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Odds, Yukon Blonde and Jim Byrnes for Coquitlam 125

The free, two-day Kaleidoscope festival is the signature event for the city's 125th birthday celebrations, happening July 23 and 24 around the new Town Centre Park Plaza.

Musicians with two top Canadian rock bands have this to say about playing this weekend’s signature festival for Coquitlam 125: they’re honoured to have been asked to mark the milestone year.

“Any birthday is fun,” said Port Moody native Craig Northey, frontman for the Odds that performs at the new Town Centre Park Plaza on Sunday night. “Coquitlam is a happening place and it’s great to see everyone get out to celebrate their community.”

“It’s always good when the community gets together to recognize its history and its future,” added Brandon Scott, guitarist for Yukon Blonde, which headlines Saturday with a 9 p.m. concert.

Indeed, the Kaleidoscope festivities have plenty of big names on the bill including Anmore’s Greg Drummond, Coquitlam singer Cassandra Bangel, The Boom Booms, Brickhouse and Jim Byrnes.

While Scott said Yukon Blonde will perform tunes from its latest album at its first Coquitlam appearance, Northey said the Odds will offer “old songs, new songs, some banter and some reaction to the audience. We may even bring the mayor on stage as well.”

Still, music will only be one component to the two-day free fest: storytelling, visual arts, theatre and dance will also be on tap in the venues named Dance Stage, Buskers Stage and the Story Cafe.

And 10 food trucks will be lined up to whet appetites while Port Moody brewers Moody Ales and Yellow Dog will also be serving.

Joan McCauley, chair of CAST (the Coquitlam 125 Anniversary Steering Task Force), said attendees should expect surprises at every turn, with roving characters telling stories about the city’s past. “We’re really keeping to the 125 theme of Stories Told, Stories to be Created,” she said, noting there’ll also be a Coquitlam Trail where guests can take a walk to learn about city heritage.

A legacy project will also be unveiled during the celebrations: a dozen handpainted salmon sculptures will be revealed — public art that will dot Coquitlam’s public spaces as a reminder of the 125th.

Meanwhile, visual artists in the Plein Air competition on Saturday will have their works voted on by the public the following day. But visitors can also try their hand at dry point print making and street art with Kris Kupskay, make Rangoli designs and henna tattoos.

Sponsored in part by The Tri-City News, the Kaleidoscope festival has a budget of $201,000 with $116,500 coming in federal funding, city spokesperson Kathleen Vincent said.

• Parking will be limited especially on Saturday when the Michael Cuccione Foundation hosts its annual Kick for a Cure at Percy Perry Stadium.
Visit coquitlam125.ca for details.

jwarren@tricitynews.com
@jwarrenTC

 

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TOWN CENTRE PARK PLAZA

Saturday

• Coquitlam Sings 12 p.m.

• Opening ceremony and salmon unveiling 1:30 p.m.

• Cassandra Bangel 2:45 p.m. 

• The Boom Booms 4:15 p.m.

• Greg Drummond 5:45 p.m.

• Yukon Blonde 9 p.m.

Sunday

• Coq Youth Orchestra 11 a.m. 

• Canoe Quintet 12:30 p.m.

• Blackthorn 2 p.m.

• Brickhouse 3:30 p.m.

• Odds 5 p.m.

• Jim Byrnes 7 p.m.

 Visit coquitlam125.ca