Vancouver Bicycle Music Festival Recap

Posted September 2nd, 2009 by mk

Ginger Ninjas and Friends(Credit: David Niddrie)

It was a day of bicycles, music and community magic on Saturday, August 29 when the Pleasant Revolution Tour came to Vancouver, BC to help host the Vancouver Bicycle Music Festival.

The Ginger Ninjas and friends started their West Coast Tour (all ridden by bike) in Eugene, OR on August 15, stopping in Portland on August 16, Seattle on August 22 and Vancouver on August 29. The tour continues to Salem, OR before heading to Burning Man in the Nevada Desert for Saturday, September 5.

19 members of the tour rolled up to my house on Friday evening on their fully loaded Xtracycles equipped with Down Low Glow lights and were welcomed to Canada with a Thai feast, thanks to Michelle Candido and her sister Anna.

Cello Joe plays at New Brighton Park(Credit: David Niddrie)

Happy pedalers powering the sound(Credit: David Niddrie)

Creaking Planks(Credit: David Niddrie)

Saturday morning at New Brighton Park(Credit: Ken Ohrn)

On Saturday morning the Bicycle Music Festival began at the corner of Pandora and Semlin (thanks to Scott for providing 19 people accomodation for the weekend!) and rolled into New Brighton Park for an 11am start. After 2 hours of music from Cello Joe and the Creaking Planks and an impromptu photo shoot, the 19 members of the tour were joined by 25 Vancouver locals, and together, we rode to Crab Park with music along the way thanks to Kipchoge's iPod and huge speaker.

Terry puts his drum kit on the trailer to get ready for first ride(Credit: David Niddrie)

Aunts and Uncles accoustic set at Crab Park(Credit: Ben Johnson)

Aunts and Uncles(Credit: David Niddrie)

B:C:Clettes perform at Crab Park(Credit: Ben Johnson)

B:C:Clettes(Credit: Ben Johnson)

Bicycles galore, B:C:Clettes perform in the background(Credit: David Niddrie)

In the beautiful setting of Crab Park we listened to an accoustic set from Vancouver locals, Aunts and Uncles, in hopes that Vancouver Parks would graciously allow us to continue our un-permitted festival that was followed by a lively performance by local favourites, the B:C:Clettes.

The next stage of the journey was the incredible highlight of the day for me. The Ginger Ninjas strapped a speaker and a microphone inside an AMS Bike Coop Bakfiets (box bike), and Heather took to the stage, er, pathway, for an incredible Live on Bike performance. Several members of the Pleasant Revolution Tour have FM transmitors and large battery powered speakers strapped to the back of their bikes that allows for the Live on Bike performance to be heard from several speakers amongst the ride. It was amazing! The true hero of Live on Bike was Aaron Goss of Aaron's Bike Repair in West Seattle. Not only did he drive Heather and the Bakfiets around Stanley Park and over the Burrard Bridge, but he did it with one pedal! Wow Aaron, you're our hero!

Live on Bike ride with Heather from Stitch Craft(Credit: Ben Johnson)

Live on Bike(Credit: Ben Johnson)

Jared and Heather perform at park(Credit: David Niddrie)

The Bicycle Music Festival then rolled up to the third and final venue of our tour, the Museum of Vancouver. Amanda and Sarah, Museum Event Coordinators, were so supportive and helpful. A HUGE thank-you for helping make our party a successful one! Hungry and thirsty festival goers enjoyed delicious crepes and Lighthouse Beer, and reveled in the beauty and inspiration provided by Bear Dyken, the Ginger Ninjas, local band Orkestar slivovica, Little J and Grace T. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day. Let's do it again next year!

Bear Dyken and Cello Joe perform at the Museum of Vancouver(Credit: Ben Johnson)

Pedaling the sound at the Museum of Vancouver(Credit: David Niddrie)

Kipchoge of the Ginger Ninjas(Credit: David Niddrie)

Dancing mayhem at the Museum of Vancouver(Credit: Ben Johnson)

Dancing at the Museum of Vancouver(Credit: David Niddrie)

More dancing at the Museum of Vancouver(Credit: Ben Johnson)

Orkestar slivovica (Credit: David Niddrie)

Want to see the Bicycle Music Festival happen again in Vancouver? Please write letters to Vancouver Parks and to the City of Vancouver thanking them for this year's festival and express interest in seeing it again next year.

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Thank-yous: Dave, Olga, Maddy, Amanda, Sarah and the Museum of Vancouver, Muffy & Anna, Aaron and Lighthouse Beer, Scott, Stephen, Amy, Callum, Talia, Tamara, Emmett, Juliet, Francois, Cookies of Course, Creaking Planks, Aunts and Uncles, B:C:Clettes, Orkestar slivovica, Ben, Ken, Silent Otto, Chris, Kevin, AMS Bike Coop, VACC, Gwendal, Tania and Itziar, and all other volunteers that I have missed in name but not in heart, and of course, the Pleasant Revolution Tour: The Ginger Ninjas and Friends for sharing their inspiration with Vancouver and the rest of the world. Come back again!

Peformers: Cello Joe, Creaking Planks, Aunts & Uncles, B:C:Clettes, Heather from Stitch Craft, Bear Dyken, Ginger Ninjas, Orkestar slivovica, Little J and Grace T.

Full photo set:
David Niddrie's BMF flickr set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bhlubarber/sets/72157622208471838

Ben Johnson's BMF flickr set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sockeyed/sets/72157622202910654