As the curtains rise on a new year, prepare to be immersed in a kaleidoscope of musical wonders, captivating plays, and enlightening discussions, presented by BlueShore Financial Centre for the Arts at Capilano University.
The 2024 entertainment roster will take center stage at the BlueShore at CapU theatre, along with additional compelling performances at venues across the North Shore and in Vancouver.
The concert line-up launches Jan. 19 with the superlative jazz quartet Band Of Brothers: Levin & LaBarbera, featuring the finest jazz brothers on the planet. Bassist Tony Levin fronts the popular Stick Men and plays in Peter Gabriel’s band. Pete Levin is a synthesizer specialist who has played with Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck and Charles Mingus.
Saxophonist Pat LaBarbera tours with his own Juno Award-winning band and has played with Buddy Rich, Carlos Santana and many others. And drum master Joe LaBarbera is best known for his recordings with the trio of pianist Bill Evans. He has also played with Tony Bennett and John Scofield among several others.
Yungchen Lhamo, the transcendent Tibetan singer who has performed with Bono, Peter Gabriel and Paul McCartney, graces the stage Jan. 25. Lhamo’s new album One Drop of Kindness features Tibetan folk and sacred songs while also incorporating sounds from French, Russian, British, Iranian and American influences.
Fans of vocal jazz will be wowed by Grammy-nominated Kate McGarry & Keith Ganz, who lead CapU Jazz Studies ensembles large and small in classic repertoire, Feb. 2.
Quebecois folk band Le Vent du Nord is sure to get fans dancing Feb. 18 at St. James Community Hall. The quintet employs a varied instrumentation that ranges from folk staples like the fiddle, guitar, and piano to more niche instruments such as the hurdy gurdy, bouzouki, and “feet” (there’s a lot of stomping). The arrangements themselves run the gamut from full instrumentation to completely a capella.
Vieux Farka Touré honours the traditional blues music of Mali, Feb. 23, at the York Theatre, in Vancouver.
Justin Adams & Mauro Durante dazzle with their world music brew, Feb. 28. Adams works with Robert Plant and Tinariwen; Durante leads Italy’s premier folk band Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino.
For soul-funk fans, Dawn Pemberton & CapU Ensemble Kenté take the stage Mar. 1.
A special International Women’s Day Celebration featuring jazz big band Sister Jazz Orchestra & Dee Daniels, the North Shore’s own star singer, takes place at Kay Meek Centre for the Arts in West Vancouver, Mar. 8
Kym Gouchie, the powerhouse BC indigenous singer-songwriter unifies listeners Apr. 7, while Abigail Lapell, the sterling folk singer-songwriter from Ontario, mesmerizes Apr. 13.
The genre-hopping Chicano party band Las Cafeteras plays May 11 at the Rickshaw Theatre in Vancouver. This group performs amazing dance moves while singing in multi-languages and sometimes rapping up a storm.
Finally, Cap Classics presents Alderwood Ensemble Jan. 12; Vancouver Erhu Quartet Feb. 16; Meeks Duo Mar. 1, and Student Showcase Mar. 22.
In addition, three plays and one guest speaker take the BlueShore theatre stage. CapU Theatre presents Anton Chekov’s classic drama The Cherry Orchard Feb. 14-17, and musical comedy Sponge Bob Square Pants Mar. 21-28. Arts Club on Tour brings the song and dance coming of age story Made in Italy Feb. 21.
The humanitarian icon and author Roméo Dallaire shares insights about a path to peace on Apr. 22. Dallaire’s acclaimed new book is The Peace: A Warrior’s Journey.
All events mentioned above take place at BlueShore at CapU unless otherwise noted. For more information and tickets, go to capilanou.ca/centre.
