Author Archives: Manraaj Grewal

Mr. Nicole Kidman in Vancouver

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The white drape sways on stage, the lighting focuses on the guitarist, the drummer, and then the very famous shadow of Keith Urban. The fans recognize it immediately, and the screams are through the roof. Slowly, the drape starts coming down, and there he is: the man we have all come to see. He strums, plays chords, and entire songs by plucking and strumming the strings. The music soars, and so do the ladies’ screams. He’s had that rocker boy haircut since forever, and he makes that hair work for himself. He rocks to the music, plays the guitar behind his head, and shakes his head after making a joke. He knows he still has the same impact on the ladies he always had, throwing a grin to the audience every time he wanted to be cheeky. Nicole, we get it now…

He always over-delivers. Last night at Rogers Arena, he left no doubt as to why so many fans have been coming back year after year, following him from city to city. He is one of the genre’s most electrifying talents, and nobody can truly do what he does.

(Debby Wong/Shutterstock)

His voice, a blend of gritty twang and soulful smoothness as the song calls for, cuts through the arena, crisp and clear. The moment fans try to sit down, take a little break for their feet, his energy pulls fans to stand up. It’s one banger after another banger.  Some artists want your appreciation; they want your respect for their performance. Others like Urban are so well seasoned that they are able to do a slow song, where the energy is peaceful, some of the audience is sitting down, and they are okay with that. There is no hurry for him to have people constantly yelling; he likes it just as much when they sit back and enjoy him. He leads the audience through notes, he jokes about ‘only people named Dave make some noise and now Karen, oh just one Karen in the crowd’. He is a seasoned artist, and that puts the audience at ease. They know they are going to get a good show. The show was a whirlwind of sound and motion.

(Songkick / website)

The stage itself was a spectacle, a very intentional stage design. The way the musicians on the stage were placed gave a very casual band vibe. Colorful screens would sometimes drop down, and for one song, Pink was on them, singing the song, clapping, as if she were live on the stage with us. He performed a duet, shouted out the artist’s name numerous times, and finally jumped off the stage to go through the crowd towards the back. He weaved through the mass of people, fans reaching out, their hands just wanting to high-five their favorite artist.

During “Somebody Like You,” he lets the crowd be his choir, the music dims down, just his guitar, the audience, and he belting out with all the passion. His silhouette framed against a backdrop of swirling lights, his guitar commanding the attention of the crowd oh so easily.

Outside the arena, a little girl, along with her grandmother and mother, had been holding up a neon green sign that read, “3 generations of Keith Urban fans.” After the show, I finally understood why people repeatedly go watch him play. It’s the dedication that you can see in him as an artist, to always make each show better, to do something different, to make the fans feel special in each city.  The man is a rockstar, his guitar is almost an extension of his soul. When he finally took his bow, the crowd’s cheers echoed, a testament that we all felt that energy shift in the arena.

Ruffle, Shuffle and Dance at Rifflandia 2025

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As the sun sets over Victoria from September 11-14, the last rays hiding behind the mountains, Rifflandia 2025 is going to come alive. Victoria may be the province’s capital city, but for those days, it’s going to get a little silly and a lot of fun. The stages are going to glow under neon lights, colorful skies, as the crowd sways like the waves under an eclectic mix of music. It’s going to be a mix of international, global and local stars. Public Enemy is coming on Friday, with their powerful raps, making the crowd raise their fists in the air, and giving the feel of a rebellion. Alessia Cara will be performing on Sunday, and her soulful voice is going to be the perfect ending to this festival. ‘No scars to you, you are beautiful’, I know how much that song meant to me, and to watch it being performed live is absolutely going to give you goosebumps.

(Tourism Victoria / website)

You don’t want to miss the Victoria Symphony performing Daft Punk, with strings soaring like colorful comets across the sky.

 

Rifflandia is more than just a concert; it’s a force for good. Considering this is the 15th year, the festival is donating 15% of every ticket sold back into the community through the Give Where You Riff program. This initiative supports 15 local organizations making a real difference. For example, KidsSport Greater Victoria provides young athletes with gear. The Victoria Cool Aid Society provides shelter to the homeless, which is such a necessary cause. Before you buy your ticket, you can choose which organization you want the 15% to go to by using their code.

(Rifflandia / website)

A festival is most worth it when it’s also affordable. Usually, inflation is given as a reason to increase prices and build that barrier for people who just can’t afford the prices. But Rifflandia has gone cheaper than last year. The four-day pass has gotten cheaper despite them adding an extra day, with it costing just $379 and single days being around $139, instead of the $150 they were last year. We love it when festivals also care about the community they are putting the festival in. This is going to be a celebration that will bring people who listen to all kinds of genres together. They are ensuring they are leaving the community better for it, by donating some of their proceeds. They are bringing in local talent to ensure they have a spotlight. What else does one need? Well, a Victoria BC ferry ticket, of course. It starts tomorrow, get that ticket, and have a grand time!

Don’t tell me you been to a show, if you ain’t been to Vogue

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(wikipedia)

There’s a kind of magic on Granville Street; it’s truly where Vancouver’s big city energy really comes through. The place where most of the photos get taken is where the big Vogue theatre sign can be seen. What an aesthetically pleasing sign it is. And the venue itself is ICONIC. For over 100 years, it’s been one of the city’s most beloved performance theatres. Vancouver is a city that moves on and moves on fast. It’s not a sentimental city, doesn’t hold on to its past too tightly, yet Vogue has stood the test of time. It hosts everything from indie, alternative to rock artists.

It’s crazy how alive the space still feels; those red velvet curtains don’t make the space look old, no, they add to the grandeur.  The ceiling arches high, and the curtains set the tone of true cinema about to take place. It’s an experience.

The venue has seen it ALL. It used to be a moviehouse and the street was called TheatreRow, and now it is one of the last remaining theatres there. Those theatre walls must have seen over 10,000 shows. I mean, it did open in the 40s. But that history always remains in a space; those echoes are still in the walls. You know how places can have certain energies, and the Vogue is no different. It contains that history, that talent that has passed through. You can almost see the layers in the place. There’s been renovation, new touches, yet the foundation remains the same. And the Vogue hasn’t just faded into an old building sitting on this new block. No, it kept itself as an integral part of the city.  Many emerging artists and rising stars today perform there. Indie rock bands like Peach Pit have recently played their shows there along with bigger artists like Lights, drawing young people who might not even normally know what the theatre is used for.

There’s something so electric yet intimate about the Vogue. The space isn’t too big, with only a 1200-seat capacity, but it’s not too crammed either. The sound seems to come at you from every direction, and you feel close to the music and, in turn, the artist. That connection is so necessary, especially for local artists who are starting.

Vancouver doesn’t have many buildings that have a past, nor has it had just one identity. It’s a city that plays New York and sometimes LA in movies, or sometimes Seattle, so you already know each corner of the city has its own vibe. But buildings like the Vogue that stay a staple despite time passing on, are a reminder of Vancouver as always, an arts and creative city first.

The Vogue is proof that venues can be more than stages. They themselves can be storytellers, carrying decades of music, memories, and community.

 

Take me to Paris or bring it here

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There’s something surreal about walking into The Pearl on a September night and feeling like you have been swept away to Paris. That’s the power of Oracle Sisters. Oooh, what an ominous name. They are a dreamy, genre-bending group and they are about to give you a taste of it. They have been quietly building a loyal fan following and they hail from? You guessed it. Paris! Not every artist’s success is loud and booming, and these sisters have built a loyal fan following because their music speaks to people.

On September 11, Oracle Sisters hit The Pearl. It’s a 19-plus show, doors open at 7 p.m. and the vibe promises to be equal parts intimate and otherworldly. I mean, if their name doesn’t give away those otherworldly vibes, what does?

(Ella Herme / DIY)

If you’re new to Oracle Sisters, here’s the quick summary: Lewis Lazar and Christopher Willatt were childhood stars who started writing together years ago in Belgium and slowly as many creatives do landed in Paris. Now Paris has no lack of talented creatives and this is where they met Julia Johansen, a Finnish musician who joined first as a singer and then as the band’s drummer. The result? A group that makes music that somehow feels familiar and cosmic all at once. Their chemistry is very apparent, and their story sounds like how a fictional band would find its members.

Their debut album, Hydranism, recorded on the Greek island of Hydra during the pandemic, sounds filled with folk and psychedelic undertones. I always say that where you create music will always have an impact on the sounds that you produce, and their album is a testament to that very sentiment. Their latest record, Divinations, goes further into the eclectic, weaving folk with rock. It’s the kind of music you close your eyes to and suddenly you’re elsewhere, or you listen to it while high. Either works, though for these specific artists, I recommend experiencing their music live.

Oracle Sisters don’t just perform songs while on stage; they are very aware of the atmosphere they are creating. Imagine The Pearl’s stunning chandeliers swaying over bodies that move to the rhythm of the music, the low hum of the audience singing dissolving through the room. Their harmonies settle somewhere deeper, reminding you that live music isn’t just sound put together; it’s the ambience, the people, and very much the stage where it takes place.

It might be happening on a Thursday, but that shouldn’t sway you away from it. That slow, deliberate atmosphere of the Oracle sisters is meant to be experienced on a beautiful evening, with lights of all colors reflecting on your face. A ’70s outfit would be perfect, though there is no dress code. So if you’re into Paris and psychedelic music, and you know you aren’t visiting Paris anytime soon, this is definitely an experience you don’t want to miss.

BBNO$ is asking you to donate money for a good cause

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The charity world seems too sophisticated sometimes, something that is made for rich donors and rich members of society. But Bbno$ is making it fun with Baby’s Bonanza 2 which is set for October 11 at the PNE Forum. This isn’t just another concert the city is putting on, this is a homecoming. As we know he hails from Vancouver and has always been very vocal about his love for the city.

(Ticketleader / website)

On his instagram, bbno$ pledged, “I will be donating every penny I make in Vancouver back to the city from now on. I love you all more than you know.” Now that is a promise, not just good PR.

His first Bonanza at Malkin Bowl raised a jaw-dropping $103,000 for the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre, with every cent going to the charity. He’s turned a concert into direct action, and this year promises to do even more.

The lineup brings together a unique mix of artists: Priyanka (Canada’s iconic drag queen), Ikky (Punjabi pop producer), Yung Kai (Chinese canadian indie pop singer), and Jungle Bobby (local artist known for his funky sound), all joining bbno$ for an unforgettable night.

You know when BBNo$ is putting on a show, its more of everything; more energy, more fashion and still no shits given (as his Junos costume for this year will surely tell you)

( AP / Daily Express US)

As destinationvancouver.com puts it, “Baby’s Bonanza is an off-the-wall, high-energy night of music, surprises, and pure chaos in the best way possible.” The phrase sounds made for him, but if it means community, charity and a good cause, I am all for the chaos.

We love chaos in Vancouver. We love unique shows, DIY shows, underground late night shows. So why not a show for a good cause? Thanks to affordable $91 tickets and open to all ages vibes, its one night that’s actually going to make all the difference.

So show up, because you won’t just carry the memories of Priyanka’s colorful, energetic performance, or Ikky’s soulful beats, you’ll remember the playful chaos that came together to do some serious good.

Manraaj Grewal

manraajgrewal@gmail.com

a feel of country within the urban city

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Country music needs a certain type of background. Sure it can be played inside a stadium, inside a bar shop, but where does it really thrive? Well, outside for sure and next to that community feel. Something intimate, somewhere where people have arrived just to enjoy a casual lazy evening, maybe something like a farmer’s market. Now the most famous farmer’s market in the Lower mainland has got to be the Shipyard Night Market, which runs every Friday. And when that market is bringing in the Heels for this Friday the 12th, a all female country trio, that are known for their vocals, well there is no excuse not to be there with a local wine sample in your hand.

(The Heels / website)

The market itself is a carousel of various performances, food samples, food trucks, various handmade crafts, and local musical talent. For city dwellers like me, it’s a nice pause before the weekend. Everything a human being needs to thrive is offered in maximum quantity, and this isn’t a coincidence In recent years, Vancouver has been intentionally easing regulations on pop-up culture to create these kind of gatherings. As Mayor Ken Sim put together ‘the Special Event Advisory Task Force whose purpose is to help identify key challenges and opportunities within the City’s existing permitting processes, and work alongside City staff to make it easier to host festivals and events in Vancouver.’

(Shipyards Night Market via 604now)

What makes this setting special is the collision of community and country. Instead of a ticketed show in a dark hall, this is spontaneous music out in the open. You are not sweaty and crammed. You are simply enjoying the music for as long as you want, as you watch eager audience members go out and dance. Young and old couples, enjoying each other’s company, holding each other one step back one step to the front, or a friend group, all of them holding hands, jumping for all the energizing parts, swaying for the breezy ones. The market is intentionally accessible and very inclusive, there’s no VIP sections, just curious passersby latching onto a chorus.

Mayor Sim’s office has launched a Special Event Advisory Task Force to streamline permits and support grassroots cultural events like this one, because in his words, “A vibrant and thriving events industry is a huge part of a livable, connected city.”

This is Vancouver’s unscripted, communal side at its best. You leave with the taste of sweet cider on your tongue, guitar echoes in your ears, and the realization that music, especially country, sounds best under open skies, surrounded by community.

Manraaj Grewal

manraajgrewal@gmail.com

I just want to be a cowgirl

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‘What’s the worst genre of music and why is it country?’ my friend likes to joke. But I can’t tell you if it’s because my family’s background is in farming, but I love country music. Not the parts about getting heartbroken from a girl, the beer and truck, though sometimes I like singing about trucks and beer. No, I like the instruments that make me feel as if wind is making music, or I can somehow sense that peace that one feels sitting alone on the plain hills of grass, no civilization for miles. It’s the drum beats that are used in most country songs, the belting of lyrics by the singers with raspy voices at the top of their lungs. It all makes it seem as if country was meant to transcend you to a place where singing with a loud voice is perfect as in outside, alone. Its that intimacy, the middle classness of singers that totally gets me. They go through those hard times; they just make the best of it. That optimism and vulnerability together is quite rare in any other genre, I would argue. As Johny Cash said “Of emotions, of love, of breakup, of love and hate and death and dying, mama, apple pie, and the whole thing” They aren’t just lyrics that maybe apply to a few, the lyrics are life in all its happiness, its struggles, sorrow, death. What makes country different is the tight way country fans have held on to ensure the genre stays authentic. When Beyoncé won that Country album of the year, the boos were loud. Even non country fans understood why it seemed unfair that Beyoncé would come in do one country album and suddenly be perfect at it, as to beat legitimate country singers. You can do pop after you do country, you can do rap, but country requires the loyalty of the fans, the authenticity of you as a country boy or girl to truly make that career a success.

(Solle Music)

Like Dolly Parton says: “If you talk bad about country music, it’s like saying bad things about my momma. Them’s fighting’ words.” Country is a lifestyle, it’s a genre you pass on to your children, it’s not a phase. You either love country or you don’t there’s no in between. I too like some, used to think country is too simple, it’s only about girls, beer and truck. But once I started listening to the songs, I realized how much of life it encompasses in its lyrics, how many different variations the singers still bring to the genre. And how much it relates to my family’s life as farmers, those lyrics about dirt, and playing on the road, the horses, this was our life. Our folk music is very much like country music; it talks about life that everyone experiences. It became my anchor for when I felt that need for home, those sounds are so nostalgic, though I have no idea what life is like in rural Canada, only rural India. Those instruments are so similar to the ones used in Indian folk music, that I had no choice but to love country. Today, when life moves so fast, especially once you become an adult, country slows it down. It’s the same instruments, the same stability, you know what you are getting. Country invites us into a shared story. Its heartfelt, it doesn’t shy from the quiet or the messy; it captures what we don’t always say. It channels life into a song. And in a world that too often feels curated, perfectly executed, that unfiltered connection is something I’d argue no other genre delivers quite like country.

 

Manraaj grewal

manraajgrewal@gmail.com

The sisterhood of singing sensations

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I know its not polite to talk about another university when writing for the publication for BCIT. But when HAIM rolls to Vancouver on September 20, those rules are so OFF. Usually where you can hear the sounds of sneakers as the basketball is put up, and the thwacks of hockey sticks, there’s going to the the strumming of guitar to the soft rock melodies of Haim’s I quit tour. They are coming to Doug Mitchell Thunderbird sports center, right at UBC. This is their fourth headlining concert tour, in anticipation of their fourth album I quit. There’s just something about going for a night out on the same paths, where usually you are running off to class during the day. That blend has always been interesting to me. You get to watch a live concert, drink, take loads of photos, at the same place, you are willingly or unwillingly calling your home for many years.

(Andy Ford / NME)

If you are unfamiliar with these sisters, let me tell you, you have enjoyed your ignorance enough. Its time to get obsessed! They are a trio, all exceptional in their choice of instruments and all amazing singers. Unlike the Jonas brothers, they never broke up, they have been composing, writing and singing together for over a decade. Their new album is raw power, vulnerable but powerful. I already know the lyrics, the instruments and their voices are going to hit so different under studio lights. Some concerts are meant to be outside, and some are enjoyed much more in close proximity and under arena lights.

The kind of chemistry these sisters have are really only possible when you grow up together. The way they pick each other’s notes, the way they understand the music on such a deep level, gives you goosebumps. The fact that their band name literally means “life” in Hebrew should let you know about the energy they bring to all their concerts. But don’t call them a girl band, they despise that label. Alana stated to the Telegraph in a 2014 interview, “When people call us a girl band, I take it as an insult – being a girl in a band shouldn’t be a thing” They preferred to be respected as musicians on their individual merits. Now can you tell, the type of vibe these girls are. They speak their mind, their thought and their music shows that. They write about everything, from falling in love, to not being able to let go, to their faults in the relationship.

That night is going to be the shared memory of yelling the lyrics you relate to at the top of your lungs, taking out those emotions with as much vulnerability as the artists on stage. By the end of the night, it’ll heal something in you too. And I don’t know that seems cheaper than going to therapy or going to UBC to become a therapist, see there’s my sarcasm back for UBC!

Manraaj Grewal

manraajgrewal@gmail.com

Inside Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom and its Legacy

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Vancouver has no shortage of live music spaces from the Rogers arena to DIY spaces underground, but not all venues are created equal. Some are created for profit, for ticket sales and cool photo opportunity spots, others become necessary for a great night out. One name always tops the rest: commodore ballroom.

(Commodore Ballroom / Facebook)

The décor is very expressive of the time that this building opened in. With the beautiful grand floor that brings that luxury touch, but space small enough for it to feel intimate. It almost looks like a room you would see on a cruise ship, a place that comes alive during the night, with all genres of music, from indie bands to swing orchestras. The intimacy of the space plays a huge role in its popularity, with under 1000 spots, it means when you experience an artist you are experiencing them very closely. Its got a sprung dance floor, which means the floor basically softens impact for when you are dancing, so you get less tired of being on your feet for hours. Even though, we as audience might not consider this, the acoustics of a space matter a lot, the way the layout is, where the speaker are, it all matters. At the commodore, artists are able to perform at their full range, whether its whispered noted, or loud rock guitars. I have seen many artists say that they love performing at the Commodore because they get to test out their songs, their energy for each one, and the stamina for their performance before they go preform at bigger stages. They’ll quote the amazing, welcoming crowd, the energy and the physical space of the Commodore for why they love performing there. The reviews on google suggest attendees definitely notice things like elevated seating, the comfortable bouncy dance floor. Commodore is that perfect middle performing arena as local artists see it as a step up, a milestone after their struggle to get a chance to perform here and be in that spotlight, whereas for bigger artists, it’s a chance to connect with audiences on a more intimate and more intentional level. The history of this place can be seen clearly in its décor, the chandeliers, the lights and even the way the building looks, makes you feel as if you are experiencing a place that has witnesses so much of Vancouver cultural shifts. We Vancouverites like joking about how there’s nothing fun to do in Vancouver, or the music scene isn’t as good as Toronto, or Vancouver doesn’t stay open long enough, but Vancouver has gems like the commodore that so perfectly encapsulate the history and the future, giving chances to local musicians to open that door for them, to show them what is possible if they keep working on their craft while giving audiences something new to experience every week. You can check their next events here: https://www.commodoreballroom.com/shows

Manraaj Grewal

manraajgrewal@gmail.com

 

 

 

Hollow Coves is bringing their Dreamy Folk Sounds to Vancouver

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Vancouver is a hustling city, a city that is progressing faster than we can keep up. Its got nature, its got art galleries and small music festival pop ups that happen all year round, but Vancouver never seems to slow down. Take the Keith Urban concert for example, Its going to start at 7 pm with three openers and the show might possibly end at 11 pm on a Wednesday night, yet the yale saloon has an afterparty to the concert, because Vancouverites, we like to have fun, even if that means being groggy on Thursday, because what’s one night? Well the only solution I see for that is to have a band perform that are known for their soulful melodies, that will slow down time, and Hollow Coves comes to mind, and thankfully they are coming here tomorrow at Malkin Bowl.

Their dreamy folk pop melodies are made to be sung against the Stankey park backdrop. Each city has a musical tone to it, and if I could give Vancouver a tone, it would have to be the sense of calm yet wanderlust that Hollow Coves seem to pour straight into their songs. With songs like ‘the Woods’ and Coastline, you can imagine why their lyrics so perfectly capture that sense of travel and the peace you find as you travel down the road, your head out the window, breathing in fresh ocean air. When you get a chance to hear the artist where their songs are meant to be played, you can’t say no, especially when their tickets are a steal at only 60 dollars. The concert is tomorrow, a perfect midweek break from just starting classes again, coming back from vacation to work, they remind us to take a breathe, breathe in the fresh fall air, no big fireworks, no background dancers, just two guys on a stage with their guitar, singing to a crowd. Their last show in June last year was described as “spellbinding” by Variance Magazine. So Vancouver might be known for its hustle and bustle, for its constant annoying traffic and its ever changing weather within a day, but for just tomorrow night, everything will seem to take a pause, only nature and Hollow Coves will make music under the evergreen canopy of Stanley park, the harmonies will go into the night and we’ll remember that we live in one of the most beautiful places in the world. I can already picture it, its 6pm, the buzz of concert goers, as people watch the sun dip into the mountains, the rays coming outward in a beautiful pink color, people lounging on picnic mats, with their snacks, out walk Ryan and Matt, everyone cheers and sits a bit taller. Then a collective exhale of silence as the music starts to play, there’s some singing along, and swaying side to side, as everyone absorbs their music the way they like best, it slowly settles into their soul, as the sun sets completely, and the music continues.