First Nations, First Strings: An Evening Celebrating Indigenous Guitarists

Presented by the Vancouver Independent Music Centre (VIM)

The Fox, 2321 Main Street

Doors: 6:30 pm

Tickets: Sliding Scale 19+

Attendees must show proof of vaccination and wear masks except when seated and drinking.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Jason Burnstick: guitar

George Leach: guitar

Raven Kanatakta: guitar

Marty Ballentyne: guitar

Johnny Walsh: bass

Michael Simpsonelli: drums

Renae Moriseau (Cree/Saulteaux)

Olivia Lucas

Deanna Newton-Gestrin

As we all come thru the pandemic together, it’s time to start sharing our voices and celebrate our songs. One of the few live Indigenous music shows in 2022 in Vancouver, features award-winning musicians and songwriters, Jason Burnstick (Cree), George Leach (Stl’atl’imx), Raven Kanatakta (Anishinaabe/Mohawk), and Marty Ballentyne (Cree) unite for a riveting evening of original, breathtaking music. They will be joined by local Vancouver musicians, Johnny Walsh on bass, and Michael Simpsonelli on drums.

Hereditary Chief Ian Campbell, whose ancestral names are Xalek and Sekyu Siyam, is from the Squamish and Musqueam Nations. He’s a mover and shaker both culturally and politically in his home communities and throughout Vancouver for many years. He will do the land acknowledgment and welcome everyone to the evening!

The evening’s host and MC is music industry trailblazer, programmer, producer, songwriter and manager, the incomparable Elaine Bomberry (Anishinaabe/ Cayuga from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory). Bomberry co-created a Juno award category solely for Indigenous artists.

This special evening opens with M’Girl, a percussive hand-drum group who create beautiful harmonies fusing both traditional Indigenous and contemporary rhythms. Led by Renae Morisseau (Cree/Saulteaux), and accompanied by Olivia Lucas (Cree/Metis/Black), Deanna Newton-Gestrin (St’at’imc), they are honoured to share their songs on the traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples. Mgirlmusic.ca

This intimate concert showcases multi-award winning Jason Burnstick, who has won a 2020 Leo Award for Composer of the Year for Best TV Movie, an Indigenous Music Award, also an Aboriginal People Choice Music Award, and was a a JUNO nominee twice over his career. Performing on his original vintage 1920’s Weissenborn lap slide guitar, he always gains new fans wherever he performs. burnstickduo.com

Also performing is George Leach, whose soulful voice and guitar playing reflect the beauty of his home territory. He’s also won a few music awards, including a 2014 JUNO award and 3 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards. George’s musical style ranges from blues slide to hard-hitting rock and roll. georgeleach.com

Joining the stage of these amazingly talented guitarists is Raven Kanatakta of the JUNO award-winning Digging Roots fame. He’s also a songwriter, producer, engineer, film scorer and music entrepreneur. As a teenager he attended and graduated from the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston. With his wife ShoShona Kish, his partner in Digging Roots, they have toured in Europe, the US, Mexico, Australia and Scandinavia. diggingrootsmusic.com

Marty Ballentyne created one of Canada’s original Indigenous hard rock bands, Breach of Trust from LaRonge, SK that won three awards at the former Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards. Marty says, “I play music and I love it. My life is small without it. Let’s agree to put music where it belongs – at the centre of our experience. I’ll play a song for you.”

This event is part of Music at the Cinemas, a series of live music concerts presented by Vancouver Independent Music Centre at two iconic Vancouver cinemas, the Rio and the Fox. These concerts reflect the diversity of music art, cultures and practices of local, regional and national artists. Music at the Cinemas is funded by Canadian Heritage through the Support for Workers in the Live Arts and Music Sector Fund, BC Arts Council and City of Vancouver’s Cultural Services.

Host or Publisher VIM House