Music views, news and reviews for 性视界传媒 and Metro Vancouver. Email me with story ideas and tips, tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com.

Longtime 性视界传媒 resident Morna Edmundson is stepping down as the artistic director of following the of concerts.

The season will be something of a victory lap for Edmundson, at the helm of Elektra since its inception in 1987.

鈥淲hat a gift to have had my life and career woven together with so many amazing singers and composers for nearly four decades,鈥� she posted on Facebook. 鈥淗ow lucky am I? Looking forward to continuing after June 2025 to conduct EnChor and perhaps mentor others. All is good and we鈥檒l see if I know how to slow the pace of this precious life.鈥�

The choir鈥檚 鈥淪eason of Change鈥� concert series will showcase 鈥渢he rich trove of Elektra鈥檚 many Canadian commissions alongside premieres of new works by Laura Hawley, Cassie Luftspring, and Tawnie Olson.鈥�

鈥淢y final season with Elektra is chock-full of significant works for Elektra, including major works and the flowing, memorable repertoire you鈥檝e come to expect from this extraordinary ensemble,鈥� Edmundson raved. 鈥淎nd, of course, newly-commissioned works to signify my vision for a vibrant future of this choir. I hope you will join us for all of it.鈥�

Her Elektra farewell series will include a concert next May at 性视界传媒鈥檚 Church of the Good Shepherd. .

鈥� RELATED: UBC honours 性视界传媒鈥檚 Edmundson with degree for setting 鈥榮tandard of excellence鈥� with choirs.

MUSIC NOTES: Sheepdogs bark on 1st night of Delta鈥檚 Barnside concerts; tabla time in 性视界传媒

鈥� 性视界传媒 Now-Leader (@性视界传媒NowLeader)

CANADA DAY PARTY

性视界传媒鈥檚 July 1 celebration has had hits and misses over the years with the headliner, but 2024 is shaping up to be a big hit.

This year鈥檚 Canada Day party in Cloverdale features The Sheepdogs, Saskatchewan rockers who entertained at last September鈥檚 Barnside Music Festival in Ladner. Before that, I first saw The Sheepdogs live at Stanley Park鈥檚 Malkin Bowl theatre in September 2021, in the city鈥檚 first post-COVID concert of significance, with a large crowd. It ended up being a night of tight, intricate guitar harmonies and fun, Allman Brothers-ish, Black Keys-like good vibes.

Expect the same at Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre, where Sass Jordan, Don Amero and others will also perform this year. .

FREE CONCERTS

In case you missed it, White Rock鈥檚 free Concerts at the Pier series will include five outdoor shows starting July 4 with 54-40, who recently headlined Cloverdale Rodeo & Country Fair, with support from Nadine States and Rob Montgomery. The concert is planned at Grand Chief Bernard Robert Charles Memorial Plaza parking lot, East Beach.

The BIA-backed series will also feature performances by Crystal Shawanda (July 11, Memorial Park, West Beach), Arrival & Gaslighter tribute bands (July 25, East Beach), Barney Bentall & The Legendary Hearts (Aug. 22, West Beach) and tributes to Bob Seger and Bruce Springsteen by American Rock Legends (Aug. 29, East Beach). All concerts begin at 7 p.m., with the headliner on at 8 p.m. .

BONHAM BONANZA

A few weeks ago now, on April 30, sure rocked the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver with a night of music made famous by his dad.

I was struck by Bonham鈥檚 great stories involving his dad, John Bonham, including the time Jason wanted to see The Police in concert in the late-1970s. His dad arranged a backstage visit and ended up wanting to punch out Sting, the singer/bassist. Pretty funny stuff.

The night offered note-for-note versions of Led Zep classics, including Kashmir, Rock and Roll and Stairway to Heaven, but no deep cuts, unfortunately. The Jimmy Page guy sure looked the part, and the most Robert Plant-looking performer on stage was the bass player. The bald singer had the vocal pipes, but not the look, and that鈥檚 OK. Great band, worth the price of a concert ticket.

NEW - has amphitheatre naming rights for 12 years and also "a partnership on some of the PNE鈥檚 most beloved properties (summer Fair, Fright Nights). The amphitheatre will open in 2026.

鈥� Tom Zillich (@TomZillich)

AMP IT UP

Voting ends June 7 on a name of the new amphitheatre at the PNE site, on . I dig Freedom Mobile Amp among the four choices on the list, which also includes Arch, Rise and Place. Freedom Mobile鈥檚 12-year 鈥渘aming rights鈥� deal involves not only the 10,000-seat amphitheatre, set to open in 2026 at a cost of around $65 million, but a partnership on some of the PNE鈥檚 annual summer fair and Halloween Fright Nights.

More than a year ago, the PNE revealed Revery Architecture鈥檚 early design renderings of the new amphitheatre, showing a parachute-style open-air timber roof that touches down onto the ground at three points. The PNE says the amphitheatre will host at least 75 performances a year.