This week marks the return of the much-anticipated CBC Toque Sessions. This free concert series, now in its fifth year, returns to the CBC Vancouver Broadcast Centre (700 Hamilton) on Thursday, January 23 at 7:30pm with performances from Canadian country pop-singers Hayley and Jess Moskaluke, and Friday, January 24 at 7:30pm with indie-pop group The Belle Game.
CBC Vancouvers Toque Sessions is one of the citys local gems, says Johnny Michel, senior managing director of CBC British Columbia and Alberta. Not only are the weekly concerts opportunities to get out and experience a terrific free evening with friends and family, but concert-goers are treated to some of the best and diverse Canadian musical talent this country has to offer.
There will be no reservations for the performances. A rush line will be in place for each show, beginning at 6:30pm, and seating is limited.
The Toque Sessions will continue every Thursday and Friday, with headliners such as The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer and Dean Brody, until February 28.
Granville Island is gearing up to celebrate its ninth annual Winterruption on February 14-16.
New this year, join a Meet Your Makers tour showcasing Granville Island spirits including the Liberty Distillery.
The Vancouver Fringe Festival presents the hilarious comedy Hockey Show at the Pub & Pickle at Studio 1398, while the Coastal Jazz & Blues Society brings you ticketed performances by Vancouver pop prog-rockers We are the City February 14, and the mellower sounds of Canadian act Wake Owl the next day. The lineup of free concerts resembles more what youd expect from a Coastal Jazz offering, with two shows each of Qalandars Arab-improv fusion, Vancouver pianist/vocalist Jillian Lebeck, smoky-vocaled French singer Saint-Pierre and Thelonious Monk tribute Monks Music (our pick of must-see show of the festival).
Family fun is front-and-centre with appearances by stilt dancers parading down the streets, mask-making workshops and live performances by Charlotte Diamond. Discover artists exhibits, local food and pop-up dance performances around every corner of Granville Island all weekend long. Information at CoastalJazz.ca; Tickets at NorthernTickets.com.
Following on the heels of the Summer Music Video Fund, Public Records and TELUS are launching the Winter 2014 Music Video Fund a grant program that supports and gives exposure to emerging Canadian musicians and filmmakers.
The grants offer musicians and filmmakers across BC and Alberta up to $7,500 to produce music videos this winter, while retaining full rights to their content. The final music videos will appear on TELUS Optik Local and online.
We were blown away by the response to the Summer 2013 Music Video Fund thousands of artists joined the community, and hundreds more applied for grants, says Dan Costello, co-founder of Public Records.
To be eligible for a grant, participants must be musicians or filmmakers from the following communities: Metro Vancouver (including Whistler, and now Sechelt & Gibsons), Victoria, Nanaimo, Prince George, Kelowna, Penticton (now also covering Oliver and Osoyoos), Kamloops, Vernon (now also encompassing Salmon Arm & Armstrong), Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie. Interested candidates can register on www.publicrecords.org. Official grant submissions take place January 27 to February 7.
For more details, visit PublicRecords.org
