Vancouver Independent Music Centre (VIM) presents:
Music at the Cinemas 2022
The Vancouver Independent Music Centre is presenting Music at the Cinemas, a series of live music concerts at two iconic Vancouver cinemas, the Rio and the Fox from February 26 to April 3, 2022. These concerts will reflect the diversity of music art, cultures and practices of local, regional and national artists. Music at the Cinemas will transport audiences across time and space, immersing them in different worlds of music.
At the Fox
2321 Main Street
Shows 7:30 pm; doors 6:30 pm
19+ Entry with proof of vaccination
- Saturday, February 26, 7:30 pm: Tony Wilson’s The Homeless Project
- Thursday, March 3, 7:30 pm: Double Bill – Itamar Erez Quartet / Shruti and Raagaverse
- Thursday, March 17, 7:30 pm: Triple Bill – jo passed / Sleepy Gonzales / Amanda Sum
- Saturday, April 2, 7:30 pm: First Nations, First Strings – An Evening Celebrating Indigenous Guitarists with Jason Burnstick and George Leach
At the Rio
1660 East Broadway
19+ Entry with proof of vaccination
- Sunday, March 13, 8 pm: Hard Rubber Orchestra’s Tribute to King Crimson plus Videos courtesy of Covid
- Friday, March 18, 7:30 pm: Lil Opry Night
- Sunday, April 3, 7:30 pm: Double Bill – Onibana Taiko / Gamelan Gita Asmara
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We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of Canadian Heritage through the Support for Workers in the Live Arts and Music Sectors Fund, the BC Arts Council through the Resilience Fund and the City of Vancouver through Cultural Services.
Sunday, April 3 (2022)
The Rio, 1660 East Broadway
7:30 pm Show; 6:30 pm Doors / Tickets: Sliding Scale 19+
Tickets: riotheatretickets.ca
Program: wp.me/a59tPM-pI
Livestream on Youtube (by donation through CanadaHelps)
Onibana Taiko – Japanese folk music with a touch of feminist punk aesthetics
- Noriko Kobayashi: vocals, tsugaru shamisen
- Leslie Komori, vocals, drums
- E. Kage: vocals, drums
Onibana Taiko is kick-ass taiko meets traditional Japanese folk art forms meets feminist queer punk aesthetics. We play taiko combined with our uber tactile and full-body resonating beats with the driving sounds of shamisen (Japanese Banjo), and soul-piercing traditional Japanese vocals and fue (a wooden flute). Onibana Taiko invites audience members to commune with our ancestors through Obon dance and music (sort of like a Buddhist Japanese Dia De Los Muertos celebration).
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDdXiXA6VO2hlnH1nM4IwbQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OnibanaTaiko
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/onibana.taiko/?hl=en
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Gamelan Gita Asmara
Gamelan Gita Asmara is an ensemble that uses a new kind of Balinese gamelan set called Semaradhana. They are a dedicated collective committed to mastering this challenging music together, with the rewards of making something of aesthetic and social value, and the joy of sharing this with audiences. For this performance they will be joined by guest artist I Dewa Made Suparta, a musician, composer, and teacher. Immersed in Balinese gamelan from early childhood, he began performing at age 10. Dewa is a founding member of Çudamani, one of Bali’s most innovative gamelan ensembles.
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFKGE85oEkU
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcKKTo3w_QQ
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Saturday, April 2 (2022)
The Fox, 2321 Main Street
Doors: 6:30 pm Tickets: Sliding Scale 19+
Tickets: vim_apr2.eventbrite.ca
Livestream on Youtube (by donation through CanadaHelps)
First Nations, First Strings…An Evening Celebrating Indigenous Guitarists with Jason Burnstick, George Leach, Raven Kanatakta and Marty Ballentyne. Featuring special guest M’Girl
- Jason Burnstick: guitar
- George Leach: guitar
- Raven Kanatakta: guitar
- Marty Ballentyne: guitar
- Johnny Walsh: bass
- Michael Simpsonelli: drums
M’Girl:
- Renae Morisseau: vocals, hand drum
- Olivia Lucas: vocals, hand drum
- Deanna Newton-Gestrin: vocals, hand drum
As we all come thru the pandemic together, it’s time to start sharing our voices and celebrate our songs. One of the few live Indigenous music shows in 2022 in Vancouver, features award-winning musicians and songwriters, Jason Burnstick (Cree), George Leach (Stl’atl’imx), Raven Kanatakta (Anishinaabe/Mohawk), and Marty Ballentyne (Cree) unite for a riveting evening of original, breathtaking music. They will be joined by local Vancouver musicians, Johnny Walsh on bass, and Michael Simpsonelli on drums.
Hereditary Chief Ian Campbell, whose ancestral names are Xalek and Sekyu Siyam, is from the Squamish and Musqueam Nations. He’s a mover and shaker both culturally and politically in his home communities and throughout Vancouver for many years. He will do the land acknowledgment and welcome everyone to the evening!
The evening’s host and MC is music industry trailblazer, programmer, producer, songwriter and manager, the incomparable Elaine Bomberry (Anishinaabe/ Cayuga from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory). Bomberry co-created a Juno award category solely for Indigenous artists.
This special evening opens with M’Girl, a percussive hand-drum group who create beautiful harmonies fusing both traditional Indigenous and contemporary rhythms. Lead by Renae Morisseau (Cree/Saulteaux), and accompanied by Olivia Lucas (Cree/Metis/Black), Deanna Newton-Gestrin (St’at’imc), they are honoured to share their songs on the traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. www.mgirlmusic.ca
This intimate concert showcases multi-award winning Jason Burnstick, who has won a 2020 Leo Award for Composer of the Year for Best TV Movie, an Indigenous Music Award, also an Aboriginal People Choice Music Award, and was a JUNO nominee twice over his career. Performing on his original vintage 1920’s Weissenborn lap slide guitar, he always gains new fans wherever he performs. www.burnstickduo.com
Also performing is George Leach, whose soulful voice and guitar playing reflect the beauty of his home territory. He’s also won a few music awards, including a 2014 JUNO award and 3 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards. George’s musical style ranges from blues slide to hard-hitting rock and roll. www.georgeleach.com
Joining the stage of these amazingly talented guitarists is Raven Kanatakta of the JUNO award-winning Digging Roots fame. He’s also a songwriter, producer, engineer, film scorer and music entrepreneur. As a teenager he attended and graduated from the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston. With his wife ShoShona Kish, his partner in Digging Roots, they have toured in Europe, the US, Mexico, Australia and Scandinavia. www.diggingrootsmusic.com
Marty Ballentyne created one of Canada’s original Indigenous hard rock bands, Breach of Trust from LaRonge, SK that won three awards at the former Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards. Marty says, “I play music and I love it. My life is small without it. Let’s agree to put music where it belongs – at the centre of our experience. I’ll play a song for you.”
Johnny Walsh has been performing, writing, and teaching music on guitar and bass across Canada for over 20 years! I started my music career at Vancouver Community College in 1999 where I earned a diploma and then finished my education at McGill University in 2005 where I received a BMus in jazz performance. Since 2008 I have been the bassist in the award-winning groups Brasstronaut, and Dan Mangan and have travelled the world playing music. I have worked in many capacities including being a sideman in countless projects, as a studio session musician, a performer on cruise ships, a film/commercial composer, and as an instructor. I’ve earned several awards, including a WCMA for “Songwriter(s) of the Year” with Dan Mangan + Blacksmith in 2015, the SOCAN Echo Songwriting prize with Brasstronaut in 2010, and a Juno award for “Best Alternative Album” with Dan Mangan for “Oh, Fortune” in 2011.
Michael Simpsonelli has worked professionally in the Canadian music industry for over 25 years as an in-demand session player, with an extensive list of artists. He leads his own band, Crooked Rider- as guitarist and composer, playing spaghetti-western and surf-rock style originals. He produces and records with various artists at an East Vancouver studio, produces VR360 videos, and is currently designing interactive 3D music experiences with spatial audio, by developing virtual and augmented reality applications.
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Friday, March 18 (2022)
Tickets: riotheatretickets.ca
Lil Opry Night: An intimate variety show with Vancouver roots & country favourites
- Carolyn Mark: guitar,vocals
- Dawn Pemberton: vocals
- Scott Smith Adventures in Pedal Steel: pedal steel
- Stephen Nikleva: guitar
- Stringband Sundae (Trent Freeman: fiddle; Patrick McGonicle: fiddle, mandolin; Alison DeGroot: banjo; Mark Kilianski: guitar)
- Jack Garton: accordion
- Jeanette Kotowich: metis dancer
- Kathleen Nisbet: fiddle, guitar, vocals
- Chelsea DE Johnson: vocals, guitar
Presented by Vancouver Independent Music Centre (VIM), Vancouver Folk Music Festival and The East Van Opry, the warm and intimate A Little Opry adapts the popular annual East Van Opry to bring you some of your favourite Roots and Country music performers from right here in East Vancouver, on the same Rio Stage. From Heatley fixtures Scott Smith and Stringband Sundae, to Canadian soul treasure Dawn Pemberton, BC great Carolyn Mark, and Petunia and the Vipers veterans Stephen Nikleva & Jack Garton, this show is sure to satisfy your Opry cravings. Put on your cowboy boots, and get ready for a variety show that’ll give you a taste of everything you’ve been missing.
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Thursday, March 17 (2022)
Tickets: vim_mar17.eventbrite.ca
Livestream on Youtube (by donation through CanadaHelps)
Triple Bill: jo passed/ Sleepy Gonzales/ Amanda Sum
jo passed – A band whose music exists somewhere between dream pop, shoegaze, indie rock, and prog
- Jo Hirabayashi: vocals, guitar, keyboard
- Téa Mei: bass
- Mac Lawrie: drums
Vancouver-based jo passed was founded by self-described “freaky music weirdo” Joseph Hirabayashi in 2015. They balance languid melodies and blissed-out vocals against guitar figures that are by turns artful and aggressively physical. Following extensive North American touring, the group landed a deal with the respected American indie label Sub Pop and released their debut album Their Prime in May 2018.
Sleepy Gonzales – A collective daze with languid dream-pop jams in all directions
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- Ally Lowry: vocals
- Cristian Hobson-Dimas: vocals, guitar
- Nick Moniz: bass
- Beni Hobson-Dimas: vocals, drums
Described as “Musical ADHD,” Sleepy Gonzales is an indie rock group from a small basement jam space called Dougie’s Den in Surrey, BC. Made up of half-Mexican twins Beni and Cristian Hobson-Dimas plus Nick Moniz and Ally Lowry, they all bring their own musical influences to the mix. Described as the feeling of “jumping out of a plane without a parachute and landing softly in your bed.”
Amanda Sum – Jazz-influenced indie-pop, singer-songwriter, or folk, depending on the day
- Jamie Lee: drums
- Kristin Fung: synth bass, synths
- Amanda Sum: keyboard, electric guitar, vocals
The Permanent Rain Press described Amanda’s “quirky indie pop” as having “the perfect amount of wit and tact.” Her lyrics revolve around identity, whether being a woman, a person of colour, young, or a Virgo. Amanda champions other under-represented artists through her work by making her opportunities collective ones. Her debut full-length record is currently underway.
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Sunday, March 13 (2022)
Tickets: riotheatretickets.ca
Livestream on Youtube (by donation through CanadaHelps)
Hard Rubber Orchestra Presents: A Tribute to King Crimson featuring Erik Severinson
- John Korsrud, Eric Wettstein: conductors
- Erik Severinson: vocals
- Eliot Doyle: drums
- Jack Duncan: percussion
- André Lachance: bass
- Cameron Wilson: amplified violin
- Bill Sample: keyboards
- Ron Samworth: guitar
- Bill Runge: soprano, tenor sax
- Tom Keenlyside: alto sax, flute
- Jon Bentley: tenor sax
- Chad Makela: baritone sax, bass clarinet
- Brian Harding: trombone
- Jim Hopson: trombone
- Cam Henderson: trombone
- Andrew Broughton: trombone
- Derry Byrne: trumpet
- Geeta Das: trumpet
- Jocelyn Waugh: trumpet
- John Korsrud, Bill Runge, Eric Wettstein: arrangers
Hard Rubber Orchestra pays tribute to one of the most influential progressive rock bands of all time, bringing the music of King Crimson to life at the Rio Theatre for one night only! Joining HRO for this very special show is vocalist Erik Severinson. The evening will include a special presentation of video and music by Harry Stafylakis and Eliot Doyle, Peggy Lee and Melissa Hubert, and James O’Callaghan.
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Thursday, March 3 (2022)
Tickets: vim_mar3.eventbrite.ca
Double Bill: Itamar Erez Quartet/ Shruti and Raagaverse
Itamar Erez Quartet – Delicateness of Middle Eastern music, freedom of jazz, passion of flamenco
- Itamar Erez: piano, guitar
- François Houle: clarinet
- James Meger: bass
- Kevin Romain: drums
This quartet of accomplished musicians and interpreters creates music of depth and sensitivity based primarily on Itamar’s original compositions. Itamar Erez’s most recent CD, Mi Alegria, has received rave reviews and garnered a nomination for 2020 Instrumental Artist of the Year from the Canadian Folk Music Awards.
Clarinetist François Houle is inspired by collaborations with the world’s top musical innovators. He has developed a unique improvisational language, virtuosic and rich with sonic embellishment and technical extensions. James Meger plays primarily in jazz, free improvisation and rock music, working with many local and international players. Kevin Romain, one of the most in-demand drummers in Vancouver’s creative music scene, moves freely between jazz, improvised and contemporary styles.
Shruti and Raagaverse – Contemporary Indo-Jazz Fusion Collaborative Ensemble
- Shruti Ramani: voice
- Jodi Proznick: bass
- Noah Franche-Nolan: piano
- Nicholas Bracewell: drums
Raagaverse is an exciting Indo-Jazz Fusion project headed by Shruti Ramani in a collaboration with Jodi Proznick and Noah Franche-Nolan. The group was formed to create new music that highlights each band member’s musical personality and background. For this performance, they will be joined by Nicholas Bracewell on drums. Expect an energetic and enthralling performance.
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Saturday, February 26 (2022)
Tickets: vim_feb26.eventbrite.ca
The Homeless Project is the third in composer, guitarist Tony Wilson’s series of projects that address pressing social issues.
- Tony Wilson: composer, writer
- Rhea McKinley: writer
- Mike McKinley: filmmaker
- Patsy Klein: vocals
- J.P. Carter: trumpet
- Joshua Zubot: violin
- John Kastelic: viola
- Tony Wilson & Cole Schmidt: guitars
- Russell Sholberg: bass
- Kenton Loewen: drums
- Michael McNamara: narrator
- Jessica Heuchert: ASL
The Homeless Project is the third in composer, guitarist Tony Wilson’s series of projects that address pressing social issues. The original project, A Day’s Life (2015), dealt with drug addiction and Looking Back (2019) addressed child abuse. Tony explains that “It is important for me at this time to shine a light on those who are less fortunate and whose struggles are often ignored.”
allaboutjazz.com/musicians/tony-wilson
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Saturday, November 27 (2021)
Tickets: vim27nov.eventbrite.ca
Veda Hille with Lucien Durey, Patsy Klein & Nicholas Krgovich – Songs about love and nature and time, in an art rock/chamber folk style
• Veda Hille voice and keyboards
• Lucien Durey voice
• Patsy Klein voice
• Nicholas Krgovich voice and keyboards.
Veda Hille has been writing music, making records, and performing internationally since 1992. She is a classically trained pianist, art school drop-out, performance curator, self-taught singer, theatre interloper, and independent artist. She has released 22 albums, the latest being Little Volcano, a solo album that accompanies her new touring show. For this special night at the Fox she has gathered a team of beautiful singers, because she has missed singing with people so much over the last while.
vedahille.com
Miracles by Veda Hille
Charismatic M.F. by Veda Hille
Tillicum Shantie – Featuring jazz arrangements of Salish songs and the music of two legendary indigenous jazz artists – Mildred Bailey and Jim Pepper
• Russell Wallace voice, drums
• Tony Wilson guitar
• Michelle Bardach voice
• Sam Dabrusin voice
• Dave Say sax
• Russell Sholberg bass
• Kai Basanta drums
Russell Wallace is an award winning composer and a traditional singer from the Lil’wat Nation. He is an alumnus of Capilano University (Theatre), University of BC (Creative Writing), Banff Centre for the Arts (Composer), and Spirit Song Native Theatre (Theatre). Wallace is one of the founding members of the Aboriginal Writers Collective West Coast. Wallace received a Leo Award for Best Musical Score for a documentary series, 1491: The Untold History of the Americas Before Columbus. Wallace has been a guest programmer for Word Vancouver and has programmed and managed the Aboriginal Electronic Music Festival for a number of years.
Excerpt from Tillicum Shantie’s performance at KW Studios on May 4, 2021
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Friday, December 3 (2021)
Tickets: vim3dec.eventbrite.ca
Josh Zubot Strings – A wide gamut of melodic/ suspenseful harmony, energy, improvisation and extended exploration in sound
• Josh Zubot violin, composer
• Jesse Zubot violin, viola
• James Meger bass
• Meredith Bates violin
• Peggy Lee cello
Josh Zubot’s string explorations have found a new home with his string quintet of genre defying West Coast players.
Josh’s compositions take on emotion, energy, calmness, unpredictability and virtuosic technique. The music combines traditional and graphic notation while slicing group improvisation moving from the tiniest of sound to the extreme. After hearing his acoustic string music, the listener’s sonic universe will be stretched to the limits.
Scott Smith and Tony Wilson’s Tribute to Lenny Breau and Buddy Emmons – Tribute to Canadian legendary guitarist Lenny Breau and Nashville pedal steel guitarist Buddy Emmons with music drawn from the jazz tradition
• Scott Smith pedal steel
• Tony Wilson guitar
• Jeremy Holmes bass
• Liam Macdonald drums
In the late ’70s guitarist Lenny Breau and pedal steel guitarist Buddy Emmons teamed up and recorded an album entitled Minors Aloud. Recorded in Nashville, the album became a hard-to-find classic and a must-listen for guitarists of any kind. The quartet will play the entire album as well as other tunes Lenny and Buddy collaborated on.
Scott Smith is an award winning pedal steel player and guitarist who has toured and recorded with Barney Bentall, Rich Hope and Terminal Station among many others. Host of the popular Adventures in Pedal Steel series at the Heatley, he released the instrumental album Lifeboat: Explorations in Pedal Steel in 2020.
Guitarist and composer Tony Wilson has been a fixture on the West Coast jazz and free improv scene for decades. In addition to releasing numerous albums under his own name such as Looking Back and A Day’s Life, he has also played and recorded with the Peggy Lee Band, Waxwing and Pugs and Crows.
Scott Smith and Tony Wilson play Buddy Emmons and Lenny Breau
Reach for the Sky by Tony Wilson
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VIM aims to support the enjoyment and appreciation of music of diverse cultures and genres including world, classical, jazz, folk, early, popular and experimental by local and visiting musicians and composers. VIM showcases the excellent music and musicians in Vancouver. When touring is possible, VIM will host artists from across Canada and around the world to create a place where musicians and artists from different genres and cultures will meet one another, exchange ideas and experiences and collaborate. These connections will allow VIM to reach wider audiences and to create opportunities for residents and visitors alike to discover and explore all music.
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of Canadian Heritage through the Support for Workers in the Live Arts and Music Sectors Fund, the BC Arts Council through the Resilience Fund and the City of Vancouver through Cultural Services.
Future shows for this series will be announced at vimhouse.ca, through the VIM House newsletter and on social media.