Past Events

Feb. 23-March 2

TIBETAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL

In Collaboration with the Tibetan Cultural Society, and the Canada-Tibet Committee

At Various Venues Along Commercial Drive and in Downtown Vancouver

Featuring Traditional Music, Dance, Arts, Spirituality, and Spoken Word.

Performances and workshops, featuring world-renowned artists, Nawang Khechog (flutist), Namgyal Lhamo and sister Kelsang Chukie (Singing Duet), Sonam Tashi with Samshug Phundha (traditional music and dance), Jamyang Norbu (author and speaker), Tenzin Tsundu (Buddhist Spirituality), Kalsang Dawa (Painter of Sacred Tibetan Art)

Click here for details

March 9, April 22, May 11

MONDO MUSIC AT THE ROUNDHOUSE

- March 9: Melodies from Brazil and China, with Celso Machado (Brazil), Qiu-Xia He (China) and Andre Thibeault (Canada)

- April 22: Deep Song from Spain and india, with Sunita Bapooji IIndia) and Lolo del Carders (Spain) and guest accompanists on tabla, keyboards, guitar, and vocals.

- May 11: Zimbabwean Traditions and Revolutions, with marimba-percussion ensemble Zimfusion!, and DJ Jacob Cino of Third Eye Tribe

May 10

OLIVER MTUKUDZI AND BLACK SPIRITS

Legendary singer from Zimbabwe

With guest artists, Zimfusion! from Victoria

At the Vogue Theatre, Vancouver

July 6 Polish Community Centre

Caravan's 2nd Anniversary Concert Celebration

Featuring, Gypsy (Rom) Klezmer group LES YEUX NOIRS from France, and funky Celtic band from Vancouver, MAD PUDDING

Wild fun, Dancing, drinks, food

At the Polish Community Centre, Vancouver

Sept 10 Vancouver East Cultural Centre

Brazilian Vignettes, with vocalist Monica Salmaso and pianist Benjamin Taubkin.

Sept 16 Richard's on Richards

Yuri Yunakov and the Bulgarian Gypsy Wedding Band

Bulgaria's leading Rom-gypsy saxophone player and his talented band in a frenzied performance of multirhythmic melodies and dance tunes. Joined by the Vancouver International Folk Dancers!

October 8 Orpheum Theatre

Ravi Shankar. Legends of World Music and Classical Indian sitar. With Anoushka Shankar. A sold-out gem of a concert featuring father and daughter sharing the stage with two top tabla players.

October 12 Centennial Theatre, North Vancouver

Andres Marin and Flamenco de la Mision

Intensity, originality, and power characterized this performance.

November 16 Vogue Theatre, Vancouver

November 17 Port Theatre, Nanaimo

Carmen Romero and Candela Flamenco Dance Company in "Flamenco de Ayer y Hoy" (Flamenco of Yesterday and Today). A spectacular display with a 12-person ensemble of original group and solo choreography backed by superb musicianship of guitarist Miguel de la Bastide and company.

January 19 Scotiabank Dance Centre

Lola Montes and the Art of Spanish Dance

featuring talk and film prepared by Oscar Nieto and performance by Mozaico Flamenco Dancers

January 24 Vogue Theatre

Ghazal -Persian and Indian Improvisations

Featuring kemanche player Kayhan Kalhor, and sitar player Shujaat Khan. Lecture-demo at Vancouver Public Library.

February 8 St. Andrews-Wesley Church

The Campbell Brothers - Sacred Steel

The best in the Sacred Steel tradition of African-American Gospel and Blues, featuring singer Katie Smith.

February 21 Commodore Ballroom

Global Vibrations-World Music Day Celebration

Featuring BC's top world music and dance artists: Jabulani, Zimfire, BC Salsa, Alcvin Ramos, Pepe Danza, Ziyian Kwan, Mad Pudding, Sandy Scofield, DJ Paul Pahal and tabla player Stefan Cihelka, and DJ Marc Fournier. Visuals by Suez Holland and Vincent Wong.

March 2 Vogue Theatre

Percussions de Guinee

The best of Guinee's drummers were featuried in this exciting display of diverse traditions from this West African country. Dance and drumming workshops at the Scotiabank Dance Centre.

March 28 Canadian Memorial Church

HUUN HUUR TU

Tuvan Throat-singers and musicians.

April 20 Ironworks Studio

RUMBA CELESTIAL!

An evening of Afro-Cuban and Afro-Brazilian music and dance, featuring Vancouver-based groups, Tambor Iroko with Jack Duncan, and El Sur with Pepe Danza. Joining them were master Cuban percussionist/vocalist, Toto Berriel, and dancers Ana da Silva and Jacky Essombe.

February 9, March 8, April 19, May 10

MONDO MUSIC AT THE ROUNDHOUSE

Community Concert series featuring local and visiting world music artists including: Sal Ferreras, Amir Koushkani, Celso Machado, Feso, Erdal Kun, Madu Sari Gamelan Ensemble, Tambor Iroko with Jack Duncan and Toto Berriel, Ismaili Youth Choir, Jabulani Youth Percussion Ensemble, Chibi Taiko Youth Ensemble, and many others.

July 15 Richards on Richards

Vive La World Tour, featuring NATACHA ATLAS AND

Electro Bamako (Mamani Keita-Mali, Marc Minelli-France)), DuOud (Tunisia-Algeria-France), and So Kalmery (Zambia).

This event was generously sponsored by the Consulate-General of France.

August 3 Commodore Ballroom

Cuban Fever, featuring Direct from Cuba!

Valentin y los del Caribe, 14-piece salsa orchestra

A hot night of steamy Cuban dance rhythms with one of the best groups in Cuba today. This event was generously sponsored by the Granville Entertainment District.

November 8&9 Roundhouse Community Centre

GLOBAL DISCOVERIES - Showcase of Emerging World Music Artists.

This event featured new and undiscovered BC-based artists with origins from around the world. Groups featured were: Kaleidescope (gypsy-jazz trio), The Honari Family Ensemble (Persian traditional and folk music), Sara Morreiros Trio (Portuguese Fado), Sangha (Persian-Indian-Arabic improvisations), Aire Mediterranean Ensemble (Flamenco-Arabic-Turkish music), Zeryab Ensemble (Traditional Arabic-Iraqi-Kurd music and song), Feso (Zimbabwean Afro-beat), The Urban Gypsies (Trad-modern Hungarian Roma-gypsy music), Qing Chang (Traditional Chinese instrumental Music), Cleia (Canadian-Irish roots music), Dyad (Appalachian-Mountain music).

YEAR 2004

January 17 / Wise Hall

Le Vent du Nord

From Quebec, this fun and frolicking group brings the best of regional French-Canadian music to the West Coast. Presented in collaboration with Le Centre Culturel Francophone, and le Festival du Bois.

February 7, 8:00 PM / Chan Centre

Huun Huur Tu, Tuvan Throat-singers

Other-worldly throat and overtone-singing, and expert folk musicianship of this group direct from Tuva (republic in Central Asia). Joined by Shakuhachi player, Alcvin Ramos from British Columbia.

February 22, 8:00 PM / Richards on Richards

Les Yeux Noirs

With Special Guest OLAM!

Presented as part of the Chutzpah! Festival

An evening of high-energy Klezmer and Gypsy Music! Also appearing: DJ Marc Fournier, and the JCC Shalom Israeli Folk Dancers.

March 7, 8:00 PM / Orpheum Theatre

Ballet Flamenco Eva Yerbabuena, in "Eva"

Spain's top flamenco dancer, Eva Yerbabuena, leads a company of 6 dancers and 7 musicians in an evening full of passion and artistry.

March 23, 7:00 PM / Gumboot Cafe (Robert's Creek, Sunshine Coast)

Latif Bolat: An Intimate Evening of Soulful Turkish Sufi music and song

One of the most well-known Turkish musicians in the U.S., Latif Bolat plays Turkish Folk Music and devotional Sufi songs. Latif will begin the evening with a slide-show and lecture-demo workshop. Accompanying himself on baglama (Turkish long-necked lute), Latif sings of love and spirit, with songs featuring the lyrics of the great 13th century mystical poets Rumi and Yunus Emre.

March 25, 8:00 PM / Media Club (695 Cambie)

Colin Hay (from Men at Work) with special guest, Babe Gurr. The lead singer of legendary Australian rock band Men at Work ("Who Can it Be Now", "Down Under") will provide an entertaining evening of classic Men at Work songs and his own unique compositions and humorous story-telling.

March 26, 8:00 PM / The Club in Gibson's Landing (Sunshine Coast)

Holi Heh! - An evening of Indian Rhythms and Colours, Featuring

Galitcha - 5-person East Indian Folk Music and Dance group; and DJ Nils

Come Celebrate the Colourful Indian holiday Holi!

Based in Ottawa, Galitcha is led by dholki (percussion) player and vocalist Kuljit Sodhi and features North indian devotional and love songs, as well as lively dance tunes. Other instruments include harmonium, tabla, flute, sax, and vocals.

March 27, 8:00 PM / Wise Hall

Holi Heh! - An evening of Indian Rhythms and Colours, Featuring

Galitcha - 5-person East Indian Folk Music and Dance group, and CyberRaj.

Come Celebrate the Colourful Indian holiday Holi!

For Galitcha's second West Coast concert, they will be followed by DJ-Instrumental \quartet, CyberRaj, with Tabla, Vocals and Flute.

April 10, 8:00 PM / The Club in Gibson's Landing (Sunshine Coast)

FESO: Zimbabwean Afrobeat 5-piece band, led by Pasi Gunguwo, with marimbas, percussion, and other instruments. FESO represents the best in traditional and contemporary fusion of vocals and music from Zimbabwe.

Special Sunshine Coast guests: Knotty Dotters - all-woman Marimba Band.

May 1, 8:00 PM / The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts

Zakir Hussain and the Masters of Indian Percussion

Presented in Collaboration with the Pandit Jasraj School of Music.

Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain leads a program with 13 artists performing a dazzling display of drumming with virtuosos from both the Hindustani (North Indian) and Carnatic (South Indian) classical traditions.

May 14, 8:00 pm / The Club in Gibson's Landing (Sunshine Coast).

Flamenco Moraima: An Evening of Flamenco Passion and Artistry.

Featuring guitarist Peter Mole, singer Jose Lara, and dancers Kasandra Lea and Elysia Donald

June 26, 8:00 pm / St. James Community Hall

Vusi Mahlasela - The Voice of South Africa

Featured Singer-songwriter from the film Amandla - Freedom in Four-Part Harmony

Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Free Elections in South Africa.

With Special Guests, Zimbabwean artists from the group FESO

July 7 - 8:00 pm / The Club in Gibson's Landing (Gibsons)

July 11 - 8:00 PM / Vancouver East Cultural Centre (1895 Venables St. at Victoria)

Abdullah Chhadeh and Nara - An evening of Syrian and Iraqi music

With Special Guests: Zeryab Ensemble.

presented in collaboration with the Rogue Folk Club

Traditional oriental grooves with charismatic Syrian qanun (81-string Arabic zither) maestro Abdullah Chhadeh and his multi-style ensemble NARA. "Spellbinding", "innovative", "hypnotic". Special guests include gifted Kurdish oud player, Serwan Yamulky, Iraqi singer Kais Samarrai, and percussionist Tim Gerwing.

July 28, 8:00 pm/ The Club in Gibson's Landing

Allakomi - La Famille Zon

Originally from the West African nation of Burkina Faso, this family ensemble of 8 performers led by Seydou Zon features infectious traditional rhythms and music on balafons, djembes, guitar, and other percussion instruments.

July 29, 8:00 pm / Sonar

Trilok Gurtu - Indian and World Music Percussion Virtuoso

Joined by

Sanchita Faruque - vocals

Woody Aplanalp - guitar

Jerry Lipkins - keyboards & sampling

Trilok masterfully fuses traditional Indian rhythms and instruments with funk, jazz, and other world rhythms. He has performed with the likes of John McGlaughlin, Zakir Hussain, and many others who are at the frontier of World Music and Jazz.

August 7 & 8, 8:00 pm / The Club in Gibson's Landing

OLE! Juan Carranza Flamenco Ensemble - An evening of Spanish Passion and Artistry

Joined by Percussionist Juan Flores, bass player Paul Mattsson, and special guest Dancer Rae Bowhay.

Sept 12, 8:00 pm / Vancouver East Cultural Centre

Hassan Hakmoun Ensemble - Ecstatic Moroccan Gnawa Music

Gnawa is traditional devotional music of Morocco played in all-night healing-trance ceremonies. It combines call-and-response African chant, wailing Arabic melodic lines, and rattling syncopation akin to flamenco.

September 25, 8:00 pm / Surrey Bell Centre for the Performing Arts

Rafael de Utrera Flamenco Company

One of Flamenco's most powerful young singers, Rafael de Utrera is hailed by the cognoscenti and critics alike as the new Camaron. He has sung for almost all in the pantheon of flamenco stars, including Paco de Lucia, Israel Galvan, and Manuela Carrasco. He is joined by a company of 2 guitarists, percussionist and special guest dancer, Rafael de Carmen.

October 2, 8:00 pm / The Club in Gibson's Landing

Aboubacar Camara and Doundounba-

West African Concert and Dance

Dance and Drum Workshops Oct. 2&3.

October 10, 8:00 pm / The Drink

Esma Redzepova and Ansambl Teodosievski

Legendary Macedonian singer. Opening act: Tato Pani - Vancouver-based Romani-Gypsy fusion group.

October 12 - 17 / Vogue Theatre

Tango Pasion!

From Argentina, 23-person spectacle featuring 14 dancers and the world-renowned Sexteto Mayor Orchestra.

November 7, 8:00 pm / The Club in Gibson's Landing

Shubhendra Rao - Indian Classical Sitar with Biplab Bhattacharya On Tabla

Shubhendra Rao is one of the leading instrumentalists of India. A disciple of sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar, he has been acknowledged by connoisseurs as a worthy successor to his Guru's tradition. Critics have been unequivocal in praise.

December 3 / Bell Centre, Surrey

December 4 / St. Andrews-Wesley Church, Vancouver

A Maritime Christmas with The Rankin Sisters

Heather, Cookie, Raylene & Friends

A soirée of Yuletide cheer, filled with the sisters' trademark Celtic-influenced vocals.

Proceeds from both concerts to benefit Surrey Women's Centre Society and Atira Women's Resource Society

YEAR 2005

March 6, 8:00 pm / Centennial Theatre

Radio Kaboul: Mahwash & Friends

Legends of Afghanistan. Music at the Crossroads of Indian, Persian, and Arabic traditions.

Winners of BBC 2003 World Music awards.

With Special Guests:

The Honari Family - Baluchi Music of Iran.

Ustad Farida Mahwash (vocalist), is unanimously acknowledged as the greatest female singer of Afghanistan. She is joined by top Afghani musicians in exile, including Aziz Herawi (Rubab, Sitar) one of the top Afghani instrumentalists in the world, and flutist Henri Fournier, disciple of Hariprasad Chaurasia. The group also brings together several percussion instruments: the tablâ of Indian origin and the Afghan zirbaghali (similar to the Iranian zarb and the darbukka of the Islamic Middle East and North Africa) thus reflecting the various facets of Afghan music and influences.

This concert is co-presented with Centennial Theatre, and with the collaboration of the Vancouver Institute of Afghan Studies (www.vifas.org).

March 26, 8:00 pm / Chan Centre

Soweto Gospel Choir

26 INSPIRING VOICES! "A Riot of Exuberance!"

Soweto Gospel Choir, the most exciting vocal group to emerge from South Africa since Ladysmith Black Mambazo, bring their magnetic energy, joyful spirits and beautiful harmonies to Vancouver audiences on Easter weekend as part of a 35-city North American tour. Earthy rhythms, rich harmonies, vibrant dancing and charismatic performances combine to uplift the soul and express South Africa's great hopes for the future.

Presented in Collaboration with the Chan Centre.

April 2, 8:00 pm / The Club in Gibson's Landing

Galitcha - Indian Love Songs

Traditional North indian spiritual and folk music and song, with 4-member group on vocals, harmonium, tabla, dholki, and saxophone/flute.

April 22, 8:00pm / Croatian Cultural Centre

Baka Beyond - The original African and Celtic fusion Band!

With Special Guest:

Alpha Yaya Diallo - Solo Acoustic set

Musicians from 6 countries from the Celtic fringes of Europe and the West coast of Africa join to produce one of the most original live world sounds around.

Vancouver's Juno-nominated Afrobeat star Alpha Yaya Diallo opens the evening in a rare solo acoustic set.

April 29, 30 & May 1 / Commercial Drive, Vancouver

1st Annual Global Discoveries Festival on the Drive

Featuring over 100 performers in 6 venues. Click here for Full Festival Info: FESTIVAL LINK

May 15, 7:30 pm / Orpheum Theatre

East India Carpets presents

Ravi Shankar and Anoushka Shankar

Joined by master tabla player, Tanmoy Bose and guest tanpura players. Perhaps the farewell performance by the great master of Indian music, Ravi is joined by his talented duaghter and protege, Anoushka.

May 21, 8:00 pm / The Club in Gibson's Landing (Sunshine Coast)

FESO - Music and Dance from Zimbabwe

Feso's core hails from Zimbabwe, ensuring a thick fusion of Shona traditions within a contemporary platform. FESO blasts choppy chimurenga rhythms, tight harmonies and a gourd of drums, mbiras, hoshos and marimbas.

July 21, 8:00 pm / The Club in Gibson's Landing (Sunshine Coast)

Concert and Dance with Juno Award Winners:

Le Vent du Nord - Traditional Music from Quebec

Le Vent du Nord brings together four musicians with various and multiple talents, who aim to serve traditional music, a music they know how to renew while respecting its authenticity.

September 10, 8:00 pm / Heritage Playhouse

(Sunshine Coast)

BODY OF DANCE, presented by SHAKTI DANCE

An Evening of Classical Indian Dance and Music (Bharata Natyam) featuring Anusha Fernando and a Company of 5 Dancers and 2 musicians.

September 11: Dance Workshop with Anusha Fernando

FRIDAY September 30, 8:00 pm / The Club in Gibson's Landing (Sunshine Coast)

IRSHAD KHAN - Indian Sitar Master

Irshad Khan is considered to be one of the top sitar players of his generation, and comes from a long ancestral line of classical Indian musicians. He is accompanied by Sunny Matharu on Tabla.

WEDNESDAY October 5, 8:00 pm / Roberts Creek Hall (Sunshine Coast)

DANU - Farewell Tour

With: The NYWP Coast String Fiddlers

Danu is considered one of the top Traditional Irish bands today. Their wild spontaneity and breathtaking musical power have made them arguably the best bands to emerge from Ireland in the past decade..