The Best Shows Hitting Vancouver January 2014

#SingitFwd at The Vogue Theatre – January 9

The third annual SingItFwd concert will bring together some of Western Canada’s finest musical talent (The Sheepdogs, Hey Ocean, Mother Mother, Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, Hannah Epperson, Kathryn Calder, and Dustin Bentall) for an admirable cause.

Founded by David Vertesi of Hey Ocean and Ambrosia Humphrey of Hootsuite, SingItFwd aims to raise funds and awareness for the importance of youth music education, with all proceeds going directly to the Saint James Music Academy, a non-profit organization that offers music programs to children of low-income families in the Downtown Eastside. If your New Year’s resolution was to help others in need, this is the perfect way to start.

Keith Urban at Rogers Arena – January 15

New Zealand-born, Australian-raised Keith Urban has been putting out records for over two decades and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

Currently promoting his latest album, Light the Fuse, the charming country star is returning to Vancouver for a large-scale show at Rogers Arena. Urban’s onstage energy and consistent audience interaction ensures this will be a fun night out for you and your friends. Scheduled opening acts are American country artists Little Big Town and Brett Eldredge.

Justin Timberlake at Rogers Arena – January 16

JT is “bringing sexy back” to Rogers Arena this month. In 2013, Timberlake made a triumphant return to music releasing not just one, but two albums, as part of his 20/20 Experience. With two albums worth of new material (both of which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts) and a back catalogue of hits to choose from, Justin Timberlake’s concert is bound to be a marathon – and knowing him, a spectacle of pure talent. Even though Jessica Biel gets to call him her husband, we can have him for just one night and pretend that he wrote Mirrors for us instead.

Jonny Lang at Hard Rock Casino – January 18

A mere 16 years old when he released his debut album back in 1997, Grammy Award-winning blues-rock singer Jonny Lang has always sounded mature beyond his years. Now in his early 30s and with seven successful albums under his belt, Lang is embarking on a tour to promote his latest release, Fight For My Soul. Performing at the new Hard Rock Casino in Coquitlam (formerly the Boulevard Casino and Red Robinson Show Theatre), Lang will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on those in attendance.

Typhoon at Venue -January 18

Portland-based indie-rock band Typhoon has very few faults when it comes to live performances, but one problem the band encounters is managing to fit everyone on stage. The group boasts an impressive 11 members and performs calculated arrangements with two drummers, horns, strings, brass, xylophones and much more. On the band’s latest album, the critically-acclaimed White Lighter, band leader Kyler Morton sings poignant, thematic songs about his difficult youth, yet still maintains a sense of optimism throughout. Typhoon is an awe-inspiring collective that puts on a show that will leave you speechless for days.

Jake Bugg at The Orpheum – January 21

It’s not every teenager who can say he has opened for music legends, headlined his own tour across the world, had a No. 1 album in the UK, and played major festivals and television programs – all before his 20th birthday. Jake Bugg, a music school drop-out from Nottingham, England, quickly found such success last year and the talented songwriter hasn’t slowed down since. Combining the influences of British bands such as The Beatles and Oasis with classic American acts such as Don McLean and Johnny Cash, Bugg has created his own brand of retro folk with a modern twist. To kick off 2014, Bugg is setting out on another ambitious world tour to promote his new album Shangri La, including a stop at Vancouver’s Orpheum Theatre. Albert Hammond Jr. of The Strokes fame will open up the evening. 

Lord Huron at Commodore Ballroom – January 23

Led by Michigan-born Ben Schneider, the Los Angeles based band Lord Huron released one of the most memorable indie folk albums in recent memory, Lonesome Dreams. It is a record that cannot be easily pigeonholed: a dreamy Americana affair with layered harmonies and African drums strewn throughout. Careful listening conjures up images of the narrator – a romantic cowboy, finding his way in the Wild West. Schneider doesn’t write songs, but rather, pieces of a much larger story. An equally talented songwriter, Colorado native Winston Yellen (Night Beds), will open up Lord Huron’s upcoming can’t-miss show at the Commodore Ballroom.

Volcano Choir at Commodore Ballroom – January 24

When Bon Iver was awarded two Grammys in 2012 for Best New Artist and Best Alternative Music Album, it left thousands of people tweeting the question, “Who is Bon Iver?”

Wisconsin’s Justin Vernon is the mastermind behind Bon Iver – and while it is certainly his most widely recognized group, the multi-instrumentalist contributes to a number of other projects, including Volcano Choir, who released the ethereal Repave to critical acclaim in the fall. Vernon-led shows consistently leave attendees breathless, and Bon Iver fans will feel fortunate to experience his stage presence in a more intimate setting than usual at the Commodore Ballroom