Indigenous burlesque, improv comedy, a community choir and some riot-grrrl rage are all on offer at New West Pride’s street fest this weekend.
The Aug. 13 festival, running 3 to 8 p.m. on Columbia Street, features three stages of entertainment, plus a series of roving and stationary performers scattered throughout the site.
Here’s what to catch and when:
Main Stage: Columbia and Fourth Street
Join host Dandy (Ryan Leslie Fisher) for an afternoon and evening jam-packed with entertainment, including the QueerProv improv comedy ensemble and hard rockers Fallen Stars. Capping off the evening are alternative rockers Strange Breed, channelling 1990s femme-rock heroines as they serve up music billed as “memorable rock hooks with a filthy side of riot-grrl rage.”
- 3 p.m.: Opening remarks
- 3:30 p.m.: QueerProv
- 4:30 p.m. Awards
- 5 p.m.: Cass King and the Cassettes
- 6 p.m.: Fallen Stars
- 7 p.m.: Strange Breed
Sixth Street Stage: Columbia and Sixth Street
Join host Karmella Barr for five hours of non-stop entertainment, kicked off by local musician Vero B (Veronique Boulanger) in her first public performance in four years. The day includes comedy, music, drag, taiko drumming and more, capped off by a 7 p.m. performance by Virago Nation, an all-Indigenous burlesque collective.
- 3 p.m.: Vero B
- 4 p.m.: Tin Lorica (comedian/writer)
- 4:30 p.m.: Belladonna Von Shade
- 4:40 p.m. Karmella Barr – storytime
- 5 p.m.: Carmina Rae (singer-songwriter)
- 6 p.m.: Belladonna Von Shade
- 6:10 p.m.: Onibana Taiko
- 7 p.m.: Virago Nation
Youth Stage: Columbia and Begbie Street
The Youth Stage is hosted by Minor Disappointment, a non-binary, trans masculine youth drag artist and performer, and it’s serving up youth-focused music, drag and dance.
- 3 p.m.: Soda Pop (music and drag curated and performed by youth, for youth)
- 4 :10 p.m.: Jester Minute, Minor Disappointment and Satanix (drag)
- 4:30: It’s a Fairy Thing
- 5 p.m.: Jester Minute, Minor Disappointment and Satanix
- 5:30 p.m.: Hal Hart
- 6:10 p.m.: Izzy Cenedese
- 7 p.m.: Van Vogue Jam
New West Pride roving performers
- Renee Mak, hula hooping
- Yuki Ueda, roving juggler
- Kasha Konaka, contortionist
- Mary Elise, harpist
- Snake Model
- Rainbow Chorus Choir (5:10 p.m.)
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, [email protected]
