Six concerts that are under-the-radar
This month, Vancouver shares not only a time zone with Coachella the annual California music festival but the hidden gems as well. Here are some shows worth checking out, as if you were, say, wandering past a packed tent on Empire Polo Field...
Zeus, Two Hours Traffic and Rah Rah (April 13 at Biltmore Cabaret) Out-of-towners feeling adventurous could do worse than this triple bill of Canadian pop/rock bands. Doors 7pm, show 7:30. Tickets $16.50. Visit Ticketmaster.ca.
Angel Olsen (April 21 at The Media Club) American singer/songwriter on tour for her second album Half Way Home, with guests Villages. Doors at 8pm, show at 9. Tickets $12.00 (plus appl. s/c) advance, available online at Ticketweb.ca.
Family of the Year (April 24 at Electric Owl) Los Angeles-based, folk-pop band on tour to support their latest release Loma Vista. With guests Reuben and the Dark. Doors 8pm, show 9:30. Tickets $15.00 (plus appl. s/c) advance, available online at Ticketweb.ca.
Purity Ring (April 25 at Vogue Theatre) Canadian electronic pop duo, on tour to support their debut release Shrines. With guests Blue Hawaii. Doors 8pm, show 9:30 p.m. Tickets $20.00 (plus appl. s/c) advance, available online at NorthernTickets.com or phone 604-569-1144.
Marnie Stern (April 25 at The Media Club) New York-based singer/songwriter/guitarist on tour for her latest release The Chronicles of Marnia. Doors 8pm, show at 9:30. Tickets $13.00 (plus appl. s/c) advance, available online at Ticketweb.ca.
Hannah Georgas (April 27, Rio Theatre, 1660 E. Broadway) Acclaimed BC.singer/songwriter on tour for her second, self-titled album. With guests The Belle Game, a Vancouver band with an excellent new record, Ritual Tradition Habit. Doors 7pm, show 8. Tickets $22.50 at Ticketmaster.ca.
And five Must-See Concerts in Vancouver this April
Missed Rihanna when she was in town earlier this month? No worries. The rest of April is filled with great music in Vancouver (and the concert was supposed to be a dud, anyway). Heres a look at some Canadian legends, rising stars from across the pond and one artist formerly and currently known as Prince, who will be performing this month.
Marianas Trench (April 12 at Pacific Coliseum) The pop-punk rockers from right here in Vancouver first hit the scene with their 2006 debut album Fix Me. They went on to garner popular acclaim for follow-up effort Masterpiece Theatre. Their current tour supports their most recent album, Juno-nominated Ever After, with its hit singles Havent Had Enough and Fallout. Tickets start at $29.50.
Randy Bachman (April 13 at Commodore Ballroom) Guess whos coming to the Commodore? Iconic, grey-bearded Canadian guitarist and songwriter Randy Bachman is best known for his work with 1960s rockers The Guess Who, as well as the 1970s powerhouse which was Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Winnipeg-born Bachman will be takin care of business as part of his Vinyl Tap tour, an allusion to the popular weekly music show he hosts on CBCs Radio One. Tickets start at $39.50.
Prince (April 15-16 at the Vogue Theatre) The Purple One himself is coming to Vancouver for a two-night stand this April. As part of a West Coast tour of smaller, club venues (as opposed to his usual arena stops), Prince will play four separate shows at the tiny Vogue Theatre on Granville Street. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Prince fans also comes with a once-in-a-lifetime price. Tickets (now only available through resellers) started at $250.
The Holmes Brothers (April 17 at Vancouver FanClub) American blues legends the Holmes Brothers bring their blend of gospel, country and R&B to the intimate confines of the FanClub. Hailing from Virginia, the Holmes Brothers have recorded and performed with Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Peter Gabriel and Willie Nelson over the last half century. NPR says, Their voices are rough enough for a juke joint and smooth enough for church. Tickets $25.
k-os (April 20 at Commodore Ballroom) Canadian-Trinidadian rapper and songwriter k-os is known for promoting a positive message in his lyrics and challenging hip-hops obsessions with money and violence. A gifted musician who sings, plays guitar and plays keyboards, he incorporates influences as diverse as reggae, funk and rock into his songs. K-os and his band stop in the Commodore to support the release of their fifth album, 2013s BLack on BLonde. Tickets start at $25.
