With less than 100 days to go until the Olympic Winter Games start, we're finally starting to hear more details about the talent that will be gracing the many stages situated throughout Whistler Village as part of the Whistler Live! programming.
On top of the acts already announced - Blue Rodeo, Alberta rancher turned singer songwriter, Corb Lund, Montreal indie band, Karkwa, the French Canadian groups, La Volée d'Castors and Misteur Valaire, and Austrian songstress, Valérie Sajdik - organizers confirmed Wednesday that the Barenaked Ladies will take the stage at Village Square.
These iconic Canadian performers will be joined by other well-known acts like Bedouin Soundclash, Hawksley Workman, Jully Black, the Sam Roberts Band, and the U.S. funk, rock and hip hop group, Galactic.
Local talent will also have a chance to shine on stage during the Olympics, and so far, Ali Milner, Animal Nation and The Hairfarmers have all been tapped to perform in Village Square.
"We are thrilled to announce these incredible artists today at the 100 Days to Go Celebration. What is truly exciting is that there is much more to come," Kristen Robinson, Festival Director for Whistler Live!, said in a press release.
"Whistler Live!'s strong partnerships with the Whistler Arts Council and VANOC's Cultural Olympiad have given us the ability to bring an extraordinary mix of local, national and international performers to the Village Square stage."
The Village Square stage is one of the many parts of the Whistler Live! network of stages, screens and performance sites that will be set up throughout the village to provide free programming from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. each and every day during the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Spanning 27 days and nights, Whistler Live! will fuse sports action with arts, culture and entertainment, presenting live music alongside film, street performance and the visual arts.
The Village Square site is in the heart of Whistler Village and will feature a stage, sound system and two giant screens, where fans can watch sports action, check out street performers, and catch awe-inspiring photography and digital arts. It will also play host to a daily afternoon après session. In total, Village Square will host 38 acts during the Olympic Games and 20 during the Paralympic Games.
More arts and entertainment programming will be announced right up until Games time, so check for updates in Pique or at www.whistler2010.com .
Olympic artists
Ali Milner - Whistler's favourite fiery-haired songstress has created a distinct blend of jazz and pop to enchant the masses. She just released her second album, I Dare You , this fall.
Animal Nation - Steige "Tall Man" Turner and Mike "Armadillo Slim" Armitage are the men that make up Animal Nation, a local indie hip hop duo that frequents stages around town. They traveled to Ottawa this summer to represent the community at Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill.
Barenaked Ladies - This Juno-winning and Grammy-nominated Canadian alternative rock band is responsible for classics like If I had A Million Dollars and Brian Wilson. Today's lineup (minus Steven Page) includes Ed Robertson, Kevin Hearn, Jim Creeggan and Tyler Stewart.
Bedouin Soundclash - This Canadian reggae, dub and soul group is no stranger to Whistler; they were just here in summer 2008 to perform at the shortlived Whistler Music Festival.
Blue Rodeo - An iconic Canadian pop and country rock band, these guys have released 11 full-length albums since they formed in 1984. Rose Coloured Glasses, Day After Day and Bad Timing are among their many classic hits.
Corb Lund - An Albertan rancher turned singer/songwriter.
Galactic - Hailing from New Orleans, these musicians fuse funk, rock and hip hop in their songs. They've worked with the likes of Juvenile, Gift of Gab (Blackalicious), Chali 2na (Jurrasic 5) and Vursatyl (Lifesavas).
The Hairfarmers - Guitar Doug and Grateful Greg are two of Whistler's most beloved live performers, rocking every après hotspot in town during the winter season. This year, they'll also be celebrating their 10 th year playing together, so expect a serious party at their show.
Hawklsey Workman - This Canadian singer-songwriter has garnered critical acclaim for his blend of cabaret pop and glam rock. Also a multi-instrumentalist, he plays guitar, drums, bass, and keyboards, and often switches between those instruments during live performances.
Jully Black - Dubbed "Canada's new queen of R&B" by the Vancouver Sun, Black has collaborated and written for artists like Nas, Missy Elliott, Saukrates, Choclair, Kardinal Offishall, Destiny's Child, and Sean Paul. She also performed in Whistler in February.
Karkwa - These French Canadian rock, alternative and pop musicians reached the final stages of the Francouvertes contest in 2001. Their debut album was named the best album of the year by two critics for Montreal's alternative weekly Voir, and their second album won three Félix Awards in 2006.
Misteur Valaire - Another French Canadian group, these musicians marry electronic and instrumentals into an electro jazz fusion, and an incredible live spectacle, featuring mind-blowing visuals.
Sam Roberts Band - Led by Sam Roberts, a Juno Award winning Canadian rock singer-songwriter, this group has produced well-known hits like Bridge to Nowhere and Brother Down.
La Volée d'Castors - (A Flock of Beavers) is a Quebec folk band formed in 1993. Since then, they've toured North America, Europe, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand.
Valerie Sajdik - This well-known Austrian pop singer gained notoriety through her role as lead singer with the band Saint Privat.
