There's something for just about everyone in the musical lineup for this year's White Rock Sea Festival and the Semiahmoo First Nation's Semiahmoo Days.
A wide array of musical performers and styles on two stages will be a notable feature of this year's celebrations, which will be presented side-by-side again this weekend (Aug. 2, 3 and 4).
At the Spirit Stage in Semiahmoo Park, the line-up of artists for both Saturday and Sunday is predominantly in the roots, blues and rock categories, with tribute acts bringing back the sounds of such acts as Creedence Clearwater Revival, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks, Neil Diamond, The Tragically Hip and AC/DC, among others.
At the P'Quals Stage in Memorial Park (on the West Beach waterfront next to the old Station building housing White Rock Museum and Archives), Saturday's musical policy will highlight a decade-by-decade journey through the pop hits from the pioneer days of the Roaring '20s up until the glitz and glamour of the 1980s and 1990s, culminating an a tribute to the huge crossover success of Shania Twain (courtesy of Totally Twain).
On Sunday, the variety will continue at the P'Quals Stage with everything from singer-songwriter performers, to world music, pop, funk and progressive country, culminating in a salute to the music of Fleetwood Mac (as performed by tribute act Fleetwood Magic).
Events at the Spirit Stage get underway at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, as SFN Chief Harley Chappell and White Rock Mayor Megan Knight officially launch both celebrations.
Next up, at noon, will be a performance by the SFN's youth troupe, the Kwel Eng Sen Kids Dance group, followed at 12:30 by family-friendly act Enchanted Characters.
At 1 p.m. The Aristo-Cats – an amalgamation of top Vancouver-based rock and blues talents, including Southern-rocker Charles Johnson, Johnny Fatiaki, Buss Marr, Mike Kalanj, Chris Nordquist and Johnny Ferreira – will take the stage, while at 2 p.m. Buddy and the Scarecrow will play their original blend of jam-style blues, rock and roots.
The 3 p.m. slot is reserved for indie songstress Tess Anderson and her five-piece band, mixing pop gloss with gritty alternative rock, while at 4 p.m. Bad Moon Risin' is sure to draw a crowd with its evocation of the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival.
At 5 p.m., fans of Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks are in for a treat when Dave Danylchuk of Perfectly Petty and Raphael Roquemore of Gold Dust Gypsy join forces for a set; followed at 6:30 p.m. by all-star party band Famous Players – featuring an impressive line-up of four lead singers – who will keep the crowd jumping with top hits from the '50s to the '80s.
Meanwhile at the P'Quals Stage on Saturday, the music starts at noon with this writer's all-star pocket big band, Alexander Browne and his Boulevardiers, recreating the dance hall vibe of White Rock's legendary Blue Moon during the Jazz Age of the 1920s and early 1930s.
The old school piano (Shannon Scott) and bass (Russell Sholberg) duet Mood Indigo take the stage at 1 p.m.to revisit jazz standards from the 1930s, followed at 2 p.m. by the smoky, rich vocals and traditional jazz trumpet stylings of Bonnie Northgraves and her trio, moving the afternoon's time-journey forward from the 1920s all the way to the 1940s.
At 3 p.m. stellar lounge-style group The Tom Cats, featuring pianist Tom Arntzen, will take the music from the rockin' '50s to the stylish '80s, followed at 4 p.m. by The Odd Trio, who will take listeners on a trip through groove, soul, reggae, urban beats and funky vibes.
At 5 p.m., the aptly named The Hits will offer a live jukebox-full of the best dance numbers from the '50s to the present, and at 6 p.m. the distinctive sounds and looks of the '80s will be embodied by theme cover band VanCity Vice.
At 7 p.m. it's the turn of Canada's premier Shania Twain tribute artist, Michelle Reid and her Totally Twain crew, creating an authentic experience featuring dazzling costume changes and spot-on versions of all of Shania's country and crossover hits.
Music gets underway again on Sunday at the Spirit Stage, with Enchanted Characters at noon, and a set by a duet from Famous Players at 1 p.m.
At 2 p.m., Langley-based Bargain Shoppers Club will get feet stomping with its guitar, mandolin, fiddle, bass and drum mix of folk, rock and country , while at 3 p.m. it's the band Gift Shop, five seasoned Vancouver music scene performers offering a heartfelt tribute to the Tragically Hip.
At 4 p.m. star tribute performer Bobby Bruce, with his Nearly Neil and The Solitary Band, will have the crowd singing along with all of the Neil Diamond classics, followed at 5 p.m. by high-energy country band Lawless with their brand of dance-able favourites from the '80s to the present.
At 6 p.m. the music of AC/DC will be lovingly recreated by local band BC/DC, who, in 25 years of touring, have gained their own iconic status, redefining the concept of tribute band.
The musical schedule at the P'Quals Stage at Memorial Park starts up again Sunday with a noon performance by young Canadian singer-songwriter and producer JIMI, combining story-telling, soulful guitar lines and intimate vocals with what has been described as "musical maturity beyond her years."
At 1 p.m. looping artist Cory Curtis will demonstrate how he weaves his spontaneously created music into a full orchestral sound by laying down and layering repeating tracks, then at 2 p.m. Devon Webber, former frontman of high-energy rock band Redwoods, will entertain with vocals and multi-instrumental prowess.
At 3 p.m. the intriguing combination of Dubai-born, Hong Kong-raised singer Anushka and Abu-Dhabi-born violinist Fiona D'Silva will blend classical with pop and other genres, followed at 4 p.m. by the duo of vocalist/percussionist Leslie Harris and guitarist Curtis DeBray, two-thirds of popular Vancouver act Lesismore, perfroming new original music as well as hip covers of traditional blues and roots classics.
Another interestingly international touch will be added to the lineup, at 5 p.m., by the pop, funk, rock and punk rock sounds of the ARIETTA Band, whose members hail from Mexico, Italy and Vancouver. Kunda, at 6 p.m., will bring world music to the fore in a joyful cross-cultural celebration of West African interactive percussion, music and dance.
After an evening welcome from Chappell and Knight at 7 p.m., the music will continue at 7:10 p.m. with Orchard Sky, a project, by Vancouver vocalist Krystle Dos Santos and Edmonton guitarist Mitch Smith, that takes country in new sonic directions.
Rounding out the program at 8:30 p.m. will be festival closers Fleetwood Magic, paying thoroughly authentic homage to the hits of Fleetwood Mac with exacting vocal and instrumental work, plus vintage costuming.
