B.C. acts fit into world music fest
HARRISON HOT SPRINGS: Plenty of West Coast talent will be taking the stage from July 11-19
As usual, the emphasis on the Harrison Festival of the Arts, July 11-19, Harrison Hot Springs, is on global music, lest anyone thought they were alone in this world.
But there are a few B.C. acts that fit: The Curbside Trad Jazz Band (July 11), Red Chamber (July 11), The Balkan Babes, Tanga and The High Bar Gang (July 12), Don Alder (July 13), Oliver Swain’s Big Machine and The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer (July 17), Vashaan Ensemble (July 18), Paul Pigat’s Boxcar Campfire (July 19).
White Rock’s Concerts at the Pier gets under way, July 5, with Rich Hope, David Sinclair and Jeith Bennett and Good for Grapes.
A couple of weeks ago, The Garage slipped a gear and called Gary Comeau Gary Kramer. Kramer was a popular blues singer in the 1980s around the same time Comeau left Blue Northern to engage his love of Cajun music.
The Vancouver Folk Music Festival is unveiling its Young Artists Program. It includes a songwriting workshop with Said the Whale and Brasstronaut’s Tariq Hussain, and the recording of a single. Only 12 participants aged between 16 and 24 will be selected. The fest is July 17 to July 19, but the workshop starts July 15. The deadline to enter is June 30, today.
Among the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues’ (Aug. 14-16) many attractions is a tribute to the Grateful Dead, A Celebration of 50 Years of the Grateful Dead.
Shorefest, the incentive of LG 104.3 FM, has announced its festival of lights bill, July 25-Aug. 1. On the Sunset Beach Stage are Sadie Campbell, Tonye Aganaba, Brothers Landreth, Ben Rogers, Harry Manx (July 25), and on the English Bay stage are Bend Sinister, Platinum Blonde (July 25); Skye Wallace, Dawn Pemberton Steve Dawson, Colin Linden (Sunset Beach, July 29), Dustin Bentall, Randy Bachman (English Bay, July 29); Paul Pigat, Wes Mackey, Chin Injeti, Colleen Rennison, Daniel Wesley (Sunset Beach, Aug. 1); Kuba Oms, Chilliwack (English Bay, Aug. 1). Very diverse.
CBC Radio’s summertime Nooners concerts return. The noon-hour shows are outdoors at the CBC plaza. Kicking it off July 3 are Jim Byrnes and the Sojourners.
Kendal Carson and Dustin Bentall appear July 6, and the John Welsh
Band is there July 7.
News
The University of B.C.’s radio station, CITR, didn’t just move house, it took 46 years of history with it.
It’s been a rough ride to credibility but CITR has earned it. The station has left the old SUB building for a room in the new SUB. The last broadcast in the old room 233 was Saturday afternoon with the switch to the new at 2 p.m. Then it was open to CITR alumni who wanted to contribute over the air.
Carly Rae Jepsen’s newie is E-MoTion and is out Aug. 21. It includes I Really Like You, the hopeful follow up to Call Me, Maybe. That didn’t set the world on fire, so the next single is Run Away with Me. Sounds like there might be a theme here.
Tobias Jesso Jr. is the subject of a Pitchfork documentary, more or less telling the story of the development of his Goon LP. Contains a different version of Without You.
Current Swell’s video, Bad News, is an endorsement of the Canadian Mental Health Association. The Victoria band took part in CMHA’s Shoppers Drug Mart Ride Don’t Hide last weekend, a bicycle marathon. An EP, Home Is Where You Make It, is coming.
Shawn Hook’s single, Sound of Your Heart, went gold thanks to a boost from TV series, Rookie Blue. The next single, A Million Miles, from the LP Analog Heart, also is mooted for placement on Rookie Blue.
Hip hop specialist, Threat House, has a new single from its CEO, Tre. It’s Around The World.
Twin Bandit, the folkish duo of Hannah Walker and Jamie Elliott, has signed to Nettwerk. Album is For You.
Nearly 25 years later, Dog Eat Dogma’s Cucaracha has not one but two covers. Although you might expect Montreal’s Colectivo to adhere to the original punk rock version, it has a Latin treatment. Conversely, the Spanish band, Narco, from whom you might predict a Latin rhythm, actually is closer to the punk original.
The Tourist Company has a bunch of local dates, the first of which is July 3 at North Van’s Shipbuilder’s Square.
Children’s music duo Bobs and Lolo make their bow on Nettwerk’s Kidswerk with the LP Dirty Feet, July 31. Current video: Busy Bee.
Victoria’s Nick La Riviere releases his second LP. Another Time Around, July 29.
Ben Rogers’ Bloodred Yonder comes Aug. 14, preceded by the current single, Wild Roses.
CD of the week
The Garage doesn’t get many heavy metal albums, but it has been watching Unleash the Archers for a few years. It’s Time Stands Still is its first for an established indie label, Napalm Death, and you can hear how the band was ready to make the next big step in its development.
Singer Brittany Slayes always has said UTA liked all metal and was as much a fan of older bands (meaning Iron Maiden or Judas Priest) as newer (Lamb of God), but previously the seams were visible as some current ideas/trends seemed grafted on.
This is a much more integrated effort where speed and precision meet choppy riffs (Test Your Metal could be a Priest song).
Meanwhile, Slayes sings with a fury that aligns her with male singers Rob Halford or Bruce Dickenson. Album gets its official North American release July 7.
Competitions
Don’t Make ’Em Like They Used To is a remix of a song from The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer’s A Real Fine Mess. It launches the duo’s song competition, A Real Fine Melody. The winning entry will record the song for an Axe Murderer-produced single. Deadline is July 1, with the winner to be announced Sept. 1.