Russell Wallace's Saltchuck City Orchestra - Klatwa Album Release
2026-02-07 19:30 - 21:00 (America/Vancouver) | VCC Broadway Auditorium, 1155 E Broadway, Vancouver, BC, V5T 4V5, Canada
Russell Wallace and the Vancouver Independent Music Centre Society (VIM) present:

Saltchuck City Orchestra – Klatwa Album Release – Saturday, February 7th, 2026
Vancouver Community College – Broadway Auditorium
1155 E Broadway, Vancouver
Doors: 6:30 PM
Show: 7:30 PM – the orchestra will perform one set, reception to follow
Tickets: https://show.ps/l/ff8e9003/
All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the Ray and Flora Wallace Bursary at Vancouver Community College (read more below).

Tickets are sliding scale general admission and include (1) copy of the album per ticket. Please arrive early to secure your seats. Please reach out to cindy@vimhouse.ca if you require further assistance with tickets.
Click here to watch the trailer for ‘klatwa’
Preview and pre-order the album on Bandcamp: https://redshiftmusicsociety.bandcamp.com/album/klatwa
Lil’wat composer and performer, Russell Wallace, celebrates the release of his album Klatwa (Redshift), featuring compositions rooted in his Salish heritage in a concert featuring his ensemble, the Saltchuck City Orchestra:
Emily M Cheung, soprano
Sarah Jo Kirsch, mezzo-soprano
Sam Dabrusin, tenor
Russell Wallace, bass
Lan Tung, erhu
Cameron Wilson, violin
Marina Hasselberg, cello
John Korsrud, trumpet
Bill Runge, alto saxophone
Geoff Claridge, tenor saxophone
Adnrew Skepasts, guitar
Wynston Minckler, bass
Noah Franche-Nolan, piano, keyboard
Kai Basanta, drums
Raphael Geronimo, percussion
About Klatwa – Embark:
“I trace my finger over the album cover—curved lines and angles forming the word ‘Klatwa – to embark,’ the same marks my great-grandfather’s pen once made when writing to villages across the mountains. The songs within pulse with movement: salmon fighting upstream, crows banking against dusky skies, ancestors descending from stars, and communities coming together. This Chinook shorthand also flowed between Stʼatʼimc hands in the 1800s, a code of connection that barely survived.
I still hear my mother’s voice in the melody of “Gathering”—how she would hum it first, barely audible, in the residential school’s shadowed corners. Girls would gather around bodies huddled close, as she taught them to shape their mouths around Stʼatʼimc syllables the teachers had forbidden. They memorized each word, each inflection, passing it between them like a secret flame that mustn’t die. Years later, when I record this song, I feel her breath in mine—the same defiant air that kept our language burning when they tried to extinguish it. Vancouver rose from this coastal soil nourished by the intertwined roots of many peoples. Saltchuck City Orchestra honours this convergence—each note a declaration of defiance, each harmony an offering to those who found strength in unity, and each rhythm pulsing forward, inviting us all to dance.”
– Russell Wallace
Klatwa was co-produced by Russell Wallace and John Korsrud with the generous support of the First Peoples’ Cultural Council and the British Columbia Arts Council.
Saltchuck City Orchestra’s Klatwa Album Release Concert takes place on the traditional and unceded territory of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh).
We gratefully acknowledge the support of Vancouver Community College, Canadian Heritage, JTC Heersink Foundation, and the City of Vancouver.
About Russell Wallace:

Russell Wallace is an award winning composer, producer and traditional singer from the St’at’imc/Lil’wat Nation (Salish) in Canada. His music has been part of a number of film and television soundtracks and theatre/dance productions and as a musician has been part a number of award winning groups and recordings. Currently, Wallace is the Director of the Indigenous Vocal Ensemble at Vancouver Community College and works with a number of local choirs in Vancouver.
About the Ray and Flora Wallace Bursary:
The Ray and Flora Wallace Bursary at Vancouver Community College (VCC), established by musician and composer Russell Wallace, commemorates the legacy of his late parents through the provision of financial assistance to Indigenous students pursuing musical studies at VCC.
The Bursary was established by Wallace to commemorate the legacy of his late parents through the provision of financial assistance to Indigenous students pursuing musical studies at VCC.
Ray and Flora Wallace transformed their modest East Vancouver house into a sanctuary of support for education, music, and community. Throughout the 1980s, they quietly covered textbook costs, tuition fees, and bus tickets for Urban Indigenous students struggling to make ends meet. Their kitchen table, scratched from years of use, became a gathering place where hungry students found homemade bannock and strong tea, sympathetic ears and generous hearts.
About Vancouver Independent Music Centre Society (VIM)
VIM is a non-profit, charitable organization established in 2011 with a mandate to develop a well-designed, central, accessible, sustainable and culturally diverse music centre based on feedback from hundreds of musicians, music presenters, concertgoers and managers among others. In 2018, the City of Vancouver passed zoning at the Plaza of Nations to include a 20,000 square foot music centre based on the VIM’s vision and plans. https://vimhouse.ca
For more information or interviews, please contact Cindy Dai at communications@vimhouse.ca.
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CapU Choirs: In the Same Room
2026-04-11 19:30 - 21:30 | BC
Saturday, April 11th, 2026
7:30 PM
Blueshore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts
(North Vancouver)
VIM is proud to support this multigenerational, multicultural, multigenre show. Expect Baroque excerpts by Vivaldi, sounds of the East, works by Indigenous composers, and popular favourites showcased through Capilano University’s choral ensembles. Featuring daring vocalist Shruti Ramani (Raagaverse), santoor virtuoso Saina Khaledi (Vashaan Ensemble), members of the Vancouver Intercultural Orchestra and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and other ensembles.
Inspired by the late Stó:lō First Nations Elder Lee Maracle’s reminder that we must be in the same room to create a shared future, this evening asks: now that we’re here, what do we make together?
Learn more and get tickets:https://www.capilanou.ca/student-services/community/blueshore-financial-centre-for-the-performing-arts/our-events/all-events/events/capu-choirs-in-the-same-room.php
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SHINE: Showcasing Filipinx Artistic Excellence - Curated by Mary Ancheta
2026-04-23 19:30 - 22:00 | Annex, 823 Seymour Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 3L4, Canada
Mary Ancheta and Vancouver Independent Music Centre Society (VIM) present:
SHINE: Showcasing Filipinx Artistic Excellence
Curated by Mary Ancheta
Box Office & Bar Open: 6:30 PM
Doors to the theatre open: 7:00 PM
Show: 7:30 PM – 2 sets with intermission
Tickets: https://show.ps/l/5ed10063/
$20-$25 for Sliding Scale General Admission
$15 for Youth/Students/those who are budget conscious.

This show is expected to sell out!
Please reach out to info@vimhouse.ca if you would like to attend but are facing financial barriers.

Celebrate Filipinx excellence through music, movement, and storytelling that reflects resilience, creativity, and collective care. Thoughtfully curated by multi-hyphenate Canadian Filipina Mary Ancheta, this showcase seeks to spread joy and shine a light on Filipinx artists in Vancouver. The evening’s program will include a new dance & music project, with the working title ‘Sama-Sama’ meaning “all together”, an exciting collaboration project between Kathara Society and Mary Ancheta.
Join us for an evening of music, dance, and storytelling, from:

Mikey Jose
“From the lab to the limelight” (ALT RECESS), Mikey Jose refuses to pick a lane. As a neuroscience PhD candidate-by-day, independent artist-by-night, Mikey thrives in the in-between, putting him in a unique position to build bridges that connect brain and heart. Mikey takes cues from classic and modern R&B/Soul greats like Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Leon Thomas, and Beyoncé, who lead with story through melody; this ethos allows his B-Side records to be as compelling as his radio hits. Exclaimed a “soulful powerhouse…[with vocals] in a league of his own” (EARMILK), Mikey carries infectious energy from the studio to the stage, headlining shows from Vancouver to Tokyo and opening for artists like Lawrence, GoldFord, and The Main Squeeze.
KATHARA Pilipino Indigenous Arts Collective
Through arts and culture, Kathara promotes Pilipino Indigenous identity and cultural legacy, Filipinx diaspora, and the rights of all Indigenous Peoples. For this event, members representing Kathara will be: Babette Santos (dance), JR Guerrero and Michael Louw (instruments).
Francis Arevalo
Francis Arevalo is an East Vancouver-born-and-based hip-hop artist, poet and producer who is equal parts hype and heart. Whether performing in living rooms or festival stages, his performances are energizing, empowering, emotive and memorable. He is also a passionate mental health advocate living with Bipolar Type 1 Disorder, whose journey telling his story through music was the subject of an award-winning documentary “The Lion”. His upcoming album Home, Grown releases this summer 2026.
Louie Sanchez
Louie Sanchez (they/them) is the solo project of Eirene Cloma, a Toronto-based musician originally from North Vancouver, BC. They are a member of nationally acclaimed kulintang ensemble Pantayo whose debut album was shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize in 2020. They are also a session musician who has worked with artists such as Kimmortal, Rae Spoon, and Austra. Louie Sanchez is a return to their roots as a singer-songwriter trained in classical and jazz guitar with soul, r&b, folk, and country influences.
…and introducing rising youth artist: Leigh Kathryn
19 year-old Leigh Kathryn crafts heartfelt original music that utilizes the genres of R&B and Pop to flow with the storytelling of Folk and the energy of Indie. Guided by her intimate vocals and honest lyricism, her songs feel tethered to your heart and mind. With each track, Leigh creates a world that invites listeners to slow down, breathe, and sit with their feelings. Leigh will be accompanied by Eli Castro on piano.
Accompanied by a house band led by Ancheta on Keyboard, Alvin Brendan on bass, Adam Cormier on drums, and Dominic Conway on saxophone, this event will be sure to spark joy, hope, and a sense of belonging. Filipino and non-Filipinos are all WELCOME – this event is for everyone!
Almost a year after the tragic events of Lapu Lapu Day, this event recognizes and holds reverence for family and friends in the communities affected. Let’s gather to celebrate creativity and hold space for the collective. Come as you are and dress to express your SHINE!
Special thanks to our event partners: Filipino BC, 333nergy, Blue Hour Media, Revival
About Mary Ancheta:

Mary Ancheta is a Canadian Filipina keyboardist, producer, and composer for Film and Television. Mary has a passion for storytelling and the human condition. She enjoys collaborating with other artists and her aim is to help tell more diverse stories through her music. In 2025 she was invited to perform in Australia and to represent Canada at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan. https://www.maryancheta.com/
About Vancouver Independent Music Centre Society (VIM):
VIM is a non-profit, charitable organization established in 2011 with a mandate to develop a well-designed, central, accessible, sustainable and culturally diverse music centre based on feedback from hundreds of musicians, music presenters, concertgoers and managers among others. In 2018, the City of Vancouver passed zoning at the Plaza of Nations to include a 20,000 square foot music centre based on the VIM’s vision and plans. https://vimhouse.ca
This event is produced by the VIM with support from Canadian Heritage, Government of BC, City of Vancouver, The Hamber Foundation, and JTC Heersink Foundation. For more information or interviews, please contact Cindy Dai at communications@vimhouse.ca.

About the Venue (ANNEX): https://vancouvercivictheatres.com/venues/annex#information
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Goodbye, Strawberry Hill - Sharon Minemoto Album Release Concert
2026-05-02 19:30 - 22:00 | The Anvil Theatre, 777 Columbia St, New Westminster, BC, V3M 1B6, Canada
Anvil Theatre & Vancouver Independent Music Centre presents
Goodbye, Strawberry Hill
Saturday, May 2, 2026 | 7:30pm
A concert celebrating the launch of Sharon Minemoto’s new album, Goodbye, Strawberry Hill (Cellar Music). This album tells her family’s stories, joyful and sad, from WWII to present day.
Following the bombing of Pearl Harbour in December 1941, the Canadian government interned people of Japanese ancestry due to fears of espionage, widespread anti-Japanese racism, and pressure from British Columbian politicians. Japanese Canadians were stripped of their civil rights and nearly 22,000 people were forced to leave their homes, many of whom were moved to internment camps. In 1942, Sharon Minemoto’s mother’s family’s 10-acre strawberry farm in Strawberry Hill, (Surrey-Delta) was confiscated by the government and her family then interned in Slocan, BC.
Even after the end of the war, Japanese Canadians were forbidden to return to the West Coast. They were given two choices: move east of the Rockies or “Repatriate” to Japan. Sharon’s maternal grandparents made the difficult choice to take four of their six Canadian-born children by boat to Japan. As Canadians, they would face years of hardship and discrimination in Japan before choosing to return to Canada.
Sharon’s father’s mother took her children to meet their grandmother in Japan when the war broke out. Without a home, income or father, the family was stranded near Hiroshima when the US atomic bomb was dropped. With his family stuck in Japan, her grandfather was interned in a camp in Moose Jaw, where he died.
With the support of the Japanese Canadian Legacies Society, Sharon composed nine works for her quartet, each inspired by and reflecting her family’s experience during WWII. These works would become the album Goodbye, Strawberry Hill.
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George Leach & Hayley Wallis
2026-05-14 20:00 - 22:00 | Fox Cabaret, 2321 Main St, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5T 3C9, Canada
Vancouver Independent Music Centre Society (VIM) presents:
GEORGE LEACH & HAYLEY WALLIS
Double bill concert curated by Rob Thomson
Thursday, May 14th, 2026
Fox Cabaret – 2321 Main St, Vancouver
Doors: 7:00 PM
Show: 8:00 PM
This Concert takes place on the traditional and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), and səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.
Tickets are sliding scale general admission. The sliding scale option allows you to choose what contribution works best for you. We recommend arriving early to secure your seat. Please reach out to info@vimhouse.ca if you require further assistance with tickets, require accessibility support, or are facing financial barriers and would like to attend the show.
About The Show
Selected by Haida programmer, musician, and community organizer Rob Thomson, this double bill concert features legendary guitarist and singer George Leach performing a blazing solo act and rising star Hayley Wallis accompanied by her groovy quartet.
About George Leach
A multi-disciplined, award winning artist from the Stl’atl’imx Nation, George Leach is in relentless pursuit of truth. His passion and dedication to songcraft has been evident throughout his entire career, which began with the release of his debut album, “Just Where I’m At”, in the year 2000.
The self-produced album won several Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards and garnered international recognition, establishing him as a respected singer, songwriter, guitarist and performer.
His second album, “Surrender”, went on to become a multiple award winning album, earning George a Juno award in 2014.
George Leach is currently working on writing and recording his third album – a unique compilation of musical genres yet to be discovered. His talent is undeniable. He is the real deal.

https://www.instagram.com/georgeleachmusic/
About Hayley Wallis
2023 CBC Searchlight finalist Hayley Wallis’s voice commands attention: rich, textured, and effortlessly confident. Her performances carry emotional weight and clarity, moving listeners as much by her tone as her story. Originally from Klemtu, a remote island in the Great Bear Rainforest, Hayley is deeply rooted in her Indigenous identity while embracing expansive musical horizons. In November 2022, she released her debut album Halulu, marking her formal entry into the music industry and catalyzing her growth as an independent artist.
Hayley’s singles have climbed to #1 on NCI’s Indigenous Music Countdown, she’s been featured on SiriusXM’s Indigiverse and Poplandia, and added to Spotify’s “Indigenous” editorial playlist. With over 80 performances across BC and beyond since 2021, her stage presence and connection with audiences have deepened.

https://hayleywallismusic.com/
About Vancouver Independent Music Centre Society (VIM):
VIM is a non-profit, charitable organization established in 2011 with a mandate to develop a well-designed, central, accessible, sustainable and culturally diverse music centre based on feedback from hundreds of musicians, music presenters, concertgoers and managers among others. In 2018, the City of Vancouver passed zoning at the Plaza of Nations to include a 20,000 square foot music centre based on the VIM’s vision and plans. https://vimhouse.ca
This event is produced by the VIM with support from Canadian Heritage, Government of BC, City of Vancouver, and JTC Heersink Foundation. For more information or interviews, please contact Diane Kadota diane@vimhouse.ca
About the Venue (FOX CABARET):
https://www.foxcabaret.com/faq

Rows of chairs will be set up and available on a first-come-first-serve basis. There are limited booths and high tops at the back of the room by the bar. We recommend arriving early to secure your seat.
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