Inside Vancouver

Guitar fest brings world-class luthiers to Vancouver

by Shawn Conner in Events on July 27, 2018

Ever dream of playing the opening of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” on a $6000 guitar while the maker of that guitar looks on, aghast? Make that dream a reality at this year’s Vancouver International Guitar Festival.

The only festival of its kind in Vancouver, the VIGF brings together guitar builders, players, collectors, and aficionados to share knowledge, expertise, enthusiasm and their favourite classic-rock guitar riffs over two days of live music, master classes, workshops, and exhibitions. You’ll also have the chance to purchase some of the world’s finest handmade stringed instruments directly from world-class luthiers.

This year, the festival proper takes place Aug 11 & 12 at the Creekside Community Centre (1 Athletes Way) in the former Olympic Village. The event includes a licensed bar. Meanwhile, the nearby Sarah McLachlan School of Music (138 E. 7h St.) hosts a couple of concerts. See below for more details.

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Guitar fest brings world-class luthiers to Vancouver

Enjoy cocktails by some of Vancouver’s finest mixologists at this year’s Harmony Arts Festival

by Shawn Conner in Events on July 19, 2018

Looking for a reason to visit West Vancouver? Look no further than the Harmony Arts Festival. Now in its 28th year, HAF is a celebration of visual art, music, food and drink. It takes place on and near the Ambleside waterfront Aug. 3-12.

Back this year are perennial favourites that include free exhibits, workshops, and concerts, along with ticketed events like Night on the Pier (local bartenders craft innovative cocktails) and Best of the West. But this year’s festival offers some new additions as well.

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Enjoy cocktails by some of Vancouver’s finest mixologists at this year’s Harmony Arts Festival

Things to Do in Vancouver This Weekend

by Inside Vancouver in Events on July 5, 2018

Outdoor music season is here, and this weekend you can catch symphony to swoon to, hip hop to groove to, Latin American to swing to and local music to discover in parks (and atop a mountain) throughout the Vancouver area. There’s also a dance festival and a brunch festival. That’s right – a brunch festival.

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Things to Do in Vancouver This Weekend

2018 Writers’ Fest lineup includes Rachel Kushner, Gary Shteyngart and Jodi Picoult

by Shawn Conner in Events on July 5, 2018

Rachel Kushner comes to Vancouver with this year’s Writers Festival.

Rachel Kushner, Gary Shteyngart, and Jodi Picoult are among the boldfaced names coming to this year’s Vancouver Writers Festival (Oct. 15-21 at various locations on Granville Island).

The lineup also includes singer/songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie and author Patrick deWitt (The Sisters Brothers). All told, the festival features over 100 authors from all over the world.

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2018 Writers’ Fest lineup includes Rachel Kushner, Gary Shteyngart and Jodi Picoult

Dancing on the Edge celebrates 30 years of contemporary dance in Vancouver

by Shawn Conner in Events on June 25, 2018

Vancouver choreographer Meredith Kalaman presents Doppelganger, a duet providing a window into what it’s like to meet your younger/older self, at this year’s Dancing on the Edge Festival. Curtis Stodgel photo.

This year’s Dancing on the Edge showcases over 30 performances. From July 5-14, more than 30 choreographers, and dozens of artists from across Canada, from Belgium and South Korea, will dance on Vancouver stages and in the streets. Programs are full-length and mixed-bill, and some are site-specific works.

This is the 30th annual edition of the festival. See below for more info on some of the performers coming to the event.

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Dancing on the Edge celebrates 30 years of contemporary dance in Vancouver

Dragon Boat Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary

by Shawn Conner in Events on June 20, 2018

A record 200 teams and approximately 5,500 paddlers, steerspeople and drummers are expected to take part in this year’s Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival. The festival takes place June 22-24 at Creekside Park, Concord Pacific Place and on the waters of False Creek.

Besides the races, the festival features live music, arts and crafts, as well as a beer garden. The festival will also display the original teak boats sent by Hong Kong for Expo 86. See below for highlights of the 30th anniversary of the event.

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Dragon Boat Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary

Robert Plant among headliners at this year’s Vancouver International Jazz Festival

by Shawn Conner in Events on May 16, 2018

Dirty Projectors. Jason Frank Rothenberg photo.

Robert Plant is among the headliners at the 33rd Annual TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival.

The former Led Zeppelin lead singer is performing with his band the Sensational Space Shifters. Other headliners include Macy Gray, Kamasi Washington, Bonobo, and St.Paul and the Broken Bones.

This year’s festival takes place June 22-July 1 at various venues in Vancouver. For a look at a few more of the more than 1800 artists who will perform at over 300 indoor and outdoor events, scroll below.

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Robert Plant among headliners at this year’s Vancouver International Jazz Festival