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FREE SHOWS DAILY 2:30PM - 5:30PM | OUTDOOR CONCERT SERIES STAGE | SKIER'S PLAZA
*Please note that the opening bands for each day go on stage at approximately 2:30pm and the headliners are on at around 4pm.
By the time the lights went down for the final time at the 2006 Outdoor Concert Series and the last band left the stage to thunderous applause the search was already well underway. Now we're scouring the globe and the depths of the underground to complete the 2007 line-up. The challenge? To unite the best musicians from across almost every genre, including hip-hop, rock, jazz, reggae, and alternative to name a few, on one stage for 10 days to perform in what has become Canada's largest FREE outdoor concert series.
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2007 Line-Up has Started...
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SAM ROBERTS | FRIDAY APRIL 13TH
"There must be something in the air…"
Sam Roberts sings these words just before the first song on his first full-length album fades out into ether, conjuring that moment you experience every night in bed when your conscience shuts down in anticipation of the dreamlike delights to come. Sam Roberts may call Montreal home, but his music occupies a less definable space: the place between studious intellect and gut reaction; between psychedelic transcendence and the cold, hard truth; between fist-pumped, hockey-lovin' hellraising and melancholic vulnerability. Or, in Sam's universe, it's the place where Rue St-Laurent intersects with Abbey Road.
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JETS OVERHEAD | FRIDAY APRIL 13TH
Since forming Jets Overhead in 2003, this five-piece from Victoria, BC has mesmerized crowds at home and abroad with their hypnotic take on trance rock. Having shared the stage with The Stills, The Dandy Warhols, Stars, Our Lady Peace, Tegan and Sara, Powderfinger and 54*40, the self-managed band took time out of their touring schedule last year to record their first full-length, Bridges. The distinctive LP was produced by Neil Osborne, longtime singer from Canadian rock luminaries 54*40, in his first official production role beyond his own band’s duties. Bridges was soft-released in late 2005 on a regional basis and has since reached a top 10 position on Canada’s national campus radio charts while also being a staple on emerging alternative outlets such as XM satellite radio and 3WK internet radio. The LP is now due for national release in Canada on Microgroove/Warner on April 25, 2006.
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BASSNECTAR | BIG AIR SATURDAY APRIL 14TH
For the last decade, Lorin Ashton has helped develop the North American underground dance music scene. From touring full time as a DJ (an average of 125 shows per year), to his production & remixing under the alias Bassnectar, he has amassed a dedicated fan base, crossing over from hip hop to electronica to breakbeat to ragga/dub to the jam band scene and the greater Burningman Scene.
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ZILLA | BIG AIR SATURDAY APRIL 14TH
Zilla is a Colorado based trio of musicians with the live experience in mind. A 100% organic, improvised experience, each Zilla concert proves to be a completely new occurrence, with even the band members having no idea where the music will take them night after night. Relying on their uncanny ability to listen and incorporate their individual talents into a group focused brand of live electronic dance music, Zilla is sweeping the country by storm with their rare breed of beats, bass and uncontrollable musical fury making each performance exactly what live music is all about: spontaneity, grooves, and a damn good dance party.
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FUNGINEARS | BIG AIR SATURDAY APRIL 14TH
As pioneers on the eternal quest for brand new kinds of fun, the Funginears integrate vocal percussion, original music, puppetry, poetics, collaborative storytelling and (r)evolutionary silliness to create interactive extravaganzas for children of all ages. Grounded in the healing power of laughter and the visionary potential of co-creative play, Funginears utilize puppets to channel the musical energy of beatboxing and vocal soundscapes into a narrative flow,
taking the audience on an epic journey through the realms of imagination. Based primarily in the magical Mt. Elphinstone rain forest on the Sunshine Coast of BC, they have performed at many
events and festivals including Shambhala, Emerg-n-see, Synergenesis and Oracle Gatherings. |
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STEPHEN MARLEY | SUNDAY APRIL 15TH
If you think you don't know the music of Stephen Marley, you do-you just don't realize it. A member of the celebrated Marley sibling group The Melody Makers since the age of seven, the Grammy winning producer, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist has also been the driving creative force behind the music of his brothers. Stephen's production, performance and writing credits recently earned him two Grammys-giving him a total of five: more than any other Marley family member or reggae artist in history.
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K'NAAN | SUNDAY APRIL 15TH
K'NAAN won the 2006 Juno award for best rap recording of the year. Originally from Somalia, but now based in Toronto, this skilled MC/spoken word poet brings an enormous dose of realness and urgency to the hip-hop world. Know for his distinct voice, K'NAAN'S music truly speaks to his African roots, poetry and philosophy. He is on tour with Stephen Marley, and has also toured with the likes of Mos Def, Talib Kewli and Xavier Rudd
Listen to K'Naan
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TOKYO POLICE CLUB | MONDAY APRIL 16TH
Discordant noise and sublime melodies – who can resist? The Tokyo Police club demo wound up in the hands of Paper Bag Records after a sweaty Pop Montreal show. We played it once, twice, three times and beyond that we lost count – then we did that every day and eventually just made time in our schedules to kick back and enjoy “The Nature of the Experiment”, the bands clear party tune, on a daily basis for the rest of our lives. |
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JAGUA | MONDAY APRIL 16TH
The time is now! Vancouver born Rockstar 'Jagua' is stalking his prey and getting ready to slaughter. With a personality that has been described as "Larger than Life", His Reggae-injected pop/rock sound is blowing away audiences everywhere. Jagua has the excitement of a 'kid in a candy store' and the extremely talented verses of someone twice his age. With world wide touring experience and many years of recording, his west-coast meets world attitude is like nothing you've ever seen.
Visit enterthejagua.com |
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BLACK SWADE | MONDAY APRIL 16TH
These teen rockers play to crowds that cannot believe kids can rock like this! They are 13 and 14 years old, and have taken the Pacific Northwest by storm. Performances in Seattle's EMP "Sound Off" Underage Band Competition, press coverage from the Vancouver Sun and The Province, Whistler First Night, GMC Cup Canadian Ski Championships main stage, all before senior high
school. When you hear the hard rock sounds and see the energetic stage performance of these talented young musicians, you too will understand what all of the buzz is about! Check out Black Swade at www.blackswade.com. Or www.myspace.com/blackswade |
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BUCK 65 | TUESDAY APRIL 17TH
Raised in Mt. Uniacke, Nova Scotia, Canada, Buck 65 (aka Rich Terfry) has been evolving as an artist, DJ, producer, and lyricist for almost two decades. Terfry takes an eclectic mix of hip hop, folk, country, rock and-with the addition of his signature vocal style-creates something completely refreshing and unique. Coming this fall, his new record, Situation, will take fans back to the year 1957, in a way only Buck 65 could do. Buck 65's live performances are centered around his eccentric showmanship and diverse song selection. He regularly features new, unreleased material and re-worked favorites from his prolific body of work spanning more than 15 albums. He currently resides in Toronto, though his travels take him worldwide, from Moscow to New York. |
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ANIMAL NATION | TUESDAY APRIL 17TH
Eight months, seventeen tracks, three producers, two emcees, multiple guests, and countless nights of insomnia riddled 4am jam sessions later, Animal Nation is proud to present "Selfless Mind Indulgence". The group's highly anticipated debut album lays it on thick with lyrical content covering everything from life, love, loss, lies, hopeism, sex, drugs, and rock and roll. ".and some other s%#t too." Dabbling in everything from classical to rock to the "Sound of Music" and right back to hip hop without skipping a beat, "Selfless" will have you hitting the repeat button over and over again... even though you would, like, only need to hit it once. and stuff. |
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ALLISON CROWE | WEDNESDAY APRIL 18TH
A modern lover of music, US-based blogger Muruch puts it like this: "There's really no way to convey through mere words how much the music... moves me, or how I want other people to listen to and adore it as much as I do. Allison sings with such an intensity of emotion, it's easy to see why she's often quoted as saying 'Why music? Why breathing?'... that kind of artistic passion seems extremely rare these days."
Listen to ALLISON CROWE
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PACIFIKA | WEDNESDAY APRIL 18TH
Their music is as beautiful as its songstress Silvana Kane: a Peruvian goddess who shares her words of humanity, sexuality and love around the globe. Pacifika’s first album, Unveiled, is a sultry blend of Spanish and English, pop, jazz and world music.
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MILKA | WEDNESDAY APRIL 18TH
Milka is a phenomenon that captivates every audience with an all out vocal assault backed by brutally polished drums and Latin spiced percussion. The rumbling bass groves fused with precise guitars only add to the depth of this band's incredibly unique, yet catchy sound.
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FINGER ELEVEN | THURSDAY APRIL 19TH
Finger Eleven return with their fourth Wind-up Records release Them vs. You vs. Me on March 6th, 2007. Finger Eleven's prior release, which was self-titled, has scanned 800,000 in North America according to SoundScan, and is approaching platinum status. The success of the release was largely fueled by the massive hit “One Thing,” which continues to be heard on radio stations across the country as a recurrent on their play lists. Check out fingereleven.com
Listen to FINGER ELEVEN
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THE DUDES | THURSDAY APRIL 19TH
The Dudes, a Calgary-based band, are currently supporting their latest release: "Brain Heart Guitar", a CD containing 13 alternative rock songs that contain an emotional blend of Al Green and Modest Mouse, of soul music and early 1990's distortion. Dan Vacon, singer-songwriter for The Dudes since their start in the late 90's, has an ability to draw audiences in through his distinct vocal style - a mixture of strong pop melody, sly double entendres, and pure soul. Having released several lo-fi releases since their inception, their latest release "Brain Heart Guitar" is currently breaking the band out of the Calgary independent music (where they were voted Calgary's 'Favourite Band of 2006' by FFWD Readers) and into a national spotlight, in hopes of spreading their understanding of true rock and roll soul...
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MAESTRO | THURSDAY APRIL 19TH | COCA COLA RAIL SESSION
Often dubbed as the "Godfather of Canadian Hip-Hop". Wes Williams has been involved in the entertainment industry for over 20 years. Internationally known as Maestro, he has released 6 albums, received awards including 2 Juno Awards (Canada's Grammy Award), catapulting himself into Canadian history for being the best selling Hip Hop artist this country has ever produced.His first lp “Symphony in Effect”which came out in 1989 still remains the best selling Hip Hop album in Canadian music history. “Let Your Backbone Slide” is the only Canadian Hip Hop single to reach Gold status as well as being the first Hip Hop song to premier on Billboards Top 20 Rap Singles Chart. |
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TOOTS & THE MAYTALS | FRIDAY APRIL 20TH
2005 Grammy winners for Reggae Album of the Year Toots is one of the true architects of reggae - so much so that "Do the Reggay," a 1968 single by Toots and his group, the Maytals, is credited with giving the genre its name. Toots Hibbert is one of the great voices of Jamaica; a legend whose career spans every development in Jamaican music, from ska through rock-steady to reggae. Toots and the Maytals have helped to chart the course of Jamaican music with unrivaled delivery and dynamism, setting new standards of excellence, and becoming the most enduring of all Jamaica's groups.
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ZAKI IBRAHIM | FRIDAY APRIL 20TH
“Zaki Ibrahim, in a better world, would be a superstar. But superstars get too big, carry an ego as an evil facade, and start getting plastic surgery in the hopes of career longetivity. With that said, I'd like for Miss Ibrahim to shine with the talent that she has, because this is someone who should be, no, deserves to be heard."
- Okayplayer.com by John Book
Twenty-five years, four continents, and several generations in the making, Zaki Ibrahim’s music is captivating and vibrant. It’s thick with poetics, and steeped in a delicious mixture of earnest emotion and humor.
Listen to Zaki Ibrahim
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RED ONE | SATURDAY APRIL 21ST | PLAYSTATION BIG AIR
13 years, 5 albums, a swag of awards and a declined Juno since their Really Livin debut, the Rascalz’s Red One, Fit, and DJ Kemo have helped pioneer Canadian hip-hop. With their “Northern Touch” anthem, the group united the country’s top talent—including Kardinal, Choclair, Thrust, and Checkmate— propelling hip hop to the forefront of mainstream culture. |
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RAHZEL | SATURDAY APRIL 21ST | PLAYSTATION BIG AIR
Probably best known in the semi-mainstream world as a member of the Roots, Rahzel is an MC that specializes in the "fifth element" of hip-hop culture -- beatboxing (which comes after graffiti spraying, DJing, MCing, and breakdancing). He actively discourages classification of his sound, attempting to remain on the eclectic edge of the commercial music. According to the artist, his influences include Biz Markie, Doug E Fresh, Buffy of the Fat Boys, Bobby McFerrin, and Al Jarreau. His goal is to gain respect for beatboxing as a true art form on its own merits. Growing up, Rahzel looked up to his cousin Rahim of the Furious Five, and went to Grandmaster Flash's shows regularly. He later became a roadie for the Ultramagnetic MCs. Rahzel has in fact mastered the art of beatboxing, able to recreate full songs, with accompaniment by himself without instrumentation, able to sing a chorus and provide a backing beat simultaneously, able to invoke impressions of singers and rappers on a whim. |
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ROBERTSON | SATURDAY APRIL 21ST
Robertson is back to prove that “baby making music is cool! “ Roberston, singer, guitar player and creative force behind the critically acclaimed Montreal band Bullfrog, is hitting the road with his new brand of “baby making music”. After his well received 2004 ep “Deeper Shade of Green”, Robertson spent most of 2006 in the studio recording the tracks to his much anticipated, upcoming debut LP “Favorite People” due out in the spring 07. Robertson has kept the grove and spirit of Bullfrog alive and well. Robertson is sure to keep the old fans happy and impress new fans to be.
Click here to visit Roberton's site. |
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ROZ BELL | SATURDAY APRIL 21ST
There's a hint of The Police's reggae-rock in Roz's vocal delivery and the breakdown also reveals someone well-versed in hip-hop. The upbeat guitar strumming evokes a back porch sing-along, and the sad strains of the line "I'm so-oh lonely... when you leave me" could've been plucked from a classic country song. It's the sum total of a wildly diverse set of influences all come together on Roz's sweet debut album, The First Sunbeams. The album was produced almost entirely by James Robertson (Esthero, Skye Sweetnam), mixed by Neal Pogue (Outkast, Citizen Cope, Transplants) and features one song, "The Greatest Tragedy," shepherded by super-A&R man/producer Jeff Blue (he discovered Linkin Park and Macy Gray). It's an album made up of short, simple stories, the boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl sort of timeless songs that are the foundation for contemporary music. |
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THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS | SUNDAY APRIL 22ND
The release of We're Already Gone and Water (a compilation), in the U.S. saw the beautiful girls morph and trim their touring party slightly. In a "back to their roots" move the band, who have worked with a series of different instrumentalists (including harmonica players, a brass section and keyboardists), toured the U.S. as a three piece. They added a keyboard player for their home tours. The ‘We're Already Gone album has enjoyed international success and raised the profile of the band considerably in the U.S. – and the response to this album there, both by the crowds and the press has been fantastic. Because of it the band have featured in ex games dvd’s (through Canada and the U.S.), full page articles and the albums (both WAG and Water), continue to sell well. |
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HAYLEY SALES | SUNDAY APRIL 22ND
Hayley Sales embraced her finger-pluckin’ destiny, picking up piano at age 8, and falling for the guitar soon after. She recorded her first record Drifter, and followed it up with the forthcoming Sunseed, which she produced, recorded and co-mixed. You could say prodigy, or you could just say, play on girl.
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SLACKSTRING | SUNDAY APRIL 22ND
Slackstring has been performing together since their high school days, across the United States and Canada, and has sold over 5,000 copies of their homemade self-titled album to fans worldwide, and in July 2006 gained distribution in Japan through Surfrock International (and immediately shot to #45 on the 'Hot 100' charts of Tokyo's leading rock radio station J-Wave). The recently released live album, Place To Be, captures a high energy SLACKSTRING set from their 2006 Fall tour. Their follow up studio effort, Lay Back, will be out in summer 2007. On video, SLACKSTRING has been featured in numerous action sports films including The Collective, Ultimate Sessions, Roam, and Sofia: A Documentary; and television shows on the Fuel TV network and Roadtrip Nation on PBS. The band is also featured on Surf Roots Vol.2 to benefit the USA Surf Team.
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