If you love music, New West is definitely the place to be this fall — especially if you happen to be a music fan of a certain vintage (or just a fan of retro sounds).
Here are five music flashback highlights that are bound to delight local Gen-X-and-up audiences over the next couple of months:
Glass Tiger at Recovery Day
What better way to kick off the fall than with a free outdoor concert featuring Canadian supergroup Glass Tiger? Unleash your inner 1980s teen and rock out to the sounds of the group that brought the country long-lived hits like Someday, I’m Still Searching and, of course, Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone).
The band is headlining at the Recovery Day B.C. Festival, set for Saturday, Sept. 9 uptown.
In fact, there will be four stages of music: the Main Stage, featuring the Hip Show, Pop Junkies, Kyle Young Pine and Glass Tiger; the Belmont Stage, with the Beauty Beats DJ Duo and Dr. Strangelove; the Uptown BIA Stage, with dance band Cake Walk; and the Kids Zone, with the Myrtle Sisters Revue Cabaret, Karima Essa Bollywood Star Show, Will’s Jams and more.
- Tickets and info: Find all the information at the Recovery Day B.C. website.
The Zombies
Yes, we’re talking about the iconic British psychedelic pop legends. They’re coming to New Westminster for a concert at Massey Theatre on Sunday, Oct. 1. They’re touring with their new album, Different Game, a followup to 2015’s Still Got That Hunger.
The Zombies have been winning fans since they first hit the airwaves with their 1960s hit singles She’s Not There and Tell Her No — through decades that included the breakup of the original band, successful separate careers for lead vocalist Colin Blunstone and keyboardist/songwriter Rod Argent, and the later resurrection of the band, which was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
- Tickets and info: The Zombies – Tickets NW
The Australian BeeGees Show
No, this isn’t the original BeeGees, but it’s an acclaimed tribute show that recreates one of the most successful acts in musical history — including hits like Staying Alive, You Should Be Dancing and How Deep Is Your Love, featuring an authentic take on the trio’s clothes, style and moves. They’re onstage Wednesday, Oct. 4 at Massey Theatre.
- Tickets and info: The Australian Bee Gees Show – A Tribute to the Bee Gees – Tickets NW
Strange Advance and the Spoons
Be still my ’80s heart. 1980s New Wave legends Strange Advance and the Spoons are joining forces to play B.C. together for the first time. Ride a wave of gold records, hit songs and Juno nominations from the two hit-making bands. Remember the Spoons’ Nova Heart, Tell No Lies and Romantic Traffic? And Strange Advance’s We Run, She Controls Me and Love Becomes Electric? If so, you need to snag your tickets now.
Fun New West fact: Drew Arnott, co-founder of Strange Advance, last played the Massey Theatre in 1972 — as a percussionist with the New Westminster Secondary School senior band.
You’ll be able to catch them onstage at the Massey Theatre on Friday, Oct. 13.
- Tickets and info: Strange Advance and Spoons – Tickets NW
Colin James Blues Trio
Perhaps it’s not entirely accurate to include this one in a list of “retro” concerts, since Colin James has reinvented himself since he burst onto the Canadian rock scene in 1988 with a self-titled debut that featured hits Voodoo Thing and Five Long Years. Since those days, he’s also helped to revive swing with his wildly popular Little Big Band, then landed on the blues charts with Blue Highways in 2016.
His Massey Theatre concert, set for Friday, Oct. 27, features his blues trio.
- Tickets and info: Colin James Blues Trio – Tickets NW
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
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