Canada Day has an exciting lineup of live music, family-friendly events, and as always a spectacular fireworks show to celebrate Canada’s 149th birthday downtown on Friday, July 1, 2016!
This year’s list of artists include Mother Mother, George Leach, Radio Radio, and more as a part of the live music entertainment. The day of celebration kicks off at noon and live music will start at 1 pm.
Here are 10 artists performing on the Legislature lawns:
Mother Mother – performing at 9:20pm
Vancouver quintet Mother Mother delivers melting vocal harmonies, angular guitar lines and infectious rhythms. This three-time JUNO-nominated indie rock band are undoubtedly birds of a new sonic evolution. 2017 sees the release of Mother Mother’s sixth album, following the highly successful and critically acclaimed Very Good Bad Thing, with such hits as Get Out The Way and Monkey Tree.
George Leach – performing at 8:20pm
Surrender is the follow up to George’s debut from 2000, Just Where I’m At. The album’s 11 tracks offer ample proof that the time was well spent.. From the funky groove of opening track You Got It, to the confident modern rock groove and vocal hooks of the first single, Carry Me, all the way into the vulnerability and intimacy in songs like the title track, Surrender takes you on an adventure. The album covers a vast terrain – touches of modern rock, balladry, and R&B, all in the service of a restless musical explorer coming into his own. It ranks among the finest you will encounter, this year or any other.
Radio Radio – performing at 7:20pm
Since the release of their first album Cliché Hot in 2008, Gabriel Louis Bernard Malenfant and Jacques Alphonse Doucet have impressed both journalists and audiences alike with catchy, hip-hop flavoured electro. After their second album Belmundo Regal was selected for the Polaris Music Prize 2010’s short list, the Acadian duo won several awards, including the Miroir Musique prize at the Festival d’été de Québec, an award with Révélations Radio-Canada 2010-2011, and Hip-Hop Album of the Year for Havre de Grace. Having conquered the city (Cliché Hot), sea (Belmundo Regal), and stars (Havre de Grace), Radio Radio embarked on a new chapter, releasing their album Ej Feel Zoo in 2014. After growing up in an environment with both English and French speakers, Malenfant and Doucet released their first across-the-board English album Light the Sky in February 2016. Over the past few years, Radio Radio has performed in Montreal, NYC, and France, becoming a staple in both the English and Francophone music scene.
The Kerplunks – performing at 3:45pm
Kid Message, Grown Up Groove! The Kerplunks are raising the bar of Canadian kids entertainment higher with every show and each album. This 4-piece band has been charming audiences for the last decade. The Kerplunks are fronted by the dynamic female duo of Tina Jones (vocals, trumpet, trombone) and Dinah D (vocals, upright bass). They are joined by their talented male bandmates Aaron Cadwaladr (guitar, kazoo, vocals) and Phil Wipper (drums). The Kerplunks’ four award-winning albums, and award winning DVD show their dedication to the craft of children’s entertainment. The Kerplunks, like their little fans, are getting bigger every day!
Lapis – performing at 6:25pm
Lapis is the result of worlds colliding and heading together in a new direction. Pushing the edge of cultural hybridity, their sound is informed by the traditional music of South Asia, Dub, Hip Hop and Electronic Music. Lapis is comprised of sitarist and composer Mohamed Assani, and vocalist and electronic musician, Rup Sidhu. Having been classically trained in both Western and Hindustani music, Mohamed Assani brings unique compositions and a sophisticated melodic sensibility to the group. Rup Sidhu releases raw expression and refined aesthetics through electronics, beat boxing and rapping. Lapis is based in Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories.
The Choir – performing at 4:45pm
Victoria’s The Choir is a non-auditioned, community choir that sings all-original arrangements of pop, folk and indie music. What started as a small project based out of Larsen Music in early 2013 turned big in no time: 100 great people who love to sing their hearts out! The Choir has had a string of very fun and successful concerts, and performances at Rifflandia 2014 and 2015, and the 2015 Campbell Bay Music Festival. We’ve taken the stage with Kathryn Calder, Adam Cohen, Pharis and Jason Romero, Choir!Choir!Choir!, Aidan Knight, Sara Marreiros and more. The Choir is directed by Marc Jenkins and accompanied by Danuel Tate. The Choir sings songs by David Bowie, REM, Taylor Swift, They Might Be Giants, Radiohead, Talking Heads, and more!
Fox Glove – performing at 5:35pm
Fox Glove is a female trio from Victoria BC that exists in the realm of harmony and darker folk pop. This band in known for their diverse voices and range in sound, with everything from reflective melancholy ballads to strident and mysterious anthems. Fox Glove has become a staple in the Vancouver Island music scene, with recent sold out performances with other local favourites including Jesse Roper, Band of Rascals, and Sam Weber. They have performed at Song and Surf, Tall Tree, and Rifflandia music festivals, and have supported acts from out of town such as Coeur de Pirate.
Bučan Bučan – performing at 1pm
Bučan Bučan, Victoria’s favourite folk/roots group in 2013 (Monday Magazine Awards), is a “high energy”, “spontaneous”, “not to be missed” Balkan brass marching band! Made up of a very colourful and talented collection of musicians playing trumpets, violins, tubas, accordions, clarinets, flugelhorns, trombones and drums, Bučan Bučan has been entertaining crowds for the last six years with its variety of traditional, eastern European brass band tunes and original material inspired by Balkan rhythms and melodies. This high energy group is mobile and often plays while moving around a venue, indoors or outside, making use of the different features of performance spaces while giving their audiences an up close and personal experience with live music. Alternately, the band is just as comfortable on a nightclub stage playing to a packed dance floor.
Lekwungen Dancers – performing at 3:05pm
Lekwungen Dancers have been a family dance group since the 70’s. It was started at the Victoria Native Friendship Centre by Ray Peter from Duncan. He taught the uncles and late father the songs and us kids to dance. After a few years the initial dance group stopped practicing, but some members wanted to keep performing and started it on the Songhees reserve. Over the years the Lekwungen Dancers managed to keep performing at various events around the city. Their paddle welcome song was given to them by a late elder Flora Joseph from their Songhees reserve. Over the past few years the Lekwungen Dancers group has been growing strong and performing more than ever. This year they’ve already been to Seattle to perform for the Clipper organization. They’ve gone from having the three singers to as many as six. When they are all together there is about 22-25 of Lekwungen Dancers.
Ocean Rain Arts Academy – performing at 2:25pm
Ocean Rain Arts dancers are students at the Ocean Rain Arts Academy. As Chinese, we take great pride in our rich culture and performing arts. It is such a privilege to be able to be part of Victoria Celebrates Canada Day. We believe that multiculturalism, diversity and mutual respect are the key to success in this beautiful country that we call home.
Related: Four firework shows happening around Greater Victoria this week
