Too many music festivals this weekend… But I will be at the Vancouver Folk Fest
There is the Surrey Fusion Festival and the Whistler Music Festival on this week…
I think I will keep things simple and stay in Kitsilano, and bicycle over to the Vancouver Folk Fest at Jericho Beach. http://thefestival.bc.ca/
There are always lots of interesting cultural fusion performers as well as traditional performers. In particular I am looking forward to seeing:
Spirit of the West on Saturday night. These celtic-tinged Canadian iconic foot stompers feature Geoffrey Kelly on flute, whistles, bodhran, guitar, etc. Kelly appeared in the “Gung Haggis Fat Choy” CBC television performance playing penny whistle alongside The Paper Boys, in the opening sequence.
Kiran Ahluwalia, famous for peforming lush ghazals and lively Punjabi folk songs. I once saw her performing in the Jazz Opera “Quebecite,” written by George Elliott Clark and D.W. Jackson (who is half Chinese-Canadian).
Delhi 2 Dublin will blend traditional melodies from Ireland and Northern India with hip hop and bhangra beats.
Red Chamber is a Chinese music ensemble led by multi-instrumentalist Mei Han, and features Zhimin Rhu on roan (she was also in the CBC “Gung Haggis Fat Choy” television performance special performing as part of the Silk Road Music Ensemble).
Madagascar Slim blends American blues with African rhythms…
LAU a formidable union of three of the finest and most innovative exponents of modern traditional music in Scotland today.
Maeve Mackinnon A diverse Scots and Gaelic repertoire joined to a beautiful and distinctive voice.