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Musical mayhem at TWSSF

Arrested Development, Big Sugar, Classified headline World Ski and Snowboard Festival lineup
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Whistlerites are something of a spoiled bunch when it comes to free concerts. Every year, the town plays host to at least two massive festivals that feature 10 days of back-to-back beats and bass. And this year, the months of February and March saw the streets infiltrated with a myriad of musical groups as part of the artistic programming for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Well, buckle your seat belts: the 2010 Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival (TWSSF) isn't holding anything back this year. In fact, because of all the hype and hoopla surrounding the Games, organizers have taken a fresh approach to mapping out their musical lineup this time around.

Rather than stick with big-name tried-and-true performers like Xavier Rudd, Sam Roberts, 54-40 and K'Naan, who have all graced Whistler main stages before, the folks at Watermark Communications, the company that is organizing the 15 th annual TWSSF April 16-25, decided to unearth some new up-and-coming acts that probably aren't on people's radar - yet.

Lisa Richardson, spokesperson for Watermark, admits that this year's musical programming is a departure from previous years. But their goal was the same.

"It's the same as what we're always aiming for, which is a really great, positive vibe of bands to draw people to Whistler, essentially, and to remind people that there's still great skiing and snowboarding to have, and it's a great time of year to come and visit and to create that party atmosphere."

Rock, hip hop, funk and electronica have proven to be the crowd-pleasing genres for the TWSSF crowd, but this year, organizers have turned their attention from the mainstream to the indie side of things, searching out acts that are new to the Whistler audience.

"I think it sort of forced us to be a little bit more creative and look in some different places," Richardson said.

Let's take a look at the headliners for this year's outdoor concert series, who will be performing on the main stage in Skier's Plaza between 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. every day during the festival:

Breakestra - This "funked-up" eight-piece orchestra hails from Los Angeles, where they tap into the looping percussive heart of hip hop. The group's most recent album, From Dusk Til Dawn , draws on deep funk, soul and jazz and is all about letting loose with some serious grooves. They've worked with the likes of Jurassic 5, Black Eyed Peas, BB King and Macy Gray.

Heavyweight Dub Champion - This dub, trip hip and electronica collective has created an incredible alchemy of vibration using a combination of vintage analog and digital gear. The arts and music collective was founded in Colorado in 1997, rooted in the world of electronic music and carving out a niche by incorporating acoustic instrumentation with synthetic and electronic elements. Today, the group features a constantly rotating roster of performers from throughout the States, Australia and the UK.

March Fourth Marching Band - A "mobile big band spectacular," this group has it all: saxophones, trombones, trumpets, drums/percussion and a battery-powered electric bass. More than just an incredible musical experience, this band is a true spectacle, enthralling crowds with an over-the-top performance that draws on influences from around the world. Think gypsy brass, samba, funk, afro-beat, big-band, jazz and rock music, with some circus and Vaudeville thrown in for good measure.

EOTO - Michael Travis and Jason Hann improvise live, creating a dance party with their fusion of live instrumentation, house music, dubstep and electro.

Mutaytor - A "nouveau circus" experience, featuring an 11-piece modern analog and electronic dance orchestra and 15 physical performance artists, this is arguably the West Coast's most progressive electronic art rock band. Spectators can soak up the futuristic vaudevillian theatre, aerial performance, pyrotechnics and big-screen visuals as the band brings a bit of the Black Rock Desert's Burning Man Festival right here to Whistler. Dig out the tickle trunk and get ready to boogie!

Keller Williams - A one-man jam band loops and layers from guitar to bass to percussion stations to synth and back to the mike. This barefoot maestro sounds like he's conducting a 30-piece crew, but it's really just one man in an improvisational performance piece that blends bluegrass, folk, jazz, reggae, electronica and rock.

Jon and Roy - Hailing from Victoria, the duo of Jon Middleton and Roy Vizer have added a third to their merry band, building up their sweet roots-folk with Ryan Tonelli's thrumming bass.

Red Eye Empire - Vancouver's Red Eye Empire has taken the B.C. rock reggae scene to new levels with their ska and rock riffs anchored solidly in reggae roots.

Brother Twang - Whistler's hometown rock-furies, this is an all-original four-man band that plays across rock, folk and country genres.

Five Alarm Funk - This Vancouver-based 12-piece rhythm machine rocks out on stage, dishing out afro-beat funk with a hard rock edge and tasty treats for jazz fans. It doesn't seem to matter what this band is playing; their tight arrangements will make the crowd sweat.

Jah Cutta - Considered by many to be Canada's top reggae act, Jah has been a fixture on the Canadian reggae scene for over two decades, wowing crowds with his stellar live act. Come out and feel da riddim!

EastWave Radio - These New Englanders have reggae in their blood: singer/guitarist Dave Gagne, drummer "Steady" Eddie Dickhaut and bassist/vocalist Johnny Venom showcase their high-test fusion of reggae roots and contemporary rock, influenced by the likes of Sublime, 311, The Police and The Clash .

Wassabi Collective - A spicy five-piece hailing from Nelson, this band puts pop, rock, hip hop, roots reggae, funk and jazz in the blender and cranks it to the max, yielding the "ultimate feel good elixir." So far, they've shared the stage with the likes of Bedouin Soundclash, Michael Franti, K-OS and Randy Bachman.

Classified - This East Coast MC has more than paid his dues on the indie circuit; now, he's come into his own, releasing Self-Explanatory , his first album on a major label. His recent work has earned the Best Hip-Hop Video of the Year at the 2009 MuchMusic Video Awards for Anybody Listening and saw his hit single, Oh...Canada, go gold in digital downloads and get nods for three 2010 Juno Award nominations for Rap Recording of the Year, Single of the Year, and Video of the Year.

Elias - These Vancouver-based indie rockers won the 2009 Fox Seeds contest, the same competition that launched Nickelback. They bring anthemic energy to their rock power-pop, which features moody guitar-driven riffs, brooding harmonies and haunting keys.

Big Sugar - Sure, these guys are coming off of a seven-year hiatus, but this Canadian blues-rock band has clocked 15 solid years of sold out tours and platinum records, and now, they're back. The original members have reunited with Gordie Johnson to get back to the real roots-rock reggae that is the core of Big Sugar.

Current Swell - On the foreground on the new roots music scene, this Victoria-based band has made quite the name for themselves within the "surf rock" community. But their sound keeps building, growing into more of a blues and roots feel that's been influenced by their stage mates Xavier Rudd, The Beautiful Girls, Ash Grunwald, Bedouin Soundclash and the Beach Boys.

We Are The City - This three-piece progressive indie rock band from Kelowna is adept at the art of storytelling. They recently won Artist of 2009 award at the Peak Performance Project, proving that their raw potential is, in fact, solidifying quickly, with songs that evocatively explore aspects of life and sound.

Arrested Development - A true, old school hip hop sound system, Arrested Development is like a communal jam band, with a number of talented members on board at any given moment. The group won two Grammy Awards in 1993 for Best New Artist and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. They were also named Band of the Year by Rolling Stone magazine. They're best known for their hits Tennessee, People Everyday, and Mr. Wendal, which went on to hit the Top 10 on various charts. Now, they're back with a brand-new album, Strong , a positive hip hop jam session.

Freeflow - The Vancouver indie rockers that are Freeflow were among the Top 20 finalists in the Peak Performance Project, bringing huge energy and compelling harmonies to each and every stage they stepped onto. (Think along the lines of a lovechild of The Roots, Sublime and Red Hot Chili Peppers.)

On top of all the action at Skiers Plaza, indie acts will also be performing every day at the Chevrolet Stage, smack-dab in the centre of Village Square, churning out a non-stop stream of tunes starting at 12:15 p.m. There, music lovers can explore the soundscape crafted by musicians like Colin Bullock, the Kate Morgan Band, Spotlight Carnival, City of Glass, Stars of the Boulevard and Henry and the Nightcrawlers.

And if you haven't gotten your fill during the daylight hours, TWSSF and Kokanee have teamed up to host the Freeride Concert series, an after-hours, intimate version of a select few main stage concerts, hosted at venues throughout town.

For a full musical lineup for this year's festival, check the music section of www.wssf.com.