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Earlybird tickets almost gone

Vancouver Island MusicFest organizers are kicking into high gear in the final days leading up to the 17th anniversary of the festival and the big deadlines are fast approaching.

Vancouver Island MusicFest organizers are kicking into high gear in the final days leading up to the 17th anniversary of the festival and the big deadlines are fast approaching.

This Thursday, is the last day for earlybird tickets. VIMF has also added some final musical touches to the 2011 roster with the addition of Eccodek and Vonda Shepard.

With three critically acclaimed albums, Canada’s Eccodek has become renowned as a leader in the world of global fusion and have become a potent and much sought-after voice on the global dub scene. With a 2009 Juno nomination and multiple Canadian Music Awards, their dubwise mix of African, South Asian and Turkish sounds artfully layered over monster grooves, is a festival favourite.

Eccodeks earthy blend of global beats, soaring melodies and textured electronica has positioned then as a significant voice on the global fusion stage. Their music echoes the ancient past while keeping a conscious, culturally inclusive eye to the future – furthering a global dub journey that takes cultural authenticity over the cutting edge.

Shepard’s career has ranged in scope from early hits in the late ’80s with Don’t Cry Ilene and Can’t We Try (with Dan Hill) to her work as an independent artist, and then as the voice of Ally McBeal, selling more than 12 million records worldwide throughout the span of the hit TV show.

Vonda was working with Rickie Lee Jones, Al Jarreau, and eventually Jackson Browne by the time she was 21. In 1987, Vonda secured her first solo deal with Reprise Records.

Her hit single Don’t Cry Ilene brought her outstanding voice to a wide audience and caught the attention of the critics. In 1992, the followup, The Radical Light was released.

In 1995 Vonda recorded It’s Good, Eve, and released it independently. It was this album that caught David E. Kelley’s ear right at the moment he was searching for a voice for his new show Ally McBeal.

Vonda’s five-year stint with the show not only included performing on each episode, but also being the musical producer. Ninety per cent of Vonda’s work was done behind the scenes, producing many of the guest artists who appeared on the show and recording almost 500 songs featuring artists including Gladys Knight, Sting, Barry Manilow, Al Green, Chubby Checker, Jon Bon Jovi, and many more.

For their efforts, Vonda and the cast won a Golden Globe, two Emmy Awards, a Screen Actors’ Guild award, and a Billboard award for selling the most TV soundtrack records in history.

Eccodek and Shepard add their talents to an unparalleled roster of performers including David Crosby, Randy Newman, Holly Cole, Arrested Development, Rodney Crowell, John Jorgenson and Albert Lee, Jon Anderson (the voice of Yes), Corey Harris and the Rasta Blues Experience.

Make your 2011 Festival a four- day adventure with a Thursday night special concert with 26-time Grammy Award winner Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas.

For only $50 you can add the Thursday concert to your weekend pass! Earlybird tickets for this whole musical adventure are available till this Thursday.

Stop by any Thrifty Foods location on Vancouver Island to grab your tickets this week or check out the VIMF website for the other friendly community ticket outlets. To find out about camping, schedules, performer bios, video links, photos, shuttles and all the other fun festival facts go to www.islandmusicfest.com.

— Vancouver Island Music Festival