If you’re looking for a mix of live music this weekend, the city of Coquitlam’s Kaleidoscope Arts Festival has just the ticket.
And the fourth annual fest will feature sounds from two Juno-nominated acts as well as a band that clinched first in the 2011 Peak Performance Project, a Vancouver radio competition that carries a $100,500 grand prize.
Made up of Scott Stanton, Dave Lang, Louis Sadava and Chris Petersen, Current Swell will headline the city fest at Town Centre Park on Saturday night.
Best known for its “surfer rock” sound, the Victoria group has a large online base — with fans around the world — and has opened for the likes of The Beach Boys, Bedouin Soundclash and Dispatch. In June, it released High Life and is currently promoting the single; in the fall, it has 18 gigs lined up across North America.
But before Current Swell hits the TD Community Plaza stage, two Canadian acts who’ve also toured extensively will also entertain.
Royal Canoe — made up of Matt Peters, Bucky Driedger, Matt Schellenberg, Brendan Berg, Derek Allard and Michael Jordan — will perform songs from its latest CD, Waver, and other tunes from previous albums; in 2014, the Manitoba band was up for a 2014 Juno in the category of Alternative Album of the Year.
The cover of Royal Canoe's album Waver.
They’ll be followed by another Juno-nominated artist, Terra Lightfoot, a singer-songwriter from Hamilton, Ont., who’s recognized for her folk/roots rock style — and busy tour schedule (in 2017, Lightfoot was celebrated by the Canadian Independent Music Association for selling at least 25,000 concert seats in a 12-month period).
Lightfoot’s Coquitlam date will be her 29th show of the year and, according to her website, she has 16 more lined up for her summer round.
With three albums under her belt, Lightfoot has played with such legendary acts as Willie Nelson, The Posies, Toad the Wet Sprocket, The Sheepdogs, Jim Cuddy and Gordon Lightfoot (no relation).
Terra Lightfoot
Terra Dickinson, Coquitlam’s cultural and community events supervisor, said this year’s Kaleidoscope lineup is based on months of research of similar festivals and connecting with agents.
“We were really looking for an urban arts experience,” she told The Tri-City News, noting city organizers hope to double last year’s participation of 5,000 attendees “because of the broader appeal with the music. We really looked at what people are looking and listening to.”
Gamelan Bike Bike, Etienne Siew and Disco Funeral will also entertain off-stage while DJ Emilita will liven the festival site with her spins.
Still, live music won’t be the only draw to the free fest.
Blink Acro and Hip Hop Hoop Dance will have performances on the upper festival site and artist Richard Tetrault is asking visitors to pick up a paint brush to help him create a 128 sq. ft. mural during Kaleidoscope; another artist, Sandeep Johal, is also painting a 80 sq. ft. wall mural.
“It’s more interactive and immersive this year,” Dickinson said, hinting Disco Funeral will have a surprise with its show.
