Entertainment
Longwalkshortdock
Saturday, May 12, 2012 | $12 Advance $15 Door | Tickets available at Bop City, the Waverley Hotel or by phone (250) 336-8322. | Doors at 9:30pm.
Longwalkshortdock essentially started the first time Dave King heard gritty electronic music in early eighties videogames. Strongly influenced by these sounds and melodies, Dave started recording and looping segments as a child. He also got a taste for sampling and recording; taping segments of his piano practice to fool his parents into thinking he was practicing in the other room when he was really playing Nintendo (note : actually practicing might have served him better).
A veteran of sound design and electronic music production for well over a decade, Longwalkshortdock's music has stepped into a genre of its own. Heavily influenced by early 80s video game music, metal and rock music, found-sound and vintage analog synthesis, he stacks layers of melody in his tracks until they implode and reform. Heavy drums and aggressive synths join forces with rolling grooves and melodic lead lines to create a wide variety of slamming dance floor originals. Lesser known fact : Not limited to dance music, LWSD's music crosses into many territories. His vast catalogue of hundreds of songs dives into ambient, IDM, electro, acid, house, big beat, indie rock, drones, electronica and down tempo.
Dave holds two degrees from the Art Institute of Burnaby for Music Recording and Production. Playing songs and remixes he wrote and produced, Longwalkshortdock performs live PA with live vocals, synthesizers, drum machines, guitar, effects, toys, computers and even some of his own strobes and lighting. Know for his incredibly "enthusiastic" performances, Longwalkshortdock creates an undeniable stage presence and visceral experience at a show. Break through performances at Soundwave 2009 and Shambhala 2010 have made LWSD an artist to watch out for. Longwalkshortdock has performed live with the likes of Phil Western (Download, Skinny Puppy, Kone) and opened for talented artists like, MSTRKRFT, Junkie XL, Vibesquad, Alex Patterson (The Orb), Mimosa, Adam Freeland, Shout Out Out Out Out and Matt the Alien.
Always working to enhance and upgrade the LWSD live experience Dave is currently in the process of collaborating with veteran of visual wizardry Tim Hill of RimVisuals. Using at least 10 projectors loaded with custom content, the live LWSD experience is nothing short of a full venue transformation into an etherial and immersive light cube of doom!
With special guest Jamie M (Silent Season).
Thunderstruck
Friday, May 11, 2012 | $15 Advance $20 Door | Tickets available at Bop City, the Waverley Hotel or by phone (250) 336-8322. | Doors at 9:30pm.
Performing for some ten years, THUNDERSTRUCK is without a doubt the premier AC/DC Tribute on the market today, PERIOD!!
Both in the reproduction of their sound and awesome stage show, every detail has been painstakingly reproduced, from Angus.. school boy outfit and signature Gibson SG guitar (let's not forget his crazy, high energy on stage antics) to a singer who sounds so much like Brian Johnson and Bon Scott that you'd swear they were backstage helping us out!
Sweatshop Union
Friday, May 4, 2012 | $15 advance | Tickets available at Bop City, The Waverley Hotel or by phone (250) 336-8322. | Doors at 9:30pm.
Sweatshop Union are heavyweights of North Western hip-hop, and have earned a reputation as the hardest working collective in the region. Having performed over five hundred shows internationally, they have changed the perception of what live hip-hop can achieve.
In 2002, a concept album was recorded called: Sweatshop Union. The record was released internationally on Battle Axe Records and the new group began their relentless touring schedule that has proven to be a key catalyst in their success.
The next three records solidified Sweatshop Union‘s presence in rap music. The group co-signed to EMI and went out on the road touring with the Black Eyed Peas, Swollen Members and the Living Legends as well as opening shows for Snoop Dogg, De La Soul, and The Roots. Both college and commercial radio gave the albums substantial airtime and soon after came nominations for Juno Awards, a Canadian Radio Music Award, Much Music Video Awards and more. By 2006 Sweatshop Union had begun headlining shows in the U.S. and appearing at major festivals across North America.
The group’s most ambitious record to date and award winning Bill Murray EP, (2011 Western Canadian Music’s Hip Hop Recording of the Year) brought a whole new level to their steadily growing underground following. Building on this they will release another two new albums in 2012.
The first, a follow up to the Bill Murray EP, will have Sweatshop Union focused on furthering the progressive sound they’re known for. The second, released under the group’s Leisure Gang moniker, promises to bring a loose party feel to both the live show and the music.
Recently, URB Magazine featured them in their next top 100. They’re not alone in thinking that Sweatshop Union is a band worth keeping an eye on. Their consistently fresh and poignant music continues to become more relevant daily and the group shows no signs of slowing down.
With special guest Pigeonhole and hiphop artist Broken Logic.
Broken Logic is Colby Rex who you know from his work with Lotus Eaters films. He is the one that's crafted some of the beautiful montages from the past two years of the Big Time Out!
Double Bill - On the Road to Elevate the Arts
Thursday, May 3, 2012 | $5 cover | Doors at 9pm.
Isobel Trigger
Based out of Victoria BC, Isobel Trigger will bring a fresh pop-rock twist to your ever-longing ears. Formed in 2008, this fantastic four-piece will strike you with their fresh style and high energy live show. With exotic vocals, driving lead lines and fun, heart-thumping grooves the band aims to weave a musical web and draw you to the stage. Isobel Trigger is about delicate innocence meeting howling distortion; soft whimsical lyrics sweet shiny tones building and crashing into powerful crescendos. It's little red riding hood and the big bad wolf all in one!
Members Brett Faulkner (Guitar), Felicia Harding (Vocals), Kevin Lynch (Bass) and Zane Coppard (Drums) each bring their own unique elements to these stage, filling the lungs of the music machine. Isobel Trigger has been compared to The Cranberries, No Doubt, Florence and the Machine and Heart, but rest assured they are no copycats! The unique vocal stylings and enchanting melodies insure that nobody could sound quite like this band, and that's the way they like it.
National Tape
Formed in the Spring of 2010 by song-writer Colin Piazza, National Tape is a four-piece Canadian indie rock band hailing from Victoria, British Columbia. Their music is catchy, upbeat, relatable and will make you want to dance your pants off.
Elevate the Arts
Elevate the Arts is a full day culture crawl in the heart of Courtenay to be held Saturday May 5th 2012. Featuring visual art, craft, design, music, photography, dance, film, healing arts, kids stuff and much more – the event will be held at multiple venues (inside, outside and the unexpected) throughout the downtown.
The Vision for this event is a collaborative celebration where organizations, individuals, artists, businesses all contribute to a rich cultural mosaic. The Elevate the Arts production team is both actively recruiting programming and receiving expressions of interest from folks they don’t know…yet. They are here to create AND to be the “glue” (marketing, communications and scheduling) for the creative initiatives of others! They will also inspired to help ‘animate our downtown’ and to breathe new life and fresh energy into our urban core.
Elevate the Arts is a not-for-profit, community driven undertaking by a diverse group of culturally-oriented people. It is their long term goal to develop this event into vibrant and exciting multi-day arts and culture celebration.
Elevate the Arts would love to have you on board for 2012. Your support will help us to develop and expand a grass roots celebration of arts, culture, diversity and creative exploration in our community.
Email info@elevatethearts.com to share your ideas and inspiration!
www.elevatethearts.com
Head of the Herd
Saturday, April 28, 2012 | $12 Advance $15 Door | Tickets available at Bop City, the Waverley Hotel or by phone (250) 336-8322. | Doors at 9:30pm.
With special guests Library.
The art of telling stories, of expressing emotion, of speaking with rhythm and register, has been a need of humanity since the very beginning. Without storytelling we have silence. Head of the Herd is opposite that silence – the music and sound of our lives.
NEU-A multi-instrumentalist with a chilling voice, Neu’s sound paradoxically warms the soul and pulls you into the story. He is energetic and passionate, and through Head of the Herd’s distinct lyrics, you can feel his emotion in every song. Neu takes the structure of traditional blues and adds a modern flavour; Rock sensibility, haunting vocals and, now and again, a throat splitting scream.
CLAY-First and foremost a ‘wordsman’, Clay couples lyricism with an innate ability to write boot stomping, bar shaking guitar riffs that make him a dynamic and accomplished songwriter. If Head of the Herd is a musical storm then Clay is the silent lightning bolt to Neu’s screaming thunder. You will hear his smooth yet gravel coated throat singing balancing out Neu’s possessed wail.
Library
Library, founded and fronted by Tyler Schwindt (Run River, In Bear Country) is a rock band infused with atmospheric tones. What once started as a solo effort eventually evolved into a group of six friends and talented musicians. Library is fun.