Nicola Wealth Management Presents Motown Meltdown 2019

A Night of Music & Dancing in Support of Sight

Tickets: $32.75 + service charge

or

$45 at the door

Available at:

Ticketmaster 1-855-985-5000 or online

or in person at Highlife Records

**Doors at 7pm - show starts at 8pm**

Attend this unique night of nostalgia and great music - one listen and you'll be hooked! Dance to the feel-good sounds of music from Motown to Memphis, New York and beyond and be part of an amazing dance party that has been filling the Commodore Ballroom for 16 fantastic years. If you like this music genre, you will LOVE this event!

25 dynamic performers, accompanied by a scorching 12-piece band of the most seasoned session musicians in the country, will bring the Motown songbook to life. Prepare to start “Dancing in the Streets” and celebrating the music and musicians of a powerful era, including  Diana Ross, Otis Redding, Martha & the Vandellas, Stevie Wonder, Temptations, Marvin Gaye, Jackson 5, Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight and many more!

Enjoy a fabulous evening of entertainment by some of Canada’s most talented vocalists. You'll also be supporting Seva Canada's eye care programs in low-income countries, giving sight to those in need, through the power of song. Join us for a night of music & dancing in support of sight!

Hosted By: Karen Lee Batten and David Wills

Produced By: Kendra Sprinkling

Musical Directors: Steve Hilliam and Andreas Schuld

Click here to check out photos from Motown Meltdown 2018!

About Nicola Wealth Management:

Established in 1994, Nicola Wealth Management is among Canada’s fastest growing asset fund management and private investment counsel firms (Investor Economics) with over $6 billion in assets under management. The firm provides portfolio diversification well beyond stocks and bonds, comprehensive and integrated wealth planning, and historically consistent and stable returns, serving affluent families, entrepreneurs, and foundations across Canada.

About 104.3 The Breeze:

104.3 The Breeze offers Vancouver’s listeners easy, relaxing, and familiar favourites from the 1970s, 80s, 90s, and today. The Breeze gives listeners a non-stop stream of relaxing favourites that they can listen to at work, or at home, or in the car.

  • Leora Cashe
    Influenced by gospel, folk and jazz, West Coast music nominee and Vancouver treasure Leora Cashe has garnered numerous accolades with her rich resounding voice and dynamic stage presence. She is excited about the upcoming release of her fifth CD entitled Opportunity, a collaboration with Italian jazz luminary Luigi Bonafede which features Leora's lyrics. Leora loves to share her passion of music teaching her many Music for Young Children students at Showcase Academy in Richmond and she is thrilled to be once again joining the amazing line-up of Vancouver talent at Motown Meltdown for Seva Canada.
  • Candus Churchill Motown Meltdown
    Candus arrived in Vancouver in 1980 with rock funk group Dragon Fly. She has performed across Canada, the U.S. and parts of Japan with groups as opening act for The Temptations, B.B. King, Lou Rawls, Michael Bolton, Bobby Bland, Candi Staton, Graham Central Station, and many more. Candus has been featured in countless TV, Film and Theatre productions too numerous to list. She is also a founding member of The Gospel Experience, which she has helped maintain for 20 years.
  • Oliver Conway Motown Meltdown
    Bandleader, vocalist, harmonica player, rhythm guitarist, producer and songwriter, Oliver has been delivering his own brand of blue-eyed soul for over 25 years in Western Canada. Known for his soulful voice, funkifized playing, and his connection with an audience, “Ollie” is an exciting and experienced musician with 2000 performances in his career, including stage musicals, TV and radio appearances and club and cabaret work all over Canada. He is also the proprietor of Aero Music, a full service music recording and production company, based in the Commercial Drive area of Vancouver.
  • Dee Daniels
    With a palpable authenticity, towering four-octave range, and a powerful blues and gospel-tinged jazz vocal approach, Dee Daniels has built a sterling reputation amongst jazz fans and critics around the world for over three decades. Well represented throughout her career in performances and recordings with such jazz luminaries as Monty Alexander, Russell Malone, Cyrus Chestnut, Houston Person, Bucky Pizzarelli, Jeff Clayton, Ken Peplowski, Kenny Barron, to mention a few, she has also performed and/or recorded with symphony orchestras and big bands globally. Learn more about Dee at www.deedaniels.com
  • Krystle Dos Santos
    Krystle Dos Santos is an award-winning singer songwriter and creative soul. She sings around Vancouver with many bands and collaborations. You can find her running the Underneath the Harlem Moon Cabaret at Guilt and Company the first Tuesday of every month with her band the Lovemakers. Currently, she's working on her 4th studio recording project of funky soul and bluesy ballads.
  • Olivia Steele Falconer
    Olivia Steele Falconer is the daughter of Vancouver based musician David Steele. She has been acting since early 2010 in a mix of movies and television shows, including Caprica, Smallville, Fairly Legal, Supernatural, Falling Skies, The 100, CBC’s On The Farm, Red Riding Hood alongside Gary Oldman, Louder Than Words opposite David Duchovny, and most recently Olivia joined the cast of Once Upon A Time for its 5th & 6th season as Violet. Olivia's love for singing and music is equal to her love for acting, and dance. She intends to continue pursuing music and film, and maybe one day she will be cast in a movie to do both!
  • Warren Dean Flandez
    An artist described as “soulfully charged,” Warren Dean Flandez continues on his trajectory to fame thanks to his 2017 JUNO nominated album, Eternally Grateful. The record, which was in the running for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year, earned praise across the country by critics who were charmed by the singer’s “wide vocal range and killer beats.” In March 2017, Flandez also scooped up two Covenant Awards given by the Gospel Music Association of Canada, winning Urban Song of the Year for “Never Dim My Light” and Gospel Song of the Year for “Joy!”
  • Roy Forbes
    Roy Forbes is a critically acclaimed artist who has made enduring artistic contributions to the Canadian music scene. The B.C. singer-songwriter lost his vision following an accident at his home last December. An avid record collector (especially 78 RPM platters), Forbes was able to continue his work as the host of Roy’s Record Room, on the CKUA network. He has released a dozen albums including Thistles, recorded with the help of then-budding piano player David Foster, and Strikin’ Matches, a collection of live performances released in 2014. He recently appeared at The Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival and contributed to the CBC Musical Nooners.
  • Tim Fuller
    Known internationally for his multiple house music releases and collaborations with Miguel Migs, Groove Armada, DJ Ali, and many others, Tim Fuller has a gift for turning any given performance into a huge celebration. He is best known across the West Coast for steaming up the stage as co-lead vocalist for livefunk band “Soulstream”. Meanwhile, Jazz aficionados will recognize him as a member of “The Melloyds”, which over a period of 7 years, recorded two albums and toured internationally for A&M records.
  • Linda Kidder Motown Meltdown
    Linda has garnered three International gold and platinum records for her work with kd lang in addition to the eight wins for the CMA and BCCMA country duo of the year, with Gary Fjellgaard, a BCCMA nomination for vocalist and bass player of the year and a Juno nomination for country duo of the year. Her voice can be heard on studio and live recordings from kd lang, Bon Jovi to Barbie. In 2011, Linda was part of Margaret Atwood's reading of Year of the Flood. Some of her highlights include “Letterman”, “Leno” and the “Grammy Awards.”
  • Karen Lee Batten
    Karen Lee Batten is the recipient of 5 BC Country Music Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year. She has also won 2015, 2014, 2006, 2005, 2004 in this category. In 2014 Karen was the winner of the Provincial CCMA/BCCMA Spotlight competition and 2014 Entertainer of the Year at the East Texas International Country Music Awards. As a Top 10 finalist on Canadian Idol in 2003, she went on to release her debut album Every Moment in 2006. Her latest album, Cause a Scene, was released in June 2014 and hit #1 in Canadian album sales and #40 on Billboard Soundscan in the first month. Karen Lee Batten's new album Sweet Home Alabama was just released in Februrary of 2018.
  • Jane Mortifee Motown Meltdown
    At various times over the last 35 years Jane has been active in theatre, film, television, club-work, studio voice-overs, animation and jingles. Her first love is singing and she has released three CDs, the most recent being an R&B CD, Get Ready. She is currently working on her first novel. Jane was inducted into the B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2002.
  • LJ Mounteney

    A dynamic voice on the West Coast music scene, LJ Mounteney has become a sought-after singer-songwriter known for her soulful twists on inspired classics and intriguing song choices. LJ's self-produced album, Here In The Dark, has received ongoing local radio play and she is currently working on her next album - a blues and roots inspired project of original music. Drawing deep from the well of blues, soul, funk, R&B, gospel and jazz she weaves on-stage magic telling her own truths through the power of song.

  • Dawn Pemberton
    Vibrant, genuine and soulful, Dawn has deep musical roots that take her powerful voice from gospel and soul to jazz, funk and world music. She has become a staple of the Vancouver music scene and can often be found tearin’ it up as a vocalist, teacher, adjudicator, choir director and “go to girl” for live performances and studio sessions. Dawn’s debut solo album, Say Somethin’, released on DoRight! Music won Best Urban Recording at the 2015 WCMA and has received praise from around the globe forecasting her as “…the new queen of Canadian soul.” A passionate educator and performer, Dawn approaches music with a sense of adventure, quirkiness, and serious groove and shapes it into her own unique and dynamic package. Tight, expressive and bold, Dawn will hit you where it counts, funk you up and make you say “Go ‘head!”
  • Tom Pickett Motown Meltdown
    After a stint in the Navy where he had an opportunity to sing in the Philippines and Singapore, Tom made his professional theatre debut in Vancouver in the production of FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE that led to an invitation to join the Hal Prince production of SHOW BOAT. National/International tours, climaxed a 2-year run with a debut in London's West End at the Prince Edward Theatre. Tom is at home singing Jazz, Blues, R&B, Gospel or Country as his roots hale from Texas where his father formed a group called The Original Four Aces. Tom recently completed The Wizard of Oz at The Gateway Theatre as The Cowardly Lion. Tom recently completed The Fighting Season at The Cultch, written by Sean Harris Oliver and Directed by Evan Frayne which was featured on CBC's The National.
  • Will Sanders Motown Meltdown
    All through his childhood, in Alexandria, Louisiana, Will sang in church choirs and ensembles. In the musical theatre arena, he won a starring role in the Arts Club production of Ann Mortifee's, 'When the Rains Come’. He was nominated for a Jessie Award for Best Performance in a Musical that year. He also went on to star in the Arts Club production of 'Five Guys Name Moe'. Over the years, Will has sung with a number of Vancouver-based Gospel ensembles: 'Circle Of Voices', 'Cloud Nine' and 'The Gospel Experience'. Will is a proud member of the gospel trio The Sojourners.
  • Rebecca Shoichet
    Rebecca is a highly sought-after vocalist. She has toured with artists Amanda Marshall and Tom Cochrane, and performs locally and internationally with the 10 piece, funk phenomenon, Soulstream. She croons in the French cabaret group, Mimosa, and also shares her powerhouse vocals with bands Side One, and Famous Players. Rebecca’s versatility and skill has offered her roles in productions Joni Mitchell: River and La Cage aux Folles for the Vancouver Playhouse, and parts in various TV animation series. She’s thrilled to be a part of this fantastic fundraiser!
  • kendra Sprinkling, Motown Meltdown
    Kendra has been involved in music for 40 years, working with B.B. King, Michael Buble, Martha Reeves, Taj Mahal, and the Doobie Brothers, as well as performing in musical theatre. In 1986, Kendra first performed in Starry Night, an AIDS fundraising variety show, developed by the Art’s Club. This led to her becoming the Founding Executive Director of the Shooting Stars Foundation, a special events organization, which was dedicated to raising funds for direct service AIDS organization. Through the shows that Kendra created and produced, close to two million dollars was donated to deserving organizations over the years. The Shooting Stars Foundation was dissolved in 2015.
  • David Steele Motown Meltdown
    Session singer and amazing live vocalist, David has a home studio that keeps him busy and creative working with people from all parts of the globe. While writing for himself David has found some success in film and television placing songs in Steve Austin’s “Damage”, “The Stranger”, Steven Segal’s “Driven to Kill”, The Soska sister’s startling and original horror film, “American Mary” and APTN’s “Health Nutz.” Some of the celebrated artists David has performed with are: Bon Jovi, Cher, The Cult, David Lee Roth, Motley Crue, Bob Rock, Def Leppard and Bette Midler.
  • Don Stewart Motown Meltdown
    Whether performing gospel, soul, jazz or rock, Don’s smooth delivery and unforgettable voice leave audiences thrilled. He has toured internationally and his favourite acting credits include leading roles in “Of Mice and Men,” ”Showboat” and “Unforgettable: The Music of Nat King Cole”. Don is now bringing his musical influences (Motown, British Invasion) to songwriting. He has released 5 CDs including “Midnight Hour”, his first collaboration with Miles Black, and subsequently “Tender Lies” with all original compositions by these two acclaimed artists. Don has built up a loyal fan base who follow him from club to lounge to concert hall, grateful for every chance to hear this unique artist enchant yet another audience.
  • Garfield Wilson Motown Meltdown
    Garfield has had an extensive and diverse career in the arts. He sang back-up vocals for two Colin James’ Albums and on their subsequent tours. Having performed in musical theatre, Garfield was bitten by the acting bug - compiling a list of TV and movie credits such as Once Upon a Time, Arrow, Zoo, Lucifer and the Netflix series Travellers. His most recent theatre engagement was in DreamGirls at The Stanley Theatre and he is currently filming the much anticipated Netflix exclusive series “Altered Carbon” set to be released in the fall of 2017.
  • David Wills Motown Meltdown
    David Wills is best known as the lead singer of Stonebolt and currently performs as well with the dance band “The Dynamics”. In Canada Stonebolt became a popular radio act with a number of hit singles topping the Canadian charts and in 1978 an international hit recognized the band as worldwide stars. Stonebolt made regular appearances on national TV shows such as American Bandstand and Midnight Special and received a Grammy nomination. Stonebolt can be discovered again by today's generation of music lovers with the creation of “Regeneration” Stonebolt’s newest album. David is actively involved with producing other projects.

Photos from this event

  • Motown Meltdown promo image