Bhangra, reggae, hip hop and blues all join forces with spoken word and poetry when RupLoops takes to the stage.
RupLoops, the brainchild of the Vancouver-based musician Rup Sidhu, is onstage as part of the summer performance series at Civic Square on Thursday, Aug. 2 at 8 p.m. He uses vocal percussion, looping rhymes and an arsenal of eclectic instruments from around the world to create his unique mix of sounds.
RupLoops is presenting his newest release, The Human Radio, which explores themes revolving around identity: home, culture, justice, dignity and celebration. The 14-song release runs the gamut from Yaar (Friend), a bhangra offering performed in Punjabi and English to the reggae-flavoured Compass and the naptime-inspired Moon Dreams.
“For almost a century, we have been tuning in to radios to be informed and entertained,” Sidhu said in a press release. “The Human Radio takes you on a journey of sound exploring anatomy, geography and culture. … Through body percussion and beatboxing, I demonstrate how the human form is indeed a musical instrument.”
Sidhu has performed and worked around the world as an interdisciplinary artist, musician, producer and composer, sharing stages with and performing alongside such artists as Fred Penner, Raffi, Chugge Khan, Shane Koyczan, Tanya Tagaq and Delhi2Dublin. He has been lauded for combining his entertaining performances with a chance to educate audiences through intercultural sounds.
“(He) delights, entertains and draws his audience in,” said Katherine Carol, artistic director of the Vancouver International Children’s Festival, in the release. “His shows are fabulous.”
Civic Square is outside the Metrotown library branch, at Kingsborough and MacKay.
RupLoops is the second half of a performance night that starts at 7 p.m. with The Purple Pirate’s Magic Pirate Ship. For all the details about Civic Square performances, see www.tinyurl.com/BBYSummerFun2018.
