Before I knew about being embarrassed about anything, I wrote one of my first music journalism pieces entitled “Kelowna’s fertile soil grows good music.” Years of wearing headgear and standing too close to the microwave probably warped my teenage brain and made me think that “fertile” and “lactating” were good adjectives to use when reviewing music.  Anyways, I took a little trip back to ye old fertile soil last weekend for Kelohah, a neon-soaked summertime bro-down with some hoe-down music festival.

Because I am a 50-year-old divorcee from surrey, I thought renting a red mustang for the drive up was a great idea. If this car was a transformer, it would rear up on it’s cherry red fenders and morph riiiiight into a giant douche bag. It did, however, make for a pretty Aerosmith-y ride up, and taking in the incredible, panoramic wine country scenery is pretty cool.

DAY ONE: Got out of car to go to pick up festival wristbands. Then went to the dollar store, the old spaghetti factory (Turn down for what?! For bottomless bread that’s what!), swam in the outdoor hotel pool with a large gang of 11 year old boys, then went to sleep watching some movie with some guy in it. MUSIC FESTIVALS RULE!

DAY TWO: Ok. This was a good day because I wasn’t so focused on carbs.

The Kelohah festival is gorgeous. It’s pretty much like walking into the Saved-by-the-Bell Palm Springs special. Lush rolling green hills, a small river winding through the grounds, board shorts and neon wayfarers as far as the eye can see. Two stages at opposite ends of the ground hosted 14 acts that day. One stage was perched on the shore of the lake, the other at the bottom of a sloping grass hill. Also highly valued were the beanbag chairs in the backstage outdoor area. One year, as a child entirely too old to believe in Santa, I wrote a pleading letter to the man in red to deliver me a bean bag chair for Christmas. Armed with a poor memory and sleep deprivation caused by playing with a fax machine all night (HOW DO THEY WORK?!) I rushed into the living room and was convinced that Santa had left his magic sack of presents behind. I rushed towards the bag, threw open the zipper and a zillion tiny Styrofoam beads poured out into the living room carpet. Turns out beanbag chairs look a lot like Santa’s sack of presents to an idiot child who spends her time thinking “The Last Unicorn” was a documentary. Anyway, the beanbag chairs, beach huts, food trucks, and tiki style beer gardens were super nice and well run. Unlike a certain festival years ago that almost killed me…. (IT WAS PEMBERTON, PEMBERTON WAS DEATH)…. there was ample toilet paper on the grounds and there was plenty of space to grab a snack from one of the many food trucks and hang out in the shade chugging a beer.

You could pick out the bands in attendance because their full-length pants, wool hats and beards made me worry they were actually going to die. There is no place in 36 degree weather for “cool.” We are all sweaty/sandy assed children in baggy swimsuits whining for popsicles in that kind of heat. Or maybe that was just me? I tend to project my insecurities on others….a concept you might not be able to understand because you are so stupid and fat.

Hands up if your peeing!

The Sandbar stage was amazing. Talk about outdoor bathrooms with a view! A whole lake at your disposal! First up on Saturday was Rolla Oak, a Top 20 artist in the 2013 Peak Performance Project.  Around the time Rolla Oak started playing (I tend to have a very short attention span) I noticed a large inflatable ball at the shoreline. I strolled over the burning hot lava sand and let a 13-year-old boy zip me inside it whilst he inflated it with a leaf blower.

Although there is nothing more relaxing than flailing around a lake in an enclosed plastic sphere filled with gas-air, there was the added factor that I was floating past huge groups of drunk people in the lake who really couldn’t resist yelling into/poking me through the plastic. Due to some balance issues and the fact that I was inside in a fucking ball, every time I tried to stand I would plummet into the sides, causing the ball to roll and me to perform a type of summersault that one would imagine a legless, armless, newborn deer torso to make. Here’s what Rob from BESTiE who wasn’t being an idiot in a ball thought of Rolla Oak: “they channel Dylan, Tom Petty and Rolla, It’s been done before but not nearly as good or genuine. Makes you want to relive a time when love was free and music was honest.”

Star Captains

After Rolla, I headed over to the Island Stage to watch Star Captains and Peak Performance runners up BESTiE. Star Captains are a 5-piece and their online bio says they’re on a “musical space quest” which sounds a bit like Galaxy Quest but with less Tim Allen. Lead singer NaRai Dawn has the kind of voice everyone thinks they might have when recently dumped, wasted on 151, and singing along to Celine Dion pop up video’s on youtube. NaRai’s vocal ability is crazy, and it’s pretty entertaining to watch. You can hear their stuff here.

Smokey Flavs by BESTiE

BESTiE are comprised of my good friends (you can tell by the photo watermarks I stole their pictures) so anything I say about them as a band, good or bad, must be fictional to maintain my journalistic integrity. However, I did truly enjoy their entire set of Milli Vanilli covers punctuated by a strip show performed by your Mom. But don’t take my word for it, this online review reflects on how BESTiE is “hearty, meaty, and full of smokey flavour.” Buy their album here so they have money to bribe me to write a decent and well thought out review next time.

Local Natives – Vancouver Weekly Photo

After BESTiE, I took a brief hiatus to sit in the hotel parking lot pool and eat a bag of Cheetos to rest up for Local Natives, a group of the nicest and most talented dudes you’ll ever meet. Years ago, Winnie hosted these Silverlake indie rockers at Funky Winkerbeans, the spiffiest venue this side of the Salvation Army, for their first ever Vancouver show.

Since then, Local Natives have gotten just a little bit more famous, as they now headline events instead of playing bars where some guy will try to sell you Costco cheese strapped to the inside of his trench coat.

Oh man. They are awesome live. Super engaging and magical. I saw at least 4 couples start to make out during “Airplanes” and the security guard with a mullet had a pensive moment looking up at the twinkling night sky, that or he was staring at some girls boobs while she bounced on top of a guys shoulders.  The Local Natives had the type of set where there’s a giant wind machine behind the band giving an ethereal windswept vibe to the entire stage, then you discover, much like the girl who hitchhiked with some dude and he went to her parents house to return something she left and it turned out she had be dead for 5 years…THERE WAS NO WIND MACHINE! So chalk the magic vibes on stage up to amazing chemistry between band members, solid songs with amazing gang vocals and making a solid connection with the audience. Lead singer Taylor Rice jumped into the crowd towards the end of the set and managed to lose to shoe to the surging throng (a very fashionable male version of a slingback, must be an LA thing), which was returned post show (Yay for friendly audiences!) This was a good thing because the Local Native’s members joined me for the after party at Habitat, a downtown Kelowna nightclub, and you really want to wear shoes there.

Bestie at Habitat

BESTiE played double duty that day performing at Habitat as well, and I don’t think I’ve seen that many girls dance on stage since the Much Music Video Dance Party arrived at my junior high. Seriously, I felt fucking old. With the cruel reality that I’m no longer limber enough to climb on a stage, and the knowledge that I can’t watch girls on stage without referencing Atwood’s “The Edible Women” to whatever poor soul is standing beside me. I left to get poutine that I can’t remember eating but found on my best friend’s shoes the next morning.

In summation, Kelohah, a place where walking into a fancy penthouse hotel room at 6pm and seeing two dudes you went to high school with naked wrestling in front of a fireplace while one of their Dad’s watches and cheers is entirely possible. (This happened on the Saturday).

XOXO – SUPERFRIES

Ladner’s finest, Tough Lovers have a brand new single we’re excited to premiere. Check out Mouthful Of Blood below.

posted by @tristanorchard

It’s that time of the year again, when copious amounts of booze and excess exposure to the sun make catching the feels a weekly activity. Fortunately for us, Alex (from Killing Time) has a new jam that will make your emotional hangovers bearable, and maybe even enjoyable. So send your current boo the purple heart emoji and remember that somewhere out there, Drake has it 10x worse.

Posted by @Clarkbs who currently has the feels

Oh and you should totally check out the brand new video for Sriracha also.

maybe posted by @clarkbs

Perfect mix of mellow with thick chunky beats for daytime or 5am listening.

posted by @tristanorchard

posted by @tristanorchard

Winniecooper.net is excited to present two YUNG LEAN shows in Vancouver on July 18th. First an early ALL AGES show at Chapel Arts at 6:30pm w/ support by SAD BOYS and Jade Statues. Buy tickets here! Then a second show at Fortune Sound Club at 9pm, which is also Winniecooper’s anniversary party, featuring local acts: Cherchez, Christian Flores and Rook Milo. Get tickets for that show here!

Whether your going to one show or both you don’t want to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity. If your like myself and have been following Yung Lean then you known how special it’s going to be. Tickets are selling fast so get yours quick!

Posted by Wobangs

Vancouver based TOUGH LOVERS are playing a show Thursday to kick off The PEAK Thursdays Concert Series at Library Square.

If you’re not familiar, this four piece band play catchy rock and roll with a distinct indie pop slant, and it’s really great to see live.

Head down to Library Square this Thursday to check them out in person, plus super bonus WC’s CHRISTIAN FLORES will be deejaying too!

Cover is only 5 bucks, but arrive early cuz doors are at 9pm with the show at 10.

For more info on TOUGH LOVERS, check their FB page HERE and listen to their music off the bandcamp page HERE.

For details on the event and The PEAK Thursdays, CLICK HERE.

New Vancouver indie act Sprïng was birthed from the destruction of favourite local spazz-punk band the SSRIs. When I found out that the new project would be called “Sprïng,” I wondered if the band was determined to hide from people on the internet. I sat down to chat with the guys in Sprïng in the band’s kitchen and the boys assured me that if you manage to type the “ï” that the band is the only google search result–along with some World of Warcraft thing. Then they taught me how to type an “i” with an umlaut, among many other things. Listen to our chat!

the interview show with Sprïng

Sprïng “Follow”

Sprïng “Pastel” Why did the band choose this song to play during the show? You’ll have to listen to the interview!

The SSRIs “Rows” Here’s a track that will show this new band’s music roots.

the interview show is everywhere!

www.cjsf.ca (Vancouver, BC, Mondays 4:30-5pm PST and Wednesdays 12:30am PST)
www.ckdu.ca (Halifax, NS, Fridays 12:00-12:30am AST)
www.radiocfxu.ca (Campus Community Radio, Antigonish, NS, Fridays 11pm-12am AST)
www.cfru.ca (University of Guelph Radio, ON, Tuesdays 3pm EST)
www.umfm.com (Winnipeg’s Hit Free Radio, Fridays 6-6:30pm CST)
www.caperradio.com (Cape Breton University Radio, NS, Wednesdays 3-3:30pm AST)
www.localfm.ca (Campus Radio Saint John Inc., NB, Tuesdays 11:30am and Fridays 3:30pm AST)

Check out the brand new video by Vancouver artist, Louise Burns for her song Heaven directed by Daniel Code.

posted by @tristanorchard

All y’all deep house lovers can’t miss out on this show. The American producer LE YOUTH will be playing at Fortune Sound Club on Monday, June 30th! As a part of the long weekend party performers, Wes James (Le Youth) is bringing in his very own Cali vibes and a European flair that will rock da house!

So come out for this two-room party with DJs PAT LOK, WMNSTUDIES, PURE ADDICTION, & KALIBO!

Tickets going for $17.50 at Highlife, Zulu, Red Cat, Beatstreet Records and online at http://bit.ly/1kP71xP

More info on the event page

Posted by @JuanMarFreile

This Friday night at Shine Nightclub there’s a special lil’ get together in the back room.

One fourth of The Freshest, just back from Paris, KUTCORNERS joins local gin connoisseur CHRISTIAN FLORES for a night of modern and classic rnb + rap selections like this…

Also with Jimmy Edgar (Berlin | Ultramajic) in the main room, the vibes are plenty and your bases are covered.

Guestlist is available for this, please email with full names: winnie.cooper.guestlist @ gmail.com

See you at Shine!

New Blood Diamonds produced track that was originally intended for Rihanna.

I think i’ve listen to it 10 times in a row.  Obvs new song of the summer / #1.  Cowboy hats=v relevant

posted by @tristanorchard

We know how much you guys love to support & empower your very own Vancouver rappers. After contacting them via Fortune Sound Club, we managed to get a small interview with the rap collaboration Northwest Division who immediately agreed to share their love just for YOU:

1. NWD has experienced a lot of growth recently. With your first project released just in 2012, what do you think is what made NWD stand out?

Hungry – I think I would have to say if anything, our live set is where we really stand out the most. We have put countless hours into attempting to perfect, what I think is our own unique style of performance. If you have ever seen our set you will notice that we do a lot of back and forth, bar for bar, double time rhymes where we will literally need to know almost every word of every one of each others verses. To execute this successfully our timing has to be absolutely perfect. I know no other group in the city is rapping like that. I think if you are doing something original that no one else is doing, it’s definitely easier to get noticed.

 2. You have defined NWD as a division that collides work & play to create an innovative spectrum of rap & hip-hop. Was this aggregate a planned, strategized combination? Or how did it come to be? 

Junk – The work ethic was always there it was just a matter of syncing every individual to his particular niche. In the last two years we’ve all learned a lot from one another. Learning and accepting each other’s strengths and weaknesses has ultimately matured us as a group and in result has made us see the horizons of success. That being said we have learned to put in the effort but not to forget to enjoy ourselves while doing it because essentially, it’s the journey that is the most beautiful thing of all.

 3. After opening & co-hosting nights with iconic rap figures such as People Under The Stair, Grieves & Ghostface Killah (amongst others), what do you consider to be a fundamental attribute for acknowledged rap music? Has this evolved over time?

Hungry – I feel like I am still a young hip-hop head so I might not be the best person to ask about it evolving over time haha. I would assume it has a little bit at least.  I think the most fundamental quality for music I personally enjoy is authenticity.  I can definitely appreciate ignorant shit as well, but my favorite is that real life true from the heart type shit. That’s just my personal preference though.  I also think it’s super important to be able to make songs that the average person can relate to. I feel like being able to connect to your audience in that way is a special thing.

 4. As of today, do you guys find inspiration in other rappers around the globe? Where do you get your inspiration from?

Hungry – We definitely find inspiration from other artists around the globe.  People like Cyhi the Prynce, Rittz, Caskey, Big Krit. Sometimes we will hear a beat ENG or someone made and right away start thinking of concepts and be inspired to write. Also each other.  When one of us finishes some crazy bars it can definitely spark the start of another verse. Seeing or playing a really good show can also be really inspiring. I’m sure after we finish touring this summer we will be very inspired to start our next project.  I guess you could say we draw inspiration from our life experiences and the people around us.

 5. Looking back at where NWD was two years ago, what/whom do you think is the person/thing that mostly contributed to your success? 

Junk – It’s definitely not a single person or thing, it’s an accumulation of people and opportunities interconnected at the right moments. Although there are a few key contributing factors, one being Fortune Sound Club. That place probably helped and influenced our success the most in the last two years. Reasons being, the people. Starting from the managers to the busboys all supporting us and giving us the time for us to grow. I mean they give us the city’s best sound system and venue as our rehearsal room. Can’t ask for more. Fortune serves as the backbone to multiple successfully developing entities such as Fanfair, SJS, Timbre and also the group Bestie. There is also a wide but closely-knit range of people who help us be the well-oiled machine that we are becoming. It’s a giant family and everyone does their part. We love everybody there and really appreciate what they have done for us.

 6. We all know NWD is releasing its new album “Stay Sharp” in August this year. What are your plans after this? Can your fans expect a potential tour being set up?

Junk – Stay Sharp is pretty self-explanatory; it’s a free digital mix tape that we will release in between albums. This way we don’t keep our fans salivating too long. Haha. The title is exactly what we are doing, we are staying sharp lyrically meanwhile remixing popular songs that we’ve been fans of. This project will also symbolize the integration of Gboxx in our recorded music. Won’t give away too much though. We are recording this mixtape as we speak. As for touring? We are headlining our Close To Home western Canadian tour, while bringing along NWD affiliates J.Dohe & DJ Bates. We are still booking shows for it so hopefully it gets bigger and expands as far as possible. To top everything off, we will be playing the world wide famous Shambhala Music Festival. 2014 has been very good to us.

Posted by: @JuanMarFreile

THIS FRIDAY, June 27th, JIMMY EDGAR will be playing at SHINE NIGHTCLUB! Currently producing in Detroit & Berlin, the American neo-electro/house composer is here to share his debut album with Scuba’s Hotflush Recordings: Majenta. FIlled with heaps of futuristic allure, nights out with Jimmy Edgar tend to go beyond the unexpected. HEARTBEATS, PROJECT PABLO, ASL SINGLES CLUB, & J.GOOSEY will accompany the night to ensure the furor stays up right!

If you’re a fan of Boiler Room events, this is definitely a night you don’t wanna miss. Check out his recent BBC Radio 1 mix here:

Tickets on sale for $15 at Zulu, BeatStreet Records, and online at http://bit.ly/1iPD6pp

For more info. check out the Facebook event page

Posted by: @JuanMarFreile