Music

The Best Shows Hitting Vancouver November 2014

This month, Blue Rodeo, Fleetwood Mac and Hey Ocean! play Vancouver

By Megan Forsyth /

Credit: Flickr/wfuv

Bear’s Den at The Biltmore Cabaret – November 4

Hailing from London, folk trio Bear’s Den crafts songs that will pull on your heartstrings – hard. The band is signed with Communion Records, a U.K. record label founded by Bear’s Den member Kevin Jones along with Mumford & Sons’ Ben Lovett. While comparisons to fellow banjo players Mumford & Sons are easy to make, Bear’s Den songs are innately sadder. Their recently released debut full-length album, Islands, is a strong contender for breakup album of the year.

Tickets: Bear’s Den in Vancouver



Credit: Blue Rodeo

Blue Rodeo and Friends at The Orpheum Theatre – November 4

Canadian favourites Blue Rodeo team up with fellow roots and country artists Dustin Bentall, Kendel Carson and High Valley for a fundraising concert at The Orpheum Theatre on November 4. Entitled ‘Band Together,’ the event aims to help end homelessness in Canada. Coinciding with the National Conference on Ending Homeless that will be held in downtown Vancouver from November 3 to 5, The Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) will donate concert proceeds to a national campaign to house and support 20,000 of Canada’s most vulnerable homeless people. Join Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor, along with many of their talented friends in supporting a worthy cause with a night of live music.

Tickets: Blue Rodeo in Vancouver



Credit: Streets of Ladero

Streets of Laredo at Electric Owl – November 10

There is plenty of buzz surrounding alt-country band Streets of Laredo at the moment, and rightfully so. Originally from New Zealand, siblings Daniel, Dave and Sarahjane Gibson relocated to New York in the hopes of finding new musical inspiration. After adding new band members from Brooklyn, the band briefly returned to New Zealand to record its debut album in a former theatre-turned-studio in Auckland. The result is Volume I & II, a record that they say sounds like “Bob Dylan running late to a Ramones concert or Paul Simon getting blind drunk with Grizzly Bear.”

Tickets: Streets of Ladero in Vancouver



Credit: Mary Lambert

Mary Lambert at The Rio Theatre – November 15

Best known for contributing her vocals to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis’ hit single “Same Love,” Seattle’s Mary Lambert is a singer-songwriter and spoken word artist in her own right. October saw the release of the 25-year old’s debut full-length album, Heart on My Sleeve, which includes “She Keeps Me Warm,” a song born out of her contribution to “Same Love.” Her shows have been described as “safe spaces where crying is acceptable and even encouraged,” and her upcoming show at The Rio Theatre on November 15 will certainly be no exception.

Tickets: Mary Lambert in Vancouver



Credit: Flickr/NRK P3

Fleetwood Mac at Rogers Arena – November 18

Rock icons Fleetwood Mac return to Vancouver for a concert at Rogers Arena. This tour marks the much-anticipated return of keyboardist Christine McVie to the band after a lengthy 16-year absence. She will join music legends Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood and former husband John McVie on stage to perform hits from 1977’s beloved Rumours album, as well as many other fan favourites. Fleetwood Mac shows are always filled with fun fan sing-alongs, so be sure to warm up those vocal chords before November 18.

Tickets: Fleetwood Mac in Vancouver



Credit: Flickr/NRK P3

Bastille at PNE Forum – November 24

After a sold-out show at The Commodore Ballroom in April, as well as an impressive turnout for their secret show presented by The Peak radio station, British pop-rockers Bastille return to Vancouver this month for a show at the PNE Forum. The band’s debut full-length album, Bad Blood, immediately shot to No. 1 on the UK albums chart in 2013 and the band later found success in North America when the catchy single “Pompeii” hit the airwaves. Fans of all ages have snapped up tickets to sing along to favourites and swoon over charming frontman Dan Smith.

Tickets: Bastille in Vancouver



Credit: Flickr/Tony Felgueiras

Hey Ocean! at The Vancouver Convention Centre (Grey Cup Festival) – November 27

Celebrate the 102nd Grey Cup by attending one of the many live music events happening at the end of the month. Local favourites Hey Ocean! headline the concert series on November 27 with a performance at the Vancouver Convention Centre presented by The Peak. Lead singer Ashleigh Ball and bandmates David Vertesi and David Beckingham will deliver stellar indie-pop jams to B.C.’s football fans. Fellow local group The Gay Nineties and L.A. indie rock band Family of the Year will also perform at the kick-off event.

Tickets: Hey Ocean! in Vancouver