EVENTS
Just the 2 of Us
Just the 2 of Us is a celebration of favourite music spanning six decades and half a dozen genres; from Édith Piaf and Shirley Bassey to Aretha Franklin and Etta James; from Elton John to Whitney Houston; from iconic Broadway hits to pure Canadiana and beyond. Though nostalgia abounds, Joëlle & Buwa interpret each song through the lens of their diverse experiences, breathing fresh life and vitality into timeless classic melodies and immortal songs.
(Anvil Theatre, Apr. 11)
Listening as Activism
Presented by Vancouver New Music, Listening as Activism explores how deep listening can be a form of resistance and social engagement in our noise-saturated world. In what ways might our individual and collective listening be aimed towards activism, and what might this look, sound and feel like? The evening opens with a roundtable discussion with Renae Morriseau, Harsha Walia, Hildegard Westerkamp and Freya Zinovieff, followed by performances by M’Girl Music and Kiki Connelly & the Understory. Throughout the event, the moving-image works of Métis/Cree filmmaker Gregory Coyes will feature his concept of Slow Media, a decolonized media and exploration of the Indigenous sense of cinematic time.
(Annex, 823 Seymour St, Vancouver, Apr. 11)
Call-out to Composers! Erhu to Cantopop: Five Thousand Springs of Chinese Sound
Composers across Canada are invited to apply for the Vancouver Chinese Music Ensemble’s 2026 Composer Commission Project. Five selected composers will each receive a $500 commission to create a new 5 to 7 minute work for Chinese instruments. Want inspiration before you apply? Join our Erhu to Cantopop workshop on April 11 at the Chinese Canadian Museum to explore the sound world, history, and creative possibilities of Chinese music.
(Chinese Canadian Museum - 51 E Pender St. Vancouver, Apr. 11)
Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts presents an electric double bill of Inuit artistry with legendary singer-songwriter Susan Aglukark and acclaimed throat-singing duo PIQSIQ on April 12, 2026, at 7:30pm on the Chan Shun Concert Hall stage. The powerful concert of haunting northern beauty and mesmerizing arctic sounds will feature two separate programs, blending Aglukark’s mix of Inuit folk, country, and pop with PIQSIQ’s modern twist on traditional throat singing. For tickets and further information, visit: chancentre.com
(Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, Apr. 12)
Happy Hour | Jens Lindemann & Friends: A Tribute to Oscar Peterson
Unwind from the work week with a drink and engaging conversation, then be transported by sounds both familiar and otherworldly. Our Happy Hour concerts turn an average Wednesday into something special. Tickets are $30 and include one complimentary drink. Bar opens at 5:00 pm, with the performance running from 6:00 to 6:45 pm.
(Pyatt Hall, 843 Seymour Street, Apr. 15)
Music in the Morning presents Jens Lindemann & Friends: A Tribute to Oscar Peterson
Few musicians embody the spirit of Canadian music like Oscar Peterson, and few trumpeters bring his legacy to life like Jens Lindemann. A virtuoso performer and former member of the legendary Canadian Brass, Lindemann leads an all-star ensemble in this exhilarating tribute marking the 100th anniversary of Peterson’s birth. The Canadiana Suite, Peterson’s iconic musical portrait of Canada, will be the heart of the program, alongside tributes to jazz trumpet legends including Doc Severinsen, Chuck Mangione, Al Hirt, Herb Alpert, and Louis Armstrong. Expect a performance filled with brilliance, soul, and the kind of swing that leaves audiences buzzing.
(Vancouver Academy of Music, 1270 Chestnut St.; Christ Church Cathedral, 690 Burrard St, Apr. 15-18)
Daniil Trifonov - piano recital
Grammy Award-winning pianist Daniil Trifonov has made a spectacular ascent in the classical music world as a solo artist, champion of the concerto repertoire, chamber and vocal collaborator, and composer. Combining consummate technique with rare sensitivity and depth, his performances are a perpetual source of awe; “He has everything and more, … tenderness and also the demonic element. I never heard anything like that,” marveled pianist Martha Argerich.
(The Orpheum, 601 Smithe St., Apr. 19)
Bridging Worlds
EnChor Choir presents Bridging Worlds, an uplifting afternoon of choral storytelling from Monteverdi to modern swing. Music shaped by place moves from prairie horizons to sunrise light and soaring sacred text. Featuring arranger and EnChor member Ron Smail, whose 400+ arrangements are sung widely, the program blends jazzy favourites with an arrangement written for EnChor and a world premiere. Expect warmth, sparkle, and the shared buzz of live performance.
(Pacific Spirit United Church, 2195 West 45th Ave (at Yew), Vancouver, Apr. 26)
Ships to Shore: Kaiwo Maru
The City of Richmond is proud to present Ships to Shore: Kaiwo Maru at Garry Point Park from May 2–3, 2026. This free, family-friendly festival invites visitors to enjoy a unique cultural and maritime experience as the world-renowned Kaiwo Maru docks at Steveston’s historic waterfront. One of the largest tall ships in the world, the Kaiwo Maru is 361-feet-long and 182-feet-high, boasting 36 sails that total 30,000 feet. The vessel will embark on a month-long voyage across the Pacific Ocean from its home in Yokohama, Japan, to arrive in Richmond this spring for the first time since 2017. A limited number of tickets are available for nautical enthusiasts to board and explore the ship, which can also be viewed from the boardwalk, where interpretive panels will be installed. In Garry Point Park, festivalgoers can enjoy live performances on three stages, hands-on workshops featuring traditional Japanese arts and crafts, watch kites sail the skies, and delight in delicious multicultural fare from food trucks.
(Garry Point Park, 12011 Seventh Ave, Richmond, BC V7E 4X2, May. 2–3)
Jazz On A Beam Of Light
Classic film scholar and musical hepcat Michael van den Bos hosts a rhythmic retrospective revue of all that jazz in the movies. From the hot ’n’ swinging to the cool ’n’ mellow, he takes you on a jump ’n’ jive journey through the many styles and representations of jazz on film, featuring vintage performance clips by some of the most important names in jazz history, from Louis Armstrong to Fats Waller and more, all projected on the big screen. In the lively lingo of Cab Calloway, you’ll reap this righteous riff, bop bop!
(Massey Theatre / Eighth & Eight Creative Spaces, 735 Eighth Avenue, New Westminster, BC, May 7)
A Cappella Playground with A Cappella Legends The Real Group, Vancity Harmony, Magee Chamber Choir and Lord Byng Chamber Choir
Come play! SING! Vancouver invites audiences to experience the thrill of world-class vocal music with A Cappella Playground, an unforgettable celebration of a cappella featuring legendary Swedish vocal group The Real Group. For more than four decades, The Real Group has set the global standard for a cappella performance. Known for their dazzling precision, innovative arrangements, and signature blend of jazz, pop, and Nordic choral traditions, the quintet creates a rich, vibrant sound using nothing but the human voice. Each performance will showcase a special guest appearance from a local school music program, highlighting the next generation of talented young singers and celebrating the vibrant vocal music community in Vancouver. Whether you are a lifelong fan of vocal music or discovering a cappella for the first time, A Cappella Playground promises an evening of energy, artistry, and pure musical joy.
(Magee Secondary School, Jun. 6)
