Events This Saturday & Sunday

Posted on November 2, 2024 by Kamryn Hamagami-Postill

It’s the weekend again. One thing about me is I need to have some fun things going on with my weekend or else I feel as if I have wasted it. I know some good R & R can be healing for the soul and get you ready for the weekend but that’s just not how I roll. I spent my Friday working so now I have to make up for it with my Saturday night. And if you’re in the same position as I am and looking to get your Saturday plans in motion you’re in luck.

Tonight at Guilt and Co, located right in the heart of Gastown, Toma Zenda will be playing! Toma Zenda consists of five local Vancouver musicians and they will be bringing you good music and vibes all night long from 10:00 – 2:00. Dawn Pemberton will be on vocals where you can hear her smooth jazzy voice accompanied with guitar from Tristan Paxton and Gavin Youngash, drums from Mike Ardagh, and the bass from Derek DiFilippo. And better yet, if you are a last minute planner, you don’t need to get tickets for this one, however it is first come first serve so if you are a keener, I recommend you get there early.

If you had a bit of a crazy Friday night and are suffering the repercussions today but are looking to find something to do Sunday again at Guilt and Co will have Jeff Bryant on stage as the early show and then The Colin Sankey Quintet will follow with the later show at 9:00. Jeff Bryant will be going on at 7:00 and you can expect some folky music from this Vancouver based artist. Colin Sankey will be changing the vibes later at night with some jazz and Latin fusion. When the clocks go back it always puts me in a bad mood so turn your frown upside down and head to gastown!

Tonight at the Vogue Theatre the Richard Thompson Trio will be playing at 7:00. If you are looking for an event to spice up your Saturday night then I think this will do just the thing for you. Richard Thompson accompanied by Kacy & Clayton will bring a distinctive British Folk Rock to the stage with a mix of electric guitar and acoustic. It is going to be a crazy night.

If you are looking to celebrate Diwali tonight Prem Dhillon will be at the Enso Event Centre bringing high energy to the stage with bright lights and colours.

It’s never too late to get your weekend going in the right direction so I hope I was able to give you some ideas to get your Saturday and Sunday rolling.

Merry Christmas???

Posted on November 2, 2024 by Kamryn Hamagami-Postill

It’s timeeeeeeeee!

Well, Halloween has come and passed and it’s now November which means it’s time to bust out some classic Christmas songs and get in the holiday spirit.

You may be thinking that it is far too early to start celebrating Christmas but in my opinion we only get Christmas once a year and it always flies by so why not stretch it out a bit?

So here are my top Christmas hits you can expect me to be playing in my car right when November starts.

First let’s take a look at Burnaby born Michael Bublé If you are a Christmas fanatic like myself then you definitely know this one. Back in 2011 Michael released this golden cover album with classics like “It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas”, “Holly Jolly Christmas”, and “All I want for Christmas is You”. These songs get me in the holiday mood more than anything. Whether I’m hosting some friends for a Christmas get together, driving to work, or needing some background music while I put the tree up, you can bet this is what I am playing!

I’m sure you know Mariah Carey’s Christmas classics as well. From Instagram memes posts and more I can bet you have heard the iconic “It’s Time!” in her high pitched voice, well it may sound annoying to some, but for me, it is music to my ears. In 1994, Mariah released her Christmas album “Merry Christmas” which in my opinion shifted the modern Christmas music world. I was so used to hearing the slow “Silent Night” that kind of made me sad and reminded me of my church Christmas concerts but Mariah really took her own spin on the classics and spiced them up.

In 2018, pop star John Legend released his spin off on the Christmas classics with his album “A Legendary Christmas” and I have to say it is legendary. There are also some features on this album from Stevie Wonder and Esperanza Spalding which I think is super cool! John Legend later took this album on tour so if you were one of the lucky ones who were able to see that live – I’m jealous!

A recent single that was just released this October was “Holiday Road” by pop star Kesha. Definitely a lot different from her song “TikTok, but in my opinion it is a little bit too pop-y. Not that there’s anything wrong with pop and I do like Kesha, it just doesn’t give that Christmas feel to me.

Anyways, it’s never too early to get the Christmas tunes blasting, happy November!

Upcoming Concerts In Vancouver!

Posted on October 30, 2024 by Kamryn Hamagami-Postill

If you are anything like me, then you need to have something to look forward to. Whether it’s pushing through midterms and assignments, or getting through the work week, nothing beats having something fun at the end of the week as the light at the end of the tunnel. And what’s better than going to a concert to blow off steam? Nothing. But luckily for Vancouver we have some pretty awesome artists coming to town in the near future.

If you’re looking for some last minute Friday night plans Porter Robinson will be at the UBC Thunderbird arena for his SMILE! 😀 tour. Known for songs “Language” and “Cheerleader” you can expect electronic dance music. There’s no better way to start your weekend or maybe even your Friday night!

Usher usher usher…. Usher will be coming to Rogers Arena for two nights! You can catch his Past Present Future tour on November 7th or 8th. The star who performed the Super Bowl halftime show last year is going to take you back to the 2000s with some of his biggest hits and Vancouver can expect an electric two nights.

For those pop fans out there the one and only Sabrina Carpenter is coming to Pacific Coliseum November 4th. In my opinion Sabrina totally had the ability to sell out Rogers especially with the release of her new album Short n’ Sweet with hit songs “Espresso” and “Taste”. Concertgoers can expect a night of lively dance numbers and glittery costumes.

For my rock fans Rise Against will be at the Harbour Event Centre on November 16. Rise Against was a band I grew up listening to in the back of my dads truck on the way to early Saturday morning soccer games, although I’m not a huge listener now, it’s super cool that they will be coming to Vancouver.

Miss Billie Eilish will be blessing Vancouver at Rogers Arena on December 3rd and I’m a bit choked that I wasn’t able to get tickets to this one but either way I’m still excited. The Hit Me Hard And Soft tour is going to be outstanding, I’ve been able to see some clips, I won’t spoil it but if you are going…. Get pumped. I still remember when I saw Billie pre covid at the PNE and it’s truly so cool to see an artist grow into basically selling out an arena!

So if you didn’t have anything to look forward to and you are in a slump with the last couple months of 2024 hopefully I was able to add some excitement to the end of your year.

The Ticketmaster Battle

Posted on October 30, 2024 by Kamryn Hamagami-Postill

Oh ticketmaster…. Me and ticketmaster have a love-hate relationship. I love ticketmaster when I’m lucky, but hate ticketmaster when I’m unlucky.

When the word ticket master comes to mind there’s one story in particular that stands out to me. For starters I’m die hard swiftie, I’ve been a fan of hers since the beginning so obviously when I saw Taylor release her Eras tour dates and saw there were no Canadian dates a part of me died. But our good friends just across the border did have a date, two dates actually. So there I was signing up to get the stupid ticketmaster code, I actually had no idea how hard it was going to be, but then again I don’t think I have ever attempted to go to a concert that big. Anyways I think you know where this is going, no luck, no code. But over here, I am NOT a quitter. So what did I do you may ask? I drove down to Seattle. No tickets. No plan. A lot of hope. Long story short I’ll save you the time, I got the tickets and it was honestly without a doubt the best night of my life, it literally makes me emotional just thinking about it!!

Fast forward a couple months to what happens….. Taylor releases THREE Vancouver nights. Now from my past Taylor experience I knew how hard it was to be able to get the code. For background to get the code you need to put in your email and hope for the best. So to have the best chance to be able to relive the best night of my life, I got 33 of my friends, coworkers, and family to sign up. And of all people my sweet grandma got the code. Thank you grandma and ticketmaster, see you in December Taylor!!

However, if you have been in my position and have not been able to get a code or tickets to see your favourite artist live I have a couple tips for you!

Stand outside the arena. I don’t care if it’s raining, snowing, storming, or whatever, stand outside, wait for the opener to get on, maybe even till the second the artist gets on the stage, trust me, the ticket prices will drop. A lot of people buy tickets to sell them for more than what they got them for but when the concert goes they lose value and the true fans will be able to score.
Check out social media! I’ve seen a lot of TikTok and Instagram videos of people wanting to sell their tickets to concerts to fans for face value rather than selling them at an outrageous price. I don’t know about you but these people are the real MVPs in my opinion.

May the odds be ever in your favor with ticketmaster war.

Candlelight Concerts

Posted on October 30, 2024 by Kamryn Hamagami-Postill

Have you ever heard of a candlelight concert? I actually had no clue what they were until it popped up on my Instagram feed, but to be honest, they look super cool.

So what is a candlelight concert? It’s an instrumental performance either solo or with a group usually playing either the piano, harp, violin, string quartet, or the cello surrounded by what looks likes thousands of dimly lit candles, however after further investigation I have come to the realization that they are not real candles, they are electric, but still look beautiful. The musicians do anything from tributes to well known artists, like Coldplay, or Taylor Swift, to well known movie scores, and even classical covers, from artists like Mozart. I think it’s super cool that you can see a wide variety of music here in an insane setting.

The candlelight concerts are definitely like an immersive experience and unlike any other show I have heard. The musicians are usually the stars of the show, but in this case the candles really fight for that star of the show spot and I think they are doing a great job.

https://x.com/cdl_concerts

I also really like how accessible these shows are. I find it so annoying when an artist I want to see is coming to BC but not anywhere close to me and it’s too far to go there and back for one night. But the candlelight concerts take place in different venues across BC! Whether you’re in Victoria, White Rock, Vancouver, Chilliwack, or even Maple Ridge, there is a venue!

A couple things that sparked my interest were the upcoming nutcracker shows in Vancouver. I am a Christmas lover to the core and I’ve always been the person to start the Christmas celebrations right on November 1st, so safe to say you will definitely see me at one of the nutcracker shows!

We all know that Taylor Swift is bringing her iconic Eras Tour to Vancouver in early December but if you didn’t survive the ticket master war and were unable to get tickets, the candlelight concerts could be your chance at seeing some of her music played live (I must stress that she will NOT be there, don’t get too excited too fast).

There are actually over 100 cities in the world that host the candlelight concerts so you can definitely tell that this is a popular event for many with over 3 million attendees accounted for!

So whether you’re going for a relaxing night of classical music or looking to get into the Christmas spirit a bit early, there is something for you! Visit here for tickets. https://feverup.com/en/maple-ridge-bc-canada/candlelight?utm_source=google&utm_medium=sc_b&utm_campaign=candlelight_qrs&utm_content=710815931484&utm_term=candlelight%20concerts_p&gad_source=1&_gl=1*15bdvfn*_up*MQ..&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsoe5BhDiARIsAOXVoUt_OBA3PN0hx7vnqKfRrI0Fj8LLrmMaoNh7cknwZ4v-N_-mt9yS218aAvziEALw_wcB

BC’s Latest Releases

Posted on October 30, 2024 by Kamryn Hamagami-Postill

To be completely real I’m definitely into the top hits that get played on the radio, whenever I get into the car I always just go to the top hits by default, but as I am getting older and wiser I’m realizing to appreciate local artists more. Supporting both smaller artists and the community is both super important to me, so let’s chat about some of the latest music releases coming out of BC.

First up we got “Playground Heart” by Jia. Jia has an insanely beautiful voice and the drums in the song compliment her very well. I am also a sucker for electric guitar so that is something I loved most. Jia’s voice is a bit slower in this but the instruments in this create a great balance between the two.

My next listen was “The Ballad Of You And Me” by Tariq. This song definitely has a catchy beat and the best way I can describe this song is summer beach vibes. I really would love this song in the summer, however with the seasons changing and weather getting colder, I may put this song on my back burner till the Spring.

I have a bit of a genre switch here going into more rock but I gave “Santa Barbara” a listen from local Vancouver band The Time We Died, and wow, this one has taken my top spot for the latest BC releases so far. The drums, the vocals, everything just put me in the right mood, definitely check this one out.

Making another genre switch to “Brain On The Wall” by Posh Coat. This song is great, fall vibes, back to school, crisp air feels which I like! Posh Coat reminded me a bit of Ocean Alley so if I had to make a comparison, it would be that.

My last listen was “Incoming Call” by Oily James! The intro of this song is super cool and something different, it’s more of a chiller song which I liked, good for those morning commutes when you don’t want something crazy but still want to listen to some good music.

All these songs have a different vibe which I liked. It’s nice to see the diversity that the BC music scene brings and it’s awesome to see what local artists have been working on. So if your looking to freshen up your playlist or discover some new songs, check these guys out!

North Van Go To’s For Live Music

Posted on October 29, 2024 by Kamryn Hamagami-Postill

As someone who was born and raised in North Vancouver, I find the music scene within the community can be a bit dead at times, but don’t get me wrong North Van is beautiful, from the forests, beaches, to the mountains, it really has it all…. Expect a bit of a lively music scene. But as a local, I’m here to let you in on a couple of my favourite spots if I’m looking to catch some live music and enjoy an ice cold beer. So, here is my ranking of the top spots in the North Van area:

The CornerStone! Located in Pemberton Heights they keep the live music coming every Thursday night! You can expect everything from blues to alt rock and paired with some drinks and yummy dishes you can’t go wrong.
Shaketown Brewery! Life can’t get quite as good as having a cold pint over great conversation with a great musical ambience and Shaketown delivers just this! On Friday’s and Saturday’s you can usually expect a great DJ playing everything from rock hits, to pop hits, and even some awesome throwbacks. During the week you can expect some guitar and chiller vibes.
The Royal Canadian Legion! Located in Lower Lonsdale, I always appreciate the effort to get some younger local bands in there and getting to see what the younger generations have to offer!
Eagles Club: Also located in Lower Lonsdale, you can expect a little bit of everything from hearing some indie music to some classic covers, it’s always a good time. Recently I was down there with a couple coworkers watching our friend rip up the saxophone and it was amazing! The room is also great, with affordable drinks and a pool table one of my go to’s for a night in North Vancouver.
Wildeye Brewing: Another great brewery spot for live music. One thing I love about coming here is that the musicians take song requests! No better when you’re craving hearing a song and you get to hear it live!
The Queens Cross: Good old Queens Cross offers live music every weekend and it’s always the best, with the crowd being mostly regulars it’s nice to come into a welcoming space with great tunes and good eats.

Overall, nothing beats the community feel of live music in North Vancouver. It’s a pretty small music scene but it is still one that matters and is built on the community, so if your ever in the area go on and check one of these spots out!

The Wise Hall Lounge

Posted on October 29, 2024 by Kamryn Hamagami-Postill

The Wise Hall Lounge, known as the “heart and soul of East Vancouver’s live music scene”. From the outside looking in, you wouldn’t expect it to be a place where live shows would be held, but wow, step inside on a Friday night and the place is packed with people dancing and enjoying the live music.

The Wise Hall Lounge was actually built back in 1925, and from then to now it has been a place that has hosted many different things, from being a kindergarten to a gymnasium, and now a live music venue in 1963. The Wise Hall Lounge has impacted many people in more ways than one.

A couple of years ago my friend called me and asked me to come down with her to see her brother’s show. I said I was down and we jumped in the car and headed down. She parked the car, we got out and I looked around confused. On the street it’s just a bunch of houses and small apartments, I asked her where it was and she pointed to the little blue building across the street. I walked up the stairs and when I walked in wow, you wouldn’t believe, really the meaning of don’t judge a book by its cover. Inside the crowds were so lively and the bar was great, not too many places are you able to score a $5 beer nowadays!

Since my first time, I’ve been back a couple of times, mainly to see Brass Camel (one of my favourite local rock bands) and every time I go I’m stunned by the community that The Wise Hall Lounge is, so many regulars and people coming together to share in the love of live music.

However, like many other classic buildings that communities love, the The Wise Hall Lounge is suffering financially, with crazy costs that are shaking the whole of Vancouver, smaller venues are feeling the pain more than ever. Right now The Wise Hall Lounge needs the community’s help, whether it’s making a small donation, spreading the word, or even attending a show to support, anything is appreciated. https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/fundraising/c71ad7e5-43e2-4934-8857-432df24d35d3

There are some upcoming shows you can look forward to seeing at The Wise Hall Lounge. This Saturday, “Thick”, “Rain on Friday’s”, and “Wait/Less” will be taking over the stage with some awesome punk songs, the shows at 8:30 and you can score tickets here: https://do604.com/events/2024/11/2/thick-with-rain-on-sundays-tickets

If you want to get your dancing shoes on and bust out your best moves Thursday, November 14th the floor is all yours for the East Van Square Dance! Some old time classics will be playing and no experience needed, just be ready to have some fun! https://do604.com/events/2024/11/14/east-van-square-dance-tickets

If you’re looking for some fun and good times, I highly recommend checking this place out!

Commodore Camaraderie

Posted on October 29, 2024 by Kamryn Hamagami-Postill

I’m sure if you live in Vancouver you have been, know someone who has been, or even just heard about it, it’s always got something going on and some big artists have played there. It’s a good spot for musicians to get your name out there, and for live music fans, one of the best spots in Vancouver to get out and enjoy a show. If you guessed right, then you know I’m talking about The Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver.

The Commodore first opened its doors in 1930! Can you even believe that! After closing and reopening several times the doors have been opened for entertainment since 1999. The Commodore was originally a ballroom but it’s made kind of a 180 change since then. In 2011 The Commodore was named one of the Top 10 Most Influential Clubs in North America and Most Influential Club in Canada by Billboard Magazine! If that wasn’t your sign to make it your new Friday go to, then I don’t know what else will be! Some notable artists that have performed in the Commodore have been Snoop Dogg, Pixies, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Franz Ferdinand, and more

https://www.commodoreballroom.com/view-all

It’s been 90 years of Commodore camaraderie since the very beginning and if you haven’t been down there yet, it’s about time you go check it out, here our some upcoming events you can mark in your calendars:

Tuesday, October 29 (tonight!): Artemas. Doors open at 7:00. Known for his alternative/indie style you’d probably know him by the song “dirty little secret”.

Friday, November 1: Animals As Leaders: Doors open at 7:00. Kick off the start of the new month the right way, and head down to this show, with guest Plini, this is going to be one you do not want to miss.

Saturday, November 2: Enter Shikari: Doors 6:00. Is rock more your vibe? You’re in luck, jam out to Enter Shikari and you’re guaranteed a great night.

Sunday & Saturday, November 3,4: The Dead South: Doors 7. For two nights you can jam out to some good country style tunes that will put you in the right mood for the week ahead.

Check out The Commodore Ballroom, it’s a generational landmark that both my parents, grandparents, and now I have been able to enjoy so go revel in the Commodore camaraderie for a night of good old live music.

Ticketmaster War: Zach Bryan Edition

Posted on October 29, 2024 by Kamryn Hamagami-Postill

**Tears hitting my keyboard as I type**

So I hate ticketmaster.

I usually view myself as a pretty lucky person, but not when it comes to ticketmaster.

Almost a year ago now I tried to score tickets to see one of my favourite artists live at Rogers Arena this November but I had no luck and now the tickets are running from $600-$1000! I cannot even justify spending that much money to see a concert for one night however, I can dream.

On November 20th Zach will be hitting the stage with the iconic “The quittin’ time tour”, and I am finally coming to terms with the fact that I will not be in the audience. I even considered making the trip to Edmonton for the night to see him live, but again, I am not about to drop my life savings in one night! (I’m smarter than that). However one thing that you will see me doing on the night of November 20th is standing outside Rogers trying to score some last minute tickets. It’s worked for me in the past, you stand outside, the concert starts, the prices drop, you score. Now I think I just let you in on my little secret to scoring some tickets so if you do use this tactic this November keep me in mind, please.

For those who aren’t familiar with Zach’s music he is country but you can expect a little bit of everything, from slow sad tear jerkers, to upbeat singalongs, and summer songs that just feel right after a day in the sun with friends, he’s got it all.

https://www.zachbryan.com/

If I had to describe Zach’s music in one word I’d say nostalgia. You know the feeling when the air gets crisp and the leaves start to fall, that’s Zach. Or that feeling when you go to visit your childhood home or grandparents, that’s Zach. Or when it’s the end of August and you’re taking in the last few days of summer, that’s Zach. For every mood that you are in he has a song for that.

One of my favourite memories I have is a couple summers ago, me and my friends were on the beach having a couple of drinks, swimming in the water, and tossing a football around, Zach’s “Revival” was playing loud on the speaker and that song honestly just speaks the feeling that is good times with friends in the summer.

I know that getting into a new artist can be a bit overwhelming, so much to listen to and discover so lucky for you I’ll be giving you the songs that I think are perfect for a new soon to be Zach Bryan fan. Firstly, for that nostalgic feeling “November air” , just trust me on this one, and it’s also almost November so perfect timing. For that fun Friday night with friends try “American Nights”. And if you’re in your feelings and want to elevate those feelings so that you are sobbing, listen to “Bass Boat”.

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Author Archives: Kamryn Hamagami-Postill

Events This Saturday & Sunday

Merry Christmas???

Upcoming Concerts In Vancouver!

The Ticketmaster Battle

Candlelight Concerts

BC’s Latest Releases

North Van Go To’s For Live Music

The Wise Hall Lounge

Commodore Camaraderie

Ticketmaster War: Zach Bryan Edition