Ruby Singh and the Future Ancestors

Ruby Singh and the Future Ancestors’ music, perhaps more than any other ensemble appearing at Jericho Beach this summer, encapsulates everything the Folk Festival has tried to communicate with its audience for nearly half a century.  

Future Ancestors’ unique sound arises from Vancouver poet, visual artist, and melodic visionary, Ruby Singh’s ongoing experiments with blending traditional forms and approaches to music with cutting edge modern beats and textures.

When Singh encountered Arthur Flowers a few years ago at Vancouver’s Indian Summer Festival, he was completely enraptured by the Memphis-born storyteller and novelist’s approach to telling stories through music. Flowers, a life-long practitioner of Hoodoo – an African-American form of folk magic based on conjure, mojo, witchcraft, and love spells – had never been featured in a musical recording until Singh started to put together Celestial Libations, their first collaboration that grew out of their improvisations around story, poetry, rhythm, and prayer. 

Together, Singh and Flowers create living tapestries of sound that point to new directions in music, while acknowledging and sending listeners back to reconsider the familiar melodic constructions of American folk, blues and hip hop.

Gospel luminary Khari Wendell McClelland (the Sojourners) brings a vibrant spiritual joyfulness to the mix, delivering lines that rise like fire towards the night sky. Together, this trio holds the core of a work rooted in reverence, kinship, and sonic healing.Come hear new musical futures created in the moment as voices and beats coalesce into a radiant storm of sound. This will surely be one of the most memorable experiences of this year’s festival. Come be transported. -DH

Arthur Flowers handpan / vocals ; Ruby Singhvocals / synth; Khari Wendell McClellandVocals; Holly Eccleston Vocals; Kenton Loewen Drums; Karlis Silins Bass; Paul Finlay Turntables; Paul PIgat: guitar

SET TIMES TBC