Live music

Hospital employee Shannon Bower (left) is hoping to give a special gift to Sir Elton John at his concert Friday evening. Her co-workers Berni Russell, who made Elton-style safety glasses, Kavita Dabla and manager Janine Lapierre, along with hospital foundation staff Terra Scheer, Andrea Woo, Tim Staunton, and Gabriella Matute are backing her ambitious goal. (Heather Colpitts/Langley Advance Times)

Hey, Elton John, can you give Shannon a wave in the fourth row?

Langley woman’s last minute offer for a friend’s concert ticket has her hoping for the musician’s help

 

Johnny Reid and three backing musicians played back-to-back sold-out concerts in Prince Rupert Sept. 12 and 13. (Photo: K-J Millar/The Northern View)

Johnny Reid was someone loved on his “Love Someone” tour to Prince Rupert and Kitimat

Back-to-back shows sold out at Lester Center with 3rd sold out at Mount Elizabeth Theatre

 

Shawn Mendes performs “Summer of Love” at the MTV Video Music Awards at Barclays Center on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, in New York. Mendes is one of several musicians to cancel Canadian concert dates in recent weeks.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Charles Sykes-Invision-AP

From Mendes to New Kids, concert cancellations prove a costly gamble for fans

Fans sometimes stuck with hefty travel, hotel expenses

 

French horn musician and Royal Canadian Navy Naden Band member Alliszon Zaichkowski, right, plays one of her 20 conch shells during a jam session with her aunt, front left, and mother. Zaichkowski originally learned about the conch from William Golding’s Lord of the Flies and jokingly ordered her first one off eBay. (Courtesy of Alliszon Zaichkowski)

B.C. musician toots conch shell on Canada’s Got Talent; gets Howie Mandel’s support

James Bay resident builds on 21 years of French horn training

French horn musician and Royal Canadian Navy Naden Band member Alliszon Zaichkowski, right, plays one of her 20 conch shells during a jam session with her aunt, front left, and mother. Zaichkowski originally learned about the conch from William Golding’s Lord of the Flies and jokingly ordered her first one off eBay. (Courtesy of Alliszon Zaichkowski)
Canadian band Our Lady Peace will tour to B.C. cities this spring. (Submitted photo)

Holograms help power Our Lady Peace tour that includes Vancouver concert this spring

Alt-rock band touts ‘intersection of music and technology’ in partnership with ARHT Media

Canadian band Our Lady Peace will tour to B.C. cities this spring. (Submitted photo)
Rock band Dear Rouge performs at Surrey’s Party for the Planet festival in 2014, in celebration of Earth Day. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C.’s new ARC program aims to give musicians the tools to build sustainable careers

Applications from B.C.-based musicians now welcomed, with 15 to be picked for program’s first round

Rock band Dear Rouge performs at Surrey’s Party for the Planet festival in 2014, in celebration of Earth Day. (Black Press Media file photo)
Tim McGraw sings “Something Like That” in a video posted to Youtube.com. The American artist is booked to perform during the 2022 Rockin River Fest in Merritt, B.C.

Tim McGraw, Darius Rucker headline summer’s Rockin River Fest in flood-hit Merritt

‘Now more than ever, we need things to be excited about,’ city’s mayor says

Tim McGraw sings “Something Like That” in a video posted to Youtube.com. The American artist is booked to perform during the 2022 Rockin River Fest in Merritt, B.C.
The Vancouver Island country music festival Sunfest has been postponed the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Citizen file)

Canadian Live Music Association aims for clarity with live event regulations guide

Each province’s rules for live event gatherings is explored in detail in online guide

The Vancouver Island country music festival Sunfest has been postponed the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Citizen file)
Saanich residents Reb Stevenson (left) and Billy Reid are the duo behind Pancake Manor, a successful children’s YouTube channel. (Photo courtesy of Reb Stevenson)

B.C. duo drops new kids’ music as Youtube videos close in on 2 billion views

Duo behind Pancake Manor releasing their eighth children’s album this week

Saanich residents Reb Stevenson (left) and Billy Reid are the duo behind Pancake Manor, a successful children’s YouTube channel. (Photo courtesy of Reb Stevenson)
Johnny Cash, June Carter and others pictured on a page from “Memories From the Mountain,” a new book that documents the history of Merritt Mountain Music Festival in photographs by Surrey’s Dee Lippingwell. (Photos: Dee Lippingwell)

Merritt country music festival’s ‘crazy-ass scene’ recalled in photographer’s new book

Campground C party zone and more remembered in Dee Lippingwell’s third book

Johnny Cash, June Carter and others pictured on a page from “Memories From the Mountain,” a new book that documents the history of Merritt Mountain Music Festival in photographs by Surrey’s Dee Lippingwell. (Photos: Dee Lippingwell)
Live concerts could return to venues such as Blue Frog Studios in White Rock by year’s end - provided immunizations make a diference and COVID variants are held in check - according to a recent round table including provincial health officer Dr Bonnie Henry and reprsentatives of performing arts groups. (Submitted photo)

B.C. performing arts groups could see gradual return of live events

Round table between Dr. Bonnie Henry and arts groups gives rise to cautious optimism

Live concerts could return to venues such as Blue Frog Studios in White Rock by year’s end - provided immunizations make a diference and COVID variants are held in check - according to a recent round table including provincial health officer Dr Bonnie Henry and reprsentatives of performing arts groups. (Submitted photo)
Frequent buskers Johnny Bomblast, left, and Dave Harris perform in front of Munro’s Books on Government Street. The roommates recently completed a new album of original material entitled Clouds. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)

VIDEO: Not even a pandemic can keep a good B.C. street musician down

Buskers ‘One Man Band’ Dave Harris and Johnny Bomblast team up to record pandemic-inspired album

Frequent buskers Johnny Bomblast, left, and Dave Harris perform in front of Munro’s Books on Government Street. The roommates recently completed a new album of original material entitled Clouds. (Don Descoteau/News Staff)
Vancouver’s Blonde Diamond is one of dozens of B.C. bands who received a SoundON grant during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Lauren Zbarsky photo)

$500,000 more funds available to struggling B.C. musicians amid COVID pandemic

Successful applicants will receive $5,000 SoundOn grants in as early as a month

Vancouver’s Blonde Diamond is one of dozens of B.C. bands who received a SoundON grant during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Lauren Zbarsky photo)
The Rainmakers of Haida Gwaii (pictured) will perform as part of the Virtual Special Woodstock 2020 festival on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)

Rainmakers of Haida Gwaii set to perform for Special Woodstock

20th festival will feature musicians with special needs and other bands from around the world

The Rainmakers of Haida Gwaii (pictured) will perform as part of the Virtual Special Woodstock 2020 festival on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2020. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)
The Rainmakers of Haida Gwaii band decided to put on a pop-up Hospital Day performance on Saturday, June 20, 2020 at Echo Bay Lodge, intended for residents to listen to from a distance. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)

VIDEO: Rainmakers of Haida Gwaii surprise residents with pop-up Hospital Day set

Band performed live at Echo Bay Lodge so residents could listen, dance from a distance

The Rainmakers of Haida Gwaii band decided to put on a pop-up Hospital Day performance on Saturday, June 20, 2020 at Echo Bay Lodge, intended for residents to listen to from a distance. (Karissa Gall/Haida Gwaii Observer)
The band Spank the Plank performs at White Hart Pub in Surrey on Friday, June 12. (Photo: Tom Zillich)

Bar brings back live music as B.C.’s top doc warns singing spreads COVID-19

‘The hardest part is reminding people that they can’t dance, which isn’t easy,’ pub operator says

The band Spank the Plank performs at White Hart Pub in Surrey on Friday, June 12. (Photo: Tom Zillich)
Nettie Harder and her daughter-in-law Heather Harder play their accordions in the Queen Charlotte park on Sunday, May 10, 2020. The duo have been playing their accordions in public when there is good weather to spread “good cheer around the neighbourhood.” Nettie also tries to play outside the Bethel Assembly church in Queen Charlotte at 7 p.m. daily, a time when many Canadians have been stepping out to make noise in appreciation of health-care workers.

VIDEO: Mother-in-law, daughter-in-law accordion duo spreads cheer in Queen Charlotte

Nettie Harder and daughter-in-law Heather make up ‘The Discordions’

Nettie Harder and her daughter-in-law Heather Harder play their accordions in the Queen Charlotte park on Sunday, May 10, 2020. The duo have been playing their accordions in public when there is good weather to spread “good cheer around the neighbourhood.” Nettie also tries to play outside the Bethel Assembly church in Queen Charlotte at 7 p.m. daily, a time when many Canadians have been stepping out to make noise in appreciation of health-care workers.
Shambhala Music Festival has been postponed to 2021. File photo

Shambhala Music Festival postponed to 2021

The popular electronic music event near Nelson announced the news Tuesday

Shambhala Music Festival has been postponed to 2021. File photo
A performance during Tiny Lights Music Festival in the small Kootenay community of Ymir is seen here in 2017. The annual music festival has been postponed to 2021. Photo: Tyler Harper

Will the show go on? B.C. music festivals consider options over coronavirus

Summer events are running out of time to stay on schedule

A performance during Tiny Lights Music Festival in the small Kootenay community of Ymir is seen here in 2017. The annual music festival has been postponed to 2021. Photo: Tyler Harper
Alessia Cara is on a roll, being nominated for six 2020 Juno Awards. She was named Tuesday as host of the awards ceremony, on March 15 at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon. Photo by Olivia Alta

Alessia Cara to host and perform at 2020 Juno Awards

Multi-platinum Canadian singer-songwriter also up for six awards, including Artist of the Year

  • Jan 28, 2020
Alessia Cara is on a roll, being nominated for six 2020 Juno Awards. She was named Tuesday as host of the awards ceremony, on March 15 at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon. Photo by Olivia Alta