Get Funked!

Sep 24, 2015 at 05:51 pm

Victoria's grooviest hotel is teaming up with the funkiest music festival on Vancouver Island for the third annual Garden City Grooves, Oct. 1-3 in Victoria, B.C.

Featuring a lineup of musicians that will make you move, groove and get down with your funky self for three nights in the Garden City, this festival will have Victoria completely funk-i-fied. And best of all, every single artist playing this year's festival is based in beautiful B.C.

"There are so many great acts here, just in B.C. that we think it's really important to showcase those artists who are trying to showcase themselves here. Most specifically to the Island and Vancouver," says Nathan Ambrose, festival co-organizer.

"One of this year's headliners, Dawn Pemberton from Vancouver, is definitely one of those artists," says Ambrose. "We're spreading the gospel of Dawn Pemberton this year."

Pemberton, who is being touted as the "New Queen of Canadian Soul," released her debut solo album Say Somthin' last year.  Pemberton has spent years working in the industry as a teacher, producer and background singer, and is now emerging in the spotlight. Lucky Bar will provide the perfect intimate atmosphere to hear Pemberton's powerful, sultry voice.

Joining Pemberton on the Sat., Oct. 3 Soul Night lineup are Chance Lovett and the Broken Hearted. Many know Lovett from her days fronting The Chantrelles (2012-13). She's since moved to the mainland, but still maintains ties with the Victoria soul scene and will be performing with some of her former Chantrelles bandmates that evening.

"We wanted to make it this incredible night of great female soul singers, so we paired them together," says Ambrose. (7:30 p.m. $15) After party and open jam featuring Impulse Response at Copper Owl (10:30 p.m.)

The main event Fri., Oct. 2 is the long-anticipated CD release party for local favourites The New Groovement. Produced by the Grammy Award winning Joby Baker (Alex Cuba) and recorded in his Saanich studio, the full-length album is the result of two years' work and a successful kickstarter campaign. The evening also features local West Coast Music Awards nominees Weird Party and Nanaimo's Boomshack.  (10:30 p.m., Lucky Bar. $15)

The festival kicks off Thurs., Oct. 1 with The New Souls and DJ The Funkee Wadd (Ilivis Freshly) at Copper Owl ($5 in advance, $10 at the door).

Started by Ambrose (CFUV's Music of my Mind) and Groovin' Reuven Sussman (percussion, The New Groovement) Garden City Grooves is a grassroots festival that is dedicated to soul, groove, funk, R n' B and world music.

This year's festival is riding a wave of momentum from two successful summer events, Afrobeat in the Square (July 16 with Kara-Kata Afrobeat Group from Vancouver) and Super Summer Jam 2 (Aug., 27 with Seattle's Theesatisfaction)

A full festival pass is available for only $35. Visit gardencitygrooves.com for more info.

Mary Ellen
www.analoguemag.ca