Imagine the Academy Awards, New Year's Eve and World Cup Soccer, all rolled into the most important day of the year. It’s Carnival, and the Caribbean Island of Trinidad claims to have invented it in the new world. This is serious business, with contests, royalty (kings and queens of music), costumes, and newspaper articles offering everything from editorials (has Carnival in … [Read more...]
“We’re All in the Same Canoe” – Murray Porter Shares His Wisdom Through the Blues
Funny life's coincidences. On a recent trip into our own backyard to Deer Lake and the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival, we were serenaded by beautifully truthful words from a neighbour. Words that for a lifetime we've been learning as we travel the world. Everybody's different, but everybody's the same. Who was singing these words of wisdom? My latest crush, Murray Porter, … [Read more...]
In Jazz Heaven at Hotel Innere Enge Bern
One of my great loves in life, as well as great comforts that adds a swing to my step and excites my synapses, firing up my imagination is good music. In particular, I have a great fondness for jazz and the blues. Aside from jazz and blues making me want to sway and dance to the music, it bridges the generation gaps, as really it is for everyone, and carries with it no … [Read more...]
2015 Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival – Gearing Up For A Good Time!
For 7 years now our summer highlight in Vancouver's Lower Mainland is the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival, otherwise now known as my Birthday Bash! My friends love the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival so much that they now place it on their calendars before they make their other plans for the summer, and it has even become the much anticipated and talked about summer … [Read more...]
Deer Lake Park: An Awesome Outdoor Music Venue & Burnaby, BC Local Treasure
Among many other benefits of traveling anywhere and making connections while you do it is gaining a sense of perspective that helps you to more concisely appreciate your home. But sometimes, you don't have to travel very far to accomplish this. I'm talking about local treasures. These are the places, the events, the venues that make our home special to us, and where we make … [Read more...]