Kaslo Jazz Festival 2017

"When I saw the lineup for Kazlo Jazz Etc fest, my eyes immediately gravitated towards the third line. Charles Bradley & his Extraordinaires. I’ve been a fan of Charles Bradley since I first heard his single, Strictly Reserved for You, some years ago.  It was released through daptone records, and it rekindled my passion for soul music.

People’s expression of soul through gestures, words, action, music, dance, and art, are beautiful, and moving.  You know an expression of soul when you come across it, because it resonates with something deep inside you.  A little tile at the centre of your mosaic begins to vibrate, just a little part that you had forgotten belonged to you.  You can feel it vibrating against the rest of your pieces, and the rest of the pieces are starting to vibrate too.  Just like that, you’ve been woken back to life, from the soul outward.

I think that people who live to express their soul, their essential life force, become something spectacular.  You can see Charles Bradley’s soul, etched in the lines of his face.  You can hear his soul when he sings, a vibration of pain, joy, love, and life, rippling through the tones of his voice.  Needless to say, I’m really, really excited to experience his performance at the Kaslo Jazz Etc Festival in August.

Of course there’s a tonne of stuff going on at the festival.  A Tribe Called Red will deliver an electronic beatdown, par excellence.  Good vibes will surge and swell as Los Lobos power through the chords of La Bamba. BADBADNOTGOOD will sheppard crowds of revellers through a rich soundscape of electronic and lo-fi jazz. Children and families (and childish adults like myself) will delight at the plethora of activities, workshops, and performances.

But for now, all I can really think about is Charles Bradley, and his extraordinaires, belting out the high notes of Victim Of Love. Perhaps I’ll be lucky, and he will do a rendition of his cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s Changes. I’ll have to wait to find out, and I’m literally counting down the minutes as we speak."

By Thomas Hutchinson

Kaslo Jazz Festival is at Kaslo Bay Park, BC | August 4-6, 2017

For event & ticketing: www.kaslojazzfest.com

Unity Festival 2017

2017 has been the rockiest rollercoaster of years to date. Devastating loss paired with heartache & homesickness has thankfully been balanced out with personal growth, exciting careers opportunities and flourishing friendships. And finally. After all these years of bragging how I was going to grow old in Perth, a feeling of extreme contentment has evolved from my love for our tiny town. Which I’ve found here in the heart of the Kootenay's.

This area has so much to offer, I know I haven’t even touched the tip of it. After hiding away healing most of the winter I’ve spent the last few hours reflecting and manifesting on what’s could evolve for the remainder of 2017. Re-setting my goals, processing what is and what could be, I’ve truly acknowledged where I am and where I want to be. The best bit about that is… I know where it is, here in beautiful BC.

Though this week didn’t go completely to my plan. I feel someone or something was/is trying to tell me slow down, chill the f*ck out. Stay local. To enjoy the area that immediately surrounds me. You know the saying "smell the roses in my own backyard". Swim in one of our lovely lakes and to create & communicate with my local community. In other words; the last 2 months have been bloody hectic and now it’s time for me to truly enjoy a summer’s Saturday in the Slocan with my pals.

So that’s what I’m going to do. For all my friends back home… Deep in the Kootenay's Mountain Region lies the sexy Slocan Lake. This weekend the The Slocan Valley Cultural Alliance creates the 3 day festival dedicated to promoting Music, Art, Dance and Culture called Unity Festival. I’m heading along for all the reason above and to;

1. Support Mary Beth at her African Drumming Dance debut
2. To FINALLY catch BCDC perform (You guessed it, they’re Canada’ best ACDC cover band)
3. To have an overdue dance to my favourite live local electronic duo Intersect.
4. To start my 2017 Summer Festival Camping adventures in my new whip!
5. And lastly, to not work and have an extreme amount of fun for 24 hours.

So who’s with me? Weekend passes are only $100 (bargain, am I right. or am I right!)and if camping is not your thing grab a day pass here.

Get live updates on my Instagram story from Unity Festival here and check back in the coming weeks for my review.

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Astral Harvest 2017

Earlier this year I did a feature with Stickybuds, he gave me a list of his most memorable festivals in Canada to play at. Astral Harvest in Driftpile Alberta(this weekend) being one of his all time favourites to play and party at! With the added bonus of my German brother Martin Horger being announced of the fun and funky line-up I've been counting down the days to this 4 day music and art camping adventure. 

Below are my top five acts to see this weekend, with their set times, where they're playing, links to my favourite mix for you to listen to on the drive to Alberta!

LISTEN

LISTEN!

LISTEN

LISTEN

Come check Kelsey's set workshop at Angelica's Basket on Saturday night, expect spoken word in its raw, real and evocative form as well as a couple of uke jams. Oh and you can ead Kelsey's 5 Tips for a bountiful Astral Harvest here!

Unfortunately I'm no longer able to attend Astral Harvest as I've just scored an amazing opportunity to head North to work on Artswells Festival. Kim will be covering the festival instead, follow her story on Instagram here for live updates from all the stages!

And lastly, if you feel like having a YOLO weekend, you can purchase your Astral Harvest ticket here! 

Safe travels festival fairies xXx

Bass Coast 2017

Since moving to British Columbia the local festival buzz has been about Bass Coast, held annually in Merrit, BC. The four day, multi-stage electronic music festival delivers a bass bonzar of over 100 acts. With tickets selling out months in advanced, I'm super psyched to see what all the fuss AND fancy outfits are about! Today I created my schedule, Spotify playlist and top festival favourites that I’ll be front and centre for!

I first discovered Sango from Ta-ku’s REϟWRK VOL​.​II from “Owe Me” back in 2013, the track became a staple on many mixes when trap was evolving in Australia. Sango’s collab list is froth worthy; Tinashe, Kaytranada, Goldlink JMSN to name a few and he’s received plentiful praises on his remixes from Little Dragon, The Weeknd and Nas. His beautiful production combines future beats, hip hop, soul and future beats in a delicate delivery. You can catch Sango on Saturday at 10pm -11.15pm on the Main Stage.

Little Simz first came on my radar after she was announced on the PIAF line-up in 2016, the english rapper from London has been making massive moves since then with fast flow and sick bicth attitude, even grabbing Kendrick Lamar’s attention as ‘the illest doing it right now’. Join me Main Stage on Sunday from 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM.

I had the lovely pleasure of meeting Marin Patenaude at Tiny Lights Festival, unfortunately I was running around the festival working that I didn’t have time to check her set. But, I will at now! Kick off your weekend to the soothing sounds of Marin Patenaude before your head gets blown off by MEGA BASS at the Cantina Stage on Thursday 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM.

It’s been a massive journey moving to BC from Australia, one of the best parts has been the musical journey that’s be shared with me by the local community along the way. Which brings me to Shiny Things… positive, happy, sparkly things is all I hear about this Kootenays kid’s sets. See him in the Slay Bay on Friday 5:00 PM - 6:15 PM.

Alix Perez and Eprom hooked up and gave birth to a bass heavy, hip hop love child. They named him SHADES. I’m so excited to see this project come together, both artist I admire immensely. Head home hard n on a massive high by catching Shades on the Main Stage Monday from 12:15 AM - 1:30 AM.

Bass Coast is this coming weekend (7 -10 July) even though tickets have sold out there is an official ticket re-sale option here!

My Bass Coast Spotify Playlist

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