Join us this Friday, September 25, for a special folk music concert as part of James Bay United Church’s Open House Week!
We may not make it all the way around the world, but we’ll celebrate three distinct musical traditions in one concert, under one roof:
- Zimbabwean master mbira player Garadziva Chigamba
- Renowned fiddle and guitar duo Q and Charli, bringing the sounds of Irish traditional and Acadian music
- Cuban piano virtuoso Pablo Cardenas and his Cuban Classics Quartet
Come celebrate music, culture, and the joy of gathering as a community!
Admission by donation. Suggested donation: $20. All are welcome, regardless of ability to donate.
About the Artists:
Garadziva Chigamba is a Zimbabwean master mbira player, composer, and member of the renowned musical Chigamba family. He has strong ties to the Victoria, BC, music community, where he directs the roots band Jambanja and performs traditional Shona music.
Two-time Irish Music Awards winner Q Brooke Bachand, known as Q, is an acclaimed international touring artist, well known for their duo work with younger brother Quinn. Together, the siblings have earned international acclaim and an impressive collection of awards, performing at folk and Celtic festivals across Canada, the United States, and Europe.
A non-binary West Coast artist, Q is a consummate performer who is clearly at ease on stage. Known for their powerful fiddle playing, captivating vocals, and contagious energy, they bring their love of folk and Celtic music to every performance, sharing stories and showcasing their instrumental and vocal talents with warmth and spirit.
Q is joined by local guitar phenom Charlie Gannon. Recognized as one of Victoria’s best young guitarists, Charlie plays a wide range of styles, from Celtic to rock. His playing is highly technical yet sensitive, with inventive harmonies and chord voicings developed through years of playing jazz. He brings new life to the simplest of songs and performs even the most demanding pieces with ease.
Pianist, composer, and bandleader, Pablo Cardenas is a true maestro of music.
Born in Matanzas, Cuba, Cardenas studied classical piano from a young age through university, developing a deep appreciation for classical music from around the world as well as Cuba's extraordinary tradition of blending classical, folk, and other musical influences from across the Americas and beyond. A virtuoso pianist, Cardenas has been performing for more than a decade with longtime musical collaborators bassist Peter Dowse and drummer Kelby MacNayr.