The festival was founded in 2014 after a conversation over dinner between friends and Locarno bandmates Tom Landa and Robin Layne.
Our festival is dedicated to presenting local and international artists playing traditional music from around the globe. We believe in the power of music to heal, transform, and shape cultural understanding. We also believe in the power of music to inform and educate. We are committed to presenting youth performers and workshops for young people to help foster the next generation of music lovers.
Our festival is dedicated to presenting local and international artists playing traditional music from around the globe. We believe in the power of music to heal, transform, and shape cultural understanding. We also believe in the power of music to inform and educate. We are committed to presenting youth performers and workshops for young people to help foster the next generation of music lovers.
This is a labour of love for us and thanks to many hours of work, the support of friends, the community, Heritage Canada, the City of Vancouver, our sponsors, and our wives we are able to see this festival grow - Tom and Robin
TOM LANDA
Tom was born in Mexico, although his mother is Canadian of Irish ancestry. He is a San Patricio through and through. Like him, his music is a mixture of genres and cultures. Tom has spent the last 20+ years touring the world with his JUNO Award winning group The Paperboys. Known for their high energy shows that combine Celtic, Mexican Son, Folk, Pop and Bluegrass in a contemporary manner, the boys and girl are a festival and club favourite all over North America and Europe.
In 2011 Tom debuted his new band, Locarno. Their CD Una Mas Y Ya Nos Vamos has been met with rave reviews and was nominated for a WCMA (Western Canadian Music Award) in 2012. The music focuses on Latin Music idioms such as Son Jarocho and Son Cubano and once again features original compositions alongside traditional tunes. The band is a huge hit at jazz and folk festivals in the US and Canada. They have toured extensively, including a recent tour of Mexico. Tom has been a feature Emcee at The Vancouver Folk Music Festival, he's hosted his own radio special on CBC Radio and he was the founder and Artistic Director of The Vancouver Celtic Festival and Victoria Celtic Festival. He currently runs his own booking agency Cubby-Hole Artists and tours extensively with both of his bands. |
ROBIN LAYNE
Robin grew up in Victoria and had the good fortune of being mentored by renowned percussionist and educator Sal Ferreras. Robin fell in love with the sounds of Salsa and Latin percussion which led him to study at the LA Music Academy before moving to Vancouver.
Robin has become a regular fixture on the BC festival circuit, collaborating with a wide spectrum of folk and world artists. His recent touring engagements have led him to Mexico, Italy, China, the U.S. and Canada. He has followed his love of world music to Cuba, Guinea, Mali, and Mexico studying under master drummers and marimbists of those respective traditions. He currently performs with world music groups Locarno, Mazacote, Tambura Rasa, and The Robin Layne Band whose debut CD, Memories, is now available! Robin is in demand as a freelance percussionist for recordings, performances and tours. Recent highlights include working with Juno Award winning artists Quique Escamilla, The Paperboys, Donne Roberts (African Guitar Summit), Alpha Yaya Diallo, Celso Machado and Silk Road Music. Equally at home on a festival stage or in a classroom, Robin strongly believes that the gift of music should be accessible to everyone. He is the senior percussion instructor at the Sarah McLachlan School of Music and the Artistic Director of the World Rhythms for Youth Society. |