The Essentials brings together musicians, poets, and scholars in search for what's needed, April 16 to 18
Khari Wendell McClelland leads genre-busting concert experience in an unprecedented time
Khari Wendell McClelland
Andrew Kushnir. Photo by Hamish Birt
Tanika Charles
It’s a meeting of minds, words, and music, with the aim of helping us all reflect on what’s essential in disorienting times.
The Cultch and Soft Cedar have announced they’re bringing together music, poetry, and scholarship in a genre-bending concert experience called The Essentials, streaming April 16 to 18.
Blending pre-recorded and live elements, the show broadcasts from The Cultch’s York Theatre, with renowned Vancouver soul-and-gospel-inspired musician Khari Wendell McClelland hosting a mind-blowing array of local and international minds.
Together they will probe the burning question in this unprecedented societal, environmental, and pandemic era: What is essential and needed in these times?
Helping to explore the answer are award-winning poets Cecily Nicholson and Hari Alluri, acclaimed scholars Mia Birdsong, Jarrett Martineau, Ashon Crawley, Kathleen Gallagher, Andrew Kushnir, Harsha Walia, Seth Klein, and Toshi Reagon, and special guest musicians joining McClelland and sound-bath artist Faye Mallet each night.
Friday, April 16, tune in for the gospel trio The Sojourners (of which McLelland is a member), Kwakiutl Hereditary Chief Henry Seaweed, the St. James Music Academy, as well as the folk duo Twin Bandit.
Saturday night, JUNO Award-winning oud player and guitar virtuoso Gordon Grdina shares and Soul/R&B heavy-hitter Tanika Charles are on hand.
And closing out the weekend will be Inuit-style throat singers and electro-beat duo PIQSIQ, alongside Vancouver’s favourite high energy dance band Queer As Funk.
Also on the program on various nights: Cecily Nicholson, Hari Alluri, Mia Birdsong, Jarrett Martineau, Ashon Crawley, Kathleen Gallagher, Andrew Kushnir, Harsha Walia, Seth Klein, and Toshi Reagon.
You can find tickets and more information here.
Since 2018, The Cultch and Soft Cedar have been linked together in a mission to create unforgettable performances on the three Cultch stages and beyond. Soft Cedar is a values-driven organization that exists to provide support and create opportunities for artists, communities and organizations who want to push the boundaries of their performance practice and make a difference.
Now, with The Cultch’s experienced video and tech teams—who have been creating innovative performances over the course of the past year—Soft Cedar is creating meaningful shows for people to enjoy from their own homes. Whether audiences join for one, two, or all three shows, they are sure to have their hearts expanded as they reflect on these beautiful mélanges of reflection, wonder, hope, and celebration—bringing people together in this time of isolation.
This post was sponsored by The Cultch.