Do you love music and love to sing? Do you enjoy meeting others who have a love of music? Well Shera Kelly is looking for you. Shera Kelly is a singer and songwriter that is starting a community choir. Shera is a graduate of the Selkirk College of Music in Nelson. She teaches guitar and voice lessons in her East Van studio. Her aim is to feature the local music scene so think The Be Good Tanyas, Mother Mother and Hannah Georgas. The inspiration for this choir came from one of her students who simply stated that they wished to be in a choir, but one that is ‘hip and urban’. Shera hopes that the music will inspire, connect and create community. The East Van Kitchen Choir gets under way Thursday, September 10th at 1549 Kitchener Street (at Commercial Drive). No experience? No problem, you are invited to come check things out. There is a small fee of $5 per session with the first session being free. To register or for more information, you can contact Shera Kelly at sherakelly@hotmail.com or 604.600.9783.
East Van Kitchen Choir Kicks Off September 10th
2 Sep
The Day Trippers Beatles Experience At Federico’s Supper Club July 24
16 Jul
Do you love the Beatles? Well then Federico’s Supper Club, on the Drive has just the evening for you. On Friday, July 24th, Federico’s Supper Club will be hosting The Day Trippers Beatles Experience. The Day Trippers are a Vancouver based Beatles tribute band. They will transport you back in time to the early 1960s. They will showcase the lively music and spirit that made the Beatles a house hold name. The evening includes dinner, show and dancing for $55. Reservations are from 6:30 pm with the performance at 9:45 pm. You can make reservations by phone or online at Federico’s Supper Club.
Share this:
Carnival Dance Party At The Croatian Cultural Centre July 25
15 Jul
Do you have lots of energy, love to dance and move your feet? Well then this party is for you. Melo Productions is hosting SOCA Meets Salsa & Reggae Dance Party at the Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Drive, on Saturday, July 25th. You can expect to find Latin and Caribbean vibes that will be sure to get and keep you moving all night long. Music will be by Daddy Mikey, Latin DJ El Nino and DJ Grindhouse. Doors open at 8:00 pm and the dance party gets under way at 9:00 pm. Tickets are $15 and available in advance from TicketWeb.
Share this:
Trout Lake Outdoor Summer Concert Series July 8 – August 26, 2015
22 Jun
The Trout Lake Community Center, 3360 Victoria Drive, begins their weekly free outdoor Summer Concert Series Wednesday, July 8th at 6:30 p.m. with the Brock House Band. This is a 17 piece big band with a vocalist style from the 1940-1970s and includes a dance performance by Dez Dancer during their break. The following week, July 15th you will find Silk Road performing. Up next on July 22nd the Soda Crackers hits this stage with vintage country, jazz and roots music.
July 29th brings Group Truva to the stage with a combination of traditional Turkish and international influences. On August 5th, Caracus will explode on stage with Ska beats, jazz, Afro-Cuban rhythms along with tons of Latin mojo for what is expected to be a lively show. On August 12th, the Rio Samaya Band brings you original songs and poetry that combine Latin, reggae and rhumba. Deanna Knight & The Hot Club of Mars will travel back in time on August 19th and bring you sounds from the early jazz era of the 1920s and 1930s. Lastly, on August 26th Kara-Kata Afrobeat Group brings you a mix of many sounds including reggae, Calypso, gospel, modern funk, jazz, blues, salsa and more.
All performances will be held on the East side of Trout Lake Community Centre. There will again be a BBQ and a kids art station. You are invited to bring a blanket, bring the family, your friends and come enjoy the music. Dancing is encouraged. Note, any rained out concerts will be held in the Grandview Room.
Share this:
Live Jazz Music At Tangent Café During International Jazz Festival
18 Jun
The Vancouver International Jazz Festival kicks off June 18th and continues to July 1st in and around Vancouver. The festival is now in its 30th year and features 1,800 artists from Canada and around the world. There are 300 performances during the course of the festival that take place at 35 different venues around the City. East Van’s Tangent Café located at 2095 Commercial Drive regularly features live jazz music and for this year’s jazz festival, will have a steady line up of talent to showcase. We’ve set out their schedule below along with the start times. There is a $10 cover charge for all of the shows.
Thursday, June 18th, Paul Rushka Trio, 8:30 pm
Friday, June 19th, Victor Noriega Quartet, 8 pm
Saturday, June 20th, Jodi Proznick Trio, 8 pm
Sunday, June 21st, Oliver Gannon Trio, 8 pm
Monday, June 22nd, Pram Trio, 8:30 pm
Tuesday, June 23rd, Davidovici/Blake/Poole, 8:30 pm
Wednesday, June 24th, Bruno Hubert Trio, 8 pm
Thursday, June 25th, Mike Allen Quartet, 8 pm
Friday, June 26th, Two Much Guitar, 8 pm
Saturday, June 27th, Brad Turner Quartet, 8:30 pm
Sunday, June 28th, Van Django, 8 pm
Monday, June 29th, James Danderfer, 8 pm
Tuesday, June 30th, Ihor Kukurudza Trio, 8:30 pm
Another venue which will be showing some musical talent is the Libra Room at 1608 Commercial Drive. There are also some free events at various venues around Vancouver. For a full rundown of events, visit Vancouver International Jazz Festival.
Share this:
Community Day At The York Theatre Sunday June 21
17 Jun
You are invited to attend Community Day at the York Theatre, 639 Commercial Drive, this Sunday, June 21st. While you are on the Drive enjoying Car Free Day, make your way down to the York Theatre and join them for some family fun. They will have free entertainment, hot dogs, popcorn, prizes AND you will get to watch Women’s World Cup Final 16 soccer on the big screen. Doors open at 11:00 am. There will be a traditional welcome at 11:30 am and at 12:15 pm the entertainment and music kicks off. At 1:30 pm, they will be showing the FIFA Women’s World Cup Final 16 Soccer Game. To reserve your spot(s) RSVP here.
Share this:
Pandora and The Locksmiths: Awakenings At The Rio Theatre June 20
12 Jun
Well East Van, you are in for a treat on Saturday, June 20th. Pandora & The Locksmiths present “Awakenings” featuring New York City headliner Peekaboo Pointe and special guest musicians Black Dog String Quartet. A Gastown fixture for four years, Pandora & The Locksmiths is now producing their first independent large-scale show in East Vancouver. The Black String Quartet has been dubbed “Vancouver’s Hottest String Quartet” and their members have performed and recorded with acts like Kanye West, Mariana’s Trench, Mariah Carey, and 54-40. Peekaboo Pointe is based in New York City and is an internationally renowned burlesque star and has competed for “Queen of Burlesque” at the New Orleans Burlesque Festival and Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender. Awakenings will celebrate the many facets of femininity as inspired by the natural world through glamorous striptease that follows the course of a day from sunrise to midnight. You can expect fierce and beautiful burlesque that unfolds to the lush interpretations of a 10 piece orchestra playing classical, jazz and modern day music. This is a one night event only taking place at the Rio Theatre on Saturday, June 20th at 8:00 pm. Advance tickets are available at Brown Paper Tickets for $25. Some tickets will available at the door for $30.
Feature Photo Credit: Reckless Photography
Photo Credit Below: Fubarfoto
Share this:
Italian Day Returns To Commercial Drive Sunday June 14
11 Jun
In East Van, we are fortunate to be home to some great community events. One of our favourites happens this Sunday, Italian Day. This is your chance to experience everything Italian from the food, to the music to the culture. The 5th Annual Italian Day returns to the Drive with this year’s theme being ART. So you can expect to find Italian art showcased or you can make your own. The Britannia Community Centre will be hosting an interactive photo-art project between Noon and 3:00 pm in the Britannia Courtyard. As well, I’m Impressed Paper Arts Ltd. will have supplies available so you can create your own art.
The Drive which is very much alive most days of the week will be transformed for Italian Day where you will be able to walk the Drive from Broadway to Venables and find over 100 merchants and guest vendors, a line up of food trucks and carts, more than 20 restaurant patios and an array of things to see from Italian honey bees to classic cars and motorcycles. The Italian Cultural Centre will be hosting live opera at the Grant Street music stage as well as jazz with Cory Weeds. Of course, you can expect to find Federico Fuoco center stage drawing a crowd as always at the 2nd Avenue Main Stage along with Carmelina Cupo.
For the kids, there will be lots to see and do including arts and crafts in the Little Italy Kids Zone and Funswing amusement rides in Grandview Park as well as balloon twisting and face painting. Other street activities also include the Whitecaps/BMO Fun Zone with kicking cage as well as the Car2Go sponsored Bocce Court. Some new additions to this year’s festivities include a new third stage at Grandview Park which will showcase Italian martial arts demonstrations by Blood and Iron as well as improv by Theatre Temp from Templeton Secondary School and Marionette Puppet Shows by Carnival Sized Cinnamon Hearts. Opening Ceremonies kick off the event at Noon on the Main Stage at Second Avenue and festivities run till 8:00 pm. There will certainly be something for everyone here. Come out and celebrate all things Italian!
Share this:
Italian Market At The Italian Cultural Centre Friday June 19 With A Little Extra Italy
9 Jun
Il Centro Italian Cultural Centre invites you to celebrate Italian Heritage Month with them at the Italian Market on Friday, June 19th. The Italian Cultural Centre is located at 3075 Slocan Street (at Grandview Highway) in East Vancouver and has a number of great events taking place this month, so be sure to check out their website to see what they have lined up. Although the night market runs every 3rd Friday of the month from 3:00 to 7:00 pm until November 20th, the market on June 19th will have a few extras. There will be the usual produce grown locally including Fresh Roots and Glen Valley Artichoke Farms with artichokes, fresh greens, beans, tomatoes and herbs as well as Farmhouse Natural Cheeses, Sweet Thea Cakes with fresh pies and baking and Stepping Stone Bakery will have biscotti, cookies and squares. You can also expect to find fresh fruit, vegetables, handmade products by local artisans as well as food prepared by Il Centro’s Chef including house baked breads which will be available for purchase. Take note seed lovers, Fresh Roots will also be conducting a seed exchange at their booth. So you can bring your seeds to trade with others attendees.
The Italian Market will also be hosting two local wineries, Kalala Organic Estate Winery and Township 7 Vineyards. And if that isn’t enough to make you come out, they are welcoming back Bella Gelataria who will be selling their gelato and Demiani Fine foods will be on hand with an assortment of pasta sauces, olive oils and balsamic vinegar and Orazio’s Olive Oil will be sampling their products. And if are wanting to learn to cook your pasta ‘just right’, Peter from Pasta Familga will be doing a pasta making demo from 5:30 to 6:15 pm which will cover all the basics. There will also be an outdoor ‘bistro’ set up where you can sit down and enjoy the food and live Italian music featuring Gianni Fuoco. There will be a few food trucks on hand for your dining pleasure including favourites Via Tevere Pizzeria Nepoletan and the Cannoli King with fresh filled cannoli, Sfogliatelle, chips and dip as well as Hotties with fresh pasta. We expect this will be another great market. See you there!
Share this:
Lesismore At Federico’s Supper Club Thursday June 11
8 Jun
Lesismore will be performing at Federico’s Supper Club, 1728 Commercial Drive, this Thursday, June 11th. If you have not heard them perform, you are missing out. Lesismore seamlessly mixes elements of roots, R&B, funk and blues into a high energy sound that is uniquely their own. Their charismatic lead singer Leslie Harris has often been compared to Dinah Washington and Bonnie Raitt. The musicians are guitar virtuoso Curtis DeBray, along with one of Vancouver’s most in-demand drummers, Nino DiPasquale and one of the great veteran bassists of the West Coast scene, Lee Oliphant. Come and enjoy an a la carte dinner prepared by the renowned Remy Prasad while they perform between 7:30 and 10:00 pm. The dance floor at Federico’s awaits you should the music move you. To ensure your spot, reservations are recommended and can be made at T: 604.251.3473.
Photo Credit: Andy Cotton
ILiveInEastVan.com 