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Our staff had a great Halloween yesterday! We loved handing out candy to all the kids. Thanks to everyone that came by!

We’re so excited to sponsor Music on the Grill this year. This event brings top-notch musical acts to Coquitlam each summer. Visit the Evergreen Cultural Centre for a sumptuous BBQ dinner served al fresco on the patio with pre-show entertainment, followed by the evening’s marquee presentation in the Studio Theatre.

Bar Opens at 6 pm | Dinner at 6:30pm

Theatre Doors open at 7:30pm | Concert at 8pm

Tickets: BBQ Dinner & Concert: $55 | Concert Only: $35 |

Group rates for 8+

*** 20 minute intermission between acts ***

This years talent includes:

The Bills With Mildly Wild

Saturday, July 8, 2017 @ 8:00pm

Big Little Lions With Ben Beveridge Trio

Saturday, July 22, 2017 @ 8:00pm

Tiller’s Folly With Dawson Rutledge

Saturday, August 19, 2017 @ 8:00pm

Shifting from blues to folk and country and back again, the series concludes with a turn to traditional blues passed down by one generation’s blues legend to another. Zakiya Hooker’s passionate, soulful style is both personal and soothing, as unique as it is rich. Birthed out of the traditional blues her father was famous for, Zakiya has evolved her music, performing with legendary artists around the world. It’s safe to say that she truly has “earned the right to sing the blues,” (Contra Costa Times) and has blossomed into one of blues most talented and experienced performers. Along with Chris James, another talented musician that mentored and coached Zakiya, guests are in for a real treat as they rediscover the magic of the Blues. We spoke with Zakiya on the phone about her career, her upcoming album and seizing her passion for music.

On the beginnings of her music career…

For 28 years I worked for the Superior Court of California. I had three children to raise, but I also had a day job. I was a manager for the State of California, for the Superior Court. I was a Jury Master. And I also did my music while I did that.  Because I was a manager and I’d been there for so long I had a lot of time that I could take off. So they’d schedule me, (the Talent Agent & Manager) they would call and say hey, we got your dates and I would set that up and go on my gigs, then come back to work.

On meeting her husband and focusing on the music…

Basically I started focusing really [on the music] around 1987 and that’s when I met Chris, Chris James [aka Ollan C. Bell]. And he had been, he was into music already because he had been with the MOTOWN label, he’d been on ABC/Dunhill [Record Label]. His group [The Natural Four] had had the Gold Record and everything. So, when I met him he was working with his children. And I was doing background and he realized I could sing. We started talking about it and I said this is what I’d like to do; so he started to work with me. And because I was new to California I didn’t really know a lot of people in the music scene, where as he knew everybody in the music scene. And so he put a band together, he was also my vocal coach. And then in 1991, my first performance was with my dad. Well, it wasn’t my first performance, it was my first with him.

On her first performance with her father, John Lee Hooker…

It was really a trip to perform with him because it was really intimidating, you know even though he’s my father, it was very intimidating because I’m on the stage with John Lee Hooker! You know, even though he’s my father, there’s still the man and the persona. And so after the show I mean I was so, so tight and nervous I actually had to- after we finished the show I left and went home, I was just sick. (Laughing) I was just sick, my stomach was killing me. I was in knots. But it was really a great experience, being up there with him… I left the stage, left the dressing room and went home. I saw him the next day! He even asked me where I went, I said, I went home! I said, I was so nervous and he said, Nervous about what? I’m your daddy; you don’t have to be nervous around me. I said, Oh lord!

On the influence of traditional blues…

Well my major, major, major influence is Blues. And it’s not the contemporary blues, it’s really the traditional blues because that’s what I heard growing up. With my dad, and the traditional music that he did. Even though he did have a band and the band was, you know, I’m guessing his style of blues. And that’s what I knew, and what you know as a child grows up with you and stays with you. So that’s the music that’s number one for me, that very traditional music.

On the direction of her next album…

I’m starting to move even more traditional than that, you know Lead Belly and on my new CD I’m going to be doing some of his songs. I’m going to be doing In the Pines and I’m doing Ain’t it a Shame and I’m working on Backwater Blues.It’s going to be that kind of a CD. Once we get back from Canada, we’ll get started. Right now we’re working on getting ready for our shows up there.

On working with local musicians and performing abroad…

When I’m going to other countries, I’m going to do my own music. But I have to say the musicians who impress me most are the South American musicians from Buenos Aires. They have some really fine musicians down there. Not all of them, you know but the ones who had really studied the music and really researched everything, they really tend to be, not authentic but they get as close as I’ve heard. They really, really appreciate it. When I travel to other counties, they love the blues. And it’s not like that in the States, in the States it’s really hard… There’s hardly any place that we can play.

…If you watch some of the really great artists who leave the United States to go to Europe, to come to Canada because they get more respect; they’re able to work. They’re able to be appreciated. And it’s a lot easier. Here in the States there’s hardly, sometimes, anyplace for Blues musicians to play… I’m accepted very well down there, I mean you’re treated very well [in Buenos Aires].

On the favourite place she’s played…

Paris. I love Paris. And I don’t know why, there’s just something about Paris.

On pushing herself and performing with her husband…

Surprisingly enough, [my audience] is some of the same audience that was his (her father’s) audience. But it’s different from my father’s, even though I do some of his songs and everything, it’s different. The audience is different, they accept me for who I am. And it’s been a long struggle to get there. To step out of that shadow and be known for, being known as Zakiya. They still say the daughter of John Lee Hooker, they just love to say that, it’s no problem. But when I get on stage I have to hold my own, I can’t just pretend I’m being his daughter… It was not handed to me, you know the saving grace is that in life and everything, you’ve got a partner that is working with you and making sure that everything is correct. They know your faults and your shortcomings and they don’t let you become lazy and just think, you know I can just do enough. But you need to do more, you need to do more. And that’s what I have in Chris, that’s what he does. He doesn’t, you can’t settle for mediocrity, he just won’t, you can’t have that. And because he’s on the show with me, when he comes on and I come on behind him it’s very hard because he is such a good entertainer, it’s very hard; he makes me go to another level. I have to work hard. It’s like playing tennis, if you play with someone who can’t play any better than you, you can’t get any better.

On finding a different voice and perspective from her father…

I’m different, but not that different. Because in my head I still hear the riffs, the riffs that he’s singing, the riffs that he uses. I use some of those. I picked them up; I don’t have a choice because as a child, that’s what I heard… And sometimes I find myself having his timing; you know my father was famous for his timing. Sometimes they tease me about that because sometimes we’ll get there, but I know where I’m going, you know! Sometimes you just get into the music and it’s not about the timing, it’s not about anything, it’s about the music. You have to stay with that band (rhythmically) but if you’ve got a good band they can catch you and you can kind of slip over. But, my music is different because it’s a lot more contemporary and it’s also from a feminine view. It’s also from an aged view. You know, my father grew up in a time that I knew nothing of. He was a sharecropper’s son, he had to work in the fields, he picked cotton. You know, he didn’t- he couldn’t go to school. There were all sorts of things that I never experienced. So he’s singing from a whole different experience and he’s singing from the experience of him and a woman in love and things like that. All of my father’s songs are personal, very personal. They are something that has happened to him; that has gone on in his life.

On her own writing influences…

It’s usually just everyday life, things that go on in life. People are some of the best subjects for writing a song. We’ve got a song; it’s called The Art of Divorce. I don’t know if you’ve heard it but it talks about people getting married quickly, and then a couple years later their divorcing and there’s a child involved. The parents are in there screaming and hollering and nobody cares what’s going on with the child. You know, stuff like that. Then there’s the old Sneak Around song, let’s do something even if it’s wrong. And we sit and watch television and they may say a line or a fraise and we’ll say, that sounds like a song and you go write. But usually it’ll come sometimes from personal experiences. Like there’s a gentleman who writes for us and he’s gone on, his name is Angel Sal. And there were a couple of his songs that I do called Drowning in your Love and Receipt to Sing the Blues. Both are strong, but it was because of my struggle trying to get to where I am that I thought that was really a good song for me. Receipt to Sing the Blues. I’ve earned my receipt, I can sing the blues. So you know, you get your ideas and inspiration from not only everyday life but you get them from your life, from other people. We’re all like a collective consciousness. Everything that happens to one person doesn’t just happen to that one person it’s probably happening to somebody else too. We’re all in this together, so whatever you write about, somebody can relate to [it].

On the direction of her new album…

You know, [the album] is going to be kind of eclectic. Like I said, I’m going to do some of the old Lead Belly stuff, and that’s really way back there. I lost my son back in 1991 and there’s a song that’s going to be on there dedicated to him. And that’s kind of an acoustic song. It’s building, right now I don’t really have a theme. I might want to call it, maybe it’ll be called Zakiya Hooker: Eclectic. (Laughing) Yeah, now that I mention it, hey, it’s kind of eclectic blues.

On her last visit to Canada…

It’s been a while, it’s been a while since I’ve been to (western) Canada. But I was up in Ontario in May, there used to be a club called Dollar Bill and Dan Aykroyd, invited me up there to be on a show. Because the club, Dollar Bill’s was a very famous club back in the day, and a lot of people played there and my dad was one of the people. And so they wanted to do a CD for charity to raise money for children’s hospital. So they called me to get permission and I gave permission and then they told Peter to see if I could come up to be a special guest on the show, you know to make an appearance and such. So I went up and performed up there.

On her favourite person to perform with…

You know, Charles Brown. Charles Brown! I did a show with him and he was just the most charming person. I have this picture of my head laying on his chest. I’m just happy, he’s just a wonderful guy. But I loved Charles Brown’s singing, you know? Black Night! (Laughing) It would be Charles Brown. That has been… it was over 20 years ago.

On her upcoming visit to Vancouver…

I like it a lot, Vancouver it’s a beautiful place. I have friends up there, who I’ll be seeing while I’m up there. As a matter of fact I’ve got to get in touch with them. I’ve gotten in touch with one of them and I’ve let her know and she’s already, when you getting here, when you getting here!?  So I get to see and visit friends while I’m up there. And just, connect again. And I get to see the Anthropology Museum while I’m up there.  I did get to see it but I didn’t get to see the whole thing while I was there last time.

On what to expect from Music on the Grill…

Well if I do anything from the new album it’ll probably just be with my guitarist. Because the band, I mean I didn’t send those songs to them. But I’ll probably work on them and I’m learning to play the songs on guitar now so if I’m good enough I’ll play them. If not, FEDE will play them. (Laughing) I don’t want to have another experience where I get so sick, I have to leave the stage! But what my show does is, I come on and I perform and then Chris is also a part of my show. He comes on and I introduce him to the audience, because I want to really start booking him and managing him. Because he does a different show than I do. Then, after he does his thing I’ll come back. It’s got a different type of feel for a show. People like that.

Learn more about Zakiya Hooker, find out about her upcoming Canadian shows and buy her albums here.

Music on the Grill with Zakiya Hooker featuring Chris James. concludes Saturday, August 9th. Tickets are $52 for dinner and a concert, or $32 for a concert only. Subscriptions and group rates are available. Contact the Box Office at 604-927-6555, or buy tickets online at www.evergreenculturalcentre.ca.

With a mixture of folk, country, jazz and even classical music, Carli and Julie Kennedy embody everything Music on the Grill is about. Their acoustic stylings and beautiful duets will remind remind fans of some of their favourite female performers in country music, with a refreshing twist. We had a chance to sit down with Carli and Julie over the phone from their home on Vancouver Island. As you might imagine, speaking to identical twins with almost identical voices on the phone can get a bit confusing, especially since, as sisters who work and live together do, they are prone to finishing each other’s sentences. With that in mind, their similar vocals might make for tough journalism, but they make for excellent harmonies…

On growing up with music and learning their craft…

Carli:

We had lots of music in our house all the time, my dad grew up playing in bands and he plays guitar and sings and my parents have lots of jam nights with our friends over playing music together. I think that’s what first instilled the love of music in us for sure, and I mean from the time we could talk, we have family videos of us at 3 years old putting on shows in the living room. I think my parents said they knew early on that we were going to be performers. The music thing was always part of the Kennedy family so as soon as we turned 5, we started taking piano lessons and we didn’t look back.

On performing in front of bigger and bigger crowds…

Carli:

Every performer, it depends on the night, gets nervous sometime. We like to call it “being excited” because it really is the fun time for us and we love sharing our music with audiences and we love being on stage. Of course sometimes we get nervous but mostly, it’s a lot of fun for us.

Julie:

When you’re touring you’re on the stage so much you get used to the excitement and if the adrenaline isn’t there you kind of miss it. I’ve had nights when I’ve wished I was a little bit nervous so it gives you this excitement. Athletes say that to before a competition, you want the adrenaline to fuel you.

On their unique brand of country, jazz and classical music…

Carli:

We call it “Classical Country” so that’s us. Because we started out playing with our family we had family jams with mostly country music and folk tunes and that was our introduction to music and that’s our true roots. We took music lessons, we were mostly studying classical music and we did our Bachelor’s degree in classical music in the University of Victoria, so now we’re back to country. So in this show you’ll get a little taste of everything.

On their inspiration and giving fans what they want…

Julie:

Our history and study of music has been a big part of everything we grew up listening to, it all combines to what we create now and what become our show. Another big influence is our audience and our fans because were really involved online and we have a dedicated fan base on Twitter and Facebook and we’ve been spending the last 2-3 years touring all over Canada and the States. We gain feedback and what people say to us is that they just love this unique combination, the little bit of classical and jazz that you throw into our country show, so we kept throwing into that because that’s what people enjoy in our shows. We’ve actually arranged a special tunes where people can come up and request specific songs, I know that some of the people have asked for a tune a while ago will hopefully be there so we can fulfill their request.

Carli:

[A two way communication] is what music is, you want to be involved and feel like you’re part of the show. All of our fans and listeners, they become friends to us. In ever city we visit, we build that relationship and it’s a pretty special thing to build a community everywhere you visit. We have this responsibility to keep fulfilling the requests.

Julie:

We want to have an open conversation, we want to talk about things that matter to us, our family, love, small town roots. We all live in BC and we all know it’s the most beautiful place in the world and that influences our music because we’re west coast girls and we want to sing about our experience. If we can have a shared experience with people who are listening and they can relate to that, that’s the goal.

On performing together and keeping it in the family…

Julie:

We started out in a family band in our hometown playing together and that was our true introduction to being musicians. We performed in every community event, my dad and mom and us carted around the music gear and we learned the behind the scene real quick. Carli and I were totally hooked.

Carli:

We never questioned it, we realize how lucky we are to always have known what we want to do. We always knew music was going to be our career, we didn’t know exactly how it would turn out. As I said we went to university and studied classical and absolutely love that style of music and love where that took us. We had a lot of years of each of us working individually on our instruments, Julie plays violin and I play guitar. We always loved the most, playing together, so we would find ways to perform duets or write music together for special programs for the school. We were always finding our true love when we were performing as a duo.

Julie:

We didn’t think too hard about it, as soon as we graduated we went straight to the studio and did our first DP and it wasn’t even a question. We live together and work together and we’re best friends, and I think we really ever questioned it.

Carli:

When we were 8 years we started violin and guitar, we didn’t know how well it would go together but we made it our duo and its become our sound and the fact that our voices are similar worked out.

On their upcoming album due out next spring…

Julie:

We are actually heading into the studio this summer, right now were in pre-production. We’re picking all the new songs and the new album will be coming out in the Spring of next year. Our first single will be released at the end of 2014.

Carli:

We have been travelling back and forth from Nashville, we’ve been writing with a lot of our favourite co-writers down there. We can’t wait to finally share it…

Julie:

The album will be a continuation of what we’ve been doing as artists and the message that we’ve been sharing in our past music that audiences can expect to see. More development in our variety of influences, we’re going to try to bring that into the country genre. We have a lot of new tunes that people haven’t heard and a few that we’ve had a lot of feedback from previous songs that fans have been asking for.

Carli:

We’ve got a couple in the works [for the title] and you can expect it to probably be something happy. You have so many influences writing songs so there will be a real mix on there so we hope there’s something for everybody.

On their upcoming show in Coquitlam…

Julie:

We’re west coast girls so any performances we can do in our home province is an absolute pleasure. We love performing at home. We met some of the organizers at one of the provincial showcases in Canada. They have showcases for Canadian artists and international artists that are performing and touring. They heard us at an Alberta showcase and we connected with the organizers right away, that night, and they said they would love to have us. We’re just so excited to be there, good food, music, good people—I don’t think we can go wrong! We’ll also be bringing our Victoria band so it’s going to be a really good time.

Carli:

Our show is family friendly, its going to be an upbeat and entertaining evening. We have a four-piece group so it’s guitar, fiddle, base, and procession/drums. Julie and I switch around instruments as well. They can expect a lot of sibling harmonies and just a fun, all ages show that’s going to celebrate summer in Coquitlam!

Learn more about Carli Kennedy & Julie Kennedy, find out about their upcoming shows and album here.

Music on the Grill returns July 19th, this Saturday, but even if you miss this weekend’s festivities there is still one more evenings of great entertainment on August 9^th with Zakiya Hooker featuring Chris James. Tickets are $52 for dinner and a concert, or $32 for a concert only. Subscriptions and group rates are available. Contact the Box Office at 604-927-6555, or buy tickets online at www.evergreenculturalcentre.ca.

Friday and Saturday night, July 5^th & 6^th, the Evergreen Cultural Centre and Greenline Dental present the first section of Music on the Grill; a fantastic evening of live music and great barbecue right here in Coquitlam. Music on the Grill is one of Coquitlam’s most popular summer events and Friday’s first show is already sold out. A second show was added Saturday evening, so check for tickets here.

This year Babe Gurr opens for Jim Byrnes in what promises to be an unforgettable evening out for lovers of blues and folk music. We got to chat with Babe and Jim to discuss their passion for music and their latest work.

Babe Gurr

Babe Gurr is the opening act at this year’s Music on the Grill. Her sultry voice and unique writing are influenced by blues and folk spliced creatively with influence from Spanish, Italian, Middle-Eastern and Brazilian music to name a few. We talked with Babe on the phone about her upcoming album Side Dish, her influences and what fans can expect from her performance at Evergreen Cultural Centre this weekend.

On how Babe found her love for music…

“I just started to really appreciate music at a young age, my parents aren’t musicians but they are avid fans of music and so I grew up listening to a lot of their jazz albums but then of course ventured into rock and roll myself, and then it evolved from there into all types of music and bands that I played in.”

On what influences and inspires her writing…

“I’d say the inspiration I draw from so many variety of things in my life, it can be about my own life, it can be drawn from books I’m reading, from even a TV show for example I have a song on my new album called “the whip” and it was actually inspired by the show “House of Cards” its a brilliant show. “

On her unique combination of music styles…

“When I was learning the ropes of the music industry I played in all types of bands before I started writing my own music. It isn’t truly a conscious effort, I just write from my heart and I love all types of music or most types of music. I think a lot of the world beats have come from my travels because I’ve travelled a lot and I’m always fascinated with the music of the country that I’m in and the rhythm inspires me a lot and I think (the album) Side Dish was inspired by that… I’ve also been to Spain and all over Europe but I was recently in Turkey and that inspired the more middle-eastern rhythms and then I would throw in some tunes that are sometimes pulling from the more Klezmer-style (Yiddish-style) of music too. I think music in a melting pot for the world to embrace and I think it breaks down all boundaries and borders and that’s why I like blending styles.

On her last album, Side Dish…

“It actually came about through wanting to learn a song in Italian just for fun because I was doing a lot of folk festivals that particular summer and I thought I would through an Italian song just for a kick. So I played an Italian song and people were asking for more of that style and then they’re saying you should do like that and put an album out. I thought well, my sound was more blues/roots but if I put an album called Side Dish, which means it’s a kind of a side dish to my entrée which is the roots/blues-y pop sound then I’ve got this side dish of world beats I could pull it off and get away with it. And then it turned out that it’s gone over really well and people are really liking when I disperse my normal roots-y sound with these tunes. I think if you play one style all night sometimes it can get a little boring for people and maybe there are people of different ethnicities sitting in the audience and they appreciate hearing something that reminds them of home.”

On her new album, Hearts Up To The Sun…

“[The new album] is a different game, it pulls more from the blues-y stuff and I’ve got a lot of horns on it. I’ve always used horns here and there throughout my music. It has a slightly different direction, although its still me, there’s a consistent thread from one album to another, I think it’s my melody and my voice.  It’s going to be called Hearts Up To The Sun. It’s a derivative of a song on the album called Throw Your Hearts Up To The Sun, but that was too long of a name. It’s a song that based on telling a friend that’s having a tough time that we’re going to go away and go to a nice sunny vacation. I’ve fallen in love with California and I visit there often and I love what the sun can do to your spirit. I love the west coast but the rain gets to me after a while…”

On Music on the Grill…

“I’ve done [Music on the Grill] before, about 3 years back and it was a fun experience and they asked us to do it again and we said yes. It was a great time and a nice audience… I’ll be coming with a great group, not my full band but I often play with this quartet. David Sinclair will be playing guitar. He’s really quite amazing, he’s played with K.D. Lang and toured with Sarah McLachlan and Tom Neville will be on violin and bass and Nick Apivor will be playing on percussion and maybe some keyboard… I will play 5 tunes off the new CD (Hearts Up To The Sun) and mix it up a bit with some tunes from Side Dish as well.”

Find out More About Babe Gurr’s upcoming shows Here.

Jim Byrnes

Following Babe Gurr is Music on the Grill’s first headliner, Jim Byrnes. The Juno-winning, multi-talented blues icon is also a longtime Vancouver resident. His smoky, soulful vocals are synonymous with today’s blues scene and Jim has also had a successful career as an actor in film and television. We were excited to talk to the local legend about his beginnings in blues in Missouri, his foray into country music, his acting career and living in Vancouver.

On Jim’s beginnings in St. Louis, Missouri…

“I got quite a incredible musical education as a kid which I didn’t really realize at the time but it was just on the radio and then you’d go out on my way­ to school, you’d pass all these places that had blues people and R n B people were surrounded and Chuck Barry lived in my neighborhood. We would go as a teenager, there was ­­a bowling alley in my neighborhood, the Imperial lanes and attached to it was called the Club Imperial and they would have teen nights and the house band there was Ike and Tina Turner. Music was part of my family, my mom used to love to sing and they encouraged both my sister and I to take piano lessons in Kindergarten. Music was part of what we did and as a boy, I had a soprano voice and I used to get featured at concerts at church. Singing has been an important part of my life always and growing up, surrounded by blues music I kind of gravitated that way but I love all types of music. I’m not the type of person that has to be into the blues, music comes from the heart and soul and I love it. When you’re a kid you don’t realize what you’re getting, but it was part of my childhood and teengage-hood when I finally started playing the guitar and it had a huge influence.”

On how he writes and collaborates on music…

“The really best songs come to you from somewhere else. If you sit and have to take too long to change this and that, it doesn’t really have the flow. Sometimes the best songs I’ve written are something I’ve written down on a napkin in a restaurant in 5 or 10 minutes, lyrically anyway.  Sometimes I’ll have the idea of the music in my head and I’ll put the two together. Sometimes I’ll have an idea of what I want it to sound like but I’ll take it to other artists. Over the years I’ve had a number of collaborators. I will have an idea of something and they will bring their musical talent and we’ll put together a collaboration and turn it into a great song.”

On finding inspiration through travel and being direct…

“In my film career we’ve been to a lot of places in Europe and I found that I wrote my best tunes like when I was working in Paris because I would think about everything and make it as simple and to the point as I could so you could convey the message. When you’re in a new country you’re trying to learn their language and then you go back and figure out what you’re really trying to say. Going back, the best music I’ve written has been in foreign lands. When you think about Hemmingway, his greatest skill was writing in simple, declarative sentences. Other great writers use flowers and the language and I love that too. But there’s something I really like about simple and declarative sentences and what am I really trying to say. Part of it is I’ve got to a certain age where I’m really not trying to impress any more, you get a point where you really want to convey that. We are a shared humanity and shared emotions that we all find important and that we feel, and that’s what I’m trying to get at.”

On his foray into country music…

“[Country] was something I grew up, for example on my country album I do the song the Marty Robins song Big Iron, that song came out when I was 12 years old. I would sit with my guitar in the basement and I would try to play along and pretend that I was performing it, so all these years later I decided to record it. It was something that I grew up with and it’s really close to the heart. They tell really good stories and it’s about finding our common humanity. I’m not trying to make hit records or make it to the cover of the Rolling Stone, I just want to share with people my love for certain music. We were on the road and sticking in all sorts of music, and some music came on and I was like, I love this stuff, lets make a record and it was a decision we made that way. I’m just trying to share my love and I know a lot of people share that same love. I’m at the point where I just want to do what I want instead of pleasing a record company. I’m just digging into my soul and sharing that with people.”

On his second career as an actor…

“A lot of people don’t know but I majored in Theatre in university and my focus when I was young I wanted to be an actor and then I had this accident and I lost both my legs and I couldn’t get hired, it was always like “don’t call us, we’ll call you” but I’m quite stubborn and I kept at it and in the meantime I developed a career in music. A lot of people think I just fell into the acting thing but it was all part of my plan. In 1987, I landed a part in the tv series Wise Guy, it was a great show with a cult following and then I got hired on Highlander, they promised me 4 episodes and I ended up being on the show for 5 years…”

On which he prefers, acting or music?

People ask me what do I like more but it’s like asking me which one of my kids I love the most. As an actor, I’m not trying to impress anyone I’m trying to find that human bond that we all share so these are different ways to a similar goal; I find acting and music intertwined. They are unique but have the same goal. Film is a lot different than stage acting, (which is) like performing live. You can’t yell cut or try it again (in film). You can sometimes act things out that you can’t express in music and vice versa. When you’re live, you give out your emotion and energy and the audience feeds you back with their emotion and energy and it becomes a larger than the sum of it’s parts.”

On living in Vancouver…

“I came (to Vancouver) to go the hospital when I first lost my legs for prosthetics and rehab and I fell in love with the city and people we good to me and accepted me, and I came back to life here so I give back. And my wife was raised in Vancouver so this is our home. I still go back to St. Louis, I have lots of family there—I was the only one that left and I get to travel between the music and the acting and I’ve been around the world to enjoy and appreciate other cultures. But there’s something about getting off the plane in Vancouver and it’s a great place to be. If I had the money, it would be nice to have a place in New York or Paris or Barcelona, but there’s nothing like Vancouver, which is what keeps me coming back.”

On Music on the Grill…

“There’re a lot of people I used to see in the clubs downtown, people have moved from the city and then I’ll go to these shows and there’s a lot of people I haven’t seen in years and it’s nice that we can still get together and make music and have fun and it’s a great chance to make new friends too. It’s nice that people move away and can still get together and jam to great music. We’ll mix it up (at Music on the Grill), we’ll do some blues, country and gospels. I like to tell stories about the song of how I wrote it or something about the artist’s backgrounds or I tell some jokes. I like it to the a situation where we’re sitting around the campfire, I like to create that intimacy and that’s what we will attempt to do and I think it’ll work out really well. People are there to hear the music so we plan to take them on a journey.”

Find out More About Jim Byrnes upcoming shows Here.

Music on the Grill’s first set of evenings with Babe Gurr and Jim Byrnes is this weekend, but even if you miss this weekend’s festivities there are still two more evenings of great entertainment on July 19^th with Carlie and Julie Kennedy and August 9^th with Zakiya Hooker feat. Chris James. Tickets are $52 for dinner and a concert, or $32 for a concert only. Subscriptions and group rates are available. Contact the Box Office at 604-927-6555, or buy tickets online at www.evergreenculturalcentre.ca.

1) Talk to your dentist

If you are going to overcome dental fears, you need to be able to talk about them with your dentist. If you don’t feel like you can trust or relate to your current dentist, find one who meshes with your personality in a better way. Discuss your dental fears until there is nothing left to say about them, and find out the reassuring truth behind them. A good dentist will be patient with you and will be able to explain procedures in terms that you understand.

2) Ask for further help

If mere discussions with your dentist don’t allay your dental fears, don’t be too embarrassed to ask for help. There are anxiety treatments that may be suitable for you, and your dentist will be able to tell you all about their dental office’s particular treatments for dental fears.

3) Strategize with your dentist

If the aforementioned loss of control is one of your biggest dental fears, you can take back some of the control by making a plan with your dentist. For example, a common agreement between dentists and patients with dental fears is that you can raise your hand if you want the dentist to immediately be alerted to any increase in pain, discomfort or panic that you feel.

4) Make sure your dentist keeps you in the loop

Even once you have found out more information about your dental fears, actually going though a procedure can bring these dental fears back to the forefront of your mind as you struggle to remember what will happen next. Your dentist can help you with this by explaining each step of the necessary procedure, making sure it all makes sense to you.

Restoring the Bite with Teeth Grinding Repairs: Strong, Functional Dental Crowns

One of the cosmetic dentistry procedures commonly used as part of a treatment plan revolving around teeth grinding repairs is the dental crown. Matched to the patient’s existing tooth color and fitted to the tooth in question, a dental crown protects the remaining tooth structure against decay and breakage. Unfortunately, the crown is still at risk of becoming worn down due to grinding. Therefore, a nighttime mouth guard is recommended to protect the crown that has been placed as part of the patient’s teeth grinding repairs.

Restoring the Smile with Teeth Grinding Repairs: Attractive Porcelain Veneers

If a patient grinds the anterior (front) teeth, it might be necessary to incorporate teeth grinding repairs that can restore their appearance. In this situation, porcelain veneers can be used to repair the damage. The veneers are used to hide visible damage by restoring a pleasing appearance to the teeth that looks natural and matches the existing tooth coloration.

Repairing Lost Fillings with Teeth Grinding Repairs: Durable, Functional Onlays

Teeth with fillings are more susceptible to cracking and breaking when a person consistently grinds their teeth. This is due to the fact that these teeth have already been weakened by decay. It is possible that the fillings might fall out of the teeth as they experience bigger fractures and the loss of more tooth surface due to chipping and breakage. In this scenario, the teeth grinding repairs will involve the use of onlays unless the tooth is so severely damaged that crowns are necessary.

Set Realistic Goals

The key to achieving your goals is to set a realistic goal in the first place. A realistic foundation about what you can achieve this year could increase your chances of success. Don’t try to clean the whole house, just focus on specific areas that need the most attention. Set your priority list according to what area would make you the happiness to see clean. Part of setting realistic goals is having a clear understanding of your capabilities. Knowing what you can and cannot do in a certain timeframe can help you set goals according to the time you have to dedicate to them. For example, if you can only clean on the weekends, then the amount that you can accomplish needs to realistically reflect that. If you’re unsure about whether your goals are realistic, check with someone who knows you really well. The people around you can provide insight to how realistic your goals are because they know you the best. A spouse or child will know your ability and be able to let you know whether your goals are achievable in the time frame.

Here’s a helpful check-list to help you set your goals for this year’s spring cleaning!

Don’t Procrastinate

Now that you’ve set your goals, don’t procrastinate. Life gets in the way and we always think we can do everything later –  but in reality we procrastinate, which makes us feel overwhelmed with the amount of work we have to do in a short time frame. The key to not procrastinating is to create smaller to-dos from your goal and get them done in chunks. Assign deadlines to each task so you know how long you have to complete it. If you’re determined to complete a big spring cleaning project, then make sure you dedicate the time to do it. This may involve mean staying in on weekends and week nights to get this done.

Involve your family in the spring cleaning process too! If your children and spouse would like to help, give them certain to-dos to help share the load. Your family can also help you be accountable by being aware of what needs to get done by what deadline.

Reward Yourself

Don’t forget to reward yourself when you’ve completed a task. Cleaning can be a lot of work so a reward can also give you a break and allow you to relax. You don’t have to reward yourself with anything big –  even a glass of wine or watching an episode of your favourite TV show will do the trick! Rewarding yourself can keep you motivated to take the next step towards completing your spring cleaning project.

We hope these tips helped you with your spring cleaning projects this year! Leave a comment under the Facebook post for this blog if you have any more tips to add.

Plaque and Early Cancer Risks: The Connection

The practice of good oral hygiene habits helps to minimize the growth of plaque and bacteria in the mouth. Plaque is the film that forms over the tooth’s surface. If left there, it turns into tartar and increases the risk of growing bacteria. The bacteria are believed to be the root of some of the problems with a person’s health. Plaque and early cancer risks are gaining the reputation of going hand-in-hand.

Plaque and Early Cancer Risks: Does Poor Oral Health Mean Poor Overall Health?

If a patient fails in caring properly for the teeth and soft tissues of the mouth, one could assume that this individual also has poor overall health patterns in place. If a person doesn’t make the effort to keep the teeth clean, isn’t it reasonable to assume that this individual also fails at caring for other important health issues, such as diet, exercise, and the avoidance of known carcinogens? The relevance of looking at plaque and early cancer risks is becoming more and more apparent as researchers discover results that back up their hypotheses.

Plaque and Early Cancer Risks: Diet

Poor dentition is often the result of poor diet, a circumstance that can also affect a person’s overall health adversely. One can only wonder what a high sugary intake is doing to the body if it is causing dental decay. If plaque and early cancer risks go together, it would be best to incorporate a strong oral hygiene routine into one’s life that includes the avoidance of poor dietary choices.

Plaque and Early Cancer Risks: An Ounce of Prevention

If plaque and early cancer risks are related, the wisdom of using a little preventative caution is readily apparent. Why take a chance if you can proactively minimize your risk of developing systemic diseases by taking better care of your teeth?

City Centre Aquatic Complex

The benefits of swimming for over 55 are endless! The best part about swimming is that it’s easy on your joints. Activities such as running and jumping can be hard on your bones and potentially cause fractures and other injuries. Swimming doesn’t put stress on your bones and joints and provides enough resistance to give you a good cardiovascular workout. Swimming can also improve your flexibility, give you better posture, improve your balance and lower your risk of osteoporosis.

The City Centre Aquatic Complex is right across the street from City Hall and provides swimming and fitness training for all ages. Try lane swimming to exercise at your own pace. There are different lanes for different speeds, so you can choose which one would be best suited for your exercise needs. The City Centre Aquatic Complex also has a range of aerobic classes for different exercise styles such as AquaFit, AquaFit Zumba and Aqua Boot Camp.  If you’re over 65, you can get a discount on your admission fee too.

Check out this Aquatic complex on 1210 Pinetree Way in Coquitlam –  it’s open 7 days a week!

Town Centre Park

Taking regular walks is a great form of exercise if you’re over 55. A pedometer is a great way to measure your daily steps to make sure you’re walking a lot during the day. It’s amazing what a walk can do! Just a 15-minute walk can lower your blood sugar and when it comes to your heart, walking is just as good as running. It provides great cardiovascular exercise for your heart and can strengthen your muscles over time. Walking can reduce anxiety, especially for women going through menopause. When you do any type of cardiovascular exercise, it releases endorphins that help you feel great.

If you live in the Coquitlam area, check out the Stadium Loop at the Town Centre Park. If you enjoy more scenery, take a walk around Lafarge Lake for a great view of the lake and forest as you walk along the track. These trails will make your workout go by quicker as you to get some fresh air while you enjoy the natural beauty of Coquitlam.

Bikram Yoga

Yoga has many benefits for your overall health, especially if you’re over 55. Regular yoga boosts energy, increases flexibility, reduces aches and makes you feel great. Yoga allows you to connect with the muscles in your body and your breath, making you feel more balanced and at peace. If you’ve never tried yoga before, we would definitely recommend that you try it at least once. Leave us a comment and let us know what you think!

Bikram Yoga is great for all ages and ability and each class lasts up to 90 minutes each. Each of the 16 postures and 2 breathing exercises is designed to stretch each muscle group, ligaments and joints. The Bikram Yoga Studio in Coquitlam is located on 108-3000 Lougheed Highway. This facility offers everything you need for your regular Bikram yoga practice from a lounge area, changing rooms and the hot room. There’s also convenient parking in the Westwood Mall parking lot and underground at the Superstore parking lot.

Pinetree Community Centre

Weight training is a great way to strengthen your muscles and improve your balance. Remember to understand your limitations, especially if you’ve had injuries in the past. We recommend visiting your doctor before starting an exercise routine to make sure it’s the right routine for you. Make sure you start slow with weight training and do the basics, don’t rush into an exercise that you don’t feel too comfortable with as you could potentially injure yourself. If you’re over 55, it’s never too late. You can build muscle and burn body fat at any age.

At the Pinetree Community Centre, there’s an entire weight training room that focuses on different parts of the body. On each machine are specific instructions on how to use it, make sure you read the description right before trying any machine. Using a machine improperly can lead to injury if you’re over 55. Check out this weight room and other exercising facilities at 1260 Pinetree Way in Coquitlam. The Pinetree Community Centre staff would be happy to answer any questions you have about your personal fitness needs.

Lululemon

We’re excited to have Lululemon in Coquitlam Centre! Lululemon was founded here in Vancouver in 1998 and has become a widely recognized brand and leader for yoga practices and work out wear. If you’re over 55, check out their yoga classes in Coquitlam Centre. Lululemon hosts many in-store events, including self-defence and yoga classes. We’ve already spoke about the benefits of yoga above for your balance, posture and your muscle strength.

The next time you’re at Greenline Dental Centre, check out Lululemon and see if they’re hosting a yoga class. Their classes are hosted every week and the best part is, its complementary! If you’re wondering where they get the space from, they push aside all their store item so they can have a class in the centre of their store. It’s a unique experience to try and a great way to exercise if you’re over 55. Try it out and leave a comment to let us know how it went. Lululemon is located on the upper floor of Coquitlam Centre, near Target and Old Navy.

Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex

The Poirier Sport and Leisure Complex offers some unique ways to exercise if you’re over 55. Located at 633 Poirier Street in Coquitlam, this complex’s ice, aquatic and fitness facilities offer some great ways for you to get a great cardiovascular exercise. If you’ve been skating before and you feel quite comfortable with it, then strap on some skates and head to this rink. Ice-skating is a great form of exercise that’s unique and fun to do with family and friends. The Poirier Complex offers exercise classes that can be great for your joints and muscles. This complex also offers a fitness facility if you’re looking to do weight training or general cardiovascular exercises. If any of these exercises appeal to you, check this community centre out today!

The Poirier Sport & Leisure Complex also offers free swim days on Sunday, April 6 and May 4^th from 7:00-9:00pm. Skate for free too on Saturdays, March 15^th, April 26^th, May 17^th and June 21^st. Leave a comment and let us know how your experience was!