By Stephanie Fleming
Fernie is lucky enough to have bands of all genres flowing through our little town. Some make you tap your toes, some make you swing your hips and some make you clap your hands while grinning uncontrollably. On Friday night at the Royal, Tambura Rasa promises to do all that and more as it brings its unique blend of multicultural fusion beats and rhythms to the stage and beyond.
The Vancouver based collective was founded by Serbian born Ivan Tucakov, with their first album 'Sunrise on a new world' having been released in 2004. Since then, mixes of their music have appeared on Cafe Del Mar releases and they were nominated for World Recording of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards in 2010 and 2011.
It is impossible to box Tambura Rasa into a genre, with them dipping into Spanish, African, Latin and Gypsy styles. Tambura Rasa have definitely built a reputation for big festival and theatre shows using flamboyant flamenco and belly dancers to transport their audiences through time and across continents. These festivals include The Vancouver Jazz Festival, the BC renowned Nakusp Music Festival and the Kelowna and Surrey Fusion festivals where like-minded musicians come together to celebrate cultural fusion in Canada.
Despite their festival notoriety, the collective, currently on a tour of BC, looks forward to playing in smaller spaces. “There is something about the intimate experience both a band and the audience get at smaller venue concerts,” they said.
On Friday, July 20 the Royal will literally be transformed for the night, with exotic lighting and decor creating an intimate space that will allow Tambura Rasa to guide the audience on a journey spanning musical genres and global influences. Oh and did I mention there will be belly dancing?
“Tambura Rasa is one of my number one picks of bands in the three years I've been booking live entertainment. They are of big festival level and I am very excited to have the chance to have them perform at The Royal,” said Julie Comete, operator at the Royal. Tickets are available pre-sale for $8 from The Tipple Liquor store and Hempire or $10 on the night. Doors open at 9 p.m. so don't miss what is sure to be one of the shows of the summer.