Music for the People: A Cultural Experience Returns This Fall
The highly-received, cross-cultural concert will be hosted again this September at the Tk'emlups Powwow Arbor.
July 29, 2023
Music for the People announcement at Kamloops City Hall, Sponsors and Supporting Partners. Photos by Tiffany Christianson
KAMLOOPS - On a sunny afternoon on Tuesday, July 25th, Margit and Rod Bandura announced the return of Music for the People: A Cultural Experience this upcoming fall season at the Tk'emlups Powwow Arbor. With support and sponsorship from a number of local businesses and organizations, this highly-received concert will be put on a second time at no cost for the public to attend.
Save the date and mark it down on your calendars, because this September 17th will be an event you don't want to miss. In partnership with the Kamloops Symphony, the Sage Hill Drummers, and the K'wese'ltken Farmer's and Artisan Market, this will be a mingling of cultures and experiences not often seen on this level. The concert will merge several different arts practices smoothly into one two-hour show, and attendance to this event is completely FREE. From the strumming of guitars, beating of drums, and the soothing sounds of strings from the symphony, the experience will be unlike any other.
“Last year’s concert was so successful that we just knew we had to bring it back and provide a place for the bridging of communities of neighbours, friends, and families to come together to enjoy the harmony of the music and to experience our unique, collective cultures,”
said Margit, who sings and plays rhythm guitar with the Margit Sky Project
While you're listening to the beautiful music, browse the vendors from the K'wese'ltken Market and see the crafts, products, and wares of a diverse crowd of creators. Fresh produce, baked goods, hand-crafted jewelry, arts supplies, and so much more will be on display at market tables around the venue, all from local producers.
This concert is important not only to celebrate art and music, but to further build relationships between communities on both sides of the Thompson River. The Tk'emlups Powwow Arbor is a stunning heritage site that welcomes people from all backgrounds, and encourages celebration, friendships, and coming together. The site is also located underneath the old Kamloops Residential School, where hundreds of Indigenous people went from the 1890s to it's eventual closure in 1978.
Echoing the sentiments shared by Margit, Rod (First Nations’ name, Little Sky), the ‘Sky’ in the Margit Sky Project, remarked,
“For me, the power of music to heal, communicate, and transform spaces is undeniable. That is why this concert experience is different than any other shows I have played. It's exciting to bridge the gap between cultures and perform as one.”
This concert touches on content about the lived experiences of survivors and people impacted by the legacy of residential schools, delivering a powerful and impactful experience through music. Donations for the Indian Residential School Survivor Society (IRSSS) will be collected on site.
Pictured left-to-right: Tina Malkie (K'wese'ltken Market), Rod Bandura, Margit Bandura, Shay Paul (Indigenous Resurgence Project). Photos by Tiffany Christianson
The Margit Sky Project has a long standing relationship with the Indigenous Resurgence Project, and has been involved with our events since the inception of the project. We are honoured and excited to have pledged funding support to this event and the wonderful work that Rod and Margit are doing.
EVENT INFORMATION:
The K'wese'ltken Market will be celebrating it's last day of the season on September 17th, and will be running from 4PM - 9PM, and the music concert will be playing from 6:30PM - 8:30PM. The location of the concert is at 345 Powwow Trail, Kamloops, BC.
Music For the People is a unique concert event bringing the voices, music, and artistry of Indigenous and non‐ Indigenous people together for an unforgettable evening. The concert brings culture, music, artists, and communities together and is suitable for all ages. For more information about the event, sponsors, or to request an interview, please visit www.musicforthepeople.ca
ABOUT THE IRSSS:
The IRSSS assists First Nation Peoples in British Columbia to recognize and be holistically empowered from the primary and generational effect of the Residential Schools by supporting research, education, awareness, partnerships, and advocating for justice and healing. The Society assists Survivors with counselling, court support, information, referrals, workshops, and more.
