C.R. Avery brings his long-running East Van Abbey Cabaret to Whistler for the first time. Featuring his house band, the Storm Collective, along with a host of talented artists delivering everything from rock ‘n’ roll and boogie blues to spoken word, performance art, comedy and dance. It’s an eclectic, high energy night in a cabaret setting at The Point. The East Van Abbey Cabaret has been drawing monthly Vancouver audiences for years, and The Point is excited to finally bring it to Whistler.

The Flag Stop Festival kicks off on Wednesday, August 6 at 6PM in Whistler Village at the intimate Florence Petersen Park behind the library and museum for a night of live music, movement and dance. Vinyl Ritchie lays down the beats from 6PM before festival favourites 10-piece brass party band Balkan Shmalkan march in from the stroll to set the park alight. Dancers from ALGN Whistler string the whole night together with interactive performances between bands. Five piece ska, reggae, rock outfit The West Coast Front keeps the party going from 8PM, with Pemberton’s popular country rockers Dakota Pearl headlining the night from 9-10PM.

Admission is By Donation.

The evening begins at 6PM with a welcome ceremony from the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Ambassadors. The beer and wine garden and food vendors are open as DJ Vinyl Ritchie heats up the park with his eclectic 45s. Vancouver writer and theatre artist Cecilia O’Day delivers a preview of her one-woman Fringe monologue Young Widow, and Brandon Barrett returns from Victoria with his latest stand-up offering. Then Comedian Sarah Carson Ford returns to her hometown with a comedy set honed in New York.

Vancouver’s sweet dance party orchestra Balkan Shmalkan will get everybody moving on the grass, and the night wraps up with stellar hometown rockers Introduce Wolves.