Pugs and Crows Band & Very Good win Jazz Festival's Galaxie Rising Stars Awards

The TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival and Galaxie are proud to announce the Pugs and Crows Band and Very Good as the winners of the 8th annual Galaxie Rising Stars Awards. Chosen from the artists competing for the Award as the new artist of the year, the winners will each receive a $2500 grant. 

Led by guitarist Cole Schmidt, The Pugs and Crows Band play dramatic and cinematic music that draws inspiration from experimental forms of Eastern European folk and modern jazz. Combining a huge variety of influences from Duke Ellington and Leonard Cohen to Bjork and Shostakovich the six-piece Vancouver band called Very Good have a colourful sound often referred to as “theatrical avant-pop”. 

The 25th annual TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival is proud of its commitment to artistic growth and development while nurturing broad audience appeal for jazz. With over 1800 musicians from around the world performing at over 40 indoor and outdoor venues throughout the city, the Festival expects to draw in excess of 500,000 people — confirming its status as Vancouver’s biggest music and arts event. Musicians and audiences alike herald the Festival as one of the best cultural celebrations in the world. 

The Galaxie Rising Stars Program champions Canadian talent by supporting the development and promotion of our musicians. Working with more than 30 partners of the music industry across the country, the Galaxie Rising Stars Program encourages our up-and-coming stars. To date, over 750 artists and groups have benefited from the Program. Past winners from the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival include Bess Drury Band and Jackée Guillou (2009), Chris Davis Quartet (2008), Amanda Tosoff Quartet (2007), October Trio (2006), Inhabitants (2005), Jodi Proznick (2004) and Michael Zachernuk (2003). 

“We share a deep sense of passion for music with our partners and embrace the bright talent of Canadian artists on the rise. For the recipients, a Galaxie Rising Stars Award is a mark of respect and recognition. For Galaxie, it is our way of showing how proud we are of our emerging talent”, says Louis Bellavance, Director of the Rising Stars Program and a Galaxie music programmer.

For a complete list of Rising Stars partners and winners, or for more information, visit: WWW.GALAXIE.CA