Steve's Blog
Wednesday August 1, 2012

Hi everyone

What a fantastic opening afternoon / evening we had at Shorefest last Saturday! Wonderful sets from Oliver Swain's Big Machine, Headwater, Harry Manx, Barney Bentall, and Jim Byrnes & Steve Dawson - plus some truly mesmerizing Vietnamese dancers and singers. The Rogue Stage on Sunset Beach looked - and sounded - fabulous! It's amazing to see the Rogue logo and "Rogue Stage" in four-foot high letters above that stage! Huge thanks to Shore 104.3fm and Brand Live and Kian Sound and Honda and everyone else who makes this possible.

1. Shorefest Part 2 w/ The Be Good Tanyas, Dustin Bentall & Kendel Carson, The Breakmen and more - Rogue Stage at Sunset Beach, Wednesday August 1st, 4pm to 8:30pm

The action kicks off at Sunset Beach, next to the Aquatic Centre, at 4pm this afternoon with those wonderful harmonies and memorable melodies from The Breakmen. Next up is country / folk / rock songwriter Dustin Bentall with ace fiddler / singer Kendel Carson, and we close the night with the only major Vancouver festival appearance this Summer - and indeed, their first in many years - for The Be Good Tanyas. It's Brazilian night at the Celebration Of Light, and there will also be cultural programming from Brazilian-Canadians, including the music and capoieira of Ache Brasil. It's free, it's Rogue, it's spectacular, it's Canadian, it's multicultural, and it's going to be amazing! See you there!

2. Pacific Curls with special guests El Grupo Cubano, Thursday August 2nd, 8pm at St. James Hall, 3214 West 10th Avenue

It happens to be my birthday and I was thinking "what would I like?" How about a concert featuring the compelling Polynesian rhythms, soulful vocals and soaring celtic fiddle music of New Zealand's Pacific Curls? www.pacificcurls.com Then maybe spice things up with some hot Cuban music by El Grupo Cubano. Sounds good? I think so! Now, I'm not asking for any presents, but your presence would be greatly appreciated, especially as the Cubans need a prestigious gig like this to help them secure the funding and credibility to tour Canadian festivals next year. Pacific Curls were in great form at Mission last week, and I've heard so many great things about the young Cuban group that I'm just dying to see them in action. The Curls have just released a fine new CD, Te Po, and Steve Dawson just finished recording a new CD with the Cuban group, so these bands are both at the height of their creativity right now. It's going to be a marvellous night!

3. Laura Smith, Friday August 3rd, 8pm at St. James Hall, 3214 West 10th Avenue

We are delighted to present a very rare concert appearance on the west coast by Nova Scotia singer / songwriter Laura Smith. This one is selling fast, so make sure you get a ticket. Laura is currently recording a CD of traditional Scots / Cape Breton songs - at the suggestion of Penguin Eggs editor Roddy Campbell, so her rich voice will be soaring on traditional melodies as well as her signature songs like "My Bonny", "I'm A Beauty", and "It's A Personal Thing." Not to be missed!

www.laurasmith.ca

Next week we have two amazing bands at CBC Studio 700 (Linda McRae on the 7th and Joy Kills Sorrow on the 8th) but for now celebrate the moment(s) with the sights and sounds of Shorefest tonight, Pacific Curls tomorrow, Laura Smith on Friday, and more fabulous music on The Rogue Stage at Sunset Beach on Saturday with The Great Lake Swimmers, Joel Plaskett, Cousin Harley, Viper Central, Bocephus King, and Patrick Brealey - starting at 2pm and running to around 8:15. And don't forget to tune in to CiTR fm 101.9 this Saturday 8am to noon for The Edge on Folk and a chance to win tickets to the Subdued Stringband Jamboree in Bellingham next week and Joy Kills Sorrow at CBC.

Tickets for all the concerts are on sale at Rufus' Guitar Shop and Highlife Records, as well as online.

Shorefest is free - courtesy of Shore 104.3fm! Come visit our booth next to the stage, where you can also purchase CDs by the evening's performers.

See ya later

Steve