Meet a member of our creative community. Ainsley is a Vancouver DJ and promoter. You can catch her this Saturday at Cherchez & Co.

Hello my name is…
Ainsley Willow.

At The Waldorf I…
booty bounce and dutty wine XXX-tra faded!

When I’m not at the Waldorf I…
chill hard, in a similar way.

My favourite things about Vancouver are…
trees (landscape and lifestyle), treats (that wild local snack game), and the hooooommmmiiieeesss.

My favourite Vancouver musician…
Grimes, duh, and Watermelon.

The last book I read was…
Hunger Games.

My spirit animal is…
a stoat.

My dream Jeopardy category is…
social media psychology.

I never leave home without…
datpiff.

If you’re buying drinks, I will have…
a double caesar.

Ainsleywillow.tumblr.com

On Friday June 1, Intimate Productions, Red Bull and The Waldorf present a multiroom dance party headlined by Art Department! Here is your chance to get in for free with three friends! Art Department is the brainchild of Canadian techno/house Legend Kenny Glasgow and Canada’s fastest rising star and No.19 label owner – Jonny White. As individuals both Kenny and Jonny have released countless critically acclaimed records and are regarded internationally as two of the most forward thinking, relevant underground producers out of North America. With their joint venture Art Department, the duo have rapidly rose to the forefront of the international scene.

To enter, simply fill out the form below.

Join us on Tuesday May 22 for an Unhappy Birthday Party for Morrissey. Moz is turning 53 and the Waldorf is marking the occasion by playing Smiths and Morrissey songs all night long in the Tiki Bar. Featuring DJs Patrick Campbell and This Charmless Man. This event will also feature Smiths Karaoke so practice your favourite songs and get ready to hit the stage, take a bow, then boot the grime of this world in the crotch.

Doors at 9pm
Admission is free
Facebook event page

A nice article about artist Sarah Holtom’s residency at the Waldorf in the Westender. Read it here or below.

The reimagined Waldorf Hotel is one of those places that will be remembered in old age as the place for a vast cross-section of Vancouverites. Whether you go for the Ice Cream Socials or East Van Wine Academies (which got my parents in the door!), peek in the artists’ studios, pop by for the vintage clothing sales, a hair cut or friend’s wedding — you feel like you’re engaging in a conversation with the city. Their newsletters are works of graphic art, and driving past the line on a Saturday night for a slow scan is as much fun as lurking on their Facebook page for new event photos featuring local savants.

The community of creatives that swirls around its stylish doorways can be intimidating to the unfamiliar, but the feeling is family. When artist Sarah Holtom, a Vancouverite since falling in love during the Olympics, declared she and her betrothed could no longer afford to live in Vancouver, Graeme Berglund of The Cheaper Show moved mountains to get her the last artist residency before their moving deadline. Then they put it in that pretty newsletter and watched the magic happen.

Her “50 portraits in 15 days series” in the Black and Yellow Gallery (Room 106 at the Waldorf Hotel) boomeranged, selling out as fast as the notices arrived in our inboxes.

Former mayor Sam Sullivan (pictured) and Real Housewives’ Mary Zilba are just some of the notable faces staring boldly from the gallery wall.

The hardworking artist (she’s a teacher at Collage Collage and an artist’s assistant on Aritzia window displays) is leaving for a June residency in Ivvavik National Park in the Yukon, painting cariboo and other awesome beasts alongside her photographer fiancé, before moving into a three-bedroom homestead in Canora, Saskatchewan, that she bought for $5500. I blinked as well.

She admits that, had the portrait series happened earlier, she might have rethought her decision to leave, but the ball is rolling on this Tour de Yukon, and having heard firsthand how cool it is, I’m not surprised she chose adventure and ultimately rural Saskatchewan over one-bedroom Vancouver living. Between two artists and a dog, things were getting cozy in all the wrong ways.

She and her soon-to-be, Robert Fougere, will be piling into a 1992 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon for the trip north, and if things get cozy there, at least it’ll be memorable.

The Jasper, Alberta painter studied drawing at the Alberta College of Art, and then took a residency in Australia, heading overseas with only pencil crayons in hand. It wasn’t until she won a set of oil paints that her knack for colours and lack of traditional patience supernova’d into Sarah Holtom: painting from life (SarahHoltom.com).

She’s pretty rad. I’d know, because my boyfriend and I sat for portrait #23 for two hours and learned all about her. I also know she’s a great girl, because one of her old roommates is doing her a solid and bringing his band to her wedding. That it happens to be The Albertans just makes it more special for the guests. Oh, and all the money she makes from this portrait show is going straight into her wedding fund. Aww.

What I’ll remember forever about this interview is how comfortable she made us feel. We listened to love songs on All Time Favourites AM 650 (she swears what the DJs spin influences the end result). She had been painting three portraits a day since May 3 but was absolutely delightful to spend the end of a long day of work with — her sense of humour showing through despite her concentration. Even though we were the ones gaining a work of art, she literally did a happy dance after hanging it to dry on the wall, saying that after painting all those skin tones, the right side of her brain was going, “Pew! Pew! Pew!” which either implied lasers or explosions, I wasn’t sure…

The closing of Sarah Holtom – Portrait Artist In Residence is May 18 at 7pm. All 50 portraits will be on display and rumour has it she might be opening up some more spots just for the heck of it. Email graeme@thecheapershow.com for availability.

Join us on Saturday May 26 for the Official Trouble Andrew After Party

Trouble Andrew is many things… legendary snowboarder, fashion innovator, groundbreaking music artist and business mogul, making him many things at once but his signature is style. From a professional snowboarding career that went all the way to Olympics, a cutting edge musician, songwriter, producer and a style influencer designing for the likes of Burton, Yes, Analog, Oakley, Nixon, Electric and Native Shoes. Following a successful 2011 which among many things saw the release of the album Dreams of a Troubled Man, Trouble kicked off 2012 with further creative partner deals, a signature collection in the works and new musical directions. This year also includes the launch of Trouble Gang Records with a whole roster of artists with albums dropping in 2012. Trouble Andrew is moving on up while keeping it interesting, influential and forward thinking.
www.troubleandrew.com

Presented by Cherchez La Femme

Come early for LA Hardcore Band Trash Talk

Doors at 10pm
Admission is $12
Half off with your ticket stub from Santigold
Facebook event page

The Shadow Line Gang are back! Virginia Frazer, Laure Elaine, Marc and Chris from The Vampire Bats and artist, Ronan Boyle transform the Waldorf Hideaway room into a glorious Gothic Wonderland! Hear the most authentically subterranean soundtrack of dark Post-Punk gems and 80′s Goth Classics since the Bat Cave first rattled our cages all those years ago. This time around we will also have a set from DAEVINA DEVI DOLL and a goth hair show courtesy of Babarella. The Shadow Line endeavours to meticulously recapture the atmosphere and detail of the 80′s underground subculture, so that the dark romantic trapped in us all may be free to bloom… in other words we get drunk and dance around to Alien Sex Fiend. Release the Bats!

Doors at 9pm
Facebook event page

Join us at After Dinner Mint on Thursday May 17 for the Tishomingo String Band.

After Dinner Mint is a nostalgic night of dinner, live music and dancing launching in our Nuba Café on May 10th. Come enjoy a night of dinner and dance to noteworthy musical acts featuring the styles of Jazz Manouche, Big Band, Flamenco, Rockabilly, Swing, Traditional, Balkan music and more.

About the Tishomingo String Band
The Tishomingo String Band Formed in 2002 to play bluegrass, folk and experimental music and has been active on the Vancouver folk circuit ever since. Mixing folk, classical, jazz, hip hop, rock… into their own unique vision. Their first full length album was released in the late summer of 2007. They are presently working on a new album, available soon, that will feature a much heavier and more progressive direction for the band. Tishomingo sting band is; Colin Cowan: Bass, Chris Russell: Guitar, Jacob Russell: Mandolin, Devon Wells: Banjo.

www.tishomingostringband.com

Doors at 7pm // Show starts at 8pm
Admission is $10
Facebook event page

Join us every evening between Tuesday May 15 and Saturday May 19 to see some of Vancouver’s top comedians perform live!

Tuesday May 15
Carter Hortie & Jane Stanton
Purchase advance tickets here
Doors at 7pm

Wednesday May 16
Patrick Maliha & Ivan Decker
Purchase advance tickets here
Doors at 7pm

Thursday May 17
Graham Clark & Ben McGinnis
Purchase advance tickets here
Doors at 7pm

Friday May 18
Charlie Demers & Paul Bae
Purchase advance tickets here
Doors at 7pm

Saturday May 19
Erica Sigurdson & Dylan Rhymer
Purchase advance tickets here
Doors at 7pm

Come get down with resident DJ Cherchez La Femme and friends every Saturday in the Hideaway. Non-stop dance hall, rap, club bangers and more! This week Cherchez welcomes special guest Ainsley Willow.

Doors at 10pm
Admission is $12 before 11pm

Low Indigo, in association with New Forms Festival, presents an evening of dance music headlined by Shackleton.

Shackleton
Shackleton co-runs Skull Disco. Shackleton’s maverick take on big basslines and complex beats doesn’t fit into easy categories and that’s how it’s going to stay. Shackleton has been carving out his own brand of eclecticism on Skull Disco releases so far with intricate, snaking percussion, hypnotic melodies, seriously deep bass lines and dubwise sensibilities.

Chambers
Michael Red (lighta! sound / low indigo) and GMS’ (yellow swans) live minimal dub project inspired by rhythm and sound.

Nocore
LivePA exclusively designed for this event
www.soundcloud.com/nocore

Tusk
Opening DJ set from lighta! sound member and one half of Big Feelings
www.soundcloud.com/tusk-1

Doors at 10pm
Facebook event page

10PIN Records and Leisure present and evening with 214 (Frustrated Funk, Touchin’ Bass, Hypercolour).

To sit at a table set with the sounds of 214 is to be served Hungry-man portions of honey-buttered electro beats, side dishes of synth-line treats, and dollops of IDM-get-down. Like most musicians, Chris Roman’s path is rooted in a veritable melting pot of sounds. His Puerto Rican birthright and Miami upbringing ring apparent when he’s pumping out sci-fi roller disco sounds, but when his vibe turns to the cold dark comfort of Detroit-esque minimal mind funk, it would seem this man forgets from whence he came. It’s a memory lapse that sounds like a lapdance in the side room of a space ship. More importantly, it’s a memory lapse that works. It’s not so much a lapse then as a love of diversity, a creative finesse with a variety of good tastes.

214 effortlessly blends lush Latin roots with robo-transformer trips, always maintaining a skillful balance between the nasty, the not-right, the cold, hard, and just-right — all at the same time. He’s got plenty of tricks up his proverbial record sleeve. And he’s been pulling them out for years now.

Wherever you can find it, count on 214 for premium blend electro and assorted savory flavors from the future.

With Max Ulis and Derek Dee.

http://soundcloud.com/214_electro
http://www.discogs.com/artist/214

Doors at 10pm
Facebook event page

Join us Friday May 25 for Mandy-Lyn’s House of Grind!

Come indulge with a night of grind! DJs Mandy-Lyn and Mila Franovic bring the pain with late night dose of drrrty hip hop, sexy slow jams, booty bouncing bass and songs to make you wanna get down and grindin’.

Deals on baller drinks like Gin & Juice and Thug Passion.

Doors at 11pm
Admission is $12
Facebook event page

A Mayhem of Indie Japanese music will descend on Vancouver on Wednesday May 23! Next Music from Tokyo is a non-profit cross-Canada tour showcasing the best independent and underground music from Japan. This is a not-to-be-missed event. Featuring some of Japanese rock legends! Volume 4 boasts the best line-up yet headlined by one of the most critically acclaimed and important bands in Japan: ZAZEN BOYS.

ZAZEN BOYS is the current band of legendary singer/guitarist Mukai Shutoku. Mukai’s former band Number Girl is renowned as one of the most important and influential bands in Japanese rock history. Whereas, Number Girl followed a progressive yet straight forward alt-rock sound akin to Sonic Youth and the Pixies. ZAZEN BOYS is the vehicle for pushing the boundaries of Mukai’s creative and experimental genius.

With group_inou, Charan-Po-Rantan and Praha Depart!

Advance tickets are $8
Available at Zulu, Red Cat, Neptoon, and Highlife.
Doors at 8pm
Facebook event page

Join us Thursday May 31 in the Tiki Bar as Cherchez La Femme presents Night Slugs recording artist Bok Bok.

As a DJ, Bok Bok has been stacking riddims like Lego bricks since 2004. His roots lie deep in the UK Grime sound. Grime productions obliterated the rulebook, broke club music down to its rawest elements and rebuilt it into new forms. Unorthodox in every way, that music set off Bok Bok down a unique path. Since then he has spread his sights wider, taking in elements of gutter styles from around the globe, all of which share a certain off-the-wall bass-heavy vibe. Disregarding purism he instead hunts all over for fresh dubplates. In 2008 Bok Bok teamed up with like-minded producer L-Vis 1990 to launch Night Slugs, a club night dedicated to their new hybrid sound. Over its two year existence the party has become a cornerstone of the city’s music scene, hosting both homegrown stars and international guests, nurturing fresh talent and showcasing the best forward thinking club music cross-genre. In late 2009, Night Slugs expanded into a label, drawing together a crew of protagonists from various backgrounds: Kingdom from NYC, Egyptrixx from Toronto and Girl Unit, Mosca, Greena and Jam City from the UK.

Doors at 9:30pm
Admission is $12
Facebook event page

Congratulations Marcela H! You’ve won four passes to The Weekend of Sound! It’s not too late to grab a discounted pass for these two massive nights!

Surefire Sound Tour – Friday May 11
With Addison Groove, Doc Daneeka, Michael Red and Self Evident.
Details

You Only Live Once – Friday May 11
Hip Hop and other danceables with Babe Rainbow and special guests.
Details

Distal – Saturday May 12
Distal, HXDB, Frank Grimes, Tucker Foldin and Max Ulis.
Details

Brainfeeder Collective – Saturday May 12
Samiyam, Mono/poly, Ryatt and Mast! With Tight Mike and Michael Red.
Details

Cherchez & Co. – Saturday May 12
Hip Hop and Club Bangers with Cherchez La Femme and special guests.
Details

Passes to the Weekend of Sound are $22
Purchase passes here

Join us every Tuesday in the Tiki Bar for Hot Lava Karaoke. Choose from our extensive song list, grab the mic and take the stage in the world famous Tiki Bar. Hosted by DJ Maake Takaloa and Volcor the talking volcano.

Tiki Bar opens at 8pm
Karaoke starts at 10pm
Admission is free

Join us on Wednesday May 16 for a screening of the Argentine film Los Paranoicos (The Paranoids).

Synopsis
A loser with a successful friend discovers his luck might change as long as he doesn’t mind betraying his buddy in this edgy comedy from Argentina. Luciano (Daniel Hendler) is a neurotic and accident-prone children’s entertainer who is struggling to launch a career as a screenwriter when he’s not fretting about his health. After Luciano accidentally puts his performing partner, Sherman (Martin Feldman), in the hospital, he’s unable to do shows for a few weeks and is wondering what to do when his old friend Manuel (Walter Jakob) returns to Buenos Aires for a visit. Manuel is the star of a popular television show in Spain, and he’s dating a beautiful woman, Sophia (Jazmin Stuart), who comes along for the ride. Manuel helps Luciano land a writing assignment, but it’s uncomfortably obvious he’s only helping his pal out of a sense of obligation and doesn’t believe in his talent. As Luciano struggles to meet his deadline, Manuel is called away on business for a few days, and Sophia, a stranger in town, spends some time with Luciano while her boyfriend is away. Sophia finds Luciano’s eccentricities endearing rather than annoying, and he soon realizes he has the opportunity to steal his friend’s lover away.

Click here to view the trailer

Presented by the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival

Screening at 9pm

Our portrait artist-in-residence Sarah Holtom has been busy in the Black and Yellow Gallery! From May 3 to May 18 she’ll be painting 50 portraits. Have a look at a few of the finished ones so far. They’ll be on display till May 30!

www.sarahholtom.com

Join us at After Dinner Mint on Thursday May 17 for the Paperboys Trio.

After Dinner Mint is a nostalgic night of dinner, live music and dancing launching in our Nuba Café on May 10th. Come enjoy a night of dinner and dance to noteworthy musical acts featuring the styles of Jazz Manouche, Big Band, Flamenco, Rockabilly, Swing, Traditional, Balkan music and more.

About The Paperboys
The Paperboys were formed by Mexican born, Tom Landa in the mid nineties in Vancouver. In a music scene dominated by flannel and grunge, Tom had a vision of forming a band that fused Folk, Celtic and Bluegrass music with Pop and Rock. He was armed with a dozen of self penned tunes and a lot of drive and ambition. After finding a group of musicians who shared common musical interests, they recorded their 1st CD and set to tour across Canada in a used van they bought for 500 bucks. What has happened since is 7 albums, countless tours of North America and Europe, TV and Movie appearances, Movie Scores, Industry Accolades, Rave Reviews by Press & Media, and several Music awards including Canada’s version of The Grammy’s, The JUNO Award.

www.paperboys.com

Doors at 7pm // Show starts at 8pm
Admission is $10
Facebook event page

Join us Thursday May 24 for a screening of 2011 SXSW Documentary winner Dragonslayer.

Synopsis
Dragonslayer brilliantly presents a portrait of a new generation of kids from the rotting suburbs of inland California, and a celebration of what makes one of them so unique. The film is following Josh Sandoval, a lost kid falling in love in the suburbs of Fullerton, California. Featuring skateboarding, the usual drugs, and stray glimpses of unusual beauty.

View the trailer here

Presented by Daniel Code.

Doors at 7pm
Screening starts at 8pm
Facebook event page