Graftician (aka Roxanne Nesbitt).
It’s a big month for local music fans, as the Vancouver International Jazz Festival (June 21-July 1) gets underway. Meanwhile, there are lots of other shows happening, including a 20th anniversary tour for a classic Americana album, a sort-of comeback by a British chanteuse who’s collaborated with Eminem, and a local singer/songwriter with a penchant for exciting visuals. Here are six concerts to check out in Vancouver in June.
Anthony Coleman (June 6 at Western Front, 303 E. 8th Ave.)—The pianist has appeared on many historical recordings of the downtown NYC avant-garde, including John Zorn’s Cobra, Kristallnacht, and Spillane (in addition to more than a dozen other Zorn recordings), Marc Ribot y Los Cubanos Postizos, and over 100 other albums. Coleman has also released 13 albums under his own name. For his Western Front debut, he will present a solo recital. (Tickets: $16 at shopify.com)
Anthony Coleman. Scott Irvine photo.
Graftician (June 14 at 8 p.m, the Cultch, 1895 Venables St.)—Graftician (aka Roxanne Nesbitt) is a local singer/songwriter with an interest in unusual textures and visuals. Her sound has been described as a “dreamlike blend of drum machine samples and field recorded textures woven into pop melodies.” Also a designer, Nesbitt crafts intricate stop-motion collage videos for all of her songs and performs with videos synced to samples. Her latest release is a 10″ record, Mandarins. Watch the video for her song “Cities” here. Kimmortal opens. (Tickets: $20 at thecultch.com and 604-251-1363)
Graftician (aka Roxanne Nesbitt) celebrates the release of her new EP Mandarins at the Cultch June 13.
Amanda Palmer (June 6 at 7:30 p.m., Chan Centre, 6265 Crescent Rd, UBC)—Palmer plays the Chan Centre in support of her first solo album in six years, There Will Be No Intermission. (Tickets: $40-49.50 at tickets.ubc.ca)
Andrew Phelan (June 22, Biltmore Cabaret, 2755 Prince Edward St.)—Originally from Australia, Phelan now makes his home in Vancouver. He’s launching his new EP, That’s How, with this show at the Biltmore. Phelan is also a member of the folk-rock band The River and The Road, which has toured Canada six times over, were nominated for 2015 Emerging Artist of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards, and played multiple high-profile festivals.
Lucinda Williams (June 24 at 8:30 p.m., Commodore Ballroom, 868 Granville St.)—The American singer/songwriter returns with her band Buick 6 for the 20th anniversary of her landmark album Car Wheels on a Gravel Road. Williams will play the entire album, followed by a second set of songs from throughout her career. (Tickets: $59.50 at livenation.com)
Dido (June 29 at 8 p.m., Orpheum Theatre, 601 Smithe St.)—The British singer’s “Thank You” single from her 1999 album No Angel was huge back in the day. Eminem even sampled the song in his track “Stan.” She’s released four albums since, including her latest, Still On My Mind. (Tickets: starting at $56 at ticketmaster.ca)
