What: Crankworx Outdoor Concert Series
Where: Skier’s Plaza
When: Aug. 5-6
Following in the footsteps of Whistler’s other sport-based Festravaganza, this weekend’s Crankworx Freeride Mountainbike Festival will present a free outdoor concert series in Whistler Village.
Four shows will take place on Friday, Aug. 5 and Saturday, Aug. 6, on a main stage in Skier’s Plaza at the base of the formidable "Boneyard" Slopestyle course.
Kicking the concert series off on Friday, Aug. 5 at 5 p.m. is Aqueduct, an eclectic, Seattle-based synth-pop project headed up by transplanted Okie David Terry.
A member of the über-hip corps from Seattle indie label Barsuk Records, which also features Nada Surf, They Might Be Giants, and Death Cab For Cutie, Aqueduct’s recent release ‘i sold gold’ is described as being "crammed full of blown-out drum sounds, blip-pop synths, pianos, and a sense of both seriousness and humor," drawing comparisons to the Flaming Lips, Frank Black, Grandaddy, and Mates of State.
The Aqueduct show is nestled between the Pro-Invitational Slopestyle qualifier and the Nissan Biker X finals on the Crankworx schedule. Following the Biker X awards at 8:30 p.m. is the second outdoor concert of the series featuring Boy – a five man band with members hailing from Whitehorse, Vancouver Island, Winnipeg and Toronto. Boy’s latest album, 2004’s Every Page You Turn , suggests the band’s potential to be a Sloan for a new generation of disheveled Canadian indie-rock kids.
Saturday’s shows groove to more of a hip-hop beat, starting with Vancouver’s Threat From Outer Space at 4 p.m.
The instrumental group is often in Whistler, purveying their distinct Bomb Beat Music.
The Bomb Beat incorporates elements of hip-hop, drum ’n’ bass, funk, jazz and ska, played organically by the Threat Boys, with vocal riffing by singer/MC Tameem B – an urban assault of groove with an underground eclectic edge.
The Bomb Beat will soundtrack the lead-up to the celebrated star Crankworx event, the Pro Invitational Slopestyle Finals, which are to kick off at 5 p.m.
The Slopestyle comedown will flow a dancehall riddim with L.A. reggae/hip-hop artist Jah Orah. Also on the mic and on the stage will be West Coast duo Generous Sound System, a.k.a. Oakland-based skateboarder/MC Bukue One and Seattle DJ Zac Hendrix, a turntablist best known for his work alongside hip-hop legend Del Tha Funkee Homosapien.
The concert series is presented by Jim Beam, which is also bringing its ‘Party Crew’ promo team to town for a series of events at various Whistler nightspots throughout the Crankworx festival.
A complete schedule of Crankworx sport and party events is online at www.crankworx.com.
