Author Archives: Manraaj Grewal

Music for the Soul: Jeffrey Martin is coming to Vancouver

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Jeffrey Martin prefers to drive instead of flying. To him, flying feels like the microwave of transportation, whereas driving is a slow cook over a wood fire. I could just leave it on these two sentences I found in this incredible singer’s Spotify bio, and you would have known the essence of his music. But I am feeling generous, so I’ll tell you some more about him. He is a beautiful lyricist and is known for his melancholic music and sound. He was a solitude-seeking teenager who grew up to be a full-time teacher, but the craving for that musician life, that touring and performing, never left him. So finally, he decided in 2015 to do it. To finally chase after that dream, even though it was tough for him to leave the students who gave him so much back with their bright eyes and sparks.

(Jeefrey Martin / website) 

He explains the process of his writing as just going on walks around his neighborhood, ‘eavesdropping for song content’. It makes sense as his songs are known for their honest lyrics, focused on the human condition. His song “Edge of Lost” talks about the struggle of being human, of heartbreak. “It’s breaking for the ones the world forgets”, “I walked all day to make inches on a mile”, are all lyrics from that song, and they are so gut-punching, especially when he sings them up there on the stage with just a guitar in his hand. You can see he’s been an English teacher because of how intentional his lyrics and metaphors are. In his song “Thrift Store Dress,” he talks about this woman who’s with him playing songs for people in various towns, wearing a thrift store dress. Why use a thrift store dress as an important lyric, as the title of the song? It could have been a descriptive word, something like that yellow dress, that polka dot dress. Why is it a thrift store dress? I am not asking in the way English teachers do to prod the answer that they already know. I actually don’t know, but if you do, please let me know. Then I will continue to fight with you about how it’s the wrong interpretation, and I know the right one. It’s fun, I promise.

But truly, I love when artists focus on the lyrics just as much as they focus on the sound, the beat, the vocals. His new album is supposed to be released in the fall of this year, and no other season would truly suit his vibe. His music is meant to be listened to in a cozy fall sweater in a cozy place.

Hence, the venue he is doing the show in Vancouver is perfect. St. James Community Centre. So, when you buy that 36-dollar ticket, you are supporting Jeffrey, which I am sure you love by now, and you are supporting this amazing venue. They are a non-profit organization, “dedicated to providing affordable community space for cultural, social, educational, and recreational activities”. That’s a lot of things, and I am sure they would love the support. It is happening on Thursday, October 9th, and doors open at 7 pm. So, grab your coziest sweater, grab a hot drink, and prepare yourself for getting lost in his deep lyrics and even more soulful voice.

When royal music was heard in Surrey

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Many species have died out. Many animals that once roamed the Earth are no longer with us. Many plants don’t exist anymore. But the main painful extinction is of a certain language or a certain type of music. It’s when we lose art that it truly hurts. Hence, festivals like the Mushtari Begum Festival need to exist. “In this day and age, traditional styles of singing such as Ghazal, Khayal, and Thumri are becoming increasingly rare. Cassius Khan felt a personal responsibility to ensure the survival of the various art forms (Indian Classical Music and Dance), especially in Canada, as stated on their website. Live music and dance were a huge part of Indian royalty, then slowly, with the introduction of TV and radio, the entertainment industry adopted this and showed specific styles of dance and music through those media. But performing them live also continued alongside, only this time it was available to everyone. In Canada, though we have a huge Indian population, sometimes, immigrants are pulled in two directions. To assimilate within this new culture so completely that they forget their own cultural traditions. But Surrey has been becoming a hub for South Asian entertainment and progressively giving out more space and funding for different cultures to thrive.

(Mushtari Begum Festival / website)

On October 4, you can witness Massey Theatre turning into a beautiful courtyard, where a rhythm and movement will be felt. As the Fiji Times hailed, it’s “Canada’s most elite festival of Indian classical music,” a cultural gem in BC’s diverse music landscape. 

I love writing about smaller festivals that are continuing to do such great work that they have reached double digits in the number of years they have hosted them. This is their 14th annual festival, and the story of why it was started is just so wholesome. Cassius Khan and Amika Kushwaha started this celebration honoring Khan’s guru, Mushtari Begum, who was awarded the Queen of Ghazal by the Indian High Commission in Fiji. At her prime, she won numerous awards as her extraordinary vocal capabilities were close to four octaves, which, for people who are not from a musical background, is the same as Ariana Grande’s vocal range. She’s responsible for bringing Ghazal to Vancouver after ruling Fiji’s music charts. Khan “initiated this festival in her memory as a tribute to her contributions in classical Ghazal in Vancouver,” as mentioned on the website. What a tribute to an amazing singer. Her voice was truly captivating, and somehow, the crackle in the recordings due to the equipment at the time only enhances the listening experience.

The evening will unfold, with instruments like Dilruba, Tabla (all instruments that aren’t really used outside of South Asia), and Dance forms that are some of the hardest to do in the world, such as Kathak will be performed with grace. From the first note, your whole body will lean in for the experience. Your ears will hear the slightest notes, your feet will feel the rhythmic footwork, as ancient art forms ignite the stage. You don’t need to understand the history of the instruments or dance forms to completely surrender yourself to this extraordinary experience. On October 4th, let the music and dance of India carry you to a whole new world.

 

The stage is shaking; it’s not an earthquake, its just a Tuesday in Vancouver

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My laptop shakes as I write this. There isn’t an earthquake. I am not on a SkyTrain. I am simply listening to Trauma Bonds by High Vis. I can already feel the pulsating energy as the music comes through my laptop speakers. My volume isn’t even on high, yet the drums, the guitar the vocals are echoing through the space. One can only imagine what it will feel like to experience it live. They are coming to the Rickshaw theatre on September 23rd, with a bond that’s anything but traumatic. They are performing with Cold Gawd, A Mourning Star, and Juice, with the last two hailing from Vancouver. All the bands carry with them similar vibes. They are rebellious, they have an anger within their music, and they are all going to shake that stage up.

Juice is known for performing energetic music that has a sound that is just as infectious as it is aggressive. Mourning Star is a five-piece metalcore band that was formed in 2021. Guess some good things came out after COVID.

(Rickshaw Theatre / eventbrite)

High Vis is a musician from different hardcore bands. I like to think of them like how we go from elementary school to suddenly all funneling into one high school kinda band. They all did their own thing, then they got together to create something EPIC. They are really a grassroots band. Their name is a nod to “high visibility clothing” because some of their members have a working-class past. They take inspiration from punk, indie rock, psychedelic music, and many other genres. And they are from London, and you know those English accents make everything better.

Cold Gawd is known for their live shows because they put in a lot of effort with the lighting, the setting, and samples to ensure the audience gets the best sound. They, like much of our generation, detest labels because their music is derived from anything and everything. The lyrics are written by Matthew Wainwright and are based on his personal experiences. Their genre is mixing shoegaze, post hardcore, and R&B, but they are also inspired by pop icons like SZA. So, when a band is doing all that, you know the music is good. Their album, “I’ll Drown on this earth”, was heavily praised by critics and audiences alike because it’s got a dreamlike quality with pop and sound distortion elements.

(Rolly Ford Photo / Flickr)

The venue placement is so perfect for the type of music that’s going to be played that night. Rickshaw Theatre is right in the middle of Chinatown. Walking through Chinatown, you are already feeling the hum of those lights, the chatter of a busy street slowly fades away, and all you hear is the thumping coming from the theatre. It’s almost like a black hole pulling you closer, your curiosity getting the better of you. For some reason, I think going to this show might work better than those rage rooms. The collective sway of bodies, the yelling of lyrics, and the exertion of energy are going to leave you feeling so refreshed the next day. Everyone should let out their rebellious side sometimes, and this is your chance.

Save a horse, ride a bull

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Y’all must know I love country by now. The only problem in Vancouver was not being able to find a country club to dance to country tunes. Every time I have visited places outside of Vancouver, I have noticed the country music scene is strong. Events are themed by country, country artists tour regularly, and country music plays at the stores. So, when I was looking for a perfect country place, I found Yale Saloon. With a mechanical bull, line dancing lessons before 10 pm, it really immerses you into the country vibe. The best part is you don’t need to know how to line dance; there will always be someone who will show you how to do it.

(Vancouver page/ website)

Even the physical space itself yells Country. The wooden interior, the smokiness, the air hums with country tunes. It’s not just a bar, it’s where die-hard country fans come to enjoy, whether that be after concerts or a lively Friday night. Every Thursday to Saturday, they have specific themes.

Every Thursday to Saturday, from 8 PM, The Yale transforms into a country music mecca. They have Homecoming Thursdays, with coronas being only 4.75 all night. Cowgirl Fridays and saddle up Saturdays are money savers for the girls, with ladies getting free entry between 10 and 11 pm. You are also able to participate in the bull riding competition. The only rule is you must ride the bull with one hand only.

(Yale Saloon / instagram)

They also have event planners who will customize your bachelorette, birthdays, and whatever else you wish to celebrate. You give them your budget, and they will support you through planning for food and entertainment. You can choose what BBQ food options you wish to have and what cocktails you want to serve. All their party packages come with welcome drinks, and 3 courses reserved, with table, balloons, and a complimentary cowboy hat for the main guest, as mentioned on TripAdvisor. They have an HD projector screen with PA, a sound system, and a microphone.

The vibe is amazing, especially during weekdays, because only the people who truly love this place show up. That means you get more space on the dance floor, you get to connect with other people from Vancouver, and you get to talk to the staff of Yale Saloon, who are oh so wonderful. You don’t need to be a country fan to enjoy the atmosphere of this lively bar. You can be just someone who wants to have a fun night out because there’s something to do for you, whether that’s bull riding, trying out line dancing, playing pool, using their photobooth, or beating the highest score in punch the bag. It doesn’t get more country than this!

 

We are all good singers in a karaoke room

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Some of us are hidden singers, others love singing in our school choir, and most of us are bathroom singers. But when you enter a karaoke room, everybody is a singer. Burnaby has some of the best karaoke spots in the Lower Mainland. One of my personal favorites is Solo Karaoke. They have soundproof rooms and a high-quality system. One of my main complaints in the karaoke room is always not being able to choose the songs we want if they are not already available on the system. But here you can choose songs straight from YouTube, so there’s never a lack of songs to sing. They have got an “All you can sing” deal which costs about 22-25 dollars from Sunday to Thursday, and considering their timings are 2 pm- 12 am, that is a lot of time. Their Google reviews are a testament that it’s not only me who regularly goes back there. They take good care of hygiene, with changing mic covers in between groups, clean rooms, and decent food.

(Karmen L./ Yelp)

Gal Chae Karaoke is another place in Burnaby where you can visit for that nostalgic karaoke experience. It’s where the lights shine brightly in colors of blue, green, and red. The sofas have been sat in and now they are comfortable pieces. Their rooms make all the difference. They create an intimate experience, and the owners treated you like family. They give complimentary mic covers, and food and drinks are allowed during happy hour. It can only be paid in cash or debit, though, so keep that in mind. If you are a more professional singer, they have a pitch, tone scoring system so you can keep track of how well you are hitting certain notes. They are quite affordable, with discounts during weekdays before 7 pm to get a 50% discount. The cost is on average, just about 10 dollars per person per hour.

If you are someone who enjoys a luxury karaoke experience, then V Karaoke is the place to be. Their rooms are spacious, with amazing song selection UI and audio systems. But be ready to spend extra money, because their food is a little on the expensive side. Moreover, there is a gratuity charge depending on how big the group is. One of the most selling points of this place is how large their song collection is and how much variety there it. They have got the hit songs and classic songs.

(V Karoake/ facebook)

So, in conclusion, they all have their pros and cons, and it really depends on what you are after. Solo karaoke gets you a large song collection, with clean rooms, whereas Gal Chae is very budget-friendly, quite intimate, and gives you that nostalgic karaoke bar vibe. V karaoke is perfect if you are okay spending a bit more for a more luxurious karaoke experience. Each spot caters to different Burnaby audiences and music lovers, filling the night with fun and music.

DJ playing in a skytrain?!

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Imagine you take the King George train towards the Vancouver waterfront SkyTrain. You are on your way to work; you have left on time and are ready to take out your book and take the same journey you have taken hundreds of times. You are sitting down, and when the lady announces, “The next station is Nanaimo”, the doors slide open and in walks a gentleman with a black jacket, medium-length black hair, carrying a big box. There are two guys behind him carrying a big speaker and some DJ lights. You are curious, so you watch him as he takes out a soundboard and starts playing music. Right there, in the middle of the SkyTrain.

(Felix Cartal / website)

Slowly, people start recognizing him, and now the whole train is moving up and down as people jump and sing. That gentleman’s name is Felix Cartel, and he took Vancouver by storm because of his authenticity. Not just in his music, but also in the blogs that he posts on his website.

In a recent blog titled “Am I doing enough”, he expresses vulnerability as he deals with the pressures of this content-filled world, where artists have to not only create amazing music, but also promote it again and again. He talks about struggling with knowing when he has done enough. This sentiment is especially true as he came on the scene in 2009, when Vancouver’s music scene wasn’t nearly as big as it is now. When an artist was putting out music, labels handled all the promotion. But today, though labels and marketing agencies can handle that, audiences expect to hear the artist’s story from the artist themselves. Back in the 2000s, there weren’t nearly as many people fighting for the audience’s attention.

He has been one of the province’s biggest electronic dance music DJs. He started playing Vancouver’s DIY music scene, meaning small clubs, underground venues, and is now one of the most well-known DJs in Vancouver. His sound is extremely danceable, and he blends catchy pop hooks with house music.

You can catch him playing at various pop-ups in Vancouver, sometimes free beach concerts, and sometimes hidden venues. He keeps fans excited by giving little easter eggs, like Taylor Swift does. He’ll promote that he’s about to do a pop-up in the coming days, and you must send him a specific word that he’ll post on his stories to get the venue and timings. It all has a suspenseful feel to it.  

We love it when an artist makes it big, like Felix. BC’s music scene, from the smaller clubs to Vancouver’s Vogue theatres, thrives on artists like Cartel, who take their city with them wherever they go. They convey the emotion and sound of Vancouver through unforgettable performances. The electronic music scene isn’t too big in Canada, but because of artists like Felix, they are being revived. His music is filled with passion and rhythm, representing Canada’s electronic music culture.

She’s gone country

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Country music brings you to that fresh air, those open skies, and that farm smell immediately. But I love when country is played in a place that pairs with the music like rum and Coke. Last night was the opening night of the 2025 Canadian Country Music Association Awards. Some of the country genre’s biggest stars were present and lit up the red carpet. The opening acts are so crucial to set up the pace of the rest of the nights are going to go. Well, the James Barker band did not disappoint. The warm evening created the perfect atmosphere for a night of country music, turning the venue into a dance floor where even fellow performer Cameron Whitcomb couldn’t resist joining in as they performed.

All in good time, as they won Group/Duo of the Year, again this year.  They are starting their Bud Light Buckle Up tour on September 18, with Kalsey Kulyk being added in as an opener. They are coming to Vancouver in November. They have had an amazing past few years, doing consistent shows around Canada. “James Barker Band is proof that big dreams can grow from small-town roots,” their bio states, and that authenticity shone through. Their set kicked off Country Music Week with an energetic blend of nostalgia and modern style. What a journey they have had, from small stages to one of the biggest stages in Canada. These best friends, who had grown up within an hour of each other in small towns surrounding Toronto, had gotten a taste of that success with their single “Chills” in 2017, and went to the top of Billboard’s Canadian Hot 100 chart. As it says on their website: “The group currently holds the title of the most No. 1’s for a Canadian country group in the BDS/Mediabase era.”

(Clatham-Tent / website)

Their performance felt like they were still that band performing in their background, except there were hundreds of people watching. Some artists have that “let me show you a different way of being, a higher way of entertainment”, and others, like the James Barker Band, have that warmness to them, their relatability, and their struggle connects fans to them. Their performances work because they still feel intimate; their friendship is very visibly seen. They are country boys, and you can sense that in the clothes they choose to wear, in how closely they interact with their fans, even as they perform. Their vibe is like listening to a band perform during the summer camps’ bonfire, it’s warm and impossible to resist. They made Kelowna come alive!

They had the crowd jumping on the beats in no time; there was singing, screaming of their ladies’ fans, and just other celebrities dancing with them. What a gift it is for country fans to get to enjoy James Barker Band even as they get bigger and bigger, but to still feel that authenticity and like they are a part of the band’s inner circle.

Supporting Vancouver’s Creative Soul

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Tuesdays aren’t especially fun unless you go for those half-off tickets at Cineplex. But as Vancouver grows and becomes even more vibrant with creativity of all types, there is something to do every weekday. This Tuesday, September 16, the Painted Ship in Kitsilano will turn into a hub of sound. Ron Samworth and his Pat Pending Trio will create an unforgettable jazz experience at 8 PM. For just $10, which gets automatically added to your bill, this intimate venue will resonate with their beautiful music, described by Infidels Jazz as “spacious, textural, swinging and thoughtful.” Samworth, a Vancouver icon for over 30 years, plays guitar and effects, Jesus Caballero on drums, Karlis Silins on bass, and is joined by Bradshaw Pack on pedal steel.

(Infidels Jazz / website)

Walking into the Painted Ship, dim lights cast a warm glow over the wooden tables. The soft clink of glasses mixes with the crowd’s chatter. Samworth’s guitar drifts through the room like a gentle breeze, rising and falling, guiding you through the landscape of their music. Their sound, inspired by the natural world, feels alive, reflecting Vancouver’s coastlines, open skies, and forests. Their performance is part of the monthly Sea Legs jazz series. It urges us to act: if we want Vancouver to thrive, we need to support its artists.

(Scout / website)

We often say we want Vancouver to be more fun, have more music spots. Still, we sometimes hesitate to invest. Local artists like Samworth pour their hearts into performances that turn ordinary nights into memorable events. But venues like the Painted Ship can’t survive without our support. That $10 ticket, which costs less than a movie ticket, fuels creativity, keeping spaces open and making artists inspired. It brings hope, especially since people have worked for decades to perform and earn from their art. When you buy a ticket or donate, you’re not just supporting the artist in the short term; you’re telling venues that people want to see them more and that they can draw a crowd. You are using your money to vote for the artists you want to see and the venues you enjoy.

Supporting local talent isn’t charity; it’s about building a vibrant city. It’s contributing to what you want to see more of. Every local artist is a thread in Vancouver’s cultural fabric. By showing up, we weave those threads tighter, shaping a city that is fueled by community and creativity. So, on Tuesday, let’s sell out the Painted Ship, and prove that Vancouver’s creative side is worth every penny.

Car Free Day in Vancouver truly feels like a Hero’s Welcome

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On September 14, 2025, Hero’s Welcome transforms the 100 block of E 23rd into a celebration of Vancouver’s local music scene during the Main Street Car Free Day. From 12 PM to 7 PM, the street is going to be alive with energy. Everyone is welcome, whether you skateboard there, ride your bike, or transit. Everything except cars is welcome. Events like these have gotten popular over the past few years, and as Infidels Jazz (the organizer of DM Electric Ko at the block party) writes on their Facebook, “There’s so much live music happening in Vancouver these days and it can only continue if you come to the shows.” The effort organizations are putting into making Vancouver an even more vibrant city is a testament to why Vancouver’s music scene feels like a living, breathing heartbeat of the city. It’s become a necessary part of Vancouver.

(Vancouver is awesome / website)

The lineup is very carefully curated. At 1:30 PM, DM Electric Ko, will be kicking things off with their electrifying grooves, setting the street alight with energy. By 2:30 PM, it’s going to go country because Justine Redila will be inviting everyone to stomp and sway for line dancing lessons, turning strangers into synchronized dancers. Ian Badger’s 3:15 PM set will bring introspective melodies that feel like a calm amidst the chaos, while Deaf Dogs at 4:30 PM unleash “Dawgggg energy” that is sure to reverberate through the crowd. Closing at 6 PM, and the headliner is WAIT//LESS. I know, ironic positioning considering we are all going to be waiting for them to perform at the very end. But you know they will deliver. Their sound is a perfect, energetic end to a journey of musical discovery we are going to go on tomorrow.

Walking through Vancouver, there is creativity in every corner. But when it is put onto blast like this for block parties and festivals, that’s when it gets most fun. You get to discover new artists, enjoy music with people like you who enjoy music, and enjoy various creative endeavors, all in one area. The fact that so many car free days are happening all around Vancouver is also a testament to the people in power truly understanding their social responsibility of helping to do our part in the environment, however small. I love when the music scene starts becoming a city’s pulse, may that be clubs, underground venues, or Sunday family fun. Vancouver’s musicians make the ordinary extraordinary, turning a Sunday afternoon into a vibrant mixture of sound that’ll get you excited to listen to live music again and again.

Baba Chaka: Victoria’s best kept secret

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You know how you wish you had followed Sabrina Carpenter before she had millions of followers on Instagram, or known about Taylor Swift before she hit global fame. Well, now’s your chance to know Victoria’s best-kept secret: Baba Chaka. I first heard about them when they came to perform here at the Pearl in August. Their music was nostalgic to me. Their song “Yearning” is a gentle wave; it’s calm, and it makes you feel close and distant at the same time. It’s as if there’s an ocean separating something, either the person you love and you, or the person you yourself wish to be, versus who you are currently. The lyrics matter, yet the landscape of their songs matters more. What I mean by that is the way the song is recorded with intentional static. I imagine myself dancing to it in a black-and-white video. It’s a song that’s meant to be played on a recorder. Each of their song has its own vibe. Their song “Egg Mic”, is completely different, bursting with funky, infectious energy. Its playful groove makes you want to dance, the vibrant beat, almost nostalgic of 70’s rock. Their song “Afterglow” has hauntingly beautiful vocals. It’s their mastery of different instruments that lets them create the sound they want instead of depending on only using the ones they know.

(do604 / website) 

Some bands are meant to play in a studio space, whereas others thrive on the stage. This band is somehow able to do both. Yet again, this contradiction is where they feel close and personal to you. They write about experiences that matter to you, yet some of their songs, recorded live, bring a totally different energy. They feel as if they were meant to be enjoyed with other people around. Their song “Summertime” was recorded live, and the clapping, the cheering, and the live commentary somehow add to the music instead of detracting from it at all.

Their indie spirit and raw talent had drawn me in, but their raw emotion and the way they record their songs authentically without any autotune kept me listening to them. Formed in 2023 at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, this band: Echowood, McMorran, Eli Swift, Ellis Frank, and Max Sharrett create music that feels both personal and universal.

The difference between each of their track’s highlights Baba Chaka’s versatility: calm one moment and pure fun the next and it totally mirrors the highs and lows of my own emotional landscape.

My strongest connection to Baba Chaka’s music comes when I let all their songs play back-to-back. Together, they capture a full emotional range, reflecting my quiet moments and my bursts of joy. Their indie spirit and emotional range make every listen a journey I’m eager to take again and again.

So, I suggest to you, dear reader, to hit up the next spot they play, because they aren’t going to be a ‘small’ band for long. They are going places, and you want to be able to say, I was there from the beginning. And maybe give me a little credit and let them know Manraaj told you about them!