The Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival has rounded out the lineup for the returning DKNY//Jeans free outdoor concert series with headlining acts Xavier Rudd and the Tea Party and a wild urban music street party.
The series presents shows daily throughout the festival on a public main stage in Skiers Plaza, kicking off Friday, April 8 with an afternoon performance by Colorado ski-bum jam band The String Cheese Incident.
Can-rockers Finger Eleven will perform in the evening on Saturday, April 9, coinciding with a massive outdoor beer garden involving several Whistler bars. Proceeds will be donated to charity.
Sunday, April 10 is promising the most buzz-worthy lineup of the series a triple threat of cool featuring Vancouver-based rockers Hot Hot Heat, a mere five days after the release of their much anticipated major label debut album Elevator . The Heat will be joined by tour mates Louis XIV a San Diego glam rock-influenced foursome recently deemed one of "ten-artists to watch" by Rolling Stone scribes. Also in on the Sunday rock special is the Futureheads a manic pop-foursome from the U.K. with a fan base rumoured to include U2s Bono, who is said to have requested the groups autograph on his personal copy of their album during a recent encounter.
Monday, April 11 the series has a hip-hop flavour courtesy of MC DL Incognito and soul collective The Front.
Tuesday, April 12 features the return to Whistler of enigmatic Canadian rock trio The Tea Party. The Zeppelin-esque band has a core of dedicated fans in Whistler, a few of whom caught their show at Garfinkels last August (due to confusion from the promoter that suggested a zero-hour cancellation, many did not). This time around it wont cost a thing to hear front man Jeff Martins haunting baritone and guitar wizardry and Tea Party faithfuls can rest assured: the show will go on.
Wednesday, April 13 the series goes hip-hop again with West Coast collective Sweatshop Union and Montreal urban music group Groundwerk a project headed up by DJ Grandtheft. Both acts are returning from last years festival.
Thursday, April 14 the series presents an afternoon with Jamaican reggae legends Toots and the Maytals widely considered pioneers of the iconic dancehall sound. With a career spanning four decades, Toots and Co. are still innovating, claiming the 2004 Grammy Award for reggae album of the year. Warming up the stage for Toots will be Vancouver-based reggae-rockers Freeflow.
Friday, April 15 belongs to fiery hip-hop activists Michael Franti and Spearhead. The San Francisco-based groups socially-conscious groove-raps have legions of fans in Whistler who will no doubt head out in droves to be enlightened and inspired all over again. Warming up the stage for the Spearhead crew is Knaan, a Somali-born, Toronto-residing hip-hop/spoken word artist renowned for a unique African roots-influenced poetic delivery.
Saturday evening the outdoor series presents a beat-driven, free-for-all street party. Manning the decks will be local favourite DJs Mat the Alien and Vinyl Ritchie, with performances from a diverse crew of MCs including Knaan, Grandtheft and Emotionz. Adding to the aural experience will be a visual orgasm of breakdancers, Brazilian Capoiera dancers, go-go girls, firespinners and other performance artists. Following the street party on Saturday night is the Smirnoff Experience a ticketed multi-DJ event at the Telus Conference Centre featuring headlining trance music producer Josh Wink, set to rage until 5 a.m. Sunday morning.
Closing the outdoor concert series on Sunday afternoon is beloved Aussie didgeridoo player/singer Xavier Rudd, a regular visitor to Whistler where his signature laid back beach groove has been embraced wholeheartedly. Its the perfect sound for lazing in the Sunday afternoon sun, recuperating for the festivals last hurrah Ace MacKay-Smith and Michael Ziffs Glow Me neon-themed closing party at the GLC.
The addition of Rudd, the Tea Party and the Saturday night street party complete the DKNY series roster, though surprises are always in store. Last years epic Black Eyed Peas show was a late acquisition. This years roster is a doozy as it stands, but stay tuned you never know who else might show up on the main stage.
For a complete schedule of music events visit the Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival website at www.whistler2005.com.
Free music for Freeride Series
In addition to the DKNY//Jeans outdoor free concert series, the Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival presents the Kokanee Freeride club concert series, presenting different musical acts each night in intimate nightclub venues. All Freeride shows are also free and while there are many acts unique to the series, many of the outdoor main stage performers, such as Michael Franti, are doing double duty, allowing for a more intimate experience.
Freeride Series performers confirmed for this year include:
Friday April 8:
Après-ski
The Hairfarmers Merlins
After dark
Themasses GLC
Saturday April 9:
Après-ski
The Hairfarmers Citta
After dark
Bob Schneider Dusty's
Sunday April 10:
Après-ski
The Hairfarmers Dusty's
After dark
Wil Mimnaugh Merlins
Monday April 11:
After dark
The Mixologists Savage Beagle
Whole Lotta Led The Boot Pub
Tuesday April 12:
After dark
Groundwerk Tommy Africa's
Royal Bliss Buffalo Bills
Wednesday April 13:
After dark
Sweatshop Union Garfinkels
Thursday April 14:
After dark
Michael Franti & Friends Moe Joes
Friday April 15:
Après-ski
The Hairfarmers Dusty's
After dark
Vinyl Ritchie Longhorn Saloon
K'naan Crab Shack
Saturday April 16:
Après-ski
The Hairfarmers Citta
Sunday April 17:
Après-ski
The Hairfarmers Merlins