A Smithers artist is bringing her indie-rock sound to Williams Lake.
Classically-trained cellist, vocalist and guitar player Naomi Kavka headlines a female-led night of live music, in partnership with Arts on the Fly, on May 3 at the Central Cariboo Arts Centre. The opening act, High Tensions, will help kick-start the femme-powered acts starting at 7:30 p.m.
Kavka is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, and will be bringing a “myriad of influences to her songs,” while forming a daring indie-rock sound that is “musically polished, lyrically visceral and emotionally raw,” according to the Community Arts Council of Williams Lake and Area (CACWL).
Her songs stem from her own personal and unique perspectives of a queer woman, as well as a child of a refugee, and a resident of the “precipice of the wilderness of Canada.”
Venta Rutkauskas, CACWL program manager and coordinator, has no doubts that Kavka will put on a great show.
“Kavka rocks — she can play a mean guitar,” she said.
Kavka’s band is made up of Geoff McFarlane (Handsome Eli) Ian Olmstead (Alex Cuba), Jake Jenne (Aerialists), and Jordy Walker, and they all support Kavka as they perform intimate, cathartic and political tunes. Together, they blend their backgrounds of rock, classical music, jazz and folk traditions.
Abby Roy and Mackenna Lecomte are an indie-alternative duo formed in 2018, and Rutkauskas said that recently they have been putting themselves out there. High Tensions originated from their shared passion for music, as they were two best friends who wanted to create a sound that resonated with listeners on a deeper level, according to the council. Their music is a mix of introspective and thought-provoking lyrics, which are accompanied by catchy hooks and dynamic harmonies.
Kavka’s recent album Then and Now is a collection of eight songs produced by Walker, and includes indie jams, melancholic ballads, snarky anthems and art rock improvisations while showcasing her fearlessness and range as a songwriting and performer.
Tickets are available for $15 at The Guitar Seller and The Open Book, or $20 at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the night of entertainment will also feature a cash bar.
READ MORE: Upcoming events in Williams Lake starting April 26