Exotic dancing in Squamish may have come to an end but burlesque is looking to take its place - at least for one night.
Squamish Equinox Music Festival (SERF) and Trinity Romance are teaming up to bring Squamish a performance that's part rock, part burlesque and 100 per cent entertainment.
"The Big John Bates Show Grindshow is going to be awesome," said Trinity Romance owner Eric Armour.
"Big sound, big show, big stage presence, tons of booty shaking and just good old-fashioned good times."
The group, composed of talented musicians and raw burlesque dancers, delivers a unique B-movie style of burlesque.
"Since the beginning of 2010, the group has been on the road writing and recording some 30 tracks to date from Vancouver to Nashville," said SERF president Paul Hudson.
"Nailing that new sound keeps them expanding their wild stage show further every night, sharing the stage with acts including the Supersuckers, Corb Lund and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy."
The sound of Big John Bates' rustic post-punk guitar meeting Brandy Bones' southern gothic roots has been compared to being serenaded with a rusty hammer. The Grindshow features two lead vocalists - Big John Bates (Gretsch-endorsed guitarist) and Brandy "Bones" Anderson (Hofner-endorsed bassist) - kicking and screaming or moaning and wailing, depending on where the microphone is aimed.
Their menacing and darkly melancholy path also recently found them teaming up with percussionist Orian Case. They've matched their sound with the "disturbingly sexy" sideshow essence of Calamity Kate and Lincoln Electra - seductresses wielding switchblades, grinders and anything else that comes to hand.
"It's the group's first time in Squamish," Armour said. "They're a pretty prolific band so it's wicked that we're getting them in Squamish - they bring their A game every time."
On Friday (May 6), the one-of-a-kind performance will take the stage at the Howe Sound Brew Pub as the fifth lead-up concert to this year's SERF music festival at Nexen Beach.
After the show, DJ Timothy Wisdom from Vancouver will team up with DJ local Riddim Fernandez under the name "Riddim and Wisdom" to keep the party going into the early hours.
Tickets are $15 in advance and available at Trinity Romance and Howe Sound Brewing Co.
