A Canada 150 heritage-themed music series is coming to Agassiz’s Pioneer Park for three Wednesday evenings this July and August.
The free outdoor concerts, Heritage 150 in the Park, feature bands: The Maybelles (Chilliwack) perform July 19, 5 on a String (Vancouver) are on Aug. 2, and Rio Samaya (Vancouver) are Aug. 16. Each night the bands will be performing from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
In addition to the musical entertainment, the event will include kids’ crafts and highlight the work of local community groups. The public is welcomed to bring a lawn chair or blanket to enjoy the family-friendly music, which will take place adjacent to the Aberdeen Centre (Harrison-Observer building) in Pioneer Park.
The Maybelles is an all-girl band that grew out of a love for musical theatre. The group was brought together with the idea of exclusively performing 1960s girl group hits. After a year of performing many diverse venues and events in the Fraser Valley, their repertoire has expanded to include Motown, rock, soul and even some jazz all from a decade that saw great change in the world and in music, the 1960s.
Band 5 on a String is one of B.C.’s most popular and longest running bluegrass bands. Formed in 1989 this five-man group has some major picking power and promises an exciting, family friendly show. The band does not stray far from the traditional bluegrass mold with the typical lineup of acoustic bass, flat top guitar, mandolin, five-string banjo, and fiddle. The material is mostly traditional too, with a few bluegrass-style original songs and the occasional foray into old style country music like Merle Haggard and even one from Fats Domino.
The band Rio Samaya (also known as Pancho and Sal) have a sound that is uniquely South American, rich in history and positive vibrations. While some songs are covers of folk, rhumba and world favorites, many of their songs are originals written by Rio who plays acoustic guitar, ukulele, charango, harmonica and quena with his wife Samaya who provides shaker rhythms, accordion melodies and high vocal harmonies. Their music is authentic, distinctive, refreshing and uplifting.