Lydia Hol | Beau

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LYDIA HOL

Since the release of her debut EP, Boats, in 2012, Lydia Hol has toured the country from coast to coast, filling rooms with her songs and stories. Lydia's time spent living in Ireland flavors her performances with a storyteller's honesty and charm, and her studies in English Literature has helped to shape her songwriting into an insightful, and mature art. Sharing the stage with folk legends such as Sylvia Tyson, Dar Williams, and Shari Ulrich, has further encouraged Hol's place as one of Canada's most dynamic young artists.

At the core is Hol's songs, embodying her essence as a musician and lyricist. On both fronts, they capture the essence of femininity through a delicate, elegant take on folk – simultaneously subtle and sultry; sometimes vulnerable, other times tenacious. Her voice and guitar anchor a host of tasteful instrumentation that colours the tracks with tinges of everything from country to classical and beyond.

Lydia speaks to the themes of exploration and risk-taking threaded through her songs. As for the stories she tells, both in the songs and in between them from the stage, Hol is a student of literature and skilled wordsmith. Some of those shared are her own; others are borrowed, like "Mistress of the Track," about Canadian jockey Ron Turcotte, and "Loneliest Word," based on a Wordsworth poem, both which soar from her perspective.

She has been recording and rethinking and recording again. She's reinvented herself as an r&b singer and a sensitive singer songwriter and ended up somewhere in between. She has released 4 singles from her new album so far, including the title track Love and Devotion and a very cool cover of Hall & Oates’ Rich Girl.

Lydia's communal spirit reaches beyond her own music, and into the broader music world as well, as she is passionate about promoting songwriting and community.

BEAU

Beau (formerly Sarah Wheeler) is a queer artist and recent cancer survivor who is defined by power house vocals and an indomitable positive spirit. A blazing live performer. Although she has enjoyed collaborating with other musicians, lending her vocals to recordings such as A Small Wonder by A.C. Newman of the New Pornographers, and sharing the stage with artists including Dan Mangan and Tanya Tagaq, this Vancouver-based artist has consistently remained focused on writing and performing her own music.

Life changing experiences inspired her last album Revival. Having been diagnosed with cancer and undergone treatment that kept her from performing for a year, Sarah wrote much of what would become her newest album during that time. Wheeler wrote, performed, produced and recorded all of the songs for Revival, giving it a perspective that is uniquely homemade. The result is a collection of songs with an unforced honesty and message of positivity through dark times.

Beau is a third generation Vancouver born Canadian singer/songwriter who has leant her vocals to recordings such as “Don’t You Think We Should Be Closer” by Edmonton’s Mark Davis of Old Reliable, and played live with artists including The Be Good Tanyas. None of which means anything without something to say. Wheeler’s new album is a true Revival. Growing into a seasoned recording artist has been a natural progression for Sarah. In the present day pop culture climate of false celebrity, Sarah is an old fashioned believer in remembering that the true power of music is the love of it.

COVID-19 Policy: We will be operating in full compliance of all BC Health restrictions. We are limited to 50% of our usual capacity. Dancing is not permitted. The wearing of masks is highly recommended. Everyone in attendance should be fully vaccinated. Volunteers, staff and performers will be as well. Restrictions may change after September 7th when Step 4 of the BC Restart Plan is scheduled to come into effect. Please check back then.

Sponsorship Opportunities: These are available for all our shows. For a nominal cost, individuals or businesses can sponsor any of our shows and reap a number of benefits - free tickets, reserved table, recognition on literature, our web site and at the concerts. For more information simply contact our Sponsorship Director Morris Biddle at [email protected]