Folk, funk and world beats will spill out of Coquitlam's Evergreen Cultural Centre this summer for the return of Music on the Grill.
And, on Aug. 12, the series will close with an award-winning B.C.-raised final act: Alex Cuba.
A Cuban–Canadian singer–songwriter, Cuba has two Juno Awards for "World Music Album of the Year" for his debut and sophomore albums.
In 2010, he was named the Latin Grammy's Best New Artist and, five years later, his album, Healer, took the Latin Grammy for Best Singer–Songwriter album, as well as a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Pop Album.
Last year, Cuba clinched the Grammy for Best Latin Pop Album for Mendó and he received an honorary doctorate from Queen’s University.
Music on the Grill, a three-part series that includes a barbecue dinner on the venue patio, launches July 8 with a show from Rachel Beck and Chris Ronald.
Beck, a singer–songwriter from Prince Edward Island, is best known for her single “Reckless Heart”; her 2020 recording Stronger Than You Know was named Music PEI’s Album of the Year and nominated for three East Coast Music Awards.
English-native Ronald, who now calls Vancouver home, was nominated for Songwriter of the Year for a 2014 Canadian Fold Music Award.
The duo will be followed by Coco Jafro, which plays its electrified, funky global rhythms at the City Centre theatre on July 22.
The soulsters are made up of Karina Morin (lead vocals); Amine Said (guitar); Karl Oystensen (keyboards); Sangito Bigelow (percussion); Chris Cuoto (drums); Jean Se LeDoujet (bass); and Dominic Conway (tenor sax).
Tickets are $45 for a Music on the Grill show, or $69 for a barbecue dinner and a concert.
The meal starts at 6 p.m on the patio overlooking Lafarge Lake at Town Centre Park (1205 Pinetree Way); the performances begin at 7:30 p.m.
For more information, you can visit the Evergreen Cultural Centre's website.
