New Westminster’s Anvil Centre Theatre launches Outside/In, with free indoor performances and an outdoor street fest over six dates

The celebration of arts and culture features local and national artists

By Gail johnson

BC World Music Collective.

Anvil Centre Theatre presents Outside/In on January 21, January 28, February 18, February 25, March 11, and March 18

IT’S THE BEST of both worlds at the Anvil Centre Theatre’s Outside/In, which takes place on six dates and features six regions of Canada: “Outside” refers to the street fest that happens in Hyack Square from 2 to 5 pm on each of those dates, with local artists and artisans; “In” relates to performances at the Anvil Theatre at 7:30 pm each night, featuring performing artists from different parts of the country.

Outside/In kicks off on January 21, with the 7:30 performance featuring BC World Music Collective (pictured at top). The concert brings together musicians from Cuba, Mexico, Brazil, Africa, the U.K., and Canada, including Adonis Puentes, Celso Machado, Tonye Aganaba, Kurai Blessing, JP Carter, Locarno (Tom Landa, Pedro Mota, Robin Layne, Liam MacDonald, Nick La Riviere, Kalissa Landa, and JeanSe LeDoujet) and Stō:lo/ St’át’imc/Nlaka’pamux Territories rapper Ostwelve.

A Prairies-powered double bill goes down on January 28 at 7:30 pm. New Dance Horizons, a Regina-based dance company and presenter, will present RE-Tangled and Flowers; Alberta-based Farhad & Daniel is a duo made up of santur player Farhad Khosravi and percussionist Daniel Stadnicki.

On February 18 at 7:30 pm, Mi'kmaq fiddler and singer Morgan Toney brings together the fiery fiddling of Cape Breton Island with the old songs of the Mi’kmaq People. Joining Toney in concert are East Coast artists Keith Mullins (guitar/vocals/foot percussion), Colin Grant (fiddle), Boyd MacNeil (bazouki/banjo),  Aaron Prosper (dance/vocals), and Sarah Prosper (dance/vocals).

New North Collective takes the stage on February 25 at 7:30 pm. Hailing mainly from the Yukon and Northwest Territories, the ensemble features singer-songwriter Diyet from the Kluane First Nation, Nunavut throat singer-drum dancer Sylvia Cloutier, pianist-vocalist Carmen Braden from Yellowknife, Graeme Peters (guitar, vocals), Bob Hamilton (steel pedal guitar, mandolin), Yukon-based Selena Savage (trombone), and North Vancouver’s Eric Redd (guitar, bass, mandolin).

OKAN.

OKAN performs on March 11 at 7:30 pm. Taking its name from the word for heart in the Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria, the Toronto-based women-led ensemble fuses Afro-Cuban roots with jazz, folk, and global rhythms in songs about immigration, courage, and love. 

Quebec’s contemporary-dance company Sinha Danse performs on March 18 at 7:30 pm. Founded by Roger Sinha more than 25 years ago, the company’s choreography is inspired by Sinha’s Indian cultural heritage.

Among the artists and artisans participating at the outside afternoon events are Aroma Bee Wellness, Artsy Candle, Bannock Queen Bakery, Puppy Power Dog Treats, Secrets of the Kiln, Toni Jones Jewelry, With/On Kimchi, and many more. To see lineups for each date, visit City of New Westminster.  

For more information on Outside/In, see Anvil Centre Theatre.

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