Taiwanese-born interdisciplinary artist Van Lefan (樂凡) has prepared a memorable musical treat for Lunar New Year. On Friday (February 27), the talented Vancouver singer-songwriter will revive and reinterpret popular Mandarin and Cantonese songs from the 1960s to the early 2000s at Performance Works on Granville Island.
They will include compositions made famous by Asian superstars Teresa Teng 鄧麗君, Tsai Chin 蔡琴, Chyi Yu 齊豫, Richie Jen 任賢齊, and Jay Chou 周杰倫.
“A lot of the songs are nostalgic to my childhood, my parents’ youth, my parents’ childhood, and even my grandparents’ youth,” Lefan says on her Instagram feed.
“So, if you and your family want to come, sing along,” she adds. “We’ll put the lyric slides up on the screen. I’ll have a live band.”
Lefan will perform these “nostalgic bangers” at Old Songs, New Year with violinist Cindy Kao, drummer Jayden, and bassist and cellist Mattias Joe.
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The Vancouver-based pop choir Skywalker will also join in the fun. Mentored by musician Dino Acconci of Soler, Skywalker performs primarily in Mandarinand Cantonese under the direction of Addison Wong.
Lefan likens Old Songs, new Year to “live-band karaoke” for folks who want to connect over culture and songs that are reminiscent of their childhood.
“If you’re not of Chinese descent—or diaspora—have no fear! You can still enjoy the music,” Lefan promises. “There will be food, there will be music. It will be a vibe.”
Bentos for Lunar New Year
The food will be prepared by Josey Chang, a much-heralded chef from Taiwan. Founder and curator of the Vietnamese restaurant petit été (Little Summer) in Taichung, Chang specializes in Taiwanese-Vietnamese fusion.
In an interview with Pancouver earlier this month, she said that she launched her dining establishment to forge stronger ties between Taiwanese and Vietnamese people in her hometown.
“I quit my job at the bank and decided to open a restaurant and use it as a platform,” Chang said. “I wanted to let Taiwanese people know more about Vietnam and Vietnamese people.”
For Old Songs, New Year, Chang plans to prepare to LNY Asian Fusion Bentos, each coming with appetizers, a main course, and dessert.
The veggie option features an appetizer of green salad with lemon sauce and a fried vegetarian spring roll. That will be followed by a main course of Annatto oil veggie and mushroom rice bowl, along with pan-fried bean curd with pickled radish and carrot. Dessert consists of cream cheese and nut-roasted sweet potato.
The regular Bento appetizers include green salad with lemon fish sauce, sausage and jicama spring roll, and pan-fried seaweed shrimp cakes. That will be followed by a main course of caramelized fish sauce, braised pork belly, and egg on rice. Dessert remains the same as the veggie option.
Event details
The Asian-Canadian Special Events Association will present Van Lefan, Skywalker, and Josie Chang in a new LNY experience called Old Songs, New Year. This LunarFest Vancouver begins at 6:30 p.m. on Friday (February 27) at Performance Works on Granville Island. Doors open at 6 p.m. and tickets are available on the LunarFest Vancouver website or through Showpass.
