Events + Shows

Hillside Inside is continuing to develop it’s own identity. After some very successful 2012 shows featuring Kim Churchill, Harry Manx, Dan Mangan, The Wooden Sky and Lowlands, there are two more shows coming up… Cold Specks and Special guests at the Co-operator’s Hall, River Run Centre on March 21 and Shane Koyczan & The Short Story Long at the Red Papaya in Old Quebec St Mall on April 5.

Ticket information for Cold Specks has yet to be announced.Tickets for Shane Koyczan go on sale on Saturday February 25 and are available at Ticketbreak.com, Ground Floor Music and Hempire.

About Shane Koyczan (courtesy Hillside Festival)
With self described “Experimental Acoustic Folk” music by The Short Story Long, Shane moves from subdued, deep, sad love poetry to power chord hip-hop. He brings enormous vitality and virtuosity to every performance. His warmth, wit and sincerity are a hit with crowds and his lyricism inspires all who listen.

Shane Koyczan is one of the world’s premier spoken word performers. His performance at the 2010 Olympic Opening Ceremonies brought the 55,000 seat house to their feet with his tear-jerking homage to Canada “We Are More”. The Guardian (UK) and the Globe and Mail (Canada) hailed his book, Visiting Hours, as a Book of the Year Selection. His second book, Stickboy, is a novel in verse. Written for anyone who has ever been a child, Stickboy continues to be hailed by teachers, academics, and mental health experts alike for its deft handling of the subject of bullying. Shane’s third book, Our Deathbeds Will Be Thirsty, released in 2012, proves once again to be an outstanding addition to an amazing repertoire.

Now the multi award-winning spoken word performer breathes life into the new genre of talk rock with his band The Short Story Long: a group whose musical range stretches from folk to funk, from ambient to rock.  Their sound showcases a blend of original music and Shane Koyczan’s remarkable performance poetry.  Along with Koyczan, the group has created a whole new style of song/verse. This is Talk-Rock.  This is something new. This is worth checking out. Winning “Best New Artist” at the BC Interior Music Awards in 2009, receiving standing ovations at festivals across Canada, and selling out theatres and cafés alike, the band is turning heads on the Canadian independent music scene. Their soon-to-be released album ‘Remembrance Year,’ (due out on March 16th, 2012) has already garnered acclaim from music reviewers and fans alike.

“Listening to ‘My Darling Sara’ (I left the ignition on, long after I’d parked, to hear the end of that one)… it all sounds like something’s coming – a sound everyone asks for.”
– Gordon Downie of The Tragically Hip

Shane Koyczan & The Short Story Long:
Shane Koyczan – Poetry & Vocals
Maiya Robbie – Guitar & Vocals
Olivia Mennell – Keyboard & Vocals
Jesse Lee – Stand Up Bass
Jordie Robinson – Cello