From the colorful art exhibits of Vancouver’s artist Lyza Del Mar Gusin to watching Mamma Mia – a fantastic musical featuring ABBA songs under the stars, the 2015 Harmony Arts Festival celebrated its 25th anniversary finale with a big bang.
Many renowned international artists and performers such as the Boom Booms and Nearly Neil participated in a diverse and ingenious festival that ran for ten consecutive days, from July 31st to August 9th. Some 130,000 visited the festival to check the cultural events and the superb entertainment. There was something for everybody.
Millennium Park filled to capacity during the festival finale. Photo by Bert Morelos.
The festival’s final night last August 9th drew one of the biggest crowds onto the breathtaking West Vancouver waterfront. The Millennium Stage turned into the festival hub as the sun went down and a 10 piece tribute band and dancers took to the stage.
World class tribute artist Luisa Marshall as the “Legendary Queen of Rock n Roll” Tina Turner and her crew proved to be a strong major attraction on the busy finale night with literally thousands flocking to the Millennium Park. Organizers had to close the gates down to stop the influx of more people coming to see the tribute act. Some Tina Turner fans were forced to sit on the beach behind the stage just to have a little glimpse of Marshall’s spectacular tribute performance.
Guitarist Kim Mendez on stage during the Tina Turner Tribute show. Photo by Bert Morelos.
Marshall was grateful and proud of being invited the second time to perform at the Harmony Arts Festival after opening the festival in 2012. Her family band consisted of her husband Steve Marshall on drums, daughters Kimi on guitar and Zenia Marshall on back-up vocals, sister Tota Mendez on back-up vocals and her brother, dancer and choreographer, Leandro Mendez.
Other members of her rocking crew are Jojo Palermo on keyboards, Marlowe Mata on bass, Dennis Timoshenko on sax, and dancer Kathryn Schellenberg.
The gigantic crowd was visibly moved when Marshall announced the retirement of her choreographer/dancer of 15 years, younger brother Leandro Mendez from the Tina Turner tribute show. She dedicated Tina’s inspiring song “Simply the Best” to her brother and thanked him for all the wonderful years they performed together.
Marshall and crew taking a bow. Photo by Bert Morelos
For more on Luisa Marshall’s Tina Turner Tribute performance at the Harmony Arts Festival 2015, check out Luisa’s website, luisamarshall.com. Click her for her Harmony Arts Festival 2015 blog.
