Monday, March 18, 2024

Virtual music festival will showcase Indigenous artists and their cultures every Thursday next month

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A free, virtual celebration of Indigenous music, arts, and culture is set to occur online every Thursday in August.

INDIGIFEST 2021 will feature 18 Indigenous artists from around the province beginning at 7 p.m. on the First People’s Cultural Council (FPCC) digital platform.

“INDIGIFEST is much more than a festival – FPCC is passionate about offering programs, opportunities and mentorships that support the careers of Indigenous musicians and music industry professionals and contributes to building a strong and vibrant Indigenous music scene in BC and beyond,” said Sarah Pocklington, FPCC Arts Program Manager and Executive Producer of INDIGIFEST.

The FPCC is a First Nations-led provincial Crown corporation with a mandate to support the revitalization of Indigenous languages, arts, cultures and heritage in BC.

Organizers with INDIGIFEST said that each musical set will be interspersed with cultural teachings and storytelling.

Shows will be hosted by familiar names, including Squamish Nation Elder Xwechtaal Dennis Joseph and music industry trailblazer Elaine Bomberry.

INDIGIFEST builds off the first Indigenous Music Retreat in 2018.

The festival is designed to support emerging artists with skills development and mentorship.

The 2020 retreat was deferred due to the pandemic and adapted into the Virtual Music Performance Training Program which provided participants a media equipment package and technical training skills.

Now, this enhanced skill set has made it possible for each artist to become fully self-producing.

“By streaming this year’s festival for free online, First People’s Cultural Council is making Indigenous culture even more accessible, showcasing Indigenous talent to a worldwide audience,” said Sae-HoonStan Chung, Chair of BC Arts Council.

“FPCC has also worked with artists behind the scenes, making sure they were technically well prepared to meet this opportunity. The BC Arts Council is proud to support FPCC and Indigifest and we hope that everyone will take this opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by
these wonderful Indigenous artists and creators.”

INDIGIFEST 2021

Where: Online

When: Every Thursday in August, starting at 7 p.m.

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