Canadian rock star Bif Naked has been announced as the headliner for New West Pride Week.
“It’s very exciting,” Jeremy Perry, president of the New West Pride Society, told the Record. “It was the community’s support of the festival that allowed us to get to a point that we could start attracting big names to our stage.”
Naked – born Beth Torbert – is a singer-songwriter known for her edgy punk rock style. With roughly 10 albums under her belt, her music career has spanned at least two decades.
“I think she’s stoked,” Perry said of Naked coming to the Royal City. “If you look at her Twitter right now, you can see how excited she is about New West Pride.”
She’ll hit the stage on Saturday, Aug. 15 for the grand finale street party, which closes out New West Pride Week. The free show is one of many that day. The lineup also consists of Amanda Luv, Current Reigning Empress 11 of Surrey & the Burbs, David C. Jones, Curtis Newart, Daren Wait Collective, Kate Reid, Miz Adrien, Iskwé, I Am Mandrake and Los Furios. The festival will take over Columbia Street, from Fourth Avenue to Begbie Street.
Last year, about 13,000 people showed up, but Perry, however, hopes to double that number this time around.
New West Pride kicks off Aug. 8 with a Whitecaps pre-game party at The Hub, located at 800 Carnarvon St., from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Everyone will then take the SkyTrain downtown for a Whitecaps soccer game. Other events throughout the week include a community brunch, a drag show at Heritage Grill and a karaoke night. For the full list, visit www.newwestpride.ca.
