Honoluau, is an event inspired by the beautiful Polynesian Island of Hawaii! The evening featured professional hula dancers, a fireknife warrior performer, music and authentic Hawaiian food, to recreate the feeling of a traditional Hawaiian Luau, transporting guests thousands of miles away from Toronto and into the middle of the South Pacific.
All profits went towards both the Ronald McDonald House Charities and the George Brown College Foundation, which supports funding bursaries and scholarships - allowing students facing financial hardships to continue their education.
Tickets included authentic Hawaiian food, entertainment, and a chance to win a variety of prizes.
* Videos of performances after the photos.
While there, I encountered an awesome charity called "TENFED". Every item sold provides ten meals to children around the world and in Canada.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Blue October
The Opera House
Toronto, ON
April 26th, 2018
Joyful, haunting, gut-wrenching, ethereal, passionate, other-worldly...these are just some of the terms used to describe the music that defies any one particular genre that is Blue October. It is truly something that's difficult to describe to do it justice and needs to be experienced to even comprehend. It is so rich and multifaceted that you discover different layers and something new each time you listen to it.
Just when you think it isn't possible for them to up their game, each tour for each album cycle exceeds the previous one. They are mesmerizing and conjure up so many emotions that run the entire spectrum. Their concert that had four encores left us breathless, eyes welled-up and ready to kick some ass simultaneously.
Over 20 years as a band but only the last 8 years as an independent label, this tour for their 9th studio album 'I Hope You're Happy' brought them back to Toronto as their only Canadian date, and Toronto brought it! Each album a progression of their lives and experiences, if this concert is any indication their new album will be filled with joy, exuberance and grit.
Don't ever think they've gone soft or sappy though. They've shared snippets of songs while doing production on the new album that will melt your faces off and make you feel like you can take on the world! They always have such a mixture of flavours that there is something for everybody. I usually don't like entire albums but I've never experienced that with Blue October. Each one has been astounding from start to finish.
Their opener was a relatively new band that formed in 2011 out of Charlotte, NC called Flagship. They had an 80's band kind of sound with early U2 influences and snippets of Kings of Leon. You can find out more about them here: https://www.flagshipofficial.com/
[Video] WHOA! @MathewVMusic live, one-take, a capella video of #LetMeGo
Catch him on:
April 25th - First Canadian Place, Toronto, ON
April 26th - The Drake Hotel, Toronto, ON
May 24th - The Rio Theatre, Vancouver, BC
June 23rd - Red River Exhibition, Winnipeg, MB
