Arts

Folk Fest ‘acoustic’ in 90.

They’re calling it a “kinder, gentler folk
festival” this year. But under whatever des-
cription, it’s still the Vancouver Folk Music
Festival, and the 13th annual one takes
place July 13-15 at the usual venue — Jer-
icho Beach Park in Vancouver.

“We are doing a much more acoustic and
traditional festival this year,” say the festival
organizers, pointing to the roster of per-
formers hailing from Africa, Mexico, the

United Kingdom and the United States, as :

well as a good number from Canada.

That means fewer large groups and less
electronic equipment, although the Folk
Festival is not disowning the higher-amped
trends such as rogue folk or “roots” music
that it’s featured in previous years.

Key themes this year are story-telling,
with among other entries a couple of original
American cowboys, and the Asian connec-
tion: several performers of Japanese or Chi-
nese ancestry or origin, with many from the
Lower Mainland: Uzume Taiko, a kind of
spinoff from the ever-popular Katari Taiko
Japanese-style drum group; Takeo Yama-
shiro, the noted master of the shakuhachi (a
large bamboo flute), who has lived in Van-
couver for several 18 years; Xiao Yu, a
former member of the Chinese Film Philhar-
monic in Beijing, who now lives in Van-
couver.

We’ve been able to preview some of the
acts, thanks to a sampler cassette supplied
by the festival people. Containing less than
one-quarter of the 13th festival’s 73 listed
acts, it imparts a sense of the eclectic mix
offered patrons this year.

David Rae, who used to back Gordon
Lightfoot, and Ian and Sylvia, gives a daz-
zling display of acoustic guitar work that
makes you wonder why anyone would settle
for the likes of 101 Living Strings. And if
you think you’ve heard “typical” Mexican
music, Trio Xoxocupa will make you think
again, while fellow state of Veracruz resi-
dents Grupo Tacotena play a unique ver-
sion of “La Bamba” that will make you toss
out all those mariachi band records.

From Eastern Europe there’s the highly
eccentric sounds of Ivo Papasov and His

Bulgarian Wedding Band, playing some-

es
New Titles

The Soviet Revolution:
Shaking the World
Again.

By Fred Weir
$14.95 paperback

Signs of Hope:
Working Towards Our
Common Future.

By Linda Stavioe
$11.95 paperback

Inter-America n
Relations from Bolivar
to the Present.

By Anatoly Blinkin
$6.95 paperback.

1391 COMMERCIAL DRIVE
VANCOUVER, B.C. VSL 3X5
TELEPHONE: 253-6442

SI KAHN ... singer-songwriter and union
organizer back for another festival.

thing that is somewhat reminiscent of klez-
mer music, only twice as frantic; mean-
while, Jeanne Bichevskaya of the USSR
sings soulful Russian ballads.

On the subject of “typical” ethnic music,
another rethink is due after hearing the Ital-
ian group, Re Niliu, Calabria residents
whose instruments include a high pitched
pipe that reveals North African influence.
The United Kingdom’s Davey Graham is a
treat, being the guitar wizard who taught the
likes of Bert Jansch, who will also be at the
festival as part of the now legendary Pen-
tangle, which also includes original singer
Jackie McShae. John Renbourne, another
Pentangle member, will be there, along with
fellow U.K. folk pioneer, Martin Carthy.

From Zimbabwe comes Machanic
Manyeruke, who plays a bluesy electric
guitar in the renowned “Afro-pop” style,
singing in Shona songs that make one recall
some of the legendary Mississippi delta
blues greats. Juba is a sextet of a cappella
singers who hail from Alberta and sing in a
gospel style about freedom from apartheid,
among other things.

Brenda Wong Aoki is a storyteller from
California who creates the unbeatable mix
of laughter and tears with a reminiscence of
her Chinese grandfather.

Among the other festival acts: Stephen

Fearing from Vancouver, James Kee-
laghan, an Alberta songwriter whose com-
positions recall the late Stan Rogers, U.S.
union organizer and singer-songwriter Si
Kahn, topical feminist singer Holly Near
from the south side of the border, and her
powerful Canadian counterpart, Faith
Nolan of Toronto.

The full price for three days of evening
concerts and two full days of workshops and
mini-stages is $65, but those who hurry can
still take advantage of Early Bird tickets,
which go for only $55 until June 16. It’s a
full $70 at the gate, or $22 for Friday evening
and $30 each for all day Saturday and Sun-
day. Youth (13-18) get the weekend for $45,
“little folks” cost $5 a day (free on Friday
night), and seniors 65 and over get in free.
All tickets are available at selected record
and book stores in Vancouver and Victoria,
or through Ticketmaster outlets in several
B.C. centres.

There is a group discount of 10 per cent
for a minimum 15 people, but these tickets
must be purchased through the festival of-
fice: 3271 Main St., Vancouver VSV 3M6,
phone 879-2931.

* * *

One of the more acclaimed features of
this year’s Mayworks Festival was the duo
who collectively make up Random Acts.
Actor and playwright Jackie Crossland
teamed up with colleague Nora Randall to
tell stories of working women, much of it
based on their own experiences. Decked out
the gear of a shoreworker, a waitress or some
other job, the two have been winning rave
reviews from audiences and critics for skits
such as “Mavis Tells the Story of Marlene
and the Chicken Yard” and “Coffeebreaks.”

Random Acts will be performing on Fri-
day, June 22 in the lounge of the Vancouver
Municipal and Regional Employees
Union, 545 West 10th Ave. in Vancouver.
For a dinner and performance (beginning at
6 p.m.), it’s $10; for performance only (7:45
p.m.), $5. Also on the bill is the singing
group, Women in Work Clothes.

* *K *

KCTS public television in Seattle airs
Peter Ustinov’s Russia: A Personal His-
tory, six one-hour programs beginning
June 28, 8 p.m. and running weekly in that
time slot. A personal tour through the history
of Russia.

FRrueBuUNE

Saturday, June 23, 1990
Refreshments: 6 p.m.
_ Dinner: 7 p.m.
Maritime Labour Centre
_1880 Triumph Street

Vancouver

Special Guest Speaker:
Cuban Consul-General to Canada
Rolando Rivero

Admission: $12; $10 seniors & unemployed
Under 12 free
For info: phone 251-1186

TIM LOUIS

Classified

Advertising

COMING EVENTS

JUNE 16: Barbecue at Fred’s, 2296
Kitchener St. 5 p.m. $7/$3.50 children.
Proceeds to Tribune. Sponsored by Van
East Club. For info: 251-1186.

JUNE 22: Public meeting to hear Cuban
Consul-General to Canada, Rolando
Rivero. Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Ave.
8 p.m. Admission by donation. Sponsored
by Canadian Cuban Friendship Assoc.

JUNE 23: Pacific Tribune Victory Ban-
quet. See display ad this page.

NOTICES
DRUMMER seeks musicians to jam and

possibly form band. Call Dave at 685-
93869: *<

KAMLOOPS
TRIB LENDING LIBRARY: 242 Larch
Ave. Lots of labour and progressive litera-
ture for your reading enjoyment at no cost.
For info 376-7110. Kamloops.

COMMERCIAL

GRAMMA PUBLICATIONS. Complete
pants services. Brochures, menus,
eaflets, etc. Aunion shop. 2089 Commer-
cial Dr. Vancouver. Hours: Mon-Fr. 9:30
a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sat., 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
254-7717.

AUTOPLAN, GENERAL INSURANCE,
Early Agencies Ltd. 5817 Victoria Dr.
Home, tenants, business, trade unions.
Call Dave Morton, 321-6707.

VICTORIA
BILL HARTLEY your AutoPlan man. All
types of insurance. Mail in or phone in.
2420 Douglas Street, Victoria, V8T 4L7.
388-5014.

STEREO, TV REPAIRS. All makes.

Rebuilt TVs for sale. TVs bought and sold.
Andre anytime! All Star TV-Stereo.

Call
724-7238.

LEGAL SERVICES

CONSTANCE FOGAL. Famil
and estates. #401, 207 W.
687-0588.

law, wills
astings St.

DIRECTORY

COMMUNIST PARTY OF CANADA office
located at 1726 E. Hastings St. Van., V5L
1S9. Phone: 254-9836. Offices hours:
9:30 to. 12 noon; 1 -5 p.m. Mon to Fri. For
information on political issues or assis-
tance in political activity.

COPE. Working for Vancouver. #206, 33
East 8 Ave., Vancouver, B.C. V5T 1R5.
Phone: 879-1447.

HALLS FOR RENT

MARITIME LABOUR CENTRE. Call:
254-9550.

RUSSIAN PEOPLE’S HOME: Available
for rentals. For reservations phone
254-3430. .

UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CULTURAL
CENTRE — 805 East Pender St. Van-
couver. Available for banquets, weddings,
meetings. Phone 254-3436.

& COMPANY

Trial Lawyers
Uncontested divorce $200*

Divorce and Family Law
Criminal Law
(including impaired driving)
108-2182 West 12th/732-7678
Tim Louis / Angela Accettura

7 « Pacific Tribune, June 11, 1990