborg on Highway 20. Discovery Coast began 11 years ago as a community event featuring mostly local and some regional musicians. “We’ve developed into a festival that is proud to present award-winning musicians from across Canada,” director Susan O’Neill told us. “It’s a very intimate festival. We have over the course of two days about 1,500 people. The site can accommodate more, but typically the performers will mingle with the crowds and kids get to have close and personal en-

counters with children’s artists, whether it be stilt walkers or performers like Charlotte Diamond.” The festival is child-friendly and draws in people of all ages. There’s a children’s site, but you can forget about dropping them there while you go off to the beer gardens - no alcohol or drugs are served or permitted on site. The vibe is decidedly low-key, warm and friendly. “You’re not going to worry about them [kids] getting trampled on by huge crowds here,” O’Neill says. She also promises you’ll find plenty of healthy options from the food vendors. “There’s always fresh salmon in one shape or form and local baked goods . . . there’s no McDonald’s or Tim Hortons. It’s local or regional food.” Besides the children’s site and food vendors, there will also be workshops and craft vendors.

July 24 & 25

The eclectic line-up for 2010 includes Vancouver’s legendary blues guitarist, Jim Byrnes, The Sojourners, Connie Kaldor, Canadian Aboriginal Music Award winner, George Leach, Toronto’s Reggae Ska Band, Random Order, Vancouver’s The Breakmen, 2008 World Solo Artist of the Year, Brazilian guitarist Celso Machado, Carolyn Mark, spoken word artists, Barbara Adler and Brendan McLeod, bilingual children’s performer, Will Stroet, Clinton W. Grey, and ventriloquist Kellie Haines. Advanced tickets (per day) are $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, and $4 for children 12 and under. Gate prices are only slightly higher (the at the gate price for a weekend pass is still a steal at only $35). Tickets can be found at Kopas Store or Moores Market in Bella Coola or for more information, check out www.bellacoolamusic.org

Spences Bridge

Desert Daze Festival

FREE Wi-Fi

Licenced Establishment

The Packing House An original Apple Packing House brought back to its storied past. This historic landmark of Spences Bridge is a favourite Cafe for locals and travelers alike. The Packing House is a friendly country establishment depicting the vast history of the famous Widow Smith apples and Spences Bridge, a small desert like community located where the Thompson and Nicola Canyons meet! Located in downtown Spences Bridge just off the #8 and #1 Highways on Riverview Avenue Monthly music dinner shows ◆ Contact us to book your show! 3705 Riverview Ave, Spences Bridge, BC (250) 458-2256 ◆ steverice53@msn.com

August 13, 14, 15.

Local farmers growing succulent melons, tomatoes to die for, peaches, apples,...the list goes on. Throw it all together at the lush grounds of the community school yard and you have one heck of a good time... Visit our little community of Spences Bridge and indulge in our harvest... and Incredible music! Check us out on page 31!

Music

Games ° Fruit & Vegetable Displays Pickle & Tomato Canning Classes Crafts ° Dancing Traditional Aboriginal Displays and Demonstrations

BC Musician | May - June 2010

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How i spent my summer vacation P t ii Music lovers, Touch my robe. Let me take you back to last summer. By Carolyn Mark Victoria, BC

Going up to Wells: Our Mutual Friend Paul Mosley (of London, England) arrived in Calgary the day after the folk fest. It was Paul’s first ever visit to Canada. To mark the occasion, (after a perfectly marvelous afternoon spent rafting down The Bow River with Matt Masters and his fiancé), I donned a clown suit and J, my ennobler, made the journey resplendent in leopard and rhinestones. (I just love a debut!) Tolan drove us to the airport in The Duchess. We pulled up outside International Arrivals and I did a rolling fall out the side door. I guess parking lot security saw me because Tolan told me later that they didn’t once ask him to move out of the 3-minute area. Like they were thinking, “Oh, a clown. Must be here on professional business.” Paul emerged about 25 minutes later. I walked right past him. (He’d dyed his hair and lost about 20 pounds.) He recognized me right away, even in the clown suit. Said he was held up by Customs. Said they kept eyeing his ukulele and melodica and asking him why he’d want to spend his vacation traipsing round Canada with an un-famous band. Finding himself in one of life’s worst case scenarios — jet-lagged and trapped under fluorescent lights in a defensive culde-sac — Paul cracked and told them in a shaky voice, “Because it’s fun?” Satisfied, they let him in. “Welcome to Canada, Mr. Mosley.” And then he walked through the gates, where clown and floozy greeted him. Leaving the airport, Paul kept turning around, checking to see if the authorities were following him and maybe gonna

change their minds. Canada — Because it’s fun! Back in June, when I was living in Nanton, and Paul’s visit was still in the planning stages, I had wanted to have my farmer friends black out their teeth and serve possum pie and have my writer friends wear kaftans and turtlenecks and talk in confusing boozy circles but then I realized that nobody there would have to do much of anything to themselves to leave a lasting first impression. Now, I feel I must tell you, dear reader, that Paul is gay with a capitol rhinestone ‘G’. As in fully extended arms overhead after every song, deep bows, Elton John (maybe it’s the keyboard?), Liza Minnelli G-A-Y gay. Nanton, though rawthah ahtistic, is still Southern Alberta. I thought about warning him to ‘tone it down’. I found out later that Tolan did. On my first tour to England, Paul was a consummate host. I remember one night, after we’d eaten (“How do you imagine a salad?”) and safely tucked into the 2nd

BC Musician | May - June 2010

bottle of wine, Paul looked up as if remembering something and asked, “Er, do you want me to ring up some of my mates to see if one of them wants to pull you?” Pull me? “Er…no thanks. I’m fine. Really.” I said, lighting a smoke hurriedly. I mean GOD; these gay boys are so practical. What about romance? It was as if, as a host, he was going through a mental checklist: “Food? Yes. Drink? Yes. Maybe she needs to get laid? I’ll enquire.” Sometimes you’re the wild one; sometimes you’re the mild one.

Next day: Nanton to Jasper. Juli and I had reserved some cabins allegedly by the hot springs. (I mean, come on, is that not truly a Canadian experience?) Juli, Big Paul and Lovely Megan meeting us there and it was Big Paul’s birthday! The Pocahontas Cabins were, as it turns out, rather yuppie and not so near Continued on page 38

Festival Land and the joys o f sleep deprivation magicians, faeries and elves. Change of life direction brought me to Fort St. James By Lionel Conant where my pal from Ness Creek, Syd, was Last night I was having a nice peaceful living. As well, here I met my love Rosesleep when at 4 am I awoke with a start. marie and immediately began taking part “Shit, I gotta get those posters ready for in Cottonwood Music Festival, our roots Friday. The NorthWord and BCMM ads and bluegrass fest. The founder of the fest, are due. That damn Cottonwood website Norm Dagenais, was ready to retire and looks like crap. I wish I had a volunteer said to me, “you’re the new leader!” Then coordinator. Where’s the bloody sponsor it began. Raising money, booking bands, money? If we don’t sell enough advance organizing volunteers, and all the other tickets….” stuff that comes with running a fest beYou see, I have a terrible affliction. I gan to overtake my regular employment love music festivals. I love art. I love the in hours worked. peeps, the gypsies, the rednecks, the hipThen my pal Syd said, “Man, we pies, the farmers, the tourists, the rainbow gotta start a full-on folk fest up at the folks, the musicians, the children and the ski hill.” Well, Syd moved away, we old folk, the beer, the weed and the food. found a new partner in the flamboyant Back in the 90s I was a coordinator with and fantastic Kirk Nielsen and Music Ness Creek Music Festival in Saskatch- on the Mountain was born. I thought ewan. It is a beautiful four-day event in Cottonwood was frickin’ stressful! theMusician boreal forest with stellar music, bards, Thirty scores BC 7.75x4.5:Layout 1 4/21/10 10:05 bands, AM Page 1 of meetings, hours

of lost sleep and thousands of dollars later, here we are! Just in case we had too much spare time, Shara Gustafson says, “Mamaguroove will play at your place May Long.” So began Mini-MoM Music Mayhem May Long Fest. Joey Only joined in, along with some local talent and some pals from Saskatchewan. Now our whole world is music, art, culture, festival and plenty of magical folks! As an old trucker I can tell you that it feels like I’m headin’ down a 10% grade with a full load on and no brakes. There’s no stoppin’ it, but the view is grand!!! When, on Sunday afternoon, Scott Cook is stunning us with his magic and the peeps are swaying and smiling and floating and my eyes grow moist and my heart envelops all of the life Our Mother gives, I realized all that I’m doing is a selfish act.

August 13-15, 2010 Salmon Arm Fairgrounds Celebrating Together

MARTHA WAINWRIGHT

The Interior’s Most Anticipated Summer Music Event

JOAN ARMATRADING

World, Folk, Alternative and A Whole Lotta Blues Goin’ On! Gord Downie & the Country of Miracles Joan Armatrading • K’NAAN • Martha Wainwright • Lil Ed & the Blues Imperials Five Alarm Funk • Shane Koyczan & the Short Story Long • Joe Louis Walker • Kinobe & Soul Beat Africa • Grupo Fantasma • Watermelon Slim & the Workers Fred Penner • the Kerplunks and more!!

Tickets/Camping/Info: (250) 833-4096 or www.rootsandblues.ca

K’NAAN

BC Musician | May - June 2010

18 19

Festivals may - june 10 Haines Junction

YUKON TERRITORY

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Atlin

ALBERTA

Fort Nelson 97

16 4

Hines Creek

Fairview

Fort St. John Hudsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hope

Kispiox

Hazelton

Grande Prairie Driftpile

Terrace

Fort St. James

Houston

Prince Rupert Masset 16 Port Clements

Tumbler Ridge 97

Smithers

21 Joussard

Mackenzie

Kincolith

Queen Charlotte

Dawson Creek

Chetwynd

ALASKA

Burns Lake

Kitimat

Vanderhoof

Tlell Skidegate

Prince George

Edmonton Stony Plain

Hixon

Sandspit

Nazko

Bella Coola

Anahim Lake Nimpo Lake

Quesnel

Wells/Barkerville

Hinton McBride Dunster Mt. Robson

Riske Creek Gang Ranch

Red Deer

Horsefly Williams Lake

Blue River

Lac La Hache 5 Clearwater 97 100 Mile House Little Fort Green Lake

Clinton Port Hardy

1 Cache Creek Kamloops Lillooet 97 Spences Bridge 19 Pemberton Lytton Merrit Whistler 1 Campbell River Powell River 99 Boston Bar 5 Pender Harbour Courtenay Comox Penticton Squamish Cumberland Sechelt Yale Princeton 97 Roberts Creek 1 Hope Parksville Port Alberni 3 Nanaimo Chilliwack Osoyoos 1 Vancouver Ladysmith Ucluelet Chemainus Duncan WASHINGTON Sidney Victoria Sooke

5-7-14-24-32

15-28-29

BC Musician | May - June 2010

Canmore

Calgary

Fairmont Hot Springs

Vernon

93 New Denver Skookumchuck Kaslo Kelowna 6 Slocan Kimberley Sparwood Crawford Bay Winlaw Fernie Fort MacLeod Nelson 33 Castlegar Cranbrook Salmo Grand Forks 3 Creston

Banff

Enderby

Seattle

31 Salmon Arm

Field Golden

Revelstoke

Nordegg

Valemount

Likely Mcleese Lake

2-22

Jasper

The Gorge Amphitheatre

IDAHO

MONTANA

Festivals may - june 1. Northwest Folklife, Seattle, WA

8. Seafest 2010, Prince Rupert, BC

May 28 - 31

June 10 - 13

www.nwfolklife.org Entry by donation, lots of activities for kids, featuring everything from Argentinean dance music to West African harp, plus every kind of music in between.

www.prspecialevents.com/ Parade, family entertainment, soap box derby, chili cookoff, arm wrestling, and music.

2. 5th Annual Canadian Rockies Cowboy Festival, Nordegg, AB May 28 - 30 www.davidthompsonresort.com/specialevents.htm Situated in the heart of the Rockies, hosted by 2009 Cowboy Poet of the Year, Mike Puhallo, the lineup includes Tim Hus, Ed Peekeekoot, Ed Brown, Dave McClure, Mel Brown, Gordie West Band, Perry Jacobson, Danny & Susan Gibson, the 3 Musty Steers. Plus a “Rising Star Competition.”

3. Sasquatch Music Festival, The Gorge Amphitheater, Washington May 29 - 31 www.sasquatchfestival.com A massive line-up, including My Morning Jacket, Broken Social Scene, Patrick Watson, Massive Attack, Pavement, The New Pornographers, She & Him, Tegan and Sara, and on and on.

4. Blueberry Country Gospel Music Festival, Fort St. John, BC June 4 - 6 Contact: Joe / Marie Wiebe, (250)-630-2602

5. In The House Festival. Vancouver, BC (In the area of Napier and Victoria Drive) June 4 - 6 www.inthehousefestival.com 19 shows in 3 days in a dozen houses! Music, dance, theatre, circus, spoken work and so much more will regale your senses and send you in a tizzy of excitement over the talent that exists in the city. More performers than can possibly fit in this small space, so visit inthehousefestival.com for complete details.

9. Gibsons Landing Jazz Festival, Gibsons Landing, BC

www.penderharbourbluesfestival.com/ 7th annual festival, featuring James Harman, Steve Kozak, Jim Byrnes, Tim Hearsey, Willie MacCalder plus Saturday free shows in and around Madeira Park.

7. Music Waste Festival, Vancouver, BC www.musicwaste.tumblr.com It’s all over Vancouver and it’s big, check the website for details and view their google map of venues.

14. Main Street Car Free Festival, Various Locations in Vancouver June 20

June 11 - 13 www.coastjazz.com Gibsons Landing Festival weekend is preceded by ‘Jazz Week’, a full week of live music in local restaurants and other venues to promote the talented musicians on the Sunshine Coast and create interest in the Jazz Festival Weekend so don’t be shy to come down early and take it all in. This year the festival takes place at a few different venues and includes performances by SWARM, Rakish Angles and the Brad Turner Trio to name a few. Tickets can be reserved by email at info@coastjazz.com

10. Kluane Bluegrass Festival, Haines Junction, Yukon June 11 - 13 www.kluanemountainbluegrassfest.com Haines Junction is nestled at the foot of the spectacular St. Elias Mountains, a prominent feature in Kluane National Park. The festival takes place on two great stages, the spacious Grand Hall in the St. Elias Convention Centre and the acoustically wonderful St. Christopher’s Anglican Church with performances by Blue Highway, Clare Lynch Band, Jim Hurst and many more!. Spectacular mountain scenery, fresh air, midnight sun, friendly people and bluegrass music; it doesn’t get any better.

11. The 15th Annual Summerland Bluegrass Festival, Summerland, BC

www.carfreevancouver.org Last year’s Car Free Day brought over 150,000 people out to play in the streets, and to change how they see their city. We have confirmed CFVD 2010 Fests on Commercial Drive, Main Street, the West End, and Kits. We’re open to more Fest nodes, so if you are interested in sparking one up in your area, get in touch - we have lots of experience, materials, and contacts to support you.

15. 7th Annual Afro-Carib Carnival, Victoria, BC June 20 Information provided at: (250) 727-6454 or visit www.ahavi.ca

16. Cleardale Gospel Festival, Hines Creek, AB June 18 - 20 www.thegospelroad.net Good Gospel music touches the heart strings like nothing else and we feel we have the best of the best right here. From the Wilms Family, to Northern Messengers to Unto Him and many more, we’ve got enough gospel music to pack an entire weekend event.

17. Sylvia’s 7th Annual Music Festival, Quesnel, BC June 18, 19, 20

June 11 - 13 www3.telus.net/SBG A festival that is open to all! For these 3 days, the Summerland Rodeo Grounds welcome a variety of open mic performances, if you’re looking for somewhere to play then bring your acoustic instrument and join in the music!

6. Pender Harbour Blues Festival, Pender 12. InShalla III, Fort McCloud, AB Harbour, BC June 11 - 13 June 4 - 6

including Reggae, Folk, Rock, Country, Hip Hop, World Music and more. Free onsite camping with purchase of ticket.

For more information please contact: inshala. alberta@gmail.com http://space-age.ca/?p=184

13. Conscious Culture Festival, Tonasket, Washington June 11 - 13 www.consciousculturefestival.com Washington state’s ultimate festival of conscious living, the goal of the festival is to inspire people to respect the Earth and expand the potential of true universal unity. This amazing event will feature musicians, singers & amp; DJ’s of various genre’s

www.sylviascafe.com ∙ sylviascafe@hughes.net ∙ 250-249-5193 This year featuring Gord Bamford! We are very excited and pleased to have all our local talent return and would like to welcome 4 On The Floor and 30 Odd 6 from Prince George as well as Pawnshop Diamond from Vancouver, and Jessica Marsh & The Whisky Pissers from Edmonton. Tickets now on sale at Sylvia’s Café.

18. The Entheos Summer Solstice Conference and Festival, Hope, BC June 18 - 21 www.entheosgathering.com/home A wide variety of music will be deployed to get your body moving, ranging from digital audio to live bands, all presented over 4 days and 3 nights on multiple stage platforms. Entheos 2 features a conference, workshops, a kids zone for families, a tea lounge, a temple, art gallery, a market place and sanctuary. Entheos is a Family Friendly event, and people of all ages are welcome. Tickets range from $55 to $150 depending on your age and how early you get them so don’t wait if you’re coming down to check it out!

BC BCMusician Musician | | May May- -June June 2010 2010

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Festivals may - june 19. Sam Steele Days, Cranbrook, BC June 17 - 20 www.samsteeledays.org Something for the whole family, Sam Steele Days is Cranbrook’s annual festival featuring fun and excitement for everyone in the family. Enjoy a kid’s fun zone, strongman competition, parade, ball tournament and much more!

20. Sooke River Bluegrass Festival, Sooke, BC June 19 - 21 www.sookebluegrass.com/festival/ If you’ve been lucky enough to have visited the festival in previous years, you know that it’s one of the best, most family friendly bluegrass festivals anywhere. Featuring musical talent of The Spinney Brothers, The Clover Point Drifters, Four Chords of Wood, Skagway, Last Train, Frosty Hollow, Flash in the Pan, James Whittall and Dave Clarke this festival is bound to be one of our best yet! Full weekend passes start at only $35.

21. North Country Fair, Joussard, AB June 18 - 20 http://lslncca.ca/current/ Held at the North Country Community Association Land in the Beautiful Driftpile River Valley. Over 40 confirmed performers so far! Check out a full list at http://lslncca.ca/current/ Lineup.php. Adult Weekend Pass $100 Advance/ $120 at the gate Youth $60/80.

22. 7th Annual Canadian Rockies Bluegrass Festival, Nordegg, AB June 18 - 20 www.davidthompsonresort.com/specialevents. htm Every year the David Thompson Resort puts on an outstanding bluegrass festival situated in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. Imagine sitting in front of our stage with the beautiful backdrop of the Canadian Rockies, listening to crystal clear performances provided by Creosote Sound. This years line up includes performances from June Bugs, Restless Lester, Mary-Ellen Goslin, Bryan Bowers, Headwater, Woodbend, Bunch Grass Band. Three day passes are available for $85 at the door, $70 advanced sales and $40 for children 13-16.

23. An Olde Country Bluegrass Weekend, Oliver, BC June 18 - 20 Jim - 250-495-0637 ∙ www.members.shaw.ca/ greenwoodbluegrass/oliver2010flyer.JPG Situated in the gorgeous South Okanagan Valley this 4-day festival is jam packed with Bluegrass performances. Day visitors can get in for just $5.00 or there is a $10 per rig/per person rate as well. Just come down to take in our open mic performances or grab your instruments and jump on stage! Everyone is welcome.

24. Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival, False Creek, Vancouver, BC June 19 - 20 www.dragonboatbc.ca Paddles up! Join us June 19 and 20 for this year’s Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival. Admission is free so why not take in a few races on False Creek, grab a bite from our international food fair then chill on the hill at Creekside Park to music ranging from Dal Hothi & The Headlines to The Town Pants and Five Alarm Funk.

25. Falkland Bluegrass Festival, Falkland, BC June 22 - 24 250-546-3112 or 250-833-7900

26. Sled Island Festival, Calgary, AB June 24 - 29 www.sledisland.com Sled Island is an annual independent multi-venue music and arts festival in Calgary, Alberta. The music part of the festival will happen in Calgary from June 30 to July 3, 2010. There is also a film ‘festival of festivals’ that will take place from June 24 to 29. 4-day festival wristbands are available for $170 with VIP passes starting at $350 (plus applicable taxes and service fees) Some performers include: Girl Talk, The Melvins, Built to Spill, The Thermals, The Posies, Whomadewho and The Black Lips.

27. Revelstoke Music Festival, Revelstoke, BC June 25 - 26 http://revfest.ca/ Revfest is proud to present Econoline Crush as our Saturday night headliner for 2010. Weekend passes are $80 for adults and $40 for children. You can also purchase day passes for $45 for adults and $20 for children. Alongside Econoline Crush we will also be featuring music from Andrew Allen, Old Mans Beard, Red Fish, Earthbound, Kira, Wassabi Collective, Sister Girl, Greg Sczebel, Skavenjah, Rude City Riot and Shane Philip.

28. Victoria Pride Week, Victoria, BC June 27 - July 4 www.victoriapridesociety.org Victoria Pride fosters learning and empowerment through social celebration and networking. We strive to create a better public understanding of our community’s history, courage, diversity and future. We’ve got a variety of different events going on throughout the week from the parade, to the music festival, to boat cruises and more.

29. Jazzfest International, Victoria, BC June 25 - July 4 http://jazzvictoria.ca/ Since 1981, hundreds of thousands of fans have enjoyed many outstanding festival and

BC Musician | May - June 2010

See the Festival Map on Page 20

non-festival performances that have featured the full spectrum of jazz and improvised music — from the traditional and mainstream, to the avant-garde, including world beat and the blues. There are far too many headliners to name them all but to name a few we’ve got Jose James/Jeff Neve Duo, George Benson, Kellylee Evans, Kelby Macnayr Quintet and many more. PLEASE NOTE: All Royal Theatre tickets must be purchased through the McPherson Box office and its outlets, 250-386-6121 or online at www.rmts.bc.ca

30. The 27th annual Midsummer Music Festival, Smithers, BC June 25 - 27 www.smithersmusicfest.com/ We are located in Smithers, BC in the beautiful Bulkley Valley. On top of the outstanding headliner acts we bring to our audience every year, the Midsummer Music Festival also showases over 40 local/regional acts from Prince George to Prince Rupert and all stops in between. Join us June 25-27, 2010 and enjoy these headliner acts: (in random order…) Jim Byrnes, Mamaguroove, The Sojourners, The Deep Dark Woods, Tambura Rasa, James Lamb, Jarimba, Kathy Frank, Lana Rae, Daniel Lapp.

31. Singing Good New Jamboree, Enderby, BC June 25 - 27 www.singingoodnews.com Located in the interior of BC at the southern end of the Shuswap this year we will be featuring music from The Royal Heirs, Pete & Shirley Unrau, Hunter Family, Harvey & June Sawatzky, Good News Quartet, Freedom Singers, Garry Jespersen, The Lehmann Family, Father’s Daughter and The Amundruds.

32. TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Vancouver, BC June 25 - July 4 www.coastaljazz.ca From the very beginning, Coastal Jazz and Blues Society has worked diligently to establish Vancouver as a centre for the creation and exchange of sounds and ideas between the local, national and international music community. Single event tickets are available by venue and 4-pack tickets are available for just $100.

33. Sinixt Nation Froggy Fest, Vallican, BC June 26 www.sinixtnation.org This year’s festival will once again feature the World Famous Sockhorse Race, projects in & outside Tipis, froggy hats for parade, kids instruments & music making, circus, kids Theatre, and the Grand Parade. Wide variety of entertainment throughout the fairgrounds. Food and craft vendors and Free camping, kids are FREE and Adult tickets are only $10.

See the Festival Map on Page 19 34. 2nd Annual Campbell Bay Music Fest, Mayne Island, BC June 25 - 26 http://campbellbaymusicfest.com We are an independent, volunteer-run DIY music festival set on a beautiful waterfront property in BC’s Gulf Islands. We present emerging artists in a diverse array of genres, from sweet folk singing to the sublimely danceable. This years performers include Corbin Murdoch and the Nautical Miles, Outlaw Social, The Wintermitts, O’Mally, West my Friend, Shout! White Dragon, Dirty Grace, Vox-Trium and Johnnu 99. Admission to the festival is by donation, we suggest anywhere from $15-$60 per person for a weekend pass.

BC Musician Magazine is bringing back our regular CD peer reviews in the July/August issue. Send your CDs to: PO Box 1150, Peachland, BC V0H 1X0

Historic Pooley Street in Wells BC 250-994-3400

Where people come to play...

Music • Theatre • Film • Rentals • Retreats Visit www.sunset-theatre.com for updated information and season schedules. Now programming Summer and Year-Round

Bone Rattle

BC Musician | May - June 2010

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Festivals JULY 31 Yellowknife

32 Dawson City

Haines Junction

YUKON TERRITORY

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Atlin

ALBERTA

Fort Nelson 97

7 Hines Creek

Fairview

Fort St. John

6 Hudsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hope

ALASKA

43 3 Kincolith

Kispiox

Hazelton

Mackenzie

Prince Rupert Masset 16 Port Clements

Queen Charlotte

Burns Lake

Vanderhoof

1 Francois Lake

Tlell Skidegate Sandspit

Driftpile

Anahim Lake Nimpo Lake

Yellowknife

Prince George

Edmonton Stony Plain

Hixon Nazko

Mcleese Lake

Gang Ranch

Hinton

16 Wells/Barkerville

Quesnel

Riske Creek

McBride Dunster Mt. Robson

Drayton Valley Pembina

Nordegg

Red Deer

Horsefly Williams Lake

Blue River

Lac La Hache 5 Clearwater 97 100 Mile House Little Fort Green Lake

Field Golden

1 Banff

Revelstoke

Calgary 1 Cache Creek Canmore Salmon Arm Kamloops Lillooet Enderby 97 Spences Bridge 19 Fairmont Hot Springs Pemberton Nakusp Vernon Lytton 93 Merrit Whistler New Denver 1 Skookumchuck Campbell River Kaslo Kelowna 6 Powell River 99 Boston Bar 5 Pender Harbour Slocan Kimberley Sparwood Courtenay Comox Penticton Squamish Crawford Bay Winlaw Cumberland Sechelt Yale Princeton 97 Fernie Fort MacLeod Nelson 33 Roberts Creek 1 Hope Castlegar Parksville Cranbrook Port Alberni 3 Salmo Nanaimo Chilliwack Grand Forks 3 Hillspring Osoyoos 1 Creston Vancouver Ladysmith Ucluelet Chemainus Duncan WASHINGTON IDAHO MONTANA Sidney Winthrop Kettle Falls Victoria Sooke

36 17 24

2-33

9-14

Seattle

BC Musician | May - June 2010

38 12-35

22 16

10-23 Jasper

Valemount

15Likely

Clinton

Port Hardy

Joussard

Fort St. James

Houston

Bella Coola

Grande Prairie

Kitimat

Tumbler Ridge 97

Smithers

Terrace

Dawson Creek

Chetwynd

27-41

Ritzville

The Gorge Amphitheatre

Festivals JULY 1. Burns Lake Bluegrass & Western Swing Music Festival, Francois Lake, BC July 1 Phone: 250-695-6573 ~ Marie Darter

2. Lilith Fair, Pitt Meadows, BC July 1 www.lilithfair.com From 1997 through 1999, Lilith Fair was one of the highest grossing touring festivals in the world, with over 1.5 million fans in attendance and raising over $10 million dollars for national and local charities. Founded by Grammy-award winning artist Sarah McLachlan along with Dan Fraser, Marty Diamond and Terry McBride, Lilith Fair was the only tour of its kind — a celebration of women in music featuring artists like Sheryl Crow, Christina Aguilera, Erykah Badu, The Dixie Chicks, Missy Elliot, The Pretenders, Nelly Furtado, Jewel, Queen Latifah, Indigo Girls, Tegan and Sara and of course, Sarah McLachlan.

Haagsman and Friends; Hugh Spinney Trio; Dunne, Dunne and Dunne; Folky Strum Strum and the Boys. Music workshops, vendors too. Limited camping on-site but lots close by. Tickets available at the gate.

7. Rombs Annual Bluegrass & Country Jamboree, Fairview, AB

July 2 - 3 www.crabfest.ca

4. Astral Harvest Festival, Driftpile, AB July 1 - 4 http://www.astralharvest.com/#home A gathering of music, art, knowledge and experience. Rest my friends... rest now... because we have EXTENDED the season to 4 days and 3 nights and you will need your energy to harvest the skies the way WE do things! Dubstep, Psychedelic Trance, Electro, live bands, House, Breakbeat, Minimal, Progressive, Drum & Bass, Techno, Glitch, Dub, Reggae, Disco, Trip Hop, World Beat, Ambient Workshops, Presentations, Live art, food vendors, marketplace. 3 stages, river run, chartered bus, camping.

5. Funtastic Music Festival, Vernon, BC July 1 - 4 http://funtastic.org/wp/home/ This year Celtic and classic rock fans will unite under the stars as Vancouver’s Spirit of the West and the Scottish rock band Nazareth appear at this year’s Funtastic Festival. Watch for more news as more than a dozen bands appear at Funtastic starting July 1st.

6. Jam the Dam Music Festival, Hudson’s Hope, BC July 3 - 4 info: pearkes@pris.ca / phone: (250) 783-9351 Located on the river, Pearke’s Centre, the 5th Annual Jam at the Dam Music Festival with the majority of bands being regional musicians. Saturday night headliner: HeideRaye (and band). Also playing are Darrel and Saskia; Jayme Knyx Band; Let ‘er Rip; Ian Smith; JoAnn Wells; Pieter

July 5 - 10 www.kiotac.ca

13. The Ritzville Blues Festival, Ritzville, WA July 10

July 2 - 4 www.fairviewfestival.com Our festival’s mission is to promote country & bluegrass music in and around our community and also in our province. With another exceptional lineup of bands, great workshops and activities for the kids, this is one jamboree you do not want to miss. Adult 3-day pass $60 at the gate.

8. The International Choral Kathaumixw Festival, Powell River, BC July 6 - 10

3. Crabfest, Kincolith, BC

12. Kimberley International Oldtime Accordion Championships, Kimberley, BC

www.kathaumixw.org The International Choral Kathaumixw is a 5 day choral festival filled with concerts, common song singing, choral & vocal solo competitions, conductor’s seminars and social events. Single concert tickets or 8 concert packages available.

9. Festival Mexicano, Victoria, BC July 9 - 11 Contact for more Information: (250) 216-3664 or visit www.1415broad.ca The Victoria Multicultural Society organizes this annual celebration as a way of promoting great food, music and dance. The celebrations start on Friday night as part of the regular Salsa Palace. Then the Festival shifts to Centennial Square on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. All the activities in Centennial Square are free and the focus on children and families. Music, dance, Salsa dance lessons and much more. Free admission.

10. Pembina River Nights, Pembina, AB July 9 - 10 asmallshieldmusic.ca The fifth annual, Pembina River Nights, 2 days of music and the river. The venue is beautiful the crowd is cool and the music is stellar. Featuring Fred Eaglesmith, Scott Nolan, The Dustin Bentall Outfit, Karla Anderson, and 13 other Canadian singer songwriters. 2-day advance pass $80 includes camping Friday and Saturday nights; gate admission $100.

11. Winding Rivers Music & Arts Festival, Ashcroft, BC July 9 - 10 Contact: Nadine Davenport: (250) 453-9100 / E-mail: windingriversarts@gmail.com

www.ritzvilleblues.com Watermelon Slim & the Workers will be joined on the main stage by an impressive roster of national acts including: Scott Holt, Donna Angelle and the Zydeco Posse, Too Slim & the Taildraggers and The Insomniacs. Our region’s hottest Blues bands will share the main stage with the national acts, heating up the festival to fever pitch. Jeff Aker and The Delta Preachers; Roberson, Beese & Flores; and Becki Sue & Her Big Rockin’ Daddies complete the 2010 main stage roster. Tickets $38 at the gate, camping passes for RVs and single campsites available.

14. 11th Annual Victoria Ska Festival, Inner Harbour, Victoria Curling Club, Long & McQuade, Lucky Bar, Victoria, BC July 7 - 10 www.victoriaskafest.ca The Victoria Ska Festival is celebrating 11 years with four jam-packed days of concerts and workshops. This years lineup features The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies, Katchafire and The Black Seeds from New Zealand, Australia’s The Resignators, The Aggrolites, an Easy Big Fella reunion, Fishbone’s 25th anniversary tour, locals Shane Philip, Brave New Waves and much, much more of the best ska, reggae, rocksteady and Latin on earth. For the complete lineup, free show/ workshop times, ticket info and everything you need to know visit our web site.

15. 5th Annual Arts on the Fly Festival, Horsefly BC July 9 - 10 www.artsonthefly.com Once called Harper’s Camp, the small community of Horsefly, British Columbia, is situated on the banks of the Horsefly River. Horsefly is said to be the site of the first gold discovery in BC’s Cariboo region. This year’s performers include Andrew Allen, Joanna Chapman-Smith, the Colorifics, Maria in the Shower, and Mamaguroove.

16. Winnipeg Folk Festival, Winnipeg, MB July 7 - 11 www.winnipegfolkfestival.ca For 37 years now, this is one of North America’s premier outdoor music festivals. Everything you expect from a festival, like a stellar, including Emmylou Harris, Jimmy Cliff, The Wailin’ Jennys, Sarah Harmer, Andrew Bird, Sonny Landreth, and many, many more.

BC Musician | May - June 2010

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Festivals JULY 17. Vancouver Island Music Fest, Courtenay, BC July 9 - 11 www.islandmusicfest.com Fantastic atmosphere, incredible location, stellar lineup! Performers include: Roberta Flack, Nanci Griffith, Adrian Belew Power Trio, Joan Osborne, Little Feat, The Holmes Brothers, and more to come! (Pssst: Did you notice the contest on page 39? Take a look, you could win passes to this incredible festival!)

18. Castlegar Bluegrass Jamboree, Castlegar, BC July 9 - 11 Phone: 250-365-6058 / e-mail: evaroy@shaw.ca

19. 10th Whatshan Lake Music Festival, Whatshan Lake, BC July 9 - 11 www.whatshanmusic.com/ The Whatshsn Lake Music Festival, a family event set in a safe, beautiful natural environment, proudly presents a variety of musical entertainment: bluegrass, country, light rock, and blues. Guests enjoy the show in a setting that resembles a “Cathedral of Trees.” Performers sing and play from a state-of-theart outdoor band shell that has received high praise. Performers this year include: Switch, Ash, The Cats and the Fiddle, The Cropdusters, Jason Thomas Group, Restless Lester, Saskia and Darrel, Stu Mitchell, Darren Johnson, John Lee Saunders, Circo de Teatro.

20. Cottonwood Music Festival, Stuart Lake, Fort St. James, BC July 9 - 11 http://cottonwoodmusicfestival.com/ Roots, Bluegrass, Gospel music on the shores of beautiful Stuart Lake. On-site camping $10, weekend pass $30. Children festival, workshops, jam tents, farmer’s market, and more. Performers include: Gordie Tentrees, Viper Central, Elena Young, Lakeside Ramblers, Marshall Lawrence, The Plain Janes, Hungry Hill, The Good News Band, Sinkut Mountain, Steve Palmer, John Rogers… and more!

21. The 32nd Annual Harrison Festival, Harrison Hot Springs, BC July 9 - 18 www.harrisonfestival.com/ Over ten days the Harrison Festival presents music from all corners of the globe, as well as visual and literary arts, theatre, a large outdoor art and craft market, workshops and a special day for children. Evening performers include Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks, David Lindley, Peatbog Faeries, El Puchero del Horteleno, Mary Jane Lamond, and Carlos del Junco. A special project at this year’s festival is called “North

to Canada,” about the Underground Railroad told in story and song. It will include a number of legendary Canadian Blues and Gospel performers, including Leon Bibb, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Donald Ray Johnson and Russell Jackson. Ticket prices by event, full festival pass for all 10 evening shows $160 after June 25.

22. Ness Creek Music Festival, Big River, SK July 15 - 18 www.nesscreek.com Featuring Crooked Creek, Deep Dark Woods, Folkarts Quartet, Karen Savoca, Little Miss Higgins, Sunparlour Players, The Breakmen, and The Sadies. More to come! Tickets $100 at the gate.

23. Motion Notion Music Festival, Drayton Valley, AB July 15 - 19 Featuring electronic music, camping, rafting, bonfires, art, and workshops. www.motionnotion.com Motion Notion simply means movement idea, the idea that movement is existence. Progressions in music, movements in dance, changes in our lives, and the flux of the universe are all inevitable and related. This continuous movement from one thing to the next is the essence of everything, hence the notion that movement is existence. Humanity sometimes resists change, but accepting change to be inevitable is freeing.’ Full festival passes selling quickly, $200 at the gate.

24. (((Soundwave))) Ucluelet, BC July 16 - 18 www.soundwavemusicfestival.ca Soundwave is a three day journey that features global talent ranging from Live Sets, to an All Vinyl Shakedown. This electronic music festival is held on the beautiful and rugged west coast of Vancouver Island. Soundwavers camp for the three days at the Mussel Beach Wilderness campground located close to Ucuelet, BC and enjoy 5 sound stages and an incredibly diverse offering of international and local talent. Tickets $185 plus tax and include parking and camping Friday through Sunday. (19 and over only, ID required at the gate).

25. Morfee Mountain Music Fest, Mackenzie, BC July 16 - 18 www.morfeemountainmusicfest.ca Music, kids entertainment, camping, vendors, beer gardens, food and fun. Lineup not confirmed at press time, but last year was great, so check web site!

BC Musician | May - June 2010

See the Festival Map on Page 24

26. Annual Winthrop R&B Festival, Winthrop, WA July 16 - 18 www.winthropbluesfestival.com This year featuring Little Feat, Buckwheat Zydeco, Curtis Salgado, Too Slim & the Taildraggers, James Harman, The Soul of John Black, Doug Macleod, Debbie Davies/Robin Rogers, Strangetones, Vocano Vixens, Ty Curtis Band, Junkyard Jane, and Paul Thorn. Tickets $85 at the gates, Camping $40.

27. Darrington Bluegrass Festival, Darrington, WA July 16 - 19 www.glacierview.net/bluegrass Featuring Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, The US Navy Band Country Current, Chris Jones & Night Driver, and many more.

28. 11th Annual Starbelly Jam Music Festival, Crawford Bay, BC July 16 - 18 www.starbellyjam.org Our choice of music and other entertainment is very eclectic, and this year will include world music, hip-hop, reggae, bluegrass, flamenco, and other acts that are a little harder to define. We also have entertainment and activities for children (who get in free if they are under age 7). It’s a real family festival! Featuring Finley Quaye, Blackalicious, Chad Van Gaalen, Emmitt-Nershi Band, David Starfire, Les Boukakes, Aspen Switzer, Bocephus King, Camilo Nu, Pureblend, The Arcane Garden. Weekend passes $75 until June 30.

29. South Country Fair, Fort MacLeod, AB July 16 - 18 www.scfair.ab.ca South Country Fair is a rural, peace-oriented, camping, music and arts festival that manifests itself annually just outside Fort Macleod, Alberta. Performers include Chad Van Gaalen, Wendy McNeil, Delhi 2 Dublin. Advance passes $80 until July 10.

30. Music & Friends Music Festival, Terrace, BC July 16 - 17 www.musicandfriends.ca Music & Friends is an annual family-friendly event founded by the North Pacific Music Festival Society in 2005. Its goal is to provide exposure for artists from the north pacific region and to provide an opportunity for them to develop their musical skills through performance and public appearance.

Festivals JULY 31. 30th Anniversary Folk on the Rocks Festival, Yellowknife, NT July, 16 - 18 www.folkontherocks.com/festival/ The two-day weekend event (plus the Friday opening gala Warm the Rocks) has grown into one of Canada’s top summertime music and cultural festivals, drawing musicians from the NWT and Nunavut and across the globe for the North’s biggest party under the midnight sun. More than 24 hours of programming on six stages, including a children’s area, cultural area, and beer garden, promises fun and enjoyment for all ages. Along with the music, crowds can savour international and traditional cuisine at the food fair, and buy Northern creative works in the Art on the Rocks area. Performers include Jim Cuddy & Greg Keelor, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Basia Bulat, Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, Justin Rutledge, The Dudes, Bill Bourne and BOP Ensemble, Tim Hus, Pat Buckna, and many more. Advance tickets $90 for a weekend pass, $65 per day.

32. Dawson City Music Festival, Dawson City, YK July 16 - 18 www.dcmf.com The Dawson City Music Festival is a multidisciplinary, multi-venue music festival, taking place in Dawson City, Yukon each July. Christened “Canada’s tiny, perfect festival” by the Georgia Straight, our festival has been successfully run by volunteers since its inception in 1979. This year’s performers include Bette & Wallet, Burning Hell, Constantines, D Rangers, Dan Mangan, Diyet, Elliott Brood, Fred Penner, Good Lovelies, JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, Kevin Barr, Sasquatch Prom Date, Tune-yards, Ukrainia, and many more. Tickets $120 plus taxes and fees.

33. Vancouver Folk Music Festival, Vancouver, BC July 16 - 18 http://thefestival.bc.ca The 33rd Annual festival this year includes (to name a few): Calexico, Deep Dark Woods, Gadelle, Sarah Harmer, Connie Kaldor, Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba, Shane Koyczan and Short Story Long, Bettye LaVette, Mauvais Sort, Peatbog Faeries, Finley Quaye, United Steel Workers of Montreal, Valdy. Tickets: Advance $160, gate $185, single day or Friday evening concert tickets also available.

34. Nakusp Music Festival, Nakusp, BC July 16 - 18 www.nakuspmusicfest.ca The lineup this year includes The Mason Rack Band, Powder Blues, The Headpins, 5440, Shades of Loud, Leeroy Stagger and the Wildflowers, Rude City Riot, Delhi 2 Dublin,

See the Festival Map on Page 24

Raul Malo, The Trews, Corb Lund and the Hurtin’ Albertans, Bachman & Turner, Lucy and the Lucky Four, The Dustin Bentall Outfit, Bif Naked, The Mudmen, Default, Doc Walker, and Eric Burdon & The Animals. Three-day pass $218.67 includes HST, Sat/Sun pass $181.33.

40. Creston Valley Music Festival, Creston, BC July 23 - 24 http://mountainprk.com/

41. Columbia Gorge Bluegrass Festival Skamania County Fairgrounds, Stevenson, WA

35. Julyfest - Festival of Festivals, Kimberly, BC July 16 - 18 www.kimberleyjulyfest.com Parade, Canadian Bocce Championships, and lots of other outdoor activities. Boogie Saturday night with Billy Jive & the Funktastics.

36. The Big Day Up, Mt. Washington, BC July 17 http://thebigdayup.com/ From 2 pm to 1 am, featuring The Cat Empire, Daniel Wesley, Nine Mile, and Sweatshop Union. Early bird tickets $55, Advance (after June 16) $65.

July 22 - 25 www.columbiagorgebluegrass.net/ Located in the scenic Columbia Gorge, only 45 minutes from Portland, Oregon, this premier event features a long list of talented performers, contests, the jammer’s jamboree, a raffle and dancing. Camping is available with hot showers, and an unforgettable vista. This year featuring Longview, Sierra Hull, Josh Williams Band, Bryan Bowers, The Freight Hoppers, Prairie Flyer, Great Northern Planes, The Buckles, Runaway Train, and many more. Weekend pass $50, camping + pass $80.

42. Bass Coast Project, Squamish, BC

37. Rock Cut Blues Festival, Kettle Falls, WA

July 22 - 26

July 23 - 24 www.rockcutblues.com Camp in the Kettle Valley and enjoy Blues Cousins, Randy Oxford Band, Andy “sugarcane” Collins, and many more.

38. PyneStock Concert, Invermere, BC July 22 - July 23 www.columbiavalleyarts.com

www.basscoastproject.com Nestled in the Mountains, Bass Coast the Sequel returns with a weekend chocked full of Bass, Cutting Edge music, Mud Wrestling, Fashion Shows, a Music Video Competition, Yoga, Capoeira, Theatre and more... Four days, three nights, live & electronic. Passes $145.

43. Kispiox Valley Music Festival, Kispiox, BC July 23 - 25

39. The 31st annual Calgary Folk Music Festival, Prince’s Island Park, Calgary, AB July 22 - 25 www.calgaryfolkfest.com A village where indie singer-songwriters, roots and country veterans and blues masters rub sonic shoulders with global electronica divas, Latin rhythm masters, Ukrainian rock bands and Congolese hipsters. Where on-the-fly collaborations create once-in-a-lifetime magic. All in a verdant urban setting that grounds a laidback, loving, ecologically astute communityfor-a-day. We’ve got cool wind power and a hot main stage, an interactive family area, an international craft market, global culinary delights, a record tent and tree-shaded beer garden. Performers include: Natacha Atlas, Stars, Avett Brothers, Peatbog Faeries, Swell Season, Michael Frant & Spearhead, Greg Brown, Naomi Shelton & the Gospel Queens, Cat Empire, Corb Lund, Roberta Flack, Dan Mangan, Ohbijou, Po’Girl, Sunparlour Players, and Ian Tyson. Early Bird 4-day passes (to June 21) $135, Advance $165. No full passes at the gate.

www.kispiox.com/kvmf/ “A festival that captures the warm, close Kispiox Valley community spirit at a beautiful venue where a wide variety of music, art and other creative events provide entertainment, inspiration and education.” Family pass $120. (Performer lineup not available at press time.)

44. The Family Music Festival, Hillspring, AB July 23 - 25 http://gcbd.ca/blue-grass-festival/ Performers include Valdy & Gary Fjellgaard, The Barn Dance All Stars, Four Chords of Wood, Lizzy Hoyt, and many more. Weekend pass $70.

BC Musician | May - June 2010

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Festivals JULY - AUGUST Haines Junction

YUKON TERRITORY

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Atlin

ALBERTA

Fort Nelson 97

Hines Creek

Fairview

Fort St. John Hudsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hope

Kispiox

Hazelton

Grande Prairie Driftpile

Terrace

Fort St. James

Houston

Prince Rupert

Queen Charlotte

Joussard

Tumbler Ridge 97

Smithers

Masset 16 Port Clements

Mackenzie

Kincolith

Dawson Creek

Chetwynd

ALASKA

Burns Lake

Kitimat

Vanderhoof

Tlell Skidegate

Hixon

Sandspit

Nazko

6 Bella Coola

Prince George

Edmonton Stony Plain

Quesnel

Wells/Barkerville

Hinton McBride Dunster Mt. Robson

Mcleese Lake

Nordegg

Blue River

Lac La Hache 5 Clearwater 97 100 Mile House Little Fort Green Lake

Gang Ranch

Field Golden

Clinton Port Hardy

Jasper Red Deer

Horsefly Williams Lake

Riske Creek

37 18

13 8-9-22-31-41 2 17 1 5-10-11-26 21

Vernon Slocan Winlaw

Castlegar Grand Forks

BC Musician | May - June 2010

Kaslo Kimberley Crawford Bay Nelson

39 Skookumchuck

Salmo Creston 3

Sparwood

30 Sandpoint

Fernie

Cranbrook

IDAHO

The Gorge Amphitheatre

Fairmont Hot Springs

19 New Denver

Kelowna

Calgary

Canmore

16-40 20

Banff

Salmon Arm Enderby

Darrington

Revelstoke

34 25

Seattle

Camrose

Valemount

Likely

Anahim Lake Nimpo Lake

Fort MacLeod

MONTANA

Festivals JULY - AUGUST 1. Islands Folk Festival, Providence Farm, Duncan, BC July 23 - 25 www.folkfest.bc.ca/index.php?page=islandsfolk-festival The long list of performers includes: David Francey, Lynn Miles, Murray McLaughlan, Mary Gauthier, Santa Lucia, Dennis Lakusta, Rosie Flores, Ivan E Coyote, Marc Atkinson Trio, Nine Mile, Suzie Finnick, Carrie Elkin, Jon Brooks, Chris Chandler, The Kerplunks, Scott Cook, Lorrie Matheson, Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra, The Carter Brothers, Sam Hurrie, Hilary Peach, The Gertrudes, Light Sweet Crude, Doug and Telisha Williams, Kevin Mitchell, Allison Brown, Rick Fines, Bopoma, Amy Campbell, Mike Plume Band, Mike Nicolls. Weekend pass $90

2. 23rd Annual Mission Folk Music Festival, Mission, BC July 23 - 25 www.missionfolkmusicfestival.ca Staged in one of BC’s loveliest parks, overlooking the Fraser River, the Mission Folk Music Festival presents, for its 22nd year, a festival now renowned for its mix of accessibility and easy-going comfort, affordability and small-town friendliness, shaded day stages and some of the finest folk, world, roots, blues and brilliantly “un-categorizable” music from across Canada and around the world. (Performers and ticket info not available at press time.)

5. Sooke Fine Arts Show, Sooke, BC

10. Symphony Splash, Victoria, BC

July 24 - August 2

August 1

www.sookefinearts.com The visual arts are front and centre during this 10-day show which features a juried art exhibition with awards valued at over $10,000. A high-calibre musical program is also features, with guests confirmed as of press time including John Reischman and John Miller.

Contact for more Information: (250) 385-9771 or visit www.victoriasymphony.ca

July 23 - 24 www.littleslocanlodge.com The fifth annual Littlefest will be a “Littlelonger-fest”, meaning we extended the format by adding Friday night to the usual Saturday-only event. Venue is Little Slocan Lodge. Performers include Greg Brown, The Deep Dark Woods, Meatdraw, The Pack A.D., Dominique Fraissard, Blackberry Wood and the Moving Mosaic Samba Band. Many more acts to come.

4. Bonfire Music Festival, Birken, BC July 23 - 25 www.bonfirefestival.com A 3-day, hassle-free, art-infused weekend of exceptional music, camping and fun. Our stellar lineup of musical performers will appeal to a broad range of the Roots, Groove, Jazz, Funk & Folk audience who are known to appreciate the outdoor festival experience. Our focus is on delivering an exceptional event for people of all walks of life. Performers include Acorn Project, Headwater, Vaughn Kreestoe, New Monsoon, We Are The City, Baked Potato, The Release, Sixgun Buddha, Outlaw Social, Redeye Empire, Kostaman & the Good Vibrations Band.

July 31 - August 1 www.vemf.ca 250-480-9673 Varying forms of electronica, dubstep, glitchhop.

6. The 11th Annual Discovery Coast Music Festival, Bella Coola, BC July 24 - 25 www.bellacoolamusic.org/ Enjoy innovative and exciting live performances from all across Canada amidst the pristine coastal landscape of Bella Coola. This family-oriented event boasts an eclectic line-up of music — roots, rock, world, blues, folk and more. With something for everyone, the festival features an interactive children’s site, food and craft vendors and workshops. This year featuring Jim Byrines, Carolyn Mark, The Breakmen, The Sojourners, Connie Kaldor, Random Order, Eccodek, Celso Machado, George Leach, Barbara Adler & Brendan McLeod, Kellie Haines, Will Stroet, Clinton W. Gray Prestidigitainer. Adult tickets $15 advance/$20 at the gate, Weekend pass $35 at the gate.

7. 4th Annual Rustic Robot Festival, Okanagan Valley, BC July 24

3. Littlefest, Slocan, BC

11. Victoria Electronic Music Festival, Victoria, BC

www.rusticrobot.com Come camp out and enjoy a variety of live music and DJ’s on three unique stages and a gallery of visual art in the sand dunes above Lake Okanagan. Rustic Robot is located an hours drive from both Penticton or Kelowna. Directions posted on website and Facebook on July 24. Admission by donation.

8. Caribbean Days Festival, North Vancouver, BC July 24 - 25 www.caribbeandays.ca Cultural entertainment plus amazing music playing Soca, Reggae, Calypso, Latin, African and other international sounds on the South Side Main Stage, plus a DJ Booth on the North Side.

9. Vancouver Early Music Festival, Vancouver, BC

12. 18th Annual Big Valley Jamboree, Camrose, AB July 29 - August 1 www.bigvalleyjamboree.com

13. Hornby Festival, Hornby Island, BC July 29 - August 7 www.hornbyfestival.bc.ca Box Office: 250-335-1715 Dedicated to the Memory of Tempest Grace Gale. Join us at our Opening Reception for Art show and performance. Our multi-genre line-up includes Le Vent du Nord (Quebecois Folk), Mr. Something Something (Funk), Jets Overhead (Pop / Rock), Headwater (Folk), Adrian Dolan Fiddle Dance (Traditional), Jelena Milojevic (Classical Accordion), Ian Parker & Joan Blackman (Classical Piano & Violin), Joe Chindamo Quartet (Jazz), Rita Reichman (Classical Piano), Hornby Island Writers Literary Event and Children’s’ Workshops, free outdoor performances (Art in Unusual Places).

14. Blueberry Bluegrass & Country Music Festival, Stony Plain, AB July 30 - August 1 www.blueberrybluegrass.com 25th Anniversary Celebration in 2010. This year’s festival features Dailey & Vincent, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, The Spinney Brothers, The Claire Lynch Band, The Gibson Brothers, The Mashville Brigade, Fred Eaglesmith, Hard Ryde, Woodbend, The Bix Mix Boys, Troy Gates & Family, Loose Rooster, A Page in Time. Three-day pass before July 1 $75. Rough camping $10/night.

15. 7th Annual ArtsWells Festival, Wells/Barkerville, BC July 30 - August 2

July 25 - August 14 http://www.earlymusic.bc.ca/ This year’s Festival has a special emphasis on Music by Monteverdi to mark the 400th Anniversary of his Vespers of 1610. The Festival will also focus on chamber music from the French Baroque, and from The Rococo and the early Classical era, with works by Bach’s sons, and by Mozart & Beethoven. Series Tickets $190.

www.artswells.com Over 80 musical acts on 8 stages over 4 days in 2 historic towns creates 1 incredible festival experience. ArtsWells is for those who truly love the festival experience. This summer you can find out for yourself what the fuss is about and why ArtsWells was voted one of the Top Ten Festivals in Canada by CBC Radio 3 earlier this year.

BC Musician | May - June 2010

28 29

Festivals JULY - AUGUST 16. Komasket Music Festival, Vernon, BC July 30 - August 1 www.komasketmusicfestival.com Three days of culture, music, camping and family. Music from around the world, including Cheb I Sabbah, Alex Cuba Band, Delhi 2 Dublin, Beats Without Borders, Digging Roots, Anupam Shobakar, Kia Kadiri, Andrew Allen, Ache Brazil, Miss Emily Brown, Bocephus King, Maria in the Shower, Mamaguroove, Shane Philip, and many, many more. Weekend Pass $80, Camping $10 per person for the weekend.

17. 32nd Annual Coombs Bluegrass Festival, Coombs, BC July 30 - August 1 http://sites.google.com/site/ coombsbluegrassfestival/Welcome Our festival takes place on Vancouver Island just west of Parksville. It is a magical time of hot sunny days, starlit nights & outstanding bluegrass music with performances from entertainers from all corners of North America. Performers this year include Still Blue, 5 on a String, Clover Point Drifters, Elena Young & Kootenay Mountain Special, Corner Grass, Flash in the Pan and many more. Weekend pass $65, early camping (before Friday) $10/night.

18. 28th Annual Filberg Festival, Comox, BC July 30 - August 2 www.filbergfestival.com The Filberg Festival has a tradition of presenting some of this country’s finest musicians. The lineup of performers at the Festival spans the broad spectrum of the Canadian folk scene, including Babe Gurr, Todd Butler, Connie Kaldor, Rick Fines, Spirit of the West, Suzie Vinnick, Fred Eaglesmith, Jesse Winchester, Valdy, Kenny Blues Boss Wayne, The Ginn Sisters, and Four Men and a Dog. PLUS the finest artists, artisans, and crafters and a Kids’ space too. A family-friendly festival over four days, with funds raised going to maintain, operate, and restore the historic Filberg Lodge and Park.

19. Kaslo Jazz Festival, Kaslo, BC July 30 - August 1 www.kaslojazzfest.com Kaslo Jazz Etc Summer Music Festival, July 30-August 1, 2010. Named one of the “10 great places to get in tune, be outdoors!” by USA Today. Check it out yourself and witness performances by: The Bad Plus, Spyro Gyra, Ruthie Foster, MonkeyJunk, Terminal Station, Melody Diachun, John Korsrud Latin-Jazz Septet, Tambura Rasa, Arsen Shomakhov, South Thunderbird Band, Camilo Nu, and more.

20. Centre of Gravity Festival, Kelowna, BC July 30 - August 1 www.centerofgravity.ca Festival on Okanagan Lake features daily concerts, DJ shows, after parties each night, plus over 150 athletes competing in sports each day.

21. Mount Baker Blues Festival, Bellingham, WA July 30 - August 1 www.boomkak.com/bakerblues Quickly becoming a “must attend” event, the Mount Baker R&B Festival has, once again, risen to the occasion. With group of talent, second to none in the State. The buzz is already on. It’s our fifth year at the Deming Log Show Fairgrounds, a 180 acre “built to order” venue for a gathering of several thousand campers and RV’s…flush toilets, H&C running water…lots of great food & crafts vendors. Lineup includes: Leon Russell, Commander Cody, Shane Dwight, Janiva Magness, Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, Cedric Burnside & Lightnin’ Malcolm, The Fat Tones, The Randy Oxford Band, Junkyard Jane. Weekend pass $90 advance.

22. Harmony Arts Festival, West Vancouver, BC July 30 - August 8 Everyone is welcome and all of the events are free. The festival continues to strike a balance between the charming community feel of its roots and the exciting regional event it has become. In addition to a wide-ranging visual arts program, the musical lineup is outstanding and includes: Paul Pigat Boxcar Campfire, Babe Gurr, Clumsy Lovers, Andrew Allen, Dal Hothi & The Headlines, Dal Richards’ Orchestra, La Candela, Jazz Divas featuring Jennifer Scott, Karin Plato and Kate Hammett-Vaughan, Shari Ulrich, and Tambura Rasa.

23. Canmore Folk Festival, Canmore, AB July 31 - August 2 www.canmorefolkfestival.com Alberta’s longest running Folk Music Festival now in its 33rd year. Performers this year include Vieux Farka Touré, Kate Rusby, Four Men and a Dog, Le Vent du Nord, Marc Atkinson Trio, Amanda Martinez, Zachary Richard, John Boutté, The Sojourners, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Ruthie Foster, Geoff Muldaur, The McDades, Matt Andersen, 100 Mile House, Dala, D Rangers, Te Vaka. Pre-Sale 3 Day Pass (Until July 28) $75, gate $90.

24. Grizfest, Tumbler Ridge, BC July 31 - August 1 www.grizfest.com Now entering it’s ninth year, GRIZFEST is unsurpassed in its beautiful mountain setting, great music and a community who is committed

BC Musician | May - June 2010

See the Festival Map on Page 28

to the success of the festival. Performers include Loverboy, Mariana’s Trench, Doc Walker, Nazareth, Chilliwack, Social Code, and more. Tickets $45 until July 15, $55 until July 30, $65 at the gate.

25. Sky High Blues Festival, Rock Creek, BC July 31 - August 1 http://skyhighbluesfestival.com Enjoy the best Blues ‘n’ BBQ party you’ll have this summer. Get ready for a weekend of fabulous music & fun in a no-hassle, noncorporate down-home atmosphere. Families with children will love tubing down the Kettle River. Performers include Monkey Junk, Johnny Tornado’s Storm Riders, Big Dave McLean, Gaye Delorme, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Arsen Shomako. Weekend Pass $100.

26. Victoria Tango Festival, Victoria, BC August 4 - 8 www.passion4tango.com Unique to western Canada, this summer’s headlining performer is the Adrian Iaies Jazz Trio from Buenos Aires; opening concert features Jelena Milojevic and guests. Full lineup announced after June 1.

27. Peachfest, Penticton, BC August 4 - 9 www.peachfest.com This five day extravaganza featuring fantastic live entertainment often including, but not limited to, bands, solo/duo acts, dancers, martial arts demonstrations, hypnotist shows, a wide variety of food & merchandise vendors, arts and crafts exhibits, authentic aboriginal arts & crafts, two parades, various competitions, and even a Square Dance Festival!

28. Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Edmonton, AB August 5 - 8 www.efmf.ab.ca/ Held annually in downtown Edmonton’s beautiful Gallagher Park, the 2010 lineup will include Levon Helm, Calexico, Kate Rusby, Ian Tyson, Lau, Zachary Richard, Aterciopelados, Four Men and a Dog, Kailash Kher, and many more. Check the website for ticket information in June.

29. Calgary International Blues Festival, Calgary, AB August 5 - 8 www.calgarybluesfest.com Four days of the best blues, this year featuring: David Clayton Thomas, Little Feat, Lester Quitzau, Homes Brothers, Chicago Blues Reunion, Monkey Junk, Gary Comeau & the Voodoo Allstars, Mississippi Heat, Mason Rack

Festivals JULY - AUGUST Band, Sean Carney Band, Bob Deutscher & CheckOne2, John Lee Sanders Band, Mike Reilly Band, Marshall Lawrence Band, Morgan Davis with Tim Williams & the Electrofires, Arsen Shomakhov Band, David Vest Band with Bill Johnson, Randy O Band with Annika Odegard, Kelly Kavanagh Band, John Rutherford. 4-Day transferable pass $139 + tax.

30. The Festival At Sandpoint, Sandpoint, ID August 5 - 15 www.festivalatsandpoint.com The Festival at Sandpoint celebrates its 28th annual summer concert series with eight nights of eclectic music under the stars, on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille, in Sandpoint, Idaho. The season line-up welcomes back some favorite Festival artists who have performed to sell-out crowds over the past ten years including Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Keb’ Mo’, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Natalie MacMaster, and Michael Franti & Spearhead — who are amongst the most requested Festival artists — as well as up-andcomers Kristina Train, Crooked Still, and other talented opening acts. Early Bird Season Passes just $169 for 8 nights of music.

31. 10th Annual Musicfest Vancouver, Vancouver, BC August 6 - 15 www.musicfestvancouver.ca MusicFest Vancouver is celebrating ten years of bringing extraordinary live music to Vancouver, with a ten-day program running from August 6 - 15. The popular international festival of classical, jazz and world music will present over forty events in eight popular city venues, with a roster of top artists from across Canada and around the world. The festival’s kick-off concert at the Orpheum is a salute to its milestone year. CELEBRACIÓN! will be headlined by Grammy Award winner Poncho Sanchez, whose legendary Los Angeles-based ensemble is famous for its mix of Afro-Cuban jazz, salsa, and vintage Latin soul That show also includes three other top Latin jazz acts from Argentina and Canada. Other festival headliners include Germany’s award-winning Concerto Köln Chamber Ensemble and a showcase of Vancouver’s best choirs performing together as Vancouver Sings. Vancouver favourites the Borealis String Quartet and the gypsy-jazz ensemble Van Django are also booked. MusicFest Vancouver’s special 2010 spotlight is on Australia and some top-flight Australian artists are headed to Vancouver. The a cappella quartet The Idea of North brings its ear-pleasing mix of jazz, soul and gospel arrangements and a halfdozen other Australian classical, jazz and world music artists will also perform.

See the Festival Map on Page 28

12. 10th Annual Flowmotion Summer Meltdown, Darrington, WA August 6 - 8 www.summermeltdown.com A multi day grassroots music festival. Performers include: Flowmotion, The Presidents of the United States of America, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, The Everyone Orchestra, Hot Buttered Rum, The Mother Hips, The Mutaytor, EOTO, Acorn Project, Delhi 2 Dublin, and more. Weekend Pass after June 1 $120.

Adult weekend pass just $50, or Family pass $100. Camping across the road from the festival, free, but first come, first served.

37. Surge Festival, Quadra Island, BC August 7 - 8 Info: fashedo@hotmail.com

38. 4th Annual Elko Festival, Elko, BC August 7 - 8 Phone: (250) 529-7418

33. Regina Folk Festival, Regina, SK August 6 - 8 http://www.reginafolkfestival.com/home/ Enjoy a weekend of international talent, art and culture in an intimate setting. Performers include Ohbijou, Emily Wells, John Prine, Sarah Harmer, Justin Rutledge, Caracol, Calexico, Arrested Development, Patrick Watson, Buffy SainteMarie, and many more. Early Bird weekend passes to June 30 are just $85.

34. Osoyoos Bluegrass Festival, Osoyoos, BC Aug 6 - 8 www.osoyoos.com/festivals

39. Arts of the Edge, Kimberley, BC August 7 www.artsontheedge.ca This year’s festival has expanded to include a gala opening for our Juried Exhibitions, featuring a performance by Kimberley Summer Theatre; a kickoff downtown street party; two days of free, live outdoor music, dance and theatrical performances by professional and student arts groups in Kimberley’s Platzl, as well as a community art project, artisan market, arts workshops, and live painting demonstrations; and an open-air evening concert and dance in Coronation Park featuring musicians from across the Kootenays.

35. Shambhala Music Festival, Salmo, BC 40. Rare Earth Jazz & Blues Festival, August 6 - 9 Vernon, BC www.shambhalamusicfestival.com For the past 3 years, Shambhala has welcomed an audience of 10,000. Despite the numbers, Shambhala remains at heart an intimate occasion. Artistic and musical talent, imaginative costumes and remarkable individuals fuel the vibe of Shambhala, sowing the seeds of inspiration in a safe haven where nature and artistic expression entwine. Tickets go up in price depending on quantity remaining.

36. Edge of the World Music Festival, Haida Gwaii, BC August 6 - 8

August 7 - 8 www.rarearthjazzandbluesfest.com Artists working with artists sharing a rate piece of earth together. Performers include David Gogo, Black Heritage Pioneer Singers, Rumba Calzada, Jim Byrnes Barney Bentall, Alfie Zappacosta, Maria Muldaur, Andrew Allen, The Mason Rack Band, Rita Chiarelli, Wes Mackey, Sherman Doucette, Company B Jazz Band, Jon Buller. Sam & Luke. Until July 15 weekend pass $85, gate price $95.

41. 20th Anniversary Under the Volcano Festival, North Vancouver, BC August 8

www.edgefestival.com

http://volcano.resist.ca/

Welcome to the edge of the world on a remote western archipelago, Haida Gwaii, formerly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands. Here, for the past 30+ years more or less, the Edge of the World Music Festival has hosted musicians from Canada and from the world on a weekend in forest wilderness a stone’s throw from the ocean where music, people, food and fun fill a green grass field. It’s a magical weekend, so far away from the mainstream, truly an experience in paradise. There is so much to do: music on the stage, fringe and children’s entertainment on the grounds, crafts and food booths, laughter and good times. Join us this year - you’ll remember it always! This year’s performers include Scatterheart, Kinnie Starr, Santa Lucia, The Blue Voodoo.

Thirty artists, 4 stages, 20th anniversary of this festival of art & social change. Admission by donation, but with suggested prices based on income.

42. Spences Bridge Desert Daze Festival, Spences Bridge, BC August 13 - 15 Contact Steven Rice: (250) 458-2256 / e-mail: steverice53@msm.com Kicking off Friday night with a First Nation prayer, followed by dancing and music, Saturday will feature games, local produce, and music. Sunday starts with a pancake breakfast followed by more music, crafts, and canning classes.

BC BCMusician Musician | | May May- -June June 2010 2010

30 31

Festivals AUGUST - SEPTEMBER

Haines Junction

YUKON TERRITORY

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

Atlin

ALBERTA

Fort Nelson 97

Hines Creek

Fairview

Fort St. John Hudsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hope

Kispiox

Hazelton

Masset 16 Port Clements

Fort St. James Burns Lake

Kitimat

Driftpile

Vanderhoof

24 Prince George

Tlell Skidegate

Edmonton Stony Plain

Hixon

Sandspit

Nazko

Bella Coola

Grande Prairie

Houston

Prince Rupert

Tumbler Ridge 97

Smithers Terrace

Joussard

Mackenzie

Kincolith

Queen Charlotte

Dawson Creek

Chetwynd

ALASKA

Quesnel

Wells/Barkerville

Hinton

McBride Dunster Mt. Robson

Likely

Anahim Lake Nimpo Lake

Mcleese Lake

Blue River

Lac La Hache 5 Clearwater 97 100 Mile House Little Fort Green Lake

Gang Ranch

Clinton

1 Cache Creek Port Hardy Kamloops Lillooet 97 Spences Bridge 19 Pemberton Lytton Merrit Whistler 1 Campbell River Powell River 99 Boston Bar 5 Pender Harbour Courtenay Comox Penticton Squamish Cumberland Sechelt Yale Princeton 97 Roberts Creek 1 Hope Parksville Port Alberni 3 Nanaimo Chilliwack Osoyoos 1 Vancouver Ladysmith Ucluelet Chemainus Duncan WASHINGTON Sidney Victoria Sooke

2-14 16-21-23

Seattle

BC Musician | May - June 2010

Nordegg Red Deer

Horsefly Williams Lake

Riske Creek

Jasper

Valemount

10 Field Golden

Banff

Revelstoke

Canmore

Salmon Arm Enderby

Calgary

Fairmont Hot Springs

Vernon

93 New Denver Skookumchuck Kaslo Kelowna 6 Slocan Kimberley Sparwood Crawford Bay Winlaw Fernie Fort MacLeod Nelson 33 Castlegar Cranbrook Salmo Grand Forks 3 Creston

13 8

IDAHO

The Gorge Amphitheatre

MONTANA

Festivals AUGUST - SEPTEMBER 1. Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival, Salmon Arm, BC

5. Centralia OldTime Music Campout, Centralia, WA

10. Northern Lights Bluegrass Festival, Ness Creek, SK

August 13 - 15

August 9 - 15

August 20 - 22

www.rootsandblues.ca/ One of the foremost music festivals in Canada. This year’s lineup is as exciting as ever and includes Gord Downie & the Country of Miracles, Five Alarm Funk, Ex-Centric Sound System, Grupo Fantasma, Joan Armatrading, Joe Louis Walker, K’Naan, Maria Dunn, Martha Wainwright, Nomfusi, Ohbijou, Pura Fé, Raygun Cowboys, Shemekia Copeland, Shane Koyczan and the Short Story Long, Tom Fun Orchestra, Wassabi Collective, Watermelon Slim & the Workers.

www.centraliacampout.com Imagine warm summer days, a beautiful river front setting, while jamming all day long for more than a whole week! There won’t be any contests, stages, performers, or schedules to keep track of. This is a relaxed event for musicians who like lots of jamming and hanging out with old and new friends. Spontaneous, participant organized activities, such as a cocktail party, a square dance, a birthday party, a cornfeed or a hamburger and bacon feed, could occur at any moment. Suggested donation for the week is $65 per person.

www.northernlightsbluegrass.ca

Three-day advance passes (until August 6th) $135, Gate prices after August 7th $158. Limited camping is $75 for 3 nights.

2. Salt Spring Jazz Festival, Salt Spring Island, BC August 13 - 15 http://SaltSpringJazzFestival/ A stellar lineup of BC-based musicians and a mixture of concerts and workshops, this grassroots festival is quickly becoming an internationally recognized event.

3. The 11th Annual Burnaby Blues & Roots Festival, Burnaby, BC August 14 www.burnabybluesfestival.com One blues & roots-filled day, this year featuring Taj Mahal, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Serena Ryder, Lukas Nelson & The Promise of the Real, Colin Linden, Little Miss Higgins.

4. The Big Time Out, Cumberland, BC August 14 - 15 www.cumberlandvillageworks.com/events/ the-big-time-out The Big Time Out music festival will be back in Cumberland on August 14 and 15. Both days of the festival will be chock-full with ten hours of non-stop entertainment including circus performance, spoken word, acrobatics and, of course, flat out dance music. Led by the driving beats and powerful messages of hip hop sensation K’naan, the festival will be weaving its intricate mix of music, magic and sunshine in downtown’s Village Park. Other performers include DJ Champion, Winter Gloves, The Acorn, Ohbijou, Ruby Jean & The Thoughtful Bees, Vitaminsforyou, and more. Limited number of $80 2-day passes available until June 15.

6. International Calgary Reggae Festival, Calgary, AB August 19 - 21 www.calgaryreggaefestival.com Calgary’s ReggaeFest isn’t just for Reggae fans. It’s a full day family event that transcends racial, cultural and musical boundaries. With live performances from international Reggae artistes. ReggaeFest features a beer garden, separate youth area, and plenty of arts & crafts. Or get a taste of Reggae culture from the many food vendors.

7. Robson Valley Music Festival, Dunster, BC August 20 - 22 www.robsonvalleymusicfestivalbc.com Nestled in the glorious Robson Valley this little festival takes over the land of Mamaguroovers Shara Gustafson and Seth Macdonald. Performers include Kinobe & Soul Beat Africa, Linda McRae, Papagroove, Mamaguroove, Aurora Jane & Massive Change, Brian Macmillan, Fish & Bird, Blackberry Wood, Faye Blais, The F-Holes, Jean Paul De Roover, Joanne Chapman-Smith, Jesse Dee & Jacquie B, The Shaman, Sasha Lewis, Scott Dunbar, Moving Mosaic Samba Band, Free Soul, Andrea Ramolo. Special Kids’ Performers: Go Go Bonkers!, Roxy the Clown, Ta Daa Lady. Advance Tickets $65 until August 1, regular tickets $80.

8. Old Country- Western- Bluegrass Weekend, Midway, BC

of EarBuddies! Perfect for festival-going! 5 pairs to be won.

www.musicworkshops.ca

12. Music on the Mountain, Murray Ridge Ski Area, Fort St. James, BC August 27 - 29 http://momfestival.weebly.com/index.html Workshops, songwriters circle, roving theatre, childrens workshops and activities, socially conscious projects, beer gardens, culinary arts, magic, mayhem, and more! Performers include: Mamaguroove, Plaid Tongued Devils, Joey Only, Fish & Bird, Jesse Dee and Jacquie B, Scott Cook, Scott Dunbar, Jessice Heine, Random Order, Back Porch Swing, Brian MacMillan, Fred Eaglesmith, Diana Catherine, Rob Szabo, Kamila Martel and the Ne’er Dowells, Andrea Ramolo, Ory No’Man, Aurora Jane, David Gogo, The Sarah Burton Band, Faye Blais, Raghu Lokanathan, Sasha Lewis, Non Prophet Society, Matt Robinson. Weekend pass $75.

August 27 - 29 www.members.shaw.ca/greenwoodbluegrass/ Open stages, scheduled performances, community meals, dry camping. Bring your stringed instruments and be part of the action!

14. Morning Bay Vineyard’s Winestock Music Festival, North Pender Island, BC September 4 www.morningbay.ca Now in its 5th year, come and enjoy sampling the wines while enjoying the music from noon ‘til dusk, when everyone joins in a final monster jam. Only 300 tickets available.

15. Madfest ~ International Music & Dance Festival, Kimberley, BC

August 20 - 22

September 4

e-mail: midwaymusicfest@shaw.ca http://members.shaw.ca/midwaymusicfest/

Phone: (250) 427-4916 www.kimberley.ca/events/madfest

9. Princeton Traditional Music Festival, Princeton, BC http://princetonfestival.wordpress.com/

the subject line by June 30 and be entered to win a pair

August 28

13. Greenwood Bluegrass Festival, Greenwood, BC

August 20 - 22 Email info@bcmusicianmag.com with EAR BUDDIES in

11. Sorrento Bluegrass Festival, Sorrento, BC

We’ll start with a big public dance at sunset on Friday, and follow it with two days of concerts, jams, workshops and presentations from 10 am to 6 pm both days. The Festival is free.

16. Vancouver Island Blues Bash, Victoria, BC September 4 - 6 Contact for more Information: (250) 388-4423 or visit www.jazzvictoria.ca

BC BC Musician Musician || May May -- June June 2010 2010

33 32

Festivals AUGUST - SEPT. 17. 29th Sunshine Music Festival, Powell River, BC

21. Earthdance Festival, Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, BC

September 4 - 5

September 18

www.sunshinemusicfest.com/Home.html

www.earthdancevictoria.ca Worldbeat, fusion, dubforms

18. Chilliwack Bluegrass Festival, Chilliwack, BC September 3 - 5 www.chilliwackartscentre.com/index. php?id=50

19. Bumbershoot, Seattle, WA September 4 - 6 http://bumbershoot.org/

20. Pentastic Jazz Festival, Penticton, BC September 10 - 12 www.pentasticjazz.com

22. 14th Annual Pender Harbour Jazz Festival, Pender Harbour BC September 17 - 19 www.phjazz.ca Mix great jazz of all styles with small venues on the Sunshine Coast of B.C. and you have the phenomenon that is the Pender Harbour Jazz Festival. First established in 1966 by the local Music Society, the Festival is now an annual destination event for a crowd of jazz lovers from across the Pacific Northwest and Canada. audiences are exposed to 40’s swing, Gypsy, fusion, straight up, Dixieland, Afro Cuban and more. Wherever your musical heart lay before you came, it is bound to find something new to love. Next, most of the events are free. Seriously. This year, there are 30 performances, and only 4 are ticketed. A free jazz clinic with Miles Black is available to students of all ages on Friday afternoon. Performers include Dee Daniels,

See the Festival Map on Page 32

Dmitry Baevsky, Wil Campa y su Gran Union, Nancy Ruth, Astrid Sars, Zapato Negro, Swing Patrol, Doc Fingers, Pear Django. Tickets go on sale June 15.

23. Rifflandia 3, Victoria, BC September 23 - 26 www.rifflandia.com/

24. 10th Annual BC Rivers Day Music Festival, Prince George, BC September 26 http://www.riversdaymusic.org/ Come to Fort George Park and help celebrate our spectacular river heritage! This year’s theme will feature ‘Our Local Fish’ and we’ve assembled a line-up of all local talent to help celebrate. Performers include Out of Alba, The Pucks, Rick Stavely, Mamaguroove.

Summer long Festivals 25. Bard On The Beach Shakespeare Festival, Vancouver, BC June 3 - September 25 www.bardonthebeach.org Celebrating its 21st Season in 2010, Bard on the Beach is one of Canada’s largest not-forprofit, 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. The 520-seat Mainstage tent offers two productions performed in repertory from early June through late September. The Mainstage tent is open-ended so that the actors perform against a spectacular backdrop of mountains, sea and sky - a highlight of the Bard experience. The Douglas Campbell Studio Stage tent seats 240 and runs from the end of June through September. This intimate performance space features Shakespeare’s lesser-known plays or some of his great classics presented with less traditional stagings. This year’s productions are Much Ado About Nothing, Antony and Cleopatra, Falstaff (Henry IV, parts I & II), and Henry V.

For full details on Bard on the Beach’s season, check www.bardonthebeach.org or call them at 604-739-0559.

26. WOW! Wednesdays on the Wharf Summer Concert Series, Salmon Arm, BC June 2 - August 25 Begin at 7pm at Marine Park on the shores of Shuswap Lake every Wednesday. Admission is by donation, bring your own lawn chair or blanket. Local and regional musicians featured, all musical genres from jazz to indy rock to folk. Admission by donation.

27. Bard in the Bush Shakespeare Festival, Nelson, BC July 7 - 24 www.forstmedia.ca

28. Free Thursday Night Music in the Park Series, Gyro Park, Trail, BC Thurs. July 1 - Thurs. August 26 Phone: 250-368-3144 Website: http://www.trail-arts.com/events

BC Musician | May - June 2010

29. Free Wednesday Night Music in the Park Series, Nakusp, BC Wednesday July 7 - August 25, 2010 Toll-free: 1- 800-909-8819 Website: http://www.nakusparrowlakes.com

30. Free Revelstoke Summer Street Festival, Grizzly Plaza Revelstoke, BC Nightly Friday June 4 - Saturday August 28 http://revelstokecc.bc.ca

31. Free Music in the Park, Riverside Park Kamloops, BC Nightly 7 - 8:30 pm July 1 - Aug 31 www.kamloops.ca/events/musicinthepark. shtml

On tour with brasstronauts @ sxsw By Tariq I am awakened in the early morning hours by the sounds of shuffling feet, brushing teeth, taps running and Band Mum gently rousing the troops. This pattern of hazy, early mornings has become quite regular these last few weeks but still, I typically wake up half dazed, wondering where I am or what city I’m in. Am I at home in my bed? The spongy air mattress beneath me is a reminder that I am as far away from the comforts of my Vancouver apartment as I could possibly imagine. Suddenly, it all comes rushing back. Yesterday we drove from Jamestown to Buffalo New York, unloaded all our gear, went for Buffalo wings (that’s what you do in Buffalo), came back to this apartment and fell asleep so that we could wake up early and catch a plane to Austin. Yes, I am on tour and today...we’re going to Texas! Forty-five minutes later, we arrive at the Buffalo airport with empty stomachs. Darren, whose apartment we stayed at last night, is going to keep our van in Buffalo along with most of our gear which is now stacked in his living room. We are traveling with the essentials: clothes and instruments. Darren wishes us good luck and drives away as we look around for some help with our mountain of baggage. A man with a cart helps us bring the load over to the US Airline check-in counter. Our Band Mum (who is bass player John Walsh) is looking a tad stressed this morning and I know why. He’s thinking about budgets and how much it’s going to cost in excess baggage fees. That’s the sort of thing a Band Mum worries about and I think we can all agree - every band needs a Band Mum! It feels good to play in this group. I feel a sense of pride standing here in line with my five friends, a certain com-

fort and confidence in being part of this tight knit family that has been on the road together for over two weeks now. A good friend of mine once compared having a wife and kids to having your own “team”. Well, being in a band is kind of like that I think, like having your own team. “What band are you in?” asks a pretty girl standing behind me. “Brasstronaut,” I say. “We’re from Canada.” “Cool!” I’m thinking of ways to keep this conversation going when the lady at the counter ushers us forward with a shrill ‘next!’ We walk up and hand over our passports as the agent prepares our boarding passes. It takes about twenty minutes to get it all sorted, but finally I’m watching the last instrument, Edo’s keyboard, disappear down the “oversize” belt wrapped in its old, ripped, flimsy case held together with duct tape. I am thinking of East Coast songwriter Dave Carroll’s tune “United Breaks Guitars”. It feels like spring in Austin and the air is rich with the scent of an awakening earth. After checking into our hotel (all our baggage arrived safely, including Edo’s keyboard thankfully) we set off to explore downtown Austin. The Texas sunshine is intense. The brightness combined with my aching fatigue make me want to close my eyes and fall asleep on a patch of grass somewhere, but at the same time, I’m too revved up for sleep. My brain is buzzing. I’m wondering what will be written in this fresh new chapter called The South by Southwest Music Festival? After a very well needed lunch, we head to the Convention Center to pick up our Artist Badges. On our walk over, I see that a very strange picture is developing on the streets of Austin. Everywhere I look, I see white vans and trailers. Hundreds of them - driving, parking, double

parking. And pouring out of these white vans - BANDS! Everywhere I turn I see skinny jeans, Converse runners, leather jackets, keys dangling from belt loops, plaid shirts. Suddenly I feel a bit unoriginal in my similar attire. We find the Convention Center and join the cue for our badges. Imagine, five hundred rock musicians in a snaking line-up, all checking each other out. “It feels like the first day of school and everyone’s wearing their first day of school clothes,” says Sam who plays clarinet in the band. We collect our badges and set off in search of free beer which is apparently flowing at the “Artists’ Lounge” on the third floor. Ah yes, free beer; another essential part of the uniform. Today, we’re going to play our first show at SXSW at a place called ___. It’s around 11 AM and we’ve shown up early only to discover that the show might be cancelled. All of us are dumbfounded! There’s a lot of confusion and outright tension at the venue right now, angry promoters on cell phones, irate bar managers - not a good scene at all. An hour goes by. I’m standing around kicking at the dirty booze soaked carpet when a young promoter walks over and informs me that the show is now officially ‘a go’. Relieved, I ask him if we can use the drum kit that’s sitting on stage. He looks nervously around the bar then turns to me with eyes wild. “I dunno Dude - those are Travis Barker’s drums!” he says with deep conviction in his southern accent. “Who is Travis Barker?” I ask. “Wha, what...?” he stammers. “You, mean YOU DON’T KNOW who Travis Barker is?” “Uh…no,” I reply. Now he’s really getting worked up, and I’m kind of enjoying it. “He’s only the f*cking drummer for Continued on the next page

BC Musician | May - June 2010

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Continued from the previous page BLINK 182 MAN!” “Oh right,” I say, “you mean that Travis Barker.” Meanwhile, John and Edo are off trying to pick up amps from Shout Out Out Out Out who’ve agreed to lend us their gear. It’s now around 1 PM. The first band has voluntarily dropped off the bill and this means we’re up next. My phone starts vibrating madly - Band Mum is texting me a panicked message. It seems that he and Edo are trapped on the north side of town and can’t find a single taxi to get back. Simultaneously, the sound guy is asking me if we’re ready to do a line check. I lie and tell him the rest of the guys are ten minutes away. Another text message from Band Mum: “No cabs for 45 minutes! We are totally screwed!” I’m sitting in the lobby of the Hyatt Hotel, looking up into a gigantic atrium. I can see a couple of bats flitting around up there. Austin is famous for its bat population. We are just about to play our second show of SXSW here in the hotel bar and I’m wondering what this gig will be like. It’s definitely not our “rock show” - in fact, we’ve already been told to keep the volume low by the

hotel manager. It shouldn’t be a problem since drummer Brennan Saul has only a snare / high hat combo and I’ve got an acoustic guitar that doesn’t plug in. Everyone’s spirits are high. A few beers have washed away our earlier stress and we’re actually having a laugh now about this morning’s insanity. Believe it or not, after all the running around and confusion, the showcase went off quite smoothly. Edo and John managed to catch a cab back to the venue in time for sound check and Brennan even got permission to play Travis Barker’s drum set! I look around at my band mates. Everyone looks ready to go. We start gently with “Requiem for a Scene” and slowly move into our more up-tempo songs like “Lo-Hi Hopes” and “Slow Knots”. As I strum the familiar chords, I notice that people in the lounge stop their conversations and turn to listen. Right above me, I see four or five of the hotel staff leaning over the railing, looking down at us and moving to the unexpected rhythms floating upwards from our instruments. By the fourth song, I can feel the band digging in a little harder. Bryan suddenly runs off in the middle of “Hearts Trompet” and before we have a chance to wonder what he’s up to, he

Answers to BC place names quiz Chilliwack Fort Nelson Hudson’s Hope Abbotsford Port Moody 100 Mile House Watson Lake Prince George Lytton Boston Bar Lytton Hotel Lac La Hache Clinton Prince Rupert Victoria Hope Duncan Quesnel Williams Lake Kelowna Salmon Arm Merrit Grand Forks Creston

The Great Outside Welcome to Resource-full Land of Dinosaurs & Dams A City in the Country City of the Arts Handcrafted Log Home Capital of Canada Gateway to the Yukon The Gateway: Yours to Explore Canada’s Hot Spot Centre of the Fabulous Fraser Canyon Home of the World Famous Jelly Roll! The Longest Town in the Cariboo Gateway to the Cariboo City of Rainbows City of Gardens Chainsaw Carving Capital of Canada City of Totems Gold Pan City Stampede Capital of BC Ripe with Surprises Heart of the Shuswap Country Music Capital of Canada The Jewel of the Boundary The Heart of the Kootenays

BC Musician | May - June 2010

appears on the second floor in time for his solo. By the fifth and sixth songs, I see figures appearing on different floors all the way up the atrium. People are watching us from their balconies, while the bats are diving around. What an unexpected and brilliant gig this has turned out to be! “You guys sounded great from the twelfth floor,” declares a smiling, athletic gentleman as we pack up our gear. Someone else wants to buy the vinyl version of our album Mount Chimaera. Then there’s more good news - we are informed that there were some celebrities in the audience tonight. As it turns out, members of Broken Social Scene are guests at the hotel and they liked what they heard. Apparently, they are coming downstairs to have drinks with us! Sure enough, less than five minutes later they descend the staircase like Gods, a procession of rock royalty before our eyes, making its way to the bar. Have I died and hit the big time? It sure feels like it. If anyone asks whether the Austin trip was worth it, well I know now what my answer will be. Just then, a friendly guy with messy hair and beard extends his hand out to me. “Hi, I’m Kevin Drew, nice show, man!”

View From The Venue will return with the July /August issue. Do you know of a venue, off the beaten path or well-trodden, that deserves a little more attention? Let us know! Hell, write about it and we just might use your venue review. Email info@bcmusicianmag.com with your suggestion.

Gold Pan City Dance Studio in Quesnel

BC BC Musician Musician || May May -- June June 2010 2010

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H o w i spent my sum m e r va cati o n Pti i Continued from page 18 the springs. J and I played ping-pong with some teenagers while waiting on everyone’s laundry then we packed up the 3 vehicles and drove down Highway 93 through the ice fields. A couple hours in, Paul asked if we could pull over, possibly, to see “something scenic”. Without missing a beat, Tolan eeched The Duchess into a turnout displaying turquoise water, snowcapped mountains and a beach. “How’s this?” He asked. Traveling with someone who’s never been to Canada makes you really appreciate the majesty. And we saw a bear! Got to Prince George and played an intimate concert at Meow Records. Even though the record store made its home in a cement basement, it was incredibly hot. And the band had grown. We were now Carolyn Mark and Table for 8. The hostess of the party/record shop owner had been at the show last winter when I opened for Corb Lund at the arena. She had witnessed the riots and the “show us your tits” contingent and she and a couple of other ladies wrote and invited me back for a completely different Prince George experience: An all girls vintage clothes trading fancy cocktail and cupcake party! I had forgotten about the all girl part and showed up with about 4 guys, give or take. Did I mention it was BOILING HOT down there? We took turns almost passing out. We got to stay at the delightful Alisa Speed’s house. She’s a pink-haired rocka-billy siren with a gorgeous house, everything 40’s, a backyard and an old red classic car in the garage. She even left us non-dairy coconut ice cream that Juli

could eat and slept somewhere else herself! What a woman.

Prince George to Wells

Hot. Far. There may have been invan drinking. “Does everyone drink and drive in Canada?” Paul asked Dave explained to him that we weren’t drinking and driving, we were drinking while driving. Got in just before dusk to the crazy Northern colourful odd little town of Wells, BC. The houses are all brightly painted and it’s got dirt roads and boardwalks like in Dawson. Checked in. Got our passes. Did we eat? We must have. We all stayed at Yael’s (Yael Wand, beautiful dark-haired singer who Juli also plays with) spare house (imagine!). Her houses were originally in historic Barkerville — the ghost town down the road — but Yael and her husband bought them and moved them to where they now stand. The whole real-house-ghost-town-house-notion really appeals to my brain. Did I mention I put Tolan’s van in the ditch? Yeah, that was fun too. But that first night we had an all hands on deck practice on the back porch, singing into the pitch black to no one. Best show of my life! I found out later that Paul, who was still in the clutches of jet lag and on top of that, now sun burnt and bug bitten, had been scolded by Juli, who is a bit of a safety bear. She caught him throwing a cigarette off the porch and said “Oh you can’t do that.” Paul, who had been givin’er on the ukulele and backups thought she meant musically, like she was scolding him for what he was doing musically — “Oh you

BC Musician | May - June 2010

can’t do that” — so he went for a cry in the yard, probably getting more bug bites. I didn’t know any of this until later. The Artswells Festival is weird. There’s like a million bands and hardly any money, the food is scarce and it’s really far away. Despite all that, it’s pretty awesome. Word around the campfire is that some bands feel that they should be taken better care of- that if they got fewer bands, there would be more for everyone. I felt lucky to have a house. A lot of the other bands were camping in tents or bedding down refugee-style in the gymnasium. The first year I was invited I said yes. Because it’s always nice to be invited and not have to hustle, I said yes. The money was crap but I’d just go alone. Actually, that’s how I really got to know Juli, she was going so I hopped in with her. After I said yes, all these bands emailed me to see what I was getting paid. This seemed nosy to me so I lied. “Oh $1500,” I said. “$1200,” I lied. I figure either you want to go or you don’t. The money usually works itself out and besides it’ll never be enough anyway and something’s better than nothing and motion beats inertia and playing beats the shit out of not playing. That’s why I lied to those other bands. I was trying to prove a point. And hey, I thought, if Geoff Berner goes, it must be something. I must confess that this year, as in this one coming up, I asked for more money, because they can only give me half of what they paid me last year since their funding got cut. They said no. I’m still going. I think. Walked into town on Saturday. The Gordie Tentries Band had kidnapped Tolan. I found him at the gas station hanging out with his new best friends. Did

Email info@bcmusicianmag.com with BACK COVER ADVERTISER in the subject line by June 30 and be entered to win a pair of tickets to Vancouver Island Music Fest!

a morning songwriting workshop with Gordie Tentrees, Dave Lang and another woman with short hair and a cool green dress. I remember keeping the juice girls very busy making us watermelon nectar to go with our tequila for our ‘teambuilding’ band drinks. I remember our matching outfits, oh, and the generator malfunctioned right before we went on so there was some waiting around while the techies panicked. Eventually it fired up again and we got to play. I loved our show. Geoff Berner was sitting stage side in his fedora and ice-cream suit tapping a toe. Our new back-up singers — Megan and J, aka The Tourettes — and the Pauls did a lovely job of oohing and ahing and shaking it. I had an 8-piece band and they were into it! Heaven. J was emceeing both nights on the indoor main stage and was really throwing herself into her work. I am a total slacker compared to her. Maybe we just have different styles of host(ess)ing. On Sunday afternoon we ended up in Barkerville. The year before, Juli and Sara Hart and I had played in the old school house. Then we found ourselves playing the piano for whisky root beers at ye olde saloon and then we went for dinner at ye olde ghost town Chinese Food restaurant. (The first year was magical and I’ll never learn the lesson that you can never go back.) So this year, after poking around the shops, we went to the Chinese food restaurant. It was sweltering inside and busy. Actually, the reason I wanted to go is that I thought Tolan would like it — he loves Chinese food — but oddly enough he wasn’t even with us. So 8 of us, including the hilarious Rae Spoon, were hunched and sweating around a table waiting for inexperienced teenaged waitresses to take our orders. Amongst the 8 of us, there is Some His-

tory. This History tends to make itself apparent in times of discomfort. Since I am the one that knows everyone, I guess that makes me the leader. I can see it all. This makes me feel noble and smart in my mind later, but makes me seem tense and weird on the outside at the time. It’s overwhelming and exhausting to see everything. I could see J smooshed and sweaty against the wall on the other side of Dave, who was making every effort to annoy her. I’m pretty sure I heard her mutter, “If you don’t stop this instant, I’m going to stick this fork in your eye!” I was telling filthy jokes trying to get a rise out of Rae to pass the time until the food came. We made up the concept of the Comedic Rosary — the jokes that bands repeat on tour for comfort. Finally the food came. The last item brought to the table was, oh no he didn’t, was The Sizzle Plate. For Dave. I mentioned it was boiling hot, right? It was like ordering a plate of rage. When the molten dish was placed in front of him I knew that when J’s glasses fogged up that behind the steam, there were hot tears. Eventually we got the hell out of there and back at the van, in the comparatively cool parking lot, it all seemed a lot funnier than when we were inside. A spiritual sauna of sorts. Saw Dave Lang, Geoff Berner and Paul Mosley’s solo sets. Paul got another standing ovation and he told me that the $200 I got for him was the most he’s ever been paid for a show. If you think Canada’s bad, try London! To celebrate, we took him skinny dipping in this lake that we found later was an old garbage dump. I cut my foot open on a rusty old tuna can and Paul’s sunburn was really coming along. J was emceeing the main stage that night and we promised to drive her

home after she was done. Wax Mannequin’s set was awesome. I drove us back to ‘our house’ round midnight, and Tolan, who was hammered, kept trying to blast this Van Halen tape, but the speakers were blown in the van and it was very foggy and I couldn’t see and the music was distorted and distracting so I kept turning it off, and he kept turning it on and right when I was seriously thinking about killing him, we got to the driveway. Had coffee and salmon sandwiches at The Bear’s Paw the next morning before heading out. It was hot and dusty and there was a stormy feeling in the air. Made it to Clinton, BC and the 8 of us celebrated with a huge patio picnic at this cute hotel. The next night we played the Railway Club in Vancouver. We had a fun show, everyone played great but they have new owners and a new booker and there is no tab or drink tickets any more and they charged us GST at the end of the night. I cried because I was tired and mourning a lost era. I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it: The second you expect anything from playing music, you are going to be disappointed. I just hate it when I get tired and the disappointment surprises me. The next day, Tolan and Paul and I headed for Powell River. Tolan was living up there and had a groovy cabin and a recording set-up. After two solid days of loafing and movie watching, we recorded one of Paul’s songs and I think it could be a big hit. It’s about pirates. Barely made it on the Sunday morning ferry. We were two minutes late and we had to beg the ferryman to let us on. Somehow it worked. Mostly I think because we had Paul with us. There really is such a thing as first time magic. If you take someone who has never been, things will work out.

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www.bcmusicianmag.com 路 www.adampwsmith.com

The Sojourners with Paul Pigat

Boxcar CD Release, Rogue Folk Club November 14, 2009.

BC Musician | May - June 2010

Regular

(After June 30)

www.imarts.com • 1-800-442-2787 • info@imarts.com

Tuesday, July 27 - Friday, July 30 • Songwriting with Ken Whiteley (contest details in BC Musician) • Roots, Slide and Fingerstyle Guitar with Tim Williams • Songwriting & Rhythm (Ages 6 - 18) with Corwin Fox & Kia Kadiri

check out these inspiring pre-festival workshops

Plan your stay in Wells

Adult Pass includes a $20 Voucher to spend at the Merch Booth, and both Adult and Youth receive a limited edition 2010 poster. Camping not included.

artswells.com • 1-800-442-2787

Adult - $75 Adult - $95 Youth - $30 Youth - $35 12 and under - free

(Until June 30)

Earlybird

Over 80 Musical Acts on 8 Stages in 2 Towns Over 4 Days • Tons of Workshops • One Minute Play Festival • ArtWalk • Fun Stuff for Kids • Discounted Admission to Barkerville Historic Town

July 30 - August 2, 2010 Historic Wells/Barkerville, BC

ARTSWELLS FESTIVAL OF ALL THINGS ART

ISLAND MOUNTAIN ARTS is pleased to present the

VOTED ONE OF CANADA’S TOP TEN FESTIVALS BY CBC RADIO 3’s 2010 SEARCHLIGHT CONTEST!

July 9-11 • 2010 COMOX VALLEY, BC • 6 Stages • Kidzzone • Riverside Camping • Workshops

Featuring... Roberta Flack Little Feat Nanci Griﬃth Joan Osborne Adrian Belew Peatbog Faeries The Unthanks David Lindley The Holmes Brothers Calypso Rose Dan Hicks and The Hot Licks Po’ Girl The Gertrudes Tannahill Weavers Mae Moore Jesse Zubot Tanya Tagaq... and more!

Tix: 1-866-898-8499 Get you Tix before the June 30 Early Bird Deadline!

m o c . t s e f c si landmusi