Just like every other year we have more than just hockey happening at our Annual Sunrise Summer Kickoff. This year we have 8 performances starting at 1030am running all day. We will be celebrating in the back parking lot behind London Drugs on the 2500 block of Franklin Street, July 6, 2019.
10:30AM Sweet Pan Steelband
11:00AM Fresh Groove Productions
12:00PM Caracas
12:30PM Blue Lasso
1:00PM Vancouver Tap Society
2:00PM The Usual Suspects
2:30PM GO Taiko
3:00PM SFU Befikre
3:15PM Hunter J and the Jets
Sweet Pan Steelband
The musical group Sweet Pan is all about Canadians playing the steel drum, ‘pan’, the only acoustic musical invention of the 20th century, & clearly a major Caribbean contribution to world culture.
Fresh Groove Productions – Dance Studio
Today Fresh Groove Productions has become one of the leading dance studios dedicated exclusively to teaching Hip Hop, Street & Break-dancing. The studio is located in Richmond, B.C. and have students, ranging in age from 5 to 21. Cezar has coached many of his students to victory at both local and international competitions. In 2006 Fresh Groove Productions entered the International Dance Challenge and all three teams were invited to the finals in Las Vegas, Nevada. Fresh Groove Productions brought home 2 national platinum championships, best technical group, the entertainment challenge, and numerous other awards.
CARACAS
CARACAS is a Latin punk rock band from East Vancouver formed by the Venezuelan brothers Javier (vocals) and Victor (guitar) Badillo in 2011. The story of Javier and Victor lays bare the dreams of the immigrant artist who finds identity and meaning by doing what they love, regardless of time or circumstance. Caracas plays a quirky, high energy, Latin influenced punk rock that has been compared to Gogol Bordello, Santana, Talking Heads, and Pixies.
https://www.caracastheband.com/
Blue Lasso
Blue Lasso is a group of 3 talented classic country musicians. With many years of experience and a deep and abiding passion for country music, Blue Lasso spins a web of golden memories from the classic days of country music – the songs of Hank Williams and Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard to name a few. Count on Blue Lasso to provide toe tapping tunes from a rich vein of deeply rooted country music.
The Vancouver Tap Dance Society
The Vancouver Tap Dance Society is a non-profit organization that strives to be a leader in the promotion and preservation of tap dance. The Vancouver Tap Dance Society was co-founded by Lana Caputi and Sas Selfjord in 1995 and has become a place people have come to find a supportive and educational environment. The Vancouver Tap Dance Society is committed to spearheading projects to promote tap dance to the public, including bringing international shows to the Vancouver stage. They deliver comprehensive training opportunities from novice to professional dancers and provide the infrastructure needed to share the art of tap dance with the community.
The Usual Suspects
Commanding the audience with heart-pumpin’, floor stompin, crowd surfin’ delight, The Usual Suspects are an experience not to be forgotten! With years of regular gigs, special events, casinos and house-band status in the surrounding lower mainland, the Usual Suspects have poised themselves as one of Vancouver’s hottest and exciting high energy party bands. A vast collection of tunes within the genres of Top 40 dance/pop, classic rock, oldies, R&B and contemporary pop/rock are at their disposal for any desired musical experience.
https://www.usualsuspectsband.ca/
GO Taiko – Drumming
Go Taiko are a new youth taiko group that originated from free afterschool taiko classes at Admiral Seymour and Waverley Elementary Schools.Their roots are from East Vancouver and Richmond. They are still discovering their group identity but try to bring a fresh energetic approach to their drumming.
GO Taiko has performed at the Vancouver Chinatown Night Market, Vancouver Chinatown Parade, Sakura Fair, The Cherry Blossom Picnic at YVR, Steveston Salmon Festival Parade, Richmond Maritime Festival, BC Lions Halftime Show, PNE, the FairChild TV All Star Gala Fundraising show, Slocan Unity Festival, and Greenwood Founders Day Festival. The performers are Elementary and Secondary students who love to present Japanese culture through taiko drumming.
SFU Befrike
SFU Befikre is SFU’s one and only fusion dance team inspired by South Asian dance forms, Bollywood dance and cross-cultural styles. [bae-fik-ray] – translates to carefree
Hunter J and the Jets
Hunter J and the Jets are a Vancouver Band that has been performing locally since 2016. The band is led by Hunter J, who started playing guitar at five years old, and then started performing live to audiences when he was nine years old. Hunter has just turned twelve, and is a seasoned performer having done more than 70 shows. The band started out as a duo in 2016 (Hunter J on guitar and Tyler J on bass) and expanded to a trio in 2017 with the addition of Paul Davis on percussion and backing vocals. Shortly thereafter Roger Salloum joined the band on lead guitar/keyboard and backing vocals. Hunter J and the Jets play roots rock and blues, covering songs from the 1950’s to the 21st century.
Here’s to rock’n’roll, Hunter J and the Jets.
https://hunterjandthejets.com/
Hope to see you at this fun event!