Announcing a new album and a CD release party!

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The Nick La Riviere Band is proud to announce the upcoming release of a new album, ‘Alive and Loud’.  This live album is fun, funky, and captures the great energy of the live band.  The album features originals, as well as our own rockin’ versions of some Sly & the Family Stone, The JB’s, Preservation Hall, and more.  Turn the volume up and enjoy!

Alive & Loud will be officially released on October 18 & 19 with a CD release party at Hermann’s Jazz Club.  It will also be available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, and more.

A show with The Nick La Riviere Band is like taking a trip down to modern New Orleans, where the music is loud and proud, with brass adding funky lines to each groove, and every song is played with soul and power.  The music is all about having a good time and moving your feet.  It’s a night on the town that will leave you wired.  Their originals blend influences like Trombone Shorty with classic funk and jazz.  The band plays their own take on tunes by Eddie Harris, Sly & the Family Stone, and Curtis Mayfield.  Featuring three vocalists, trumpet, sax, trombone, guitar, piano/synth, bass, drums – and sometimes conch shells or sousaphone, the 7 piece band delivers a big powerful sound.

Always looking to keep things fresh, Nick is looking forward to premiering some brand new music at the upcoming performance, as well as rocking some favourites.

The band features Miguelito Valdes, Barrie Sorensen, Kelly Fawcett, Pablo Cardenas, Dave Spidel, and Liam MacDonald.

Previous shows have sold out, so reservations are highly recommended and can be made at www.HermannsJazz.com

Note: Show time is earlier than past performances. All bands that perform at Hermann’s are now starting at 7:30 (previously 8), doors at 6pm.

A little about Nick:

Singer-songwriter Nick La Riviere is an accomplished trombonist who has toured with bands such as the Juno award winning Paperboys, Michael Kaeshammer, 54-40, and Adonis Puentes. He’s been a special guest with such bands as Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies) and The Temptations.  As a freelancer, he’s one of Victoria’s busiest musicians.

For more, check out www.NickLaRiviere.com

The Nick La Riviere Band is back at Hermann’s July 26/27 PLUS Golden and Penticton July 17/18!

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The Nick La Riviere Band

2 Nights at Hermann’s!
Friday/Saturday • July 26 & 27

The Nick La Riviere Band, featuring all stars Miguelito Valdes (trumpet), Barrie Sorensen (sax), Kelly Fawcett (guitar/vocals), Pablo Cardenas (keys/vocals), Dave Spidel (bass), Damian Graham (drums), and of course Nick (vocals, trombone, conch shells, sousaphone, other surprises) returns to Hermann’s Jazz Club for TWO NIGHTS on July 26th and 27th.  We’ll be playing funky New Orleans party music, originals, and more.  It’s a high energy night of solid entertainment not to be missed.  One audience member described the show as “the most fun I’ve had in my adult life“. Mike Devlin from the Times Colonistsays “his headlining appearances qualify as mark-your-calendar nights of entertainment“. Haven’t seen the show before? Check out the video above.

Past shows have sold out, so reservations are recommended.  They can be made on the Hermann’s website – click the night you want to attend, then ‘register for a ticket’. CLICK HERE

That’s not all – the band is hitting the road! Check us out at:
•Golden – July 17
•The Dream Cafe in Penticton, July 18 (click for tickets)
•Filberg Fest, Comox August 4
•Harmony Arts, West Vancouver, August 10
•Fanny Bay Hall Sept 21
•Errington Hall Nov 15
•Denman Island Nov 16

And of course I’ve got plenty going on with other bands including The Paperboys, Locarno, and 54-40. Check out my show listing for more info. (Hopefully I’ll get a chance to update it soon – it’s a busy summer of gigging I tell ya!)

Thanks very much, I hope to see you at a show soon!
Nick

The Jazz on View Society needs your help to secure the future of Hermann’s Jazz Club!

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Hermann’s Jazz Club, one of the only venues in Victoria where a musician has the creative freedom to book the place and really do a show their own way, is in the danger of closing down. The Jazz on View Society has a plan to save it, but in order to accomplish that they need some startup capital. They hope to secure a 5 year lease for $75,000, with the option to renew afterwards (hopefully with money they’ve made from operating the club during that time).  It’s due April 15th.  So far they’ve been doing quite well, but they’re not there yet.

Check out their Go Fund Me page here to donate and see all the details.

New video PLUS live at Hermann’s March 8 & 9

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Check it out! This is my new ‘one man band’ video – a cover of Curtis Mayfield’s ‘Move On Up’ in the style of a funky New Orleans brass band.

I hope you like it – if you do please consider sharing, it was a lot of work, so it would be great to get it seen by a few people.

 

AND The Nick La Riviere Band is back at Hermann’s for 2 nights March 8th and 9th!

I’m adding new songs to the show to keep it feeling fresh and fun for those who have been to it before.   I promise, it’s going to be a great time!

Featuring some of Victoria, Nanaimo, and Vancouver’s best players, the band takes its influence from modern New Orleans music… not the older dixie music some people think of when they hear ‘New Orleans’, but the fun, horn heavymusic people are partying to there now. The music is all about having a good time, keeping the energy high the whole show, and moving your feet. Nick’s originals are like if Trombone Shorty met Ben Folds – wild horn solos, piano based grooves and melodic vocals. The band also plays their own take on tunes by great artists like Professor Longhair, Dr John, Sly & the Family Stone. One audience member described the show as “the most fun I’ve had in my adult life”. Mike Devlin from the Times Colonist says “his headlining appearances qualify as mark-your-calendar nights of entertainment”.

The band featuring Nick on trombone/shells/glasses/vocals, Miguel Valdes on trumpet, Barrie Sorensen on sax, Kelly Fawcett on guitar/vocals, Aidan Miller on keys/vocals, Dave Spidel on bass, and Damian Graham on drums.

Previous shows have sold out, so reservations are recommended and can be made at www.HermannsJazz.com

This Tuesday at the Port Theatre in Nanaimo, PLUS new live video, AND another Victoria show!

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Tuesday, November 6th at the Port Theatre, Nanaimo

It’s been a busy season. I’ve been playing all over the place, including a Northern BC tour with the World Music Collective that just ended, and gigs with 54-40 at the Commodore in Vancouver (video below).

On Tuesday the 6th a 4 piece version of my band will be performing in a new series at the Port Theatre in Nanaimo.  It will be a fun, intimate show – so come check us out!

Check here for tickets

December 15 – The Nick La Riviere Band @ Hermann’s Jazz Club

Also coming up, the full 7 piece band will be playing at Hermann’s Jazz Club.  Due to scheduling issues we were only able to book one night this time, and we sold out 2 nights the last time we played there… so reservations are highly recommended.  They can be made here.

Video with 54-40

I had a great time performing with 54-40 at the Commodore in Vancouver.  Check out this video for some clips of the show – a bit of one of my solos, plus some of the horn lines I came up with for Ocean Pearl and other great tunes.

 

Coming Up: Harmony Arts Fest in West Vancouver

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The Nick La Riviere Band is looking forward to playing The Harmony Arts festival in West Vancouver on August 11th.  We’ll be doing two sets from 5:45 to 7:30 at the Garden Stage.  It’s a great festival that I’ve played many times with The Paperboys – and in fact I’m playing there with them the next day, August 12th.  Come on out and check out some great music!

Also coming up:
•Tonight (August 3rd): The Paperboys @ Butchart Gardens AND Cities at Bard & Banker, Victoria
•August 4th: The Paperboys @ Filberg Fest, Comox AND a private wedding gig
•August 5th: Michael Kaeshammer @ Filberg Fest
•August 6th: Michael Kaeshammer AND Dinah D @ Filberg Fest

Urgent news: Despite rumours of closure, Hermann’s jazz club is still open!

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Many of you have heard rumours that Hermann’s Jazz Club is closed as of last night.  The truth of the matter is that Susan (manager) and Ingrid (Hermann’s daughter) are stepping down.  There’s a lot more to that story and it’s not my place to speculate, there’s a statement on the Hermann’s Facebook page you can check out.   Before Susan and Ingrid left, they sent emails to Hermann’s mailing list saying that the future of the club is unknown and it might be closed immediately, but it is NOT the case.

I have the OFFICIAL word that the club WILL REMAIN OPEN!  At least for now.  My shows this weekend are happening.  A long term plan is still being decided on, but at the moment we at least know that these shows will definitely happen, and I need to spread the word far and wide that the venue is NOT closed.

Too many people have heard the rumours of closure, and who that will hurt the most is musicians like myself who have shows booked there.  So please, help me spread the word that the venue continues to operate.  I’ll be putting on some great shows there this weekend, and I hope to get a good crowd out.  By showing up, you’re not only helping me and my band, you’re showing the club that it’s an important part of Victoria’s music and culture.  See more about the shows below.

Thank you very much for your support!

Show info

The Nick La Riviere Band has two shows at Hermann’s this Friday and Saturday, July 27th and 28th.  I’m really looking forward to it!  We’ve got a killer lineup featuring Miguel Valdes from the Buena Vista Social Club on trumpet, Barrie Sorensen of the Naden Band on sax, Kelly Fawcett from Nanaimo on guitar/vocals, Aidan Miller from Vancouver on keys/vocals, Dave Spidel from Vancouver on bass, and the one-and-only Damian Graham on drums.  And of course me on trombone, vocals, conch shells, and whatever else I can get my hands on. We’re going to premiere some brand new original tunes that I’m really excited about at these shows, and also play some funky New Orleans tunes, Trombone Shorty, and more.  Lots of energy, and fun!  

Our last show there was sold out – in fact we couldn’t accommodate everyone who wanted to come in – so we’re booked for two nights this time.  Come check us out, I promise it’s going to be a couple great nights.  One audience member from our last show described it as ‘the most fun she’s had in her adult life’.  

Table reservations can be made at www.Hermannsjazz.com – just click the show listing on the night you’d like to attend, then click register for a ticket.  That guarantees you a table in the event of a sell out as long as you’re there before 7:30.  The club is now transitioning to new management, so you may not receive and email back confirming your reservation, but we will do our best to accommodate everyone!

ADDITIONAL NOTE: I’ve been told that there will be limited food service at these shows. Because the staff didn’t know whether it would remain open some of them found new jobs, so don’t plan on dinner.  Food service will be back to normal soon for upcoming shows.