Shane Philip likes to groove. With the soft drone of his didgeridoo, an assortment of drums and a slew of other instruments, he's bringing his grooves to Squamish.
I've always loved the drums, said the bona fide one-man show in an interview with The Chief.
But this one man will not be confined to just one instrument. The first instrument he actually picked up was the ukulele. Later, in Grade 9, he was handed a clarinet, which he purposely butchered until he was sent to the drum set. And now he plays just about anything that crosses his path, discriminating against none.
With four albums under his belt, Philip's music can be best described as eclectic, borrowing from folk, reggae, blues and others.
Story continues after video
It varies, he said. It's tribal, but conscious, and with an uplifting message.
Influenced by everything around him, Philip tries to write tunes that talk about things that are important to him, but still get people dancing.
That might seem like a lot of work for one person. Quite the contrary, reported Philip, who finds the experience more liberating than anything.
I'm creating a show on the spot, he said, disregarding any need for a set list. It gives me more freedom to go where I want.
Philip has graced Squamish venues in the past, from the Dancing Bear Festival to the Brackendale Art Gallery. This time around, toting a new drum and with a few new songs in his arsenal, Philip is preparing to take the SERF stage as a part of their 2012 concert series.
SERF moved indoors for the first time last year with the introduction of a six-part concert series. Finding it increasingly difficult to obtain sponsorship, the series was presented as a way to raise money for the actual festival. SERF now hosts four indoor events during the fall and winter months. Venues for the events have included the Howe Sound Brew Pub, Chances Casino, the former Oceanport Hotel, and now The Living Room.
The festival itself was moved indoors by the dicey weather patterns during this time.
SERF fans are a hearty and passionate bunch and have been awesome enough to attend our events at Nexen Beach despite the rain and high winds, Paul Hudson wrote in an email.
Things are only looking up for SERF now, though. Having gained the support of the Squamish Arts Council, local musicians can now look forward to being showcased at all SERF events. Exposing musicians to a professional concert environment will provide an avenue for the local music scene in Squamish, Hudson said. He said it's something all up-and-coming musicians strive for.
SERF is already looking forward to continuing on in 2013. Shows have already been booked for January and March. Until then you can catch Shane Philip on Friday (Nov. 30) at The Living Room. Tickets, available at The Living Room and Trinity Romance, are $15 in advance and $20 at the door.
