The 2011 Global Music Fest event will feature numerous local musicians and interactive performance groups showcasing their original music. This year’s headliner is slam poet Shane Koyczan from Penticton. Joining the event will be humanitarian non-profit organizations making a difference in the world with information display tables about their organizations for guests to enjoy during the music. Between performance sets these ethnic and cultural groups will be doing short presentations sharing information on the work that they do internationally.  Also performing: Cameron Welch, Ryan Donn and the Malibu Knights.

Tickets available at Leo’s Video (2680 Pandosy St.) $12 now $15 at the door, Laurel Packinghouse,1304 Ellis St. Doors at 7pm

the Flu is a 4 piece post-hardcore band from Kelowna, BC, Canada. The band consists of Steven “Felix” Roberts (Vocals, Guitar), Alex Nuyten (Bass), Jonny Karroll (Guitar), and Andrew Reed (Drums). Originally formed in 2007 during middle school by childhood friends Alex and Felix, the duo had been writing and performing under the moniker Normal Apple for several years beforehand. After experimenting through their grade school years with numerous musicians and musical genres including Punk, Blues, Funk, and Jazz, the band had established their lineup and post-hardcore sound in 2010. Originally members of separate local bands, Andrew Reed and Jonny Karroll became acquainted through the Okanagan music scene, and later joined the Flu due to their respective band’s breakups coupled with the Flu’s desire for a new sound. The two would meet Felix, who later introduced both to Alex Nuyten, through work relations, and joined the band as the four became closer friends. Combined with Karroll’s previous years of experience gigging across Western Canada, Reed’s years of invaluable recording and digital media education, and Felix and Nuyten’s long history of writing and performing together, the Flu has since moved to become a more polished and professional band, writing music as an evolution of their numerous influences. The most notable influences on the four include Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, and Alexisonfire. The four also enjoy their own personal influences, as far ranging as rock artist Gerry Rafferty, or classical pianist Erik Satie. Such a wide variety of influences can be explained by the Flu’s wide participation in several other musical groups both now and in the past. Such avenues include current performing act Intimate Evenings (Jonny Karroll) and several gigging Jazz ensembles of which Felix, Nuyten, and Karroll have all been members of at separate times. Each member also expresses a wide interest in digital media and looks to exploit these mediums as much as possible, especially via social media. Soon after forming, the Flu made sure to take advantage of the Internet and spread themselves through their comedy-information videos named “Couchisodes”. Each Couchisode acts as a personal way of informing the public about band news and future plans, and offers multiple shots of band-life. And so the Flu hopes not only to entertain by this means, but also let listeners know more about the members themselves. the Flu continues to work at writing, performing, and publishing music, and looks to enjoy their close bond, musical talent and knowledge, and marketability well into the future… http://www.myspace.com/theflu http://www.facebook.com/theFluTrio http://www.youtube.com/user/theFluOfficial http://www.twitter.com/thefluofficial

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