As one of Canada's more interesting musical exports, Wide Mouth Mason is a trio of musicians from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan who represent the heart of a nation built of many different cultures. Comprised of Shaun Verreault (vocals, guitar), Safwan Javed (percussion, vocals), and Earl Pereira (bass, vocals), the band Wide Mouth Mason creates music that transcends the easy labels of music media and instead lays ground for a sound that is wholly the band and best heard live.

Steve "Mud Dog" Sainas  has been a guitarist/singer/songwriter in Vancouver's cabarets and pubs for the past twenty years. During this time, he has developed a powerful blues guitar and singing style that is instantly recognized by his steadily growing audience. In 1997, Steve began to lay the groundwork for forming his powerful blues band Mud Dog. His vision was to pay tribute to blues masters such as Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and John Lee Hooker with a fiery contemporary blues sound. However, Sainas has evolved into an inspired songwriter and producer testifying his own life experiences through his songs that echo the sounds of the Mississippi Delta. 

Tucked away inside the pages of the Coquitlam Library was a small and intimate café where, once a month, song and drink intermingled to nourish the souls of unsuspecting coffee patrons. Inside, the music of Cassandra Bangel coated the windows and leather chairs. Stepping into such an atmosphere from the street was like opening the door to a dream. Immediately, you were stolen away into melody, a substance so strong not even the barista could wipe it away.

Since those early café days, Cassandra Bangel has been filling paper cups with sweetness and sound for nearly 4 years. She’s brought her music to locations all across the Greater Vancouver region. In her typical set, Cassandra employs her keyboard, 6 and 12-string guitars, and loop pedal, all to form an elaborate one-woman band. Her main weapon, however, is her inimitable and paralyzing vocals. While she plays, these elements combine to create a physical outpouring of emotion and soul, which ultimately reflects the living and breathing vivacity of her music. It’s a moving experience that weaves each listener into a sacred kind of musical bond.

For Nikki Werner, a down to earth attitude is what country music is all about. So it is no wonder that from an early age, you could find a young Nikki using her comb as her microphone performing in front of her mirror, the tunes of her favorite artists. And it's that same youthful energy and love for country music that is in every breath of her songs. People have said Nikki's voice is like a combination of the sincerity of Martina McBride with the attitude of Terri Clark.  With a voice that you won’t soon forget, Nikki’s talent is endless – she has a passion to create ‘that’ moment with every audience she performs for.

Review: Newcomers Chimpanzebras kicked off the night with a very surprising bang. Well, when a band opens with something as utterly bodacious as Elvis Costello’s “Pump It Up”, one doesn’t really have a say in the matter; it’s time to pump it up. And boy, do these guys ever know how to rock and roll. From pitch-perfect renditions of modern classics like the Strokes’ “Last Nite” and the Foo Fighter’s “Times Like These”, to relentlessly funky versions of “Eleanor Rigby” and the Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer” (that’s right… they managed to make “Psycho Killer” EVEN funkier). But perhaps the most striking element of their performance was a taut handful of original material, effortlessly blended among the iconic anthems littered throughout the set. It’s tough to pull off unless your s~~t is off the hook, and Chimpanzebras’ authentic blend of progressive pop and dance rock is nothing short of mesmerizing. Amidst an electric set honouring only the best in twentieth century rock, it’s safe to say these boys are influenced in all the right places.

ELSA has been playing guitar since the age of five when she received a Fender Mini-Strat for her birthday. This was the beginning of her life-long musical passion. Her musical influences are Sick of Sarah, Paramore, Tegan & Sara, City & Colour, U2 and early Avril.  Elsa has performed her original tunes at many venues over the past couple of years including the Heritage Woods Theatre and Terry Fox Theatre.

   

www.myspace.com/thefaceplantsband

July 1st at 6:00pm

The Golden Spike

Can Can Dancers 

www.freewebs.com/goldenspikecancandancers

Performing at various times

throughout the festival