Royal Wood, Blue Rodeo & Art of Time Ensemble headline Summer Events

Banff Summer Events
June 2 to August 29, 2015
Tickets on sale now
Box office: 403.762.6301 or 1.800.413.8368

Banff, Alberta, April 29, 2015 -- Summer is about to kick off at The Banff Centre with its Summer Events showcasing the very best in Canadian and international talent in over 85 events. Headline events run from June  – August featuring six performance debuts and a highlight series in the Shaw Amphitheatre that includes performances from Royal Wood, Blue Rodeo, Art of Time Ensemble, brass with Jens Lindemann, and three weeks of Jazz concerts with Vijay Iyer and special guests. This summer also includes the premier of a new opera in partnership with Against the Grain Theatre and Canadian Opera Company, A Little Too Cozy, based on Mozart’s Così fan tutte. The eclectic lineup also allows audiences to experience unparalleled opportunities with workshop performances of Banff Centre co-commission Betroffenheit, created by Crystal Pite and Jonathon Young, which will premiere at the 2015 Pan Am games and  Canadian Opera Company’s commission of James Rolfe and Anna Chatterton's new opera Crush. For more information and to purchase tickets or Art Lover Passes, please visit banffcentre.ca

Summer Events are deeply connected to The Banff Centre’s arts programs. Each year, the Centre supports the commissioning and creation of new work by individual artists and arts collectives. A Little Too Cozy (July 24, 25 and 26)  – a contemporary take on Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte; and Crush (July 17 and 18) – a 21st century Don Juan tale set in a downtown sex club – are partnerships between The Banff Centre, Against the Grain Theatre, and Canadian Opera Company that will be performed at The Banff Centre. On July 16 and 17, Electric Company Theatre and Kidd Pivot present a new work, Betroffenheit,. This new creation by two of Canada’s most celebrated companies is an innovative, boundary-stretching hybrid of theatre and dance.  There will also be a range of literary events (Geoff Dyer, Charlotte Gill), Indigenous arts (Backbone), and a visual art lecture series (Guy Maddin, Charlotte Moth, Nina Power, AstraTaylor) at our indoor and outdoor cultural venues.

“This summer season is an amazing opportunity the come to The Banff Centre and experience the full breadth of arts we offer” says Carolyn Warren, Vice President, Arts The Banff Centre. “Our lineup includes over 85 events, with six performance debuts, featuring the very best in contemporary dance, music, literary and visual arts. You can also get an inside peek at works that are developed in Banff and then travel to venues around the world.  The diverse range of events provides art lovers with the opportunity to experience world class performances against the stunning backdrop of the Rockies”.

Season Highlights

The Summer Arts Shaw Amphitheatre lineup commences on June 27 with a special performance from Art of Time Ensemble, who re-imagine and re-invent the classic Beatles album, Abbey Road, through newly commissioned arrangements from pop, jazz, and classical composers. Artistic Director Andrew Burashko leads a quartet of Canadian pop icons featuring Jason Plumb (Waltons), Andy Maize (Skydiggers), and Craig Northey (The Odds), who fuse high art and popular culture.

July 5 sees the arresting country rock band Blue Rodeo at The Banff Centre for an outdoor summer tradition. More than 26 years after the release of their first album, Blue Rodeo has sold more than 4 million albums and sound as good as ever on their latest offering, In Our Nature. 

Royal Wood is a dynamic singer-songwriter with a sweet tenor voice and a knack for delivering enchanting folk-pop tunes. On July 26, the Juno nominee takes to the Shaw Amphitheatre stage to perform hits from his recently released album, The Burning Bright (2014).

Trumpeter Jens Lindemann is hailed as one of the most celebrated soloists in his instrument's history.  Classically trained at the renowned Juilliard School in New York, on August 1 Jens Lindemann performs Music on the Main Stage with The Banff Centre’s Brass program at the Shaw Amphitheatre. 

Jazz events at The Banff Centre takes place this summer from August 6 – 22. The first in our Saturday Night Jazz Concert series kicks off on August 8, and features the jazz stars of tomorrow collaborating with internationally acclaimed mentors including pianist, composer, bandleader and Director of the Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music Vijay Iyer, saxophonist Mark Turner, bassist Matt Garrison, drummer, Billy Hart, and vocalist Somi. This series continues on August 15, again with Vijay Iyer, accompanied by trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith, guitarist Miles Okazaki, drummer Tyshawn Sorey, bassist Linda Oh, and Indian table player Zakir Hussain.

Set against the backdrop of the stunning Canadian Rockies in Banff National Park, performances at The Shaw Amphitheatre are designed to appeal to all ages and cultural interests. Join us at the intersection of art and ideas this summer!

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