Summer weekends on the Sunshine Coast may be serene, but never silent. Lineups of the acclaimed artists who will perform at three unique summer music series — launched earlier this month — have been released by organizers.
In Gibsons, the Town sponsors free concerts every weekend at a trio of locations: the marina gazebo, the Winegarden Park amphitheater, and the bus shelter opposite the town’s municipal offices.
“Yes, it’s that time again,” said Music in the Landing producer Kevin Crofton, “the summer is 95 per cent booked.”
This Saturday, July 13 at 2 p.m., the Squamish Canoe Family will return to the waterfront for a program of music and storytelling from the Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw. The performers are themselves paddlers in the annual Canoe Journey that unites nations from Oregon to Alaska.
That evening, the local band Magic Carpet Ride (Peter van Deursen, keyboards and vocals; Budge Schachte guitar; Graham Ord, saxophone; Tim Rannard, drums) will perform a mix of high energy blues and rock featuring compositions by Ray Charles, The Allman Brothers, Steppenwolf, and James Brown. On Friday in the gazebo, Gibsons resident and internationally-acclaimed singer-songwriter Michael Friedman is also scheduled to appear.
The summer itinerary for Gibsons comprises a wealth of locally-based performers embracing musical styles from around the globe, including guitarist Josh Searles (Aug. 16), Brazilian percussionist Celso Machado (Aug. 24), and the beguiling vocals of Jessica Hart (Aug. 23). Genre-busting ensembles like Cinema Paradiso (Aug. 16) and the Karen [Graves] and Budge [Schachte] Quartet (Aug. 3) showcase musical versatility.
Even emerging talent is set to shine. During the opening weekend, Grade 11 student Aamin Khosla performed Indian songs and covers while accompanied by her father on guitar. On July 20, the youth grunge band BELT (Joshua Paolozza, Julian Bailey, Brielle Taylor, Jack Davis) will take to the stage; earlier this year the existential rockers recorded their debut album.
In Sechelt, on Saturday afternoons in Hackett Park, free concerts also feature a range of Coast talent. On July 13, the Anagram quartet will perform in the amphitheater.
“I tried to take July off and almost succeeded... except for this one gig on July 13 which I just couldn’t say no to!” exclaimed Anagram pianist and vocalist Anna Lumiere. She is joined by Graham Ord on sax and flute, James Meger on bass and Mike Ardagh on drums. “We will play funky jazz, Latin jazz, and — well, jazz.”
Other upcoming Sechelt performances will feature the Go Duo (the official house band of Persephone Brewing), original rock by the Midds, nostalgic alt-folk rock by the Aitchies and Janky Tyger, sultry jazz by Wanda [Nowicki] and the Coast Crew, and indie roots band the Empty Streets.
Meanwhile, on weekends in Roberts Creek, the park behind the Roberts Creek Community Library comes alive for Slow Sundays in the Creek. The free series is supported by the Roberts Creek Community Association with help from grants from the regional district and the federal government.
The Slow Sunday artists are announced week-by-week; audience donations are collected to compensate musicians. The series launched on June 30 with an all-Canadian song celebration.
This weekend, on July 14 from noon until 3:30 p.m., five performances will pack the gazebo stage: resident strummers the Beachcombers Ukulele Group Singers, Randeesh, youth grunge and folk artists Syd Jorgenson & Hog, John “Ten Bear” Thompson and the Monty Montego Reggae band.
All three music series announce their performances online: Music in the Landing publishes at facebook.com/Music.Landing, the Sechelt Summer Music Series listings are at sechelt.ca/en/arts-and-recreation/summer-music-series.aspx; and Slow Sundays in the Creek are promoted via facebook.com/groups/SlowSundaysintheCreek.
