Happy Hour begins at 4:30 p.m. every Thursday until the end of August on šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn (650 Hamilton Street). Vancouver Civic Theatres will launch its Summer Sounds concert series on July 25 on this plaza beside the Queen Elizabeth Theatre with Land Back Records Spotlight.
The local Indigenous-owned and -operated record label will curate the 2.5-hour event. Its lineup includes rising star Hayley Wallis, who recently played the Vancouver Folk Music Festival. She’s scheduled to perform again on July 27 at the Fort Langley Jazz & Arts Festival.
Wallis’s debut EP Halulu has created tremendous buzz. Moreover, several singles, including “Coffee Cup”, reached #1 on NCI’s Indigenous Music Countdown.
In addition, Pisim Sb & Day Pisum, Eli Gosselin-Rattlesnake, Talon, and Doza will perform that day.
“Land Back’s focus is to create visibility and build capacity for Indigenous artists, and to uplift as many Indigenous communities as possible by providing outlets, resources, tools and safe spaces to help guide and inspire,” the Vancouver Civic Theatres website states.
“They provide access to production studios, deliver marketing campaigns, produce Indigenous-focused events, and so much more,” it continues. “Above all, their approach to business incorporates values of reciprocity and revitalization of the Indigenous economy, prioritizing community over profit.”
It wouldn’t be Happy Hour without some food and drink specials. So, at this free event, music lovers can pay $7 for popcorn and beer or a canned cocktail. Beer or a canned cocktail costs $5 on its own.
Those who don’t drink liquor can pay $6 for popcorn and water or pop. These beverages cost $4 by themselves.
Watch the Devours video for “Jacuzzi My Stonewall”.
Sounds of Pride on šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn
Summer Sounds returns on August 1 to šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn by celebrating Pride with Devours and Parlour Panther. This, too, will run from 4:30 to 7 p.m. and include Happy Hour specials.
Devours is a synth-pop project created by Jeff Cancade. Devours’ album Homecoming Queen made the Polaris Prize longlist.
Whereas Devours makes confessional electronic music revolving around queer themes, Parlour Panther performs uplifting guitar-oriented indie music. The band was founded 10 years ago by the trans nonbinary couple Frankie and Lee, and now includes founding member Saadi D’Hoore on synth and guitar and Jen Foster on drums.
On August 8, Locals Lounge will program the performances. These shows will be followed on August 15 by local folk artists Madelyn Read and Jasper Sloan Yip.
The next week will spotlight students at the Sarah McLachlan School of Music. And the final concert in the series will be hosted by DJs Nea Stonefox and Paisley Eva on August 29.
Stonefox is the resident DJ of AfroQueer YVR as well as the host of GUSH Radio. Eva hails from the ḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation village of Eslha7an, Ta7talíya and founded the nonprofit pre-pandemic Dame Music Society.
Learn how to pronounce šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn from this video.
For more information about Summer Sounds on šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn, visit the Vancouver Civic Theatres website. Follow Pancouver on X @PancouverMedia and on Instagram @PancouverMedia.
