The GOODS from The Cascade Room

Vancouver, BC | If there’s one thing that scares people more than public speaking, it’s public singing. We’ve all been there – whether it was drunken karaoke or not rolling the car windows up quite tight enough. We all carry our own internal scars from being seen and heard when we least expected it. But maybe it doesn’t need to be like that.

If you take a band with a plan and a room full of people ready to get outside of their comfort zone, magic can happen in less than an hour. That’s the idea behind Vancouver-based event series Playground.

On December 9th, Playground is holding its fifth event in a series that throws a band and an audience into a make-shift recording studio and gives them an hour to collaborate on a song together. At the end, they record the song – audio and video – with the only rules being that you leave your wallets at home and your egos at the door. A final video is then cut together and released to the world for all to see. The band for the next edition are Vancouver-based blues duo The Harpoonist and The Axe Murderer who are currently competing in the Peak Performance Project, having reached the top 20. They’ve been aptly described as “blues that gets you in the crotch.”

To make things a bit more interesting, volunteer-run Playground has now teamed up with local restaurateurs The Cascade Company, who are providing funding to beef up both the video production and the elements that add to the audience experience. Cascade owns four Main Street eateries (El Camino?s, Habit Lounge, The Union and Cascade Room) and while none of those will be the venue for the event, the Cascade team are busy scheming with Playground on ways to surprise both Playground veterans and first timers. The concept has also sprung an upcoming event in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and the team are looking at ways of taking the idea to other cities. Learn more after the jump…

Can’t sing? Sure you can. Really can’t sing? Ok, you might be playing piano. Even if you’ve never so much as picked up a drum stick, the last four events have shown that a bunch of strangers can be taught to do some pretty amazing things in 60 minutes.

Highlights so far include a marimba solo, 12 people playing guitar, and a cameo from the ever under-appreciated triangle. It’s a free event with free booze (sorry, no minors) where everyone is part of the band. To get on the list for an invite to the next event, sign up at www.playground.is.

For more information contact [email protected] or call 1-888-777-9036 to speak to co-founders Adam Schelle and Kev Holloway.

Details

2616 Main Street, Vancouver, BC  V5T 3E6
Telephone: 604.709.8650 | Email: [email protected]
Hours: Mon to Thurs 5pm to 1am | Fri & Sat 5pm to 2am | Sun Noon to Midnight
Website: www.thecascade.ca | Blog: www.thecascaderoom.blogspot.com

Gallery

People

Managers: Nigel Pike, Wendy Nicolay, Nick Devine
Designers: Evoke International Design – www.evoke.ca

About The Cascade Room

The Cascade Room was created as a simple nod to the British Pub. Chef Travis Williams offers a menu with straightforward and honest food at good value.

Wholesome, quality ingredients are featured: from wild seafood products that follow the Ocean Wise mandate, to “in house” pizza doughs and al dente pasta, we strive to purchase our products from BC based suppliers, in particular from the Mount Pleasant area, continuing our commitment to the neighbourhood. The incredibly popular daily “meat and potato” specials sell out fast, so come early!

The Cascade Room features an aggressive cocktail program by Nick Devine, steeped in tradition rather than trend. Having worked in Vancouver, San Francisco and London (including a stint in Oxford with Cascade co-owner Nigel Pike), Nick’s philosophy can be summed up as follows: “Whatever you desire, whether it’s a rickey, a daisy,  a julep, a sling, a sour, a flip, a toddy or a nog…we’ll endeavour to make it”. Additionally, there are several options on tap, including pub-standard Guinness and our own Cascade Lager. The wine list is varied and affordable, serving a fine complement to Chef Williams’ offerings.

Local design and branding firm Evoke International created an ambience reminiscent of the British Pub, but with a modern twist.

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