Vancouver Folk Festival: A classic Neil Young album reimagined, plus 5 must-see performers
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On July 19, 1974, Neil Young previewed his fifth solo album, On the Beach, at a surprise concert in Los Angeles. As a nod to that event, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival presents On the Beach: Neil Young Reimagined on July 19 at Jericho Beach.
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Featuring the Hen House All-Stars backing band led by Juno Award-winning guitarist and producer Steve Dawson, the lineup of musicians honouring Young's legacy includes Krystle Dos Santos, Sue Foley, Margaret Glaspy, Rich Hope, Marcus Mosely, Marin Patenaude, Samantha Parton, Kenneth Pattengale and Julian Taylor.
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This is part of a continuing series of performances at the Folk Festival that explore the work of iconic acts, such as Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan, as interpreted by artists who put their own distinct twist on material considered part of the classic-rock canon.
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Dawson says the fact that such an oddball could arrive in Los Angeles in the early 1960s and become the toast of the town is something that defies all music industry conventions. Mining his own distinct brand of guitar playing and songwriting to great success is something that can't be copied and has made Young a role model and inspiration for generations of Canadian musicians.
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'He's not like other iconic Canadian songwriters who reference the country a lot in their material either, like The Tragically Hip,' said Dawson. 'But anyone, in any country, would have a huge amount of respect for what he's done and how he's done it. It's one of the reasons so many amazing voices have taken on his songs, and hearing them interpreted by the singers we have for this event is really exciting.'
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Award-winning Black Canadian/Mohawk artist Julian Taylor, who also appears as a feature act at the folk festival and at the incredibly popular gospel workshop on Sunday morning, admits that Young is an inescapable presence.
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'There are some records that resonate with me and are personal favourites, such as On the Beach and Tonight's the Night, but he loses me a lot of the time as well,' said Toronto-based Taylor. 'For musicians working in my area, his influence is everywhere, and trying to think of another artist who has that definitive folk style but isn't afraid to really crank it up is rare.
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Winnipeg Free Press
6 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Orchestral expressions
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Winnipeg Free Press
7 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
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Winnipeg Free Press
10 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
As Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter tour draws to a close, Blue Ivy emerges as a star
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