The Festival
Sunday September 4th 2005
Michael Franti & Spearhead:
Since the release of Stay Human in 2000 Michael Franti and Spearhead have toured relentlessly, headlining hundreds of shows for their legions of devoted fans as well as sharing the stage with acts as diverse as Dave Matthews, Ani Di Franco, Trey Anastasio (Phish) and KRS-One. They continue to hit the festival circuit worldwide, in addition to producing the annual “Power to the Peaceful” festival, which has drawn over 20,000 people to Golden Gate Park in San Francisco over the past four years. In both popular music and the peace movement, Franti has never been more relevant and influential than now. Lyrics from his song, “Bomb The World,” written in the dark aftermath of September 11, have found their way onto protest signs and T-shirts all over the world from Los Angeles to Berlin, the San Francisco Chronicle to CNN as millions have marched for peace. “You can bomb the world to pieces,” he sings, “but you can't bomb it into peace.”
Ganga Giri:
Ganga Giri mixes red natural elements with fat tribal beats and dirty funky bass lines to create a unique tribal-technological deep earth dance experience. Explosive and pulsating, at times ambient and flowing, the music is a pumping percussive multi-layered experience of complex grooves and raw, deep natural sound. Ganga himself is a rhythmic didjeridu virtuoso and percussionist-- an inspired music creator who's passion brings people together in celebration of nowness in newness, a modern day corroberre for all!
Representing key elements and inspirations of Australia now, the shows are a modern/primitive multi-cultural celebration, a 'melting pot' unifying many musical genres and cultures, bringing audiences world-wide a reflection of today's multicultural Australia. Ganga Giri's music has been widely & wildly appreciated by music lovers in many countries across the globe including Australia, Japan, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, New Zealand and the United States, igniting audiences in clubs, world music festivals and outdoor dance events. Carving a niche in the DJ dominated world of dance music, Ganga Giri is an energetic, innovative and incredibly live act. Ganga Giri's full show blends an array of tribal percussion that includes Ganga's uniquely percussive style didj playing, congas, djembe, bougarabou, Nigerian talking drum, mbira and more — add to this a drizzling of authentic indigenous moves with aboriginal dancers and hold on tight as Ganga Giri sends audiences through the roof.
Stephen Franke & Noises From The Toolshed:
Original songs shaped from Stephen Franke's personal Canadian experiences and compositions spawned from years of camaraderie are the foundation of Noises From The Toolshed. Travelling across this vast nation inspired the band to bring a variety of world musical styles to the stage, reflecting the culturally diverse nature of this country. A love of jazz, groove, Cuban rhythms and virtuosic musicianship married with the ease of folk music lends to their new and curious sound. Learning from such great Canadian storytellers as Joni Mitchell and Gordon Lightfoot, Stephen engages his audience with charming banter and humour while the chemistry between Stephen and the rhythm section creates energized performances that rival any live act today. In Noises From The Toolshed, Stephen Franke has expanded his musical sensibilities as a classically trained pianist and seasoned jazz personality. Their show is largely instrumental with a strong selection of inspired songs displaying Stephen's though ts through his creative lyrics. Powered by the distinctive sound of Franke's 1949 Gibson L4 archtop guitar, amplified through a rotating Leslie organ speaker, Noises From The Toolshed play a distinctively Canadian brand of jazz and world fusion inspired by other artists who treat the interplay between soloist and rhythm section with great regard: Charlie Hunter, Django Rheinhardt, Medeski Martin & Wood and Bela Fleck.
Mortal Coil:
Mortal Coil is dedicated to creating imaginative theatre and spectacle for audiences young and old. Our artistic vision is grand. We bring a sense of magic and myth to our performing characters through the use of stilts, masks and fantastic costuming. The company's creative and original work can be presented to audiences in theatres, at festivals and at site specific events. We also develop and teach classes, workshops and lecture/demonstrations on the performing arts to the general public, educators and professional performers.
Joel Kroeker Trio:
Joel completed a Bachelor of Music in Composition and Guitar Performance at the University of Manitoba and then a Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology and Popular Music Studies from the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Joel's debut CD "Naive Bohemian," released independently in 1999 by his Dancing Monk Productions, reached # 7 on the Canadian National Campus Radio Specialty chart. The same year Joel was named Best New Recording Artist by the Alberta Recording Industry Assn., and won the Film Score of the Year category for the documentary “Tokyo Gardens.”
Joel also went on to share stages with such top Canadian acts as Sarah Harmer, Bruce Cockburn, Stephen Fearing, Colin Linden, Colin James, and the Payolas. In addition, Joel's songs have been covered by several artists in the past year. Toronto cabaret singer Patricia O'Callaghan recorded "Naked Beauty" as the title track of her recent Marquis album. Lee Aaron included five Joel co-writes on her 2004 album “Beautiful Things” on HipChick Records; and Toronto-based band Micro Maureen recorded another Joel co-write, “We're Still Here” on its Aquarius debut in 2003. "Melodrama" is a map of Joel's music; it defines the territory he claims without quite fixing his limits. “There's lots of angst, lyrical significance, and weight to the record, but it still has a melodramatic quality,” says Joel. “Anybody who knows me would probably say that's part of my personality.”
Ivan E. Coyote:
Ivan Coyote was born and raised in the Yukon Territory, and now resiades in an attic in Vancouver. She was a founding member of the storytelling troupe Taste This, who penned the 1998 collec ion Boys Like Her. Ivan also has two solo collections of short stories, Close To Spiderman and One Man's Trash (2000 and 2002, Arsenal Pulp Press). Ivan also writes a monthly column for Xtra West and contributes regularly to The Georgia Straight and The Vancouver Sun. Ivan is also a member of One Trick Rodeo a spoken word and music collision where her tales meet the musical stylings of guitarist Richard Spencer, flute player Luna Roth and go-go dancer Shelley Frankenstein. She is currently at work on a novel, the garden, and Pee America, an instructional video for travelers.
T.O.F.U.:
Undeniably one of the most highly anticipated unions of voice and word, Tons of Fun University (T.O.F.U.) is one part Mike McGee, one part C.R. Avery, and one equal part Shane Koyczan. Both Individual Grand Slam Champions of the National Poetry Slam (Koyczan in 2000; McGee in 2003), Mike and Shane are North America's biggest poetry duo, figuratively and physically. Combined, they bring a sense of passion and urgency that is mainstream, timely and unique, while maintaining a creative energy that is no-holds-barred and uncommon in modern poetry and spoken word. Adding C.R. Avery's musical prowess and awe-inspiring beat box skills, and you have a force in spoken word unlike anything ever heard.
Tha Declining Amphibian Phenomenon:
From deep within the primordial waters of the black lotus pond, chaos and revolutionary consciousness are bubbling to the surface. Tha Declining Amphibian Phenomenon are echoing through the last of the old growth and breaking through the cracks of the solid concrete. Witness the organarchist hip-hardcore poetix of the perennial thorn Praxis and the medicinally potent Chickweed. The evolution will not be televised.
NOVA Firespinners:
NOVA means 'a shining star increasing in brilliance', and when these firespinning women get together, the sparks are flying! They come from the heart source, motivated by the fun of the moment to create spinning spectacles from the surreal to the psychedelic. With costumes inspired by dreams, myth, fantasies and the community around them, they revel in your delight. Be ready for fun as their next 'circus carnival spectacle' could be right around the corner!
Coming this fall at Courtenay Rec and Karuna Dance and Yoga: “NOVA Spin Workshop” (Learn hoop, staff and poi) “Hula Hoopla” (Weekly classes to learn hula hoop tricks, dance and play!)
t.r.ace:
Drummer/poet t.r.ace combines spoken word with a groove, mixing rhythm with rhyme to create an experience that moves body, mind and soul. Her fiery brand of feminist musings and commentary on a world gone mad has been performed at venues up and down Vancouver Island for the past ten years. Nanaimo jazz musician Myron Makepeace and Comox Valley percussionist Brett Hearn bring their musical talents to Cumberland Village Works Festival and join t.r.ace to create an unforgettable blending of Latin grooves, jazz, poetry and politics.
Layla Zoe:
Growing up listening to Robert Johnson, Billie Holiday and Muddy Waters, Layla grew up with a good knowledge of the blues. As Layla matured she began to find her own tastes lying more in the 60's-70's genre of psychedelic rock and blues. Listening to artists like the Band, Jefferson Airplane, Led Zeppelin and Santana as well as singer/songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin and Van Morrison, one can hear Layla's major influences.
Layla is currently working with producer Alec Watson (Great Big Sea, Spirit of the West, Michelle Wright, Rick Henry) on her debut cd with plans to release in July/August of 2005. In the meantime Layla is opening for artists such as Juno nominated Amos Garrett, Juno Winner Ken Hamm, critically acclaimed guitarist Bill Johnson and world renowned dobro master Doug Cox.