Parts of New West’s 12th Street will see a shiny makeover on Sunday, July 23 — thanks to the annual 12th Street Festival that brings live music, entertainment and kids’ activities to the historic stretch every summer.
This year, the festival, which is organized by the volunteers and merchants from West End Business Association, will include three performance stages along the street — featuring bands from diverse musical genres including rock, rockabilly, blues, soul and more.
The main Metrotown Mitsubishi Community stage, named after the sponsor, at Hamilton Street will see performances by a host of music artists including Juno-nominee Buddy Rogers and his band.
Here’s where you can groove to the local blues band The Blue Express, and watch Americana singer songwriter Patsy Thompson and singer, guitarist, bassist and songwriter Pamella Dominelli — the Sweet P’s — perform.
Meanwhile, the Match and Starlight Casino Stage, on the Sixth Avenue entrance (at Sixth Avenue and 12th Street), will have a lineup of performers curated by the local record label Northern Electric and recording studio Little Red Sounds — rockabilly band Dogwood and the Shakers’, the psychedelic garage-pop band The Top Boost, garage punk rock n’ roll band SLIP~ons and the boogie-woogie rock n’ roll artists from the Mike Van Eyes band.
The third stage on Seventh Avenue will have local musicians Ed, Salve and friends, and the veteran classic rockers Syndicate entertain the crowd. The stage will also present a platform for the students of the Neil Douglas Music School to perform.
The festival, which made a big comeback last year after a five-year hiatus, is even bigger this year, said Jim Fuller, secretary, West End Business Association.
“We have almost double the vendors that we had last year,” he said.
The list includes Caleb’s Fluffles, a venture by a 13-year-old to support the BC Children’s Hospital, and designer Linda Shea’s handcrafted jewellery, among others. A bunch of West End favourites including Empanada Gal, Pho 99 and Amelia Restaurant will also be part of the one-day fest.
Besides local crafts, music and food, the street party will also offer a unique photo opportunity with a vintage transit bus, courtesy the Transit Museum Society.
The 12th Street Festival is on July 23, from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
