WEST COAST HERE WE COME.

I bet you anything that if you have been to a west jet or air Canada terminal in the past few days the boarding line would not look unlike the line up for an Indian taco during lunch break at a pow wow. That, my friends, is because big things are happening in the city of Vancouver this week...everyone is going to be in town for some major artistic NDN celebrations. Two of which your dream boys from A Tribe Called Red will be contributing to. On Friday night A Tribe Called Red will be a part of an amazing event that happens on select Fridays when the Vancouver Art Gallery is transformed into FUSE, a night dedicated to live performance and music. The gallery will be open to the public so they can party amongst the amazing galleries while taking in the sounds of singers, deejays and other surprises throughout the night. Not only will A Tribe Called Red be spinning collectively but Bear will be featuring some stuff of his own along side multi media artist Jackson 2Bears, Vancouver Island's based Skeena Reece (she also founded the Native Youth Artists Collective, very cool be sure to look it up) aaannnd our bro bro OSTWELVE! Anyone who has had the opportunity to check out the Vancouver Art Gallery (the VAG?) knows it is an enchanting venue and to be able to have so many amazing artists doing their thing under one roof for one night only is something that shouldn't be missed if you are in the area. I also have a feeling that there is going to be lots of special guests in the house because this is the "unofficial" after party for the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards which are happening on Friday night when fifteen stand out contributors are going to be honoured for their efforts towards different areas of the first nations community. Can you guys believe the awards are being co-hosted by Theo Fleury, yeah that's right, the NHL veteran and by far my favorite contestant on Battle of the Blades (shout out to one of a kind CBC programming). As if that's not enough there is an after party for the after party happening with Indigenous After Dark hosted by Ryan McMahon and as if the line up for that isn't insane already JB The First Lady was just added...I know it seems late to start a party but this is your chance to re fuel because there is going to be complimentary traditional food and other refreshments. And who knows who could be taking the stage ;)

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR OR ONLINE!

OH MY MAN, you know? That's not even the entirety of it! Because on Saturday night the world famous Electric Pow Wow is taking over the W2 downtown Vancouver. If you have been to an Electric Pow Wow before than I will trust you know what this means and if you have only ever heard the legends of the Electric Pow Wow being passed around and it is still just a dream you have to be able to attend one than word to your mother because this weekend your life will change forever. Electric Pow Wow: West Coast Potlatch Edition is going to be so insanely good with special guests JACKSON 2BEARS, EMOTIONZ AAAANND KINNIE STARR just to name a few. This night is being put on in celebration with the annual Talking Stick Festival, a two week long citywide festival that provides a stage for extraordinary Aboriginal artists; established and emerging, national and international, performing live music, dance, theatre, multi-media, storytelling and performance art.

All in all this is going to be a weekend for the books, I don't know how it could be a bad time with so many amazing, creative people in one city just raring to get out and have a good time. Big ups to the W2 Media Cafe for doing a big part in hosting this weekends events and to all the sponsors who were excited to take part. Also! Good luck to all the hosts, recipients and performers involved in the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards...the awards are year after year an amazing production filled with talent, beautiful sets and wise words and I'm sure this year will be no different.

I've added a few links to the official event pages for each night as well as a link to the online ticket booth for the two W2 events, they have a great deal going on that combines both nights.

ELECTRIC POW WOW: WEST COAST POTLATCH EDITION

INDIGENOUS AFTER DARK: LATE NIGHT MULTI-MEDIA EVENT

BEAT NATION: ART, MUSIC AND ABORIGINAL CULTURE @ THE VAG

If you want to be updated live about these events and all the other crazy things that the featured artists and friends of ATCR will be getting up to this weekend go ahead and follow the fam and others on twitter

@atribecalledred @theBEARwitness @djShub @deejayNDN @littlegirlrage @OSTwelve @KinnieSTARr @W2MediaCafe @EmotionzMusic @RMComedy @NAAF_FNRA @JBthefirstlady #vancouver #electricpowwow #indigenousafterdark #nativerthanyou

Tweet us any pictures that you might get of the good times going down, and would someone please snag me Adam Beach's autograph?