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Battle of the Bands call for entry

Your chance to live out the dream of becoming a rock star just got bigger thanks to a decision to grow the third annual Sea to Sky Battle of the Bands. So don’t miss out and sing up before the Feb. 29 deadline.

Your chance to live out the dream of becoming a rock star just got bigger thanks to a decision to grow the third annual Sea to Sky Battle of the Bands.

So don’t miss out and sing up before the Feb. 29 deadline.

“We’re committed to removing barriers to participation,” said battle organizer Kiran Pal-Pross of LUNA (Late and Unique Nighttime Alternatives).

“We would like all kinds of community members represented, including students and seasonal workers.”

So if you sing in the shower or with your car stereo blaring, sing out to this year’s event with bigger and better prizes thanks to partnerships with Club Shred, Echo One Productions and R.E.M.G., the largest urban-music promoter in Canada.

The annual talent competition is focused on providing opportunities to new Sea to Sky musicians, especially young adults. From the experience, organizers hope participants will gain valuable performance experience and take their talent to the next level.

First prize in both the band and solo artist categories includes a demo critique by a national music industry agent, a demo recording deal, an opening set for a headliner show, a professional photo session, radio play on Mountain FM, and an artist marketing and development consultation deal. The first-place package is valued at $5,000.

There will also be prizes for runners up as well as an Audience Choice Award.

LUNA organizers want to ensure the battle is an accessible competition on all fronts. This year’s competition will include free transportation for qualifying musicians to the semi finals show on Saturday, March 8 at the Spruce Grove Field House in Whistler.

Participants can either be part of a band or a solo artist with at least one member age 35 or younger. At least one member must also reside between Horseshoe Bay and D’Arcy; B.C. Musicians with a nationally distributed album by a major label are not eligible.

Three finalists in each of the band and solo categories will be determined after the semi finals. The finalists will duke it out on Friday, March 14 in Whistler.

Entry forms are available at lunawhistler.com or by calling the LUNA hotline at 604-935-8372.

 

The jam before the battle

LUNA (Late and Unique Nighttime Alternatives) organizers are challenging musicians to take their LUNA music classes’ one step further.

Note slingers have learned the art of song writing and scaled the ups and downs of vocal training, and now they want musicians to wrap up the score with the art of music licensing at the final workshop of the Jam Lounge season on Friday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m. at Spruce Grove Field House located in White Gold.

“In the flurry of music making and Battle of the Bands deadlines in weeks to come, this Jam Lounge session is timely and important for performing musicians,” said LUNA coordinator Kiran Pal-Pross. “It’s most important for those playing or broadcasting music, including promoters and venue operators. All ages are welcome to attend this event.”

Participants will learn about how music licensing allows musicians to be compensated both in Canada and abroad from guest speaker Terry, O’Brien, education and outreach manager for the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN).

SOCAN is a collective for the performing rights of music creators and publishers. The organization ensures the remuneration of their members for the performance of their music. This is done by collecting license fees (set by the Copyright Board of Canada) from anyone playing or broadcasting live or recorded music.

The talk will be followed by a music jam from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. A sound system will be provided. Musicians are asked to just show up with their instruments. Beginners and all ages are welcome.

This will be the last Jam Lounge before the Sea to Sky Battle of the Bands in March, so come tune up your licensing knowledge and guitar strings.

 

Illness keeps Jeff Lowe from climbing, not sharing

Alpine expert Jeff Lowe will present a slide show of his mountain adventures on Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. at MY Millennium Place as part of the Out of Bounds: Tales from the Backcountry competition and exhibit.

Lowe will read from his new book, Many Climbs, chronicling 100 of his favourite first ascents. He will illustrate the talk with a PowerPoint presentation followed by a question and answer period. Afterwards, audiences will be free to mingle with Out of Bounds photographers competing in the backcountry photo exhibit as well as chat with Lowe and there are great prizes to be won from Arc’teryx and Merrell Canada.

Lowe began climbing when his father first partnered him up the Grand Teton in 1958 at the age of seven. Hundreds of first ascents followed. He specialized in big-wall climbing in the early 1970s. He also became a renowned free-climbing master and the author of hundreds of classic traditional rock climbs throughout the western U.S. Among the most difficult mixed climbs in the world, the Lowe routes have inspired a new generation of winter climbing aficionados. Now the teacher is in turn inspired by his students. Debilitated by multiple sclerosis, he can no longer climb, but that doesn’t stop him from sharing.

Tickets for the slide show presented by the Whistler Arts Council and Coast Range Heliskiing are $17.

While visiting MY Millennium Place, don’t forget to vote for your favourite backcountry image in the Out of Bounds exhibit showing in the upper lobby. Voters are entered to win a free heliskiing trip from Coast Range Heliskiing.

 

 

 

Snapping up Pemberton photographer

Village of Pemberton officials are putting out an open call to photographers to capture the heart of Pemberton.

Officials will select one photographer to represent the town on the Picture B.C. web site, a project presented by the Knowledge Network and the Union of B.C. Municipalities as well as involvement from the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Arts.

The photographer will work in consultation with the Village of Pemberton to produce six photographs between March and October of this year that reflect the town.

The photographer will receive $500 for each of the six photos accepted as well as a bio on the Picture B.C. web site.

Interested photographers must forward a digital portfolio or web link showcasing their work before Friday, Feb. 15 to Kathleen Angelski at kangelski@pemberton.ca .

Portfolio pictures don’t have to showcase Pemberton, but instead represent the photographer’s best work.

Applicants will be reviewed then one photographer selected by Feb. 29.

Participants must be from Pemberton or the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District.