START YOUR WEEK RIGHT WITH THE V.I.A. WEEKLY PLAYLIST WEEK 227: The Imperial's Anniversary *Special Edition*

With over 36,000+ artists, boasting more than 150,000+ tracks, the CBC Music/CBC Radio 3 web site is the absolute ultimate authority, and the home, of independent music in Canada. With that massive library along with tools for members (free to join!), we’re taking advantage of what they’ve set up by bringing you a fresh batch of music every week featuring local groups who have tracks (entire albums, even!) on the R3 site.

		SCENE AND HEARD showcases the independent music scene here in Vancouver.

At VIA we LOVE when new venues open up in the city...more awesome places for local, national and international bands to play. Well this weekend is The Imperial's one-year anniversary and they're celebrating with three awesome shows featuring a LOT of local talent. Thursday June 12th is Hey Ocean, with Good For Grapes, Friday features The Zolas, with James Younger, and Damn Fools, and finally Saturday check out The Dudes, with Mindil Beach, and Rolla Olak. (You can get your tickets here.)

We asked the Imperial's Technical Director, (and conveniently the birthday boy this weekend), Kai Johnson, to put together some of his favourite Vancouver acts that have performed this year at the Imperial and translate it into playlist form. Click on the images below to hear the playlist and Happy Birthday to the Imperial (and Kai!)...