Music

The Best Shows Hitting Vancouver January 2015

This year's concert scene kicks off with a bang (and some power chords) with hot shots like Bryan Adams and Death From Above 1979

By Megan Forsyth /

Credit: Flickr/Graham Ballantyne

#SingItFwd at The Vogue Theatre – January 8

Canadian musicians k-os, Hey Ocean!, July Talk, Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer, Bear Mountain, Dear Rouge, Jordan Klassen and Bend Sinister join forces for #SingItFwd at The Vogue Theatre on January 8. The annual charity event, cofounded by Hey Ocean’s David Vertesi and Hootsuite’s Ambrosia Humphrey (also Vertesi’s new wife), is now in its fourth consecutive year. #SingItFwd aims to raise funds for the Saint James Music Academy, which provides free music instruction to children living in the Downtown Eastside. One hundred per cent of proceeds from ticket sales go to the non-profit organization. There is no better way to start off 2015 than with some good live music and charitable giving. 

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Credit: Facebook/Joseph

Joseph at Electric Owl – January 9

Some of the finest songs are able to transport the listener to either new or familiar places. Joseph, a young Portland folk trio comprised of sisters Natalie, Allison and Meegan, does just that. The band’s debut album, Native Dreamer Kin, features captivating three-part harmonies and dark, perceptive lyrics about heartbreak and moving past it. Beautifully crafted nature metaphors are strewn throughout, quickly transporting the listener to comforting Pacific Northwest forests and landscapes. Catch these talented siblings at Electric Owl on January 9.   

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Credit: Flickr/fakepeterpan

Zola Jesus at Venue – January 10

Zola Jesus is the stage name of 25-year-old Russian American Nika Roza Danilova. Raised on 100 acres of forest in Wisconsin, she began to study and perform opera as a young child before eventually experimenting with other genres and recording at home using keyboards and drum machines. Known for her soaring vocals reminiscent of artists like Kate Bush and Florence Welch, Zola Jesus has earned plenty of accolades since releasing her debut album in 2009. Currently touring to support her fifth studio album, Taiga, Zola Jesus’ concert at Venue on January 10 is one mark down on the calendar. 

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Credit: Flickr/Derek Hatfield

Bryan Adams at Rogers Arena – January 14

Vancouver-raised superstar Bryan Adams returns home this month to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his 1984 hit album, Reckless. The commemorative night at Rogers Arena will feature Adams performing hits from Reckless like “Summer of ‘69” and “Run to You,” as well as many other fan favourites from his lengthy and successful career. Fans can also expect to hear renditions of oldies by artists like The Beatles and Bob Dylan that were recently released on his latest album, Tracks of My Years.

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Credit: Flickr/Mike White

Death From Above 1979 at The Vogue Theatre (January 21) and The Commodore Ballroom (January 22)

Toronto dance-punk duo Death From Above 1979 released just one critically acclaimed album in 2004 (You’re A Woman, I’m a Machine) before abruptly disbanding two years later. After working separately on various music projects, Sebastian Grainger and Jesse F. Keeler announced in 2011 that the duo was reforming, much to their fans’ delight. The band’s second album, The Physical World, was released this past fall along with the lead single “Trainwreck 1979”. Vancouverites have two opportunities to see DFA 1979 perform this month, either at The Vogue Theatre on January 21 (all-ages performance) or The Commodore Ballroom on January 22 (19+ show).  

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Credit: Flickr/Steve

Bad Suns at Electric Owl – January 31

Signed to Vagrant Records (home of The 1975 and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes), Southern California rock band Bad Suns released both an EP and a full-length album in 2014. The latter, entitled Language & Perspective, has spawned the undeniably catchy singles “Cardiac Arrest” and “Transpose”. The young band (all in their late teens and early twenties) has since performed on Conan and earned radio play across North America. Catch these energetic up-and-comers live at Electric Owl at the end of the month. 

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