Singer, songwriter, and recording artist Nat Jay is excited to announce the release of her acoustic EP, Quiet Dreams, on iTunes Tuesday, September 8. This release marks one year since the release of her highly acclaimed debut full-length, All I Think When I Wake Up, which is up for Pop Album of the Year at the 2015 Western Canadian Music Awards the following week. To celebrate Nat Jay will host an album release party on Saturday, September 12 at the Rickshaw Theatre, 254 East Hastings Street at 8:00 pm. Nat Jay will perform two sets at this unique show – one acoustic set with guitar and strings, and one full band set. The opener for the evening will be local buzz artist Jasper Sloan Yip, who is fresh off appearances at the Vancouver Folk Festival, Arts Wells and the Tiny Lights Festival. Since the release of her debut EP Lights Across the Sky in 2008, Nat Jay has shared the stage with Canada’s own two-time JUNO Award winner Dan Mangan, Matthew Barber, Oh Susanna, and Justin Rutledge, as well as New York City’s Jay Brannan and Australia’s folk-blues group, Angus & Julia Stone. Advance tickets are now available online at Rickshaw Theatre for $10 or at the door for $15 the night of the performance. Ticket prices are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Tickets are also available at Redcat, Highlife and Neptoon Records.
Album Release & CD Release Party for Nat Jay Rickshaw Theatre September 12th
7 Sep
Apple Ganza At Callister Park August 29th
28 Aug
You are invited to Apple Ganza this Saturday, August 29th . This is a free apple themed community celebration hosted in Callister Park. There will be family friendly events taking place throughout the day from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. The morning starts off with Apple Kickstart an apple pancake breakfast, apple picking and art activities for the kids. From 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm there will be workshops teaching you about juicing and baking with apples. Note, you are asked to RSVP for the workshops at callisterapples@gmail.com. More events continue in the afternoon from 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm with some apple games and an apple themed potluck dinner at 6:00 pm with local musicians joining in the fun at 7:00 pm. For more information or to donate apples from your trees, contact organizers at callisterapples@gmail.com.
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Artful Sundays Return To The Napier Greenway August 9-30
22 Jul
Artful Sundays return to the Britannia Community Centre this summer. This is an outdoor visual arts market that begins Sunday, August 9th and will run every consecutive Sunday until August 30th. This event now in its 15th year will feature local artists, special events, artist demonstrations, workshops and more. There will also be lots of live music on hand and we’ve set out below who will be on hand for each Sunday. The event will take place in the Napier Greenway at Napier Street & Commercial Drive from Noon – 5:00 p.m.
August 9
East Van Letter Writing Club – Resurrecting The Lost Art of Letter Writing
Live Music With Backspin Band Noon – 2:30 pm &
Russell Shumsky & Bud Kurz 2:30 – 5:00 pm
August 16
Workshop with Magpie’s Nest Community Art Space –
Making flowers from recycled plastic bottles
Live Music with Doug Thordarson Noon – 2:30 pm &
Rio Samaya 2:30 – 5:00 pm
August 23
Workshop with Avenue for/des Arts (AVA) Community Arts Table
Live Music with Lindy & the Crows Nest Noon – 2:30 pm
Katheryn Petersen 3:00 – 4:00 pm
Caitlan Read 4:00 – 5:00 pm
August 30
Workshop with Helen Spaxman & Diane Wood
Mixed Media Button Making Workshop
Live Music with Tim Sars Duo Noon – 2:30 pm &
Cosmic Wink 2:30 – 5:00 pm
Come out and support the local artists, musicians and workshops.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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
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East Van Vintage Car & Bike Show At The Whip Restaurant May 24
22 May
The Whip Restaurant, 209 E. 6th Avenue, is hosting the East Van Vintage Car and Bike Show this Sunday, May 24th, 2015. The event now in its 8th year and will show case pre 1989 cars, trucks and bikes. The Whip will also be putting on a BBQ with an extended licensed patio. There will be live music by none other than Cousin Harley. So good food, good tunes, some car history, we are sure it will draw a good crowd. The event kicks off at 11:00 am and runs till 4:00 pm.
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20th Annual Stone Soup Festival At Britannia Community Centre May 9
16 Apr
Britannia Community Centre, 1661 Napier Street, is hosting the 20th Anniversary of the Stone Soup Festival on Saturday, May 9th. This annual event is a celebration of food, art, environment and community. You can expect to find a food market, local artists, community groups, talks and workshops, live music, tea leaf reading, children’s activities, free soup and much more. The Stone Soup Festival aims to bring awareness to the issues of food security, the benefits of sharing resources and eating ‘local’ and celebrating the diversity of food in our neighbourhood, the environment and its importance to the culture of our community.
Some of the highlights from this year’s festival include:
The Food Connection: Spice Blending Demonstration/Workshop
12:00 pm
Family Activity Room
Hives For Humanity: A Bee Behavior Workshop
2:00 pm
Family Activity Room
Re-indigenizing The Land & Food System: Talk by Dawn Morrison, Secwepemc First Nation
3:30 pm
Britannia Library
There will be live music on the Commercial Drive Stage starting at Noon with the Carnival Band kicking things off, then at 1:00 pm Backspin takes the stage followed by the Tim Sars Duo at 2:00 pm. After that Russell Shumsky and Bud Kurz keep things moving about 3:00 pm and they are followed by Rio Samaya at 4:00 p.m. The Stone Soup Festival kicks off at Noon and runs till 5:00 pm. This is a family friendly event with lots of activities for the kids including face painting, storytelling and a kids activity area. For more information, contact the Britannia Community Centre at T: 604.718.5800.
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