HIP-HOP: Boslen
Where: Lucky Bar, 517 Yates St.
When: Thursday, May 26, 10 p.m.
Tickets: Sold out
Why: In the four years since his first-ever performance, which took place at Upstairs Cabaret, Chilliwack-raised rapper Boslen (born Corben Bowen) has been on a tear. Now based in Vancouver, he has collaborated with everyone from Whipped Cream and Manila Grey to Snotty Nose Rez Kids, and has several mixtapes, EPs, and a full-length album to his credit. With the ink dry on a major label contract with Universal Music, the former University of Victoria student (who was on a rugby scholarship at the school until a knee injury ended his athletics career) is headed in one direction — up.
CLASSICAL: Earth Songs: Music for Climate Justice
Where: Christ Church Cathedral, 930 Burdett Ave.
When: May 27-June 3
Tickets: $25 from eventbrite.ca (children 12 and under free)
Why: A trio of concerts designed to shine a spotlight on the environment bring a four-month series to a close Friday at Christ Church Cathedral. The hallowed hall will be full of environment-themed classical music and keynote speakers over the next week, starting with Friday’s concert (titled Earth, Wind, Fire, and Life) featuring organist Jenny Vincent and the host of CBC’s Quirks and Quarks, Bob McDonald.
Simon Johnson, choir director of Westminster Cathedral in London, will tackle Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf on the cathedral’s Wolff organ on June 1, with help from children’s author Kit Pearson and visual artist Rande Cook. Mark McDonald, the cathedral’s resident organist, will perform Holst’s The Planets on June 3, with a presentation by astronomer Alan Batten.
For more information, visit christchurchcathedral.bc.ca/earthsongs.
SOUL: Frazey Ford with Sam Lynch
Where: Capital Ballroom, 858 Yates St.
When: Thursday, May 26, 8 p.m.
Tickets: $38.63 (incl. taxes and fees) from admitone.com
Why: Frazey Ford’s nine-date tour of Canada comes to a close tonight at the Capital Ballroom, where the two-time Juno Award nominee has had great success in the past. The former Be Good Tanyas singer has carved out a nice niche for herself on recent recordings, and has become a rootsy soul singer in the process. Like a cross between Maggie Rogers and Cat Power, the Vancouver-based favourite is a showstopper in concert, and with a new album (U Kin B the Sun) to promote, Ford will not disappoint.
