The Pacific Rim Whale Festival starts March 15, filling our calendars with an amazing assortment of educational and entertaining events.
There's a lot to see, do, eat and explore during Whale Fest but there are also many great things to hear.
This is a quick look at some of the live music that will fill the air in the coming days: -The Poor Pistols For Hire, a local, all-girl bluegrass-inspired quartet will provide the soundtrack for the ever popular Chowder Chowdown on Sunday March 16. In addition to their boot stomping, harmony rich music attendees will be treated to a heaping helping of chowders prepared by our celebrated local restaurants. The event starts at 11:30 am at The Ucluelet Community Center.
-After Sunday, March 16's Marine Impacts and Issues Sea Change Panel at Ucluelet Community Centre, sponsored by Jamie's Whaling Station & Adventure Centre Tours, hear the Burton/McRae/Rhodes Jazz Piano Trio at 9 p.m. and mingle with scientific minds and cocktails. An uplifting way to spend an evening! -Tofino's husband and wife folky rock duo Smalltown Empire will add their sweet sound to the Sweet Indulgence Desert Reception on Tuesday March 18, also at The
Ucluelet Community Center. While Ron and Anne Weeks treat you to songs from their recent release 'Long Road,' local chefs, B&Bs and other businesses will treat you to all-you-can-eat hame baked deserts. Sweet indeed. Doors open at 7pm.
-On Wednesday, March 19 Pete Clarkson, enviromental artist and PRNPR staffer will host The Art of Trash Talk: Finding Creative Solutions for Marine Debris at Jamie's Rainforest Inn. The event will feature his artwork, made from the garbage that pollutes our oceans and shoreline as well as a discussion of possible solutions for the growning ocean pollution problem. Afterwards local musicians Andrew Giesbrecht and Didier Cardyn will treat you to classic jazz and country for guitar and harmonica starting at 9. While the presentation is a ticketed event, the music is free to all.
-Barnacle Blues has been a musical highlight of The Pacific Rim Whale Festival for a while now. This year John Mann; Guitarist, vocalist and front man of the Canadian band Spirit Of The West will headline the show on March 20 at The Black Rock Oceanfront Resort in Ucluelet. His most recent album, The Waiting Room is remarkable look at his trials, thoughts and observation during cancer treatment that still carries the harmonies, melodies and humor that make Spirit Of The West's music danceable and engaging. Be sure to come early as the opening act is also expected to be stellar (it's me). Doors open at 7pm.
-For you electronic music types out there, The Marina West Motel is hosting The Electric Gumboot Bash on Friday March 21. Put on your best "Electrifying Gumboot Costume" and get ready to sweat dancing to three Djs; G-Rant, NoShow and Triple D. Doors open at 9pm.
-Finally, the closing ceremonies on Sunday March 23 at Tin Wis Resort will feature a variety of performances and presentations including the announcement of next year's poster artist. Musical entertainment will come courtesy of Tofino's Candace Dawne Bastien and Bourton Scott, mingling nylon string folk guitar with fiddle melodies and original West Coastinspired lyrics.