Jully Black Heats Up Vancouver

Canada

Jully Black Heats Up Vancouver

Mon., Jul. 21, 2008 11:30 AM PDT by Rebecca Bollwitt

jullyblack.com

Celebrating diversity, not only our everyday life but also when it comes to entertainment and culture, is paramount. Multiple musical events taking place around Metro Vancouver this weekend allowed us all to revel in the vast musical landscape around us—and also brought some big names to stages around the region.

One artist that came through town this weekend is helping to put Canada on the R&B map and enjoying a great deal of success in the process - especially in Vancouver, which traditionally has had more of a role in the alternative and grunge music scenes.

Jully Black, the singer-songwriter acclaimed as our country’s new “R&B Queen, took the stage on Sunday night headlining the three-day long Fusion Festival, playing for screaming fans and leaving with many more.

Black has had Top 40 hits in Canada, and has written for and collaborated with other renowned artists in the genre such as: Nas, Missy Elliott, Destiny's Child, and Sean Paul. Last summer her single, “Seven Day Fool” became her first Top 10 hit in Canada and she took home the Juno for R&B/Soul Recording of the Year in February 2008.

Festival goers had the chance to experience drum groups, Acadian, mariachi, a capella and Brazilian musical stylings throughout the weekend (just to name a few). Despite the fact that the tens of thousands of spectators might have been tuckered out from dancing along with the Celtic bands, that didn’t stop anyone from moving their feet when Black took the stage. There were even those who simply showed up to the Festival to catch her soulful performance.

Aside from the Fusion Festival this weekend, Metro Vancouverites also enjoyed the Folk Music Festival at Jericho Beach, which featured performances by Aimee Mann, Hayley Sales and Ozomatli, as well as the Whistler Music Festival with Elvis Costello & the Imposters, Bedouin Soundclash, Broken Social Scene and more.