Western Front presents Japanese singer Phew on her Canadian tour, October 19
Vancouver Island-based experimental artist Piu opens the concert curated by Aki Onda
Western Front presents a concert by Japanese singer Phew in the Grand Luxe Hall on October 19 at 8 pm, as part of her Canadian tour.
Phew’s distinctive voice and spoken-word singing style have resounded in international underground music scenes over the last four decades. Starting from fronting the legendary punk band Aunt Sally in Osaka, she steadily released a series of solo albums with collaborators spanning Ryuichi Sakamoto, Holger Czukay, and Jaki Liebezeit.
After the 2011 earthquake and nuclear disaster in Japan, Phew opened a new musical chapter by channeling the power of analogue synthesized sounds and the human voice. This solo performance showcases her recent compositions and improvisations.
To open the evening curated by Aki Onda, Vancouver Island-based artist Piu—a lifelong student of Indian classical music—shares her expansive soundscapes with hard-hitting synth riffs, raga-inspired vocals, and global rhythms.
Admission is by donation, and tickets are available at Western Front.
Post sponsored by Western Front.
Related Articles
Matthew Ariaratnam, Andromeda Monk, Sapphire Haze, and Anju Singh celebrate the organization’s history of sound innovation
Annual concert at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church features such seasonal staples as “Silent Night” and “Maybe This Christmas”, plus two new arrangements
Seasonal standouts include a massive choral Messiah, and different takes on A Christmas Carol—including one with 10-foot-high puppets
Seasonal favourite sets timeless classics by Robert Pearsall and Morten Lauridsen, plus new works by B.C. composers, to the gentle glow of candles
Annual performance of beloved oratorio features soprano Caitlin Wood, alto Nicholas Burns, tenor Spencer Britten, and bass Jonathon Adams
Canadian alt-pop icon admits the supergroup with Steven Page, Chris Murphy, Moe Berg, and Craig Northey would have seemed unthinkable back in the day
Respected musician plays two shows devoted to India’s oldest-surviving classical genre alongside pakhavaj artist Tejas Tope
Led by Paula DeWit, early-music ensemble Cantare Super Orchestram and a cappella group Belle Voci give the 1742 oratorio fresh style
The neuroscientist, writer, and musician’s conversation with André Picard has musical interludes by Chor Leoni
Program also features Steve Reich’s Jacob’s Ladder with the U.K.’s Synergy Vocals, a Linda Catlin Smith premiere, and John Adams’ Gnarly Buttons
Pianist’s performances of the works have received high praise, including from the composer himself
Presented by Vancouver Recital Society, the Djibouti-born musician brings tremendous vocal feeling to his instrument
New documentary from Belgian filmmaker Johan Grimonprez, a look at the 1961 assassination of Patrice Lumumba, screens directly afterward
More than 100 musicians will be making the journey to Ontario in March 2025
Winter tradition at the Heritage Hall promises enchanting music by pianist Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa and vocalist Amanda Sum
Award-winning violinist to enchant audiences with Stravinsky’s stunning Violin Concerto and two Prokofiev symphonies
Led by Ts’msyen musician Saltwater Hank (aka Jeremy Pahl), group blends rock ’n’ roll elements with ancestral traditions
Twelve-song record layers compelling lyricism with heartfelt harmonies and poignant dissonances
Artist performs tracks from new album alongside Jane Bunnett, Dan Fortin, and Rebekah Wolkstein, with First Nations dancer Sarah Prosper and the NiteCap choir
The musical organization remounts Seasons of the Sea, which features words by Indigenous artist and storyteller Georgeson in a mixed program
Artistic director Kari Turunen programs a concert that honours his home country’s choral traditions, from simple folk to edgy modernism