Asian Arts Take Over Vancouver:
Top 8 Music Events for Asian Heritage Month
Welcome, cultural explorers and music aficionados, to a month-long celebration like no other! As May unfolds its vibrant tapestry of events across Vancouver, we're embarking on a journey of discovery and innovation, all in honour of Asian Heritage Month. Picture this: jazz melodies reverberating through the city streets, infused with the soulful sounds of ancient traditional instruments from Korea and China. It's a fusion of cultures, a meeting of minds, and a celebration of the innovative creations that emerge when East meets West.
Throughout Asian Heritage Month, Vancouver becomes a vibrant playground where creativity knows no bounds. From the mesmerizing rhythms of tabla virtuosos to the soul-stirring beats of K-pop night, each event is a testament to the rich diversity and cultural dynamism of Asian communities. Join us as we dive into a whirlwind of music, art, and cultural exchange, igniting our imaginations and expanding our horizons.
So, whether you're a seasoned enthusiast or a curious newcomer, come along and immerse yourself in the kaleidoscope of May Vancouver events celebrating Asian Heritage Month. Let's unlock creativity, forge connections, and revel in the beauty of cultural fusion like never before!
Exploring Asian Heritage Month: Must-Attend May Vancouver Events
EAST OF THE SUN - SE:UM (Korea) & JASMINE JAZZ
Friday May 3rd, 2024
Show: 7:30 PM
Venue: Anvil Theatre, New Westminster
Tickets (Tiered $15-$30): https://anviltheatre.ca/event/east-of-the-sun/
Saturday May 4 7:30pm
Show: 7:30 PM
Venue: Annex, Downtown Vancouver
Tickets ($19+fees) https://www.showpass.com/seum-jasmine-jazz-2024/
Join VIM, Caravan World Rhythms, Korean Cultural Centre, and Vancouver Chinese Instrumental Music Society as we celebrate Asian Heritage Month in a captivating double-bill concert blending Korean, Chinese, and Western jazz on May 3rd and 4th.
“East of the Sun” will be more than a performance; it's a cultural exploration and a celebration of musical diversity. It promises to be a night filled with stunning harmonies and unforgettable musical dialogues that blend the best of Korean, Chinese and Western jazz.
Experience the Vancouver debut of SE:UM, the esteemed Korean ensemble known for their fusion of traditional Korean folk melodies and shamanistic rhythms.
Joining them on stage is Jasmine Jazz, the 2023 Westcoast Music Awards' Instrumental Artist of the Year. This ensemble blends traditional Chinese instruments with contemporary jazz, creating a beautiful harmony of East and West with jazz classics, traditional Chinese folk, and original pieces.
Asian Heritage Month Event 2 - Zakir Hussain (Vancouver / Victoria)
Saturday Apr 27, 2024 - Vancouver
Show 8:00 pm / Doors 7:00 pm
Venue: Chan Centre For the Performing Arts (UBC)
Tickets (starting at $43): https://caravanbc.com/events/zakir-hussain-trio-tisra-vancouver-show/
Sunday Apr 28, 2024 - Victoria
Show 7:30pm / Doors 6:30pm
Venue: Royal Theatre, Victoria, BC
Tickets (starting at $48.25): https://caravanbc.com/events/zakir-hussain-trio-tisra-victoria-show/
Caravan World Rhythms presents Indian Classical tabla virtuoso and world music legend Zakir Hussain, making a highly anticipated return to Vancouver and the Chan Centre with a virtuosic trio featuring female flute player Debopriya Chatterjee and legendary Sarangi player Sabir Khan.
Asian Heritage Month Event 3 - Raagaverse Album Release
Thursday, May 9, 2024
Show: 7:00 PM
Venue: Fox Cabaret, Vancouver
Tickets ($23.13): https://www.showpass.com/raagaverse-jaya-release-concert/
Raagaverse, led by singer-composer Shruti Ramani, featuring Jodi Proznick, Noah Franche-Nolan, and Nicholas Bracewell, debuts their album "Jaya" at the Fox Cabaret on May 9, 2024. Shruti, a young, queer, Indian immigrant in Canada, celebrates her cultural journey through music, blending North Indian Classical and Black-American Jazz. Trained in the Agra Gharana tradition by Dr. Ritu Johri, Shruti acknowledges the influence of Black-American music on her work. "Jaya" pays homage to her mother and mentor. Collaborating with her band, Shruti crafts a musical narrative reflecting her dual heritage. Raagaverse's fusion of rich musical traditions explores themes of love, grief, and longing, bridging ancient and contemporary sentiments. The band's name symbolizes their musical ethos, blending modal melodies and jazz harmonies into a vibrant, renewing sound. "Jaya" promises a journey into the magical realm of Raagaverse, where cultures converge harmoniously.
Asian Heritage Month Event 4 - Short Songs: Music and poetry with Jo Hirabayashi & Robyn Jacob, Jane Shi
Thursday, May 10, 2024 & Friday, May 11, 2024
Show: 7:00 PM
Venue: Morrow creative space by Odd Meridian - 910 Richards St. – Unit 204, Vancouver BC, V6B 1T3
Sliding scale tickets $15 – $25 – $40: https://oddmeridian.ca/short-songs.html
Expect a chill and meandering evening of performance by two extraordinary musical artists who collaboratively create together for the first time! After working alongside each other in multiple projects, (Jo Passed, Only A Visitor, The Giving Shapes), composers Robyn Jacob and Joseph Hirabayashi co-author a series of short songs exploring their process as songwriters. As a reaction to the often isolated and personal nature of songwriting they will be exploring a collaborative method valuing intuition, play, lightness and imperfection.
Joining Robyn and Jo are percussionists Adrian Avendaño and Gregory Samek, as well as opening act Jane Shi.
Asian Heritage Month Event 5 - Drumming Up Spirit featuring Sawagi Taiko and Tzo'kam
Sunday, May 12th, 2024
Show: 2:00 PM
Venue: Annex, Vancouver
Sliding scale tickets $15 - $30: https://DrummingUpSpirit.eventbrite.ca
Vancouver Independent Music Centre Society (VIM), in association with the Powell Street Festival Society, invite you to an electrifying afternoon of drumming and rhythm! This will be an unforgettable event showcasing the incredible talents of Sawagi Taiko and Tzo'kam on Sunday, May 12 at 2 PM at the Annex in Vancouver.
This event features two groups of multi-generational Indigenous and East Asian artists, drawn together by their passion and dedication to traditional music in contemporary times, a community focus, and the power of these shared experiences. Bringing Sawagi Taiko and Tzo’kam back together for one exhilarating performance, Drumming up Spirit isn’t one to miss.
Tickets are selling FAST so get them now!
Asian Heritage Month Event 6 - EARLY SHOW: TABBIES WITH CHRISTINE LEE
K-pop night at Taphouse x Kdailycanada
Friday, May 17th, 2024
Show: 8:00 PM (Vendors 7:00 PM)
Venue: The Taphouse Guildford, Surrey
Tabbies is a Korean trio formed in 2022 and even though they are a new group, they have been bringing the groove to the local Vancouver music scene. It could be your favourite songs that you sang along to growing up, or it could be hidden gem songs that you will hear for the first time. Their background ranges from jazz, hiphop, r&b, and funk, so you can expect just about everything. No promises here but they will surely get you grooving.
More at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tap-into-k-pop-at-taphouse-tickets-865627584407
Asian Heritage Month Event 7 - Sound of Dragon Festival
The 6th Annual Sound of Dragon Music Festival returns to Vancouver May 23-26, 2024, with three genre-smashing intercultural concerts and three free community events, including music jams, workshops, and performances.
3 Concerts, 8pm at the Annex:
May 24, Anand Avirmed (Mongolia) & friends – Mongolian throat singing, horsehead fiddle, and more
May 25, Yang Xue’s Bows & Strings’ Dance (Beijing) & Vancouver Erhu Quartet
May 26, From Chinese Winds & Percussion to Indonesian Gamelanwinds: Zhongxi Wu, Charlie Lui, Tim Chen;percussion: Hsuan-Ning Huang (Edmonton), Katie Rife, Jonathan Bernard, and Dailin Hsieh; Orchid Ensemble with Sutrisno Hartana & Purwanta (Java, Indonesia)
Tickets: https://soundofdragon.com/festival/2024-festival/anand-avirmed-2024/
Asian Heritage Month Event 8 - INTERWOVEN (From New York)
Muzewest Concerts welcomes a talented group of musicians from New York, Toronto, and LA for a truly intercultural experience. INTERWOVEN was formed during the pandemic as a response to anti-Asian prejudice. The group plays a mixture of classical and traditional Asian music. Instruments include violin, viola, cello, erhu, shamisen, and piri. Their creative programming and virtuosity is not to be missed - one night only!
Feel the rhythm of diversity throughout the streets of Vancouver for Asian Heritage Month!
As we approach the onset of Asian Heritage Month, the air is charged with excitement and anticipation. Join us as we dive into the rich tapestry of cultural experiences through live music, all while remaining mindful of the profound significance underlying it all. The spotlight on Asian artists during this month-long celebration extends beyond mere entertainment—it serves as a platform for acknowledgment, validation, and empowerment.
By highlighting the talents and voices of Asian artists across the diaspora, we bolster communities, dismantle barriers, and cultivate a more inclusive society where every narrative holds weight.
As we move through the month, we carry forward this ethos of unity, diversity, and appreciation. Celebrating Asian Heritage is not solely reserved for April; supporting artists throughout the year champions diversity, inclusivity, and contributes to an arts ecosystem where every heritage is cherished and every voice resounds.