Recently the world lost a pioneer of folk music and activism, Pete Seeger, long an inspiration to generations’ worth of musicians and activists, including many BC musicians and songwriters. Seeger performed benefit concerts in Vancouver several times, including a well-remembered summer concert at Malkin Bowl, benefiting those evicted from the Downtown Eastside prior to EXPO ’86. The show had Pete performing with a number of Vancouver artists and activist of the day.
In memory of that performance and Seegars decades-long career, the Rickshaw Theatre will play host to a tribute to the artist on Saturday, March 15. Eight popular Vancouver acts will take the stage and sing the songs of Pete Seeger, as well as their own songs influenced by the troubadour. The amazing vocal harmonies of The Sojourners and Company B, the haunting stories of Ben Rogers, the poignant politics of CR Avery, and the contributions of several other of the city’s own troubadours. The house band features Barry Mirochnick(Neko Case, Whitehorse), Paul Rigby (Neko Case, Kathryn Calder), and Rob Becker (Barney Bentall, The Sojourners).
For local presenters Khari McClelland and Anna Hilliar, it felt fitting to rally together this selection of Vancouver’s folk singers and activists, and in the spirit of Pete Seeger, use proceeds to contribute to ongoing music education programming through the Power of Hope and Metaphor facilitators, benefiting the Burnaby Youth Custody Services Centre.
Pete Seeger Tribute Concert takes place Saturday March 15th, 2014 at The Rickshaw Theatre, 254 E Hastings Street. Doors 8pm, Show 8:30pm
Tickets: $15 at the door / $10 advance – available at Highlife, RedCat Records, Zulu Records, Neptoon Records and online at NorthernTickets.com
Proceeds donated to Power of Hope and Metaphor