Jess Hill and Melic Thrum Among Musical Highlights at Summer Dream Festival
(August 19th – 29th)

Vancouver, BC - Intelligent music has always been an integral part of the Summer Dream Literary Arts Festival and its organizers take pride in bringing high-calibre, lyrical musical acts to the forefront. Helping to open the festival on Wednesday, August 19th, East Vancouver’s hauntingly-talented Jess Hill is a prime example of this.

Like the intuition implied by synchronized movement, Jess Hill's music reminds you of something you thought you'd forgotten. Anchored in the tendencies of folk, blues and jazz, Jess tells stories: cyclones and downpours, hovering birds, white skies.

Melic Thrum has been a festival mainstay, playing at every Summer Dream festival over the years. 'Anything goes' serves as the constitution of the vancouver-based band. Formed in 1997 by Canadian musicians Chad York and Mike Peacock, it has quickly become a musical measuring stick against which all bands should stand. With odd-time signatures, thoughtful lyrics, dissonance, and improvisational solos, the constraints of traditional pop music are eagerly shrugged off as this tight little band attempts to break as many rules as they can while still creating a vibe that is as accessible as it is thought provoking.

Also joining the music line-up will beHi-Rise Dex and The Stellar Jays and The Cliffhangers.

The festival kicks off on August 19th with a special reading at the Jewish Community Centre where featured poets, Natasha Boskic, Christy Hill, Daniela Elza, Maureen Eagan, Mary Duffy, Steve Duncanand Bonnie Nish will read poetry inspired by artist Linda Frimer’s work.

Melic Thrum take the stage for the main event on Saturday August 22nd - a free, all-day, large scale event at Lumberman’s Arch in Stanley Park, showcasing the talents of numerous musicians, spoken word artists and storytellers, children’s entertainers, dancers, as well as resource tables and panel discussions by writing and publishing experts.

The festival will also be holding 2 days of workshops (Aug. 23rd and 29th) designed to help writers grow professionally and creatively. Some topics and facilitators include S.R. Duncan talking about chapbook design and marketing; and Jen Currin unraveling the mysteries of the prose poem. For more information about the workshops, or to register, contact Bonnie Nish at blnish_pandoras@yahoo.ca Pre-registration and payment is necessary.

For media information and full festival details visit http://www.pandorascollective.com/sdrfestival.html