Happy New Year! As you likely know, Canada celebrates its 150th birthday this year. What you might not be aware of are several other significant anniversaries and birthdays that are occurring during 2017 in our city and its surrounding area.
Stanley Park Be-In: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the hazy Summer of Love. That means it’s also the Golden Year for the first-ever Human Be-In, which occurred on March 26, 1967. About 1,000 hippies gathered in Ceperley Meadow, in Stanley Park, to enjoy music by Country Joe & the Fish and other assorted acts booked by local impresario Jerry Kruz. Kruz promises the Be-In will be back in the park this summer for the big 5-0, details pending.
Under the Volcano: The world-famous book by British literary titan (and infamous drunkard) Malcolm Lowry turns 70 in 2017. While the novel – cited as the 11th best of the 20th century by Modern Library – is set in Mexico, it was completed while Lowry and his wife, Margerie Bonner, were infamously living in a waterfront squatter’s shack in what is now Cates Park in North Vancouver. When the shack caught fire in 1944, Lowry’s wife braved the flames to save the manuscript, but all of Lowry’s other works were lost. In 1947, the book was published. Ten years later, Lowry was dead “by misadventure.” His legacy on our shores lives on: The Malcolm Lowry Trail can be found in the eastern end of Cates Park. No word on any official recognition of the book’s anniversary, or if the long-running Under the Volcano music festival, held in the park during the 1990s, will be resurrected.
The Real McKenzies: Who would ever have guessed that the drunken lark started in 1992 by local Scottish-Canadian musician Paul McKenzie would make it to the 25-year mark? That’s right: 2017 notches a quarter-century for the pioneering bagpipe-blaring Celtic punkers. Over that time, the McKenzies have released 12 albums, racked up countless world tours, had a book written about them (the outrageous Under the Kilt by Chris Walter) and seen dozens upon dozens of sporran-sporting musicians stumble through their ranks. Their 25th-anniversary album, Two Devils Will Talk, will be out this spring. See the local legends live at the Rickshaw on March 4.
Vancouver Folk Music Festival: Lordy, lordy, look who’s 40! While our venerable folk festival actually held its first-ever gathering (in the rain in Stanley Park) in 1978, the way counting works, this summer’s edition is the 40th. Years ago, the fest made the wise decision to relocate to the world-class Jericho Beach Park, and has never looked back. Discounted early bird tickets for the 40th-birthday edition (July 14-16) are already on sale. See you there!
Nardwuar the Human Serviette Radio Show: Thanks to his incredible catalogue of online video interviews with everyone from Snoop Dogg to Justin Trudeau, Nardwuar is a genuine YouTube star and a Vancouver treasure. Before the internet, the manic journalist had a long career on MuchMusic, but no matter what he’s been doing elsewhere, the Nard has steadfastly hosted his own radio show – a mix of interviews, music and live call-ins – every Friday at 3:30pm on UBC’s CiTR Radio (101.9 FM). In 2017, he celebrates the incredible milestone of 30 years of weekly broadcasts. Coincidentally, UBC radio itself celebrates 80 years of broadcasting in 2017, and last year, Nardwuar’s band, the Evaporators, celebrated their 30th anniversary.
