Award-winning Lil’wat Nation band The Spiritual Warriors are set for a major honour this weekend.
The roots, rock and reggae group will share a stage (virtually) with legendary songstress Buffy Sainte-Marie as part of the Lytton-based 2 Rivers Remix on Sunday night (Sept. 6). The group will perform a set in the 6:30 to 8 p.m. timeslot, with Ste. Marie performing starting at 9:30 p.m. The weekend festival features more than 30 Indigenous artists.
Guitarist and vocalist Leroy Joe said, despite losing some shows and festivals this summer because of the COVID-19 pandemic, other opportunities popped up.
“We started doing this virtual thing and it’s really been pretty good. We’ve done at least 10 shows so far,” he said. “We’re very fortunate. It was completely unexpected.”
While a couple of the band’s shows have been taped or streamed at proper venues such as the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre or Vancouver’s Rickshaw Theatre (that show, opening for Buckman Coe and Khari McClelland, streams Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. on the theatre’s Facebook page), the band has typically set up shop in the backyard of a group member. The change in venue hasn’t altered much for the band.
“We do what we always do. We just go and play,” Joe said.
To tune in to the festival for free, visit www.virtualfeast.ca.
For more on The Spiritual Warriors, pick up a copy of Thursday’s issue of Pique.
