Club PuSh

The Anderson Quartet

Delbert Anderson Quartet is led by Navajo(Diné) Jazz Trumpeter and Composer, Delbert Anderson. He is both a leader and innovator in today’s contemporary Jazz scene and a Diné culture bearer. His work brings forth traditional Diné songs once sung in Diné social circles called “spinning songs,” and captures their voice in the language of jazz and funk.

Through the support of visionary multi-cultural Jazz fusion drummer Khalill Brown, pianist Robert Muller and bassist Mike McCluhan, Anderson builds safe havens for Diné melodies to converse with various styles and pathways for expression. In all their forms, compositions are guided by the time-immemorial Diné principles of Hózhó-harmony, beauty and balance with self, other and nature and K’é or kinship. In this way,
Anderson connects across genre and culture, all the while, remaining steadfast in a signature sound that is as strong as the centuries of traditions it was built upon.

Ataahua Papa

Māori from Aotearoa Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Ngāti Mahuta, Waikato Singer; musician; traditional Māori performing artist; composer; arts administrator; cultural practitioner in Māori customs and traditions Fluent in te reo Māori (Māori language); advocate for the revitalisation and resurgence of te reo Māori Currently Kaihautū Māori at Te Ahurei Toi o Tāmaki Auckland Arts Festival with focus on Māori, Pacific and Indigenous programming Founding member of MATOU, a New York based musical collective of indigenous artists from New Zealand and North American First Nations Founder of Hautawhiti, a Māori music and performing arts group Founding member of MaNa Wahine, singing duet with Native American singer/songwriter Soni Moreno (Ulali) Regular appearances with First Nation Women’s a capella singing group, Ulali; First Nations Musician, Robbie Romero and backing vocalist for Tama Waipara and Native Roots Indigenous reggae band.

The Brush Arbor Gurlz

The Brush Arbor Gurlz or BAGz are composed of Native American artists and drag queens representing several tribal nations including Chickasaw, Cherokee, Dine and Saqumish. The group’s name is based on brush arbors of Southeastern tribes used for social occasions. Led by Landa Lakes the Mother of the Arbor, The BAGz can be found performing around the US often introducing audiences to Native politics for the first time.

Javier Stell-Fresquez

Javier Stell-Frésquez (Piru & Tigua Pueblo ancestry, Mixed Chican@; hometown El Paso TX; “she”/“he” pronouns) serves Indigenous communities of the San Francisco (Yelamu) Bay. Many years volunteering on the BAAITS Two-Spirits Powwow Committee have lead to her producing Weaving Spirits Festival of Two-Spirit Performance. She has life-long performance experience spread across myriad forms, including: Mexican folklorico, contemporary, vogue, flamenco, and performance art.  He has a B.S. in Environmental Studies with Honors in Chican@ Studies from Stanford University. Recent multimedia performance work includes the touring show and short film Mother / Forgotten Blaze (MAP Grant), and Chaac & Yum, a short art film currently showing in film festivals internationally. She is a WAA Native Launchpad Awardee, and a 2021 California Arts Council Art Administrator of Color Fellow.

Joleen Mitton

Supernaturals Modeling Agency and Turtle Island’s first indigenous modeling agency, a proud offspring of Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week. Together, we aim to showcase our Indigenous worldview and fashion on the global stage, bringing a touch of cultural richness and diversity to the forefront. Be prepared to be wowed by the fashion of Yolonda Skelton from the Gitxan nation newest collection! 

Maura Garcia

Maura García (non-enrolled Cherokee/Mattamuskeet) is a dancer, dance-maker, director, entertainer, facilitator and thought leader. She inspires people to liberate themselves through vibrant performances that channel the sensual rhythms of the natural world. From theater stages, to nightclubs, to museums, to conferences, to universities, to private events, to site-specific outdoor performances, Maura’s powerful work transforms time and space. At the root of all of her endeavors is the desire to heal and create more space for joy in the world.

Qacung Blanchett (Stephen Blanchett)

Qacung Blanchett is a performing artist, a culture-bearer, and an art and culture educator. Qacung is a founding member of the Alaska Native tribal funk & Inuit soul group, Pamyua. He is currently the Creative Director for Áak’w Rock Indigenous Music Festival and the Art Education Director for Juneau Arts & Humanities Council. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Western Arts Alliance and chairs the Advancing Indigenous Performance program.  

Sherryl Sewepagaham

Sherryl Sewepagaham is of Woodland Cree and Dene heritage from the Little Red River Cree Nation in Northern Alberta. She is an experienced elementary music teacher, performance artist, and composer of Cree songs sharing with children, community song circles, and choirs. Sherryl is a member of the retired 2006 Juno nominated trio Asani and has travelled extensively worldwide. With Asani, Sherryl recorded two successful albums and followed with a release of her own album in 2014. She is currently a PhD student in ethnomusicology at UBC focusing on Cree song practices and language revitalization.

Kage

Kage is a Taiko based artist of Japanese ancestry living on the unceded ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Squamish & Tsleil-Waututh Peoples.  Decades ago, they embraced the art of Taiko as a way to express themselves as a queer non-binary, mixed-race Asian youth. They co-founded several Taiko/music groups pushing the boundaries of the form and collaborating with other artists. Their performance explores the ceremonial roots of the Taiko which honours and celebrates our ancestors and those who have passed on. Through live Taiko and original soundtrack Kage will present a performance that ranges from calm meditative to the high energy celebratory vibes.

Batty Banks

Batty Banks is the unapologetic, unhindered, and unhinged drag tornado you never knew you needed. Daylighting as an animal rights advocate, vegan and queer ecologist, this drag queen attempts to blend the worlds of wildlife, science, and fashion to create unique experiences where people can learn and let loose. This queen continues to slide, slip stunt and uno reverse flip across stages all over the country, and she is excited to bring her chaos to a stage near you. This powerhouse Brazilian and Jamaican drag artist is ALWAYS ready to put on a show, so strap on and buckle up for the wild ride that is BATTY BANKS.

Genesis

Genesis is a nonbinary  performer and a staple of the drag and burlesque communities in Vancouver. At the beginning of 2023 they became the winner of Vancouver’s Next Drag Superstar. Genesis teaches Drag 101 at Passion and Performance dance studio, where they get to share their skills and create community for new drag artists.

PM

PM is Vancouver’s non-binary high-kicking mustached MILF. Mixing both their contemporary-ballet background and off-beat style, P.M’s goal is to continually bend gender and sexuality while jump splitting and front flipping. They are 100% a winner, claiming the crown in 2019 of Vancouver’s Next Drag Superstar! They are 1/4 of The Darlings drag collective; a multi-disclipliary non-binary drag quartet in Vancouver. They are also a founding member of the weekly show Enby 6 @ The Junction every Thursday. PM also performs and hosts many events such as: Late Night Snack, The Larry & Pum Pum show & Na$ty Gurlz and 1/6 of the non-binary supergroup Enby 6!

Posh Gvasalia Basquiat (Ralph Escamillan) 

Ralph Escamillan is a Queer, Canadian-Filipinx performance artist, teacher and community leader based on the unceded territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm, Skwxwú7mesh, Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh Nations – aka Vancouver, BC. 

In the Ballroom scene Ralph is known as ‘Posh’, founding the first Vancouver House – Kiki House of Gvasalia, a member of the Mainstream House of Basquiat, and founder and Ballroom non-profit organization Van Vogue Jam (VVJ). Since 2017 VVJ has been a catalyst for the growing Vancouver Ballroom community with weekly pay-what-you-can classes, community programming and events/Balls, acting as a beacon for the scene in Western Canada.

Tonye Aganaba

Tonye Aganaba is a musician and artist residing on the unceded territories of the Squamish, Musqueam & Tsleil-Waututh peoples. Half Naija, Half Zim – born Black in Britain, they find feeling at home a complicated dance. Tonye loves writing, drawing and making things, sometimes art, sometimes messes. Strongly dislikes cops, loves R&B, Funk, Soul, and Hip-Hop (and has a real soft spot for mid 1980’s speed and thrash metal.)

DJ Paisley Eva

Hailing from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation village of Eslha7an, DJ Paisley Eva has been a fixture within the Vancouver music scene for the last 9 years. Her sets are high energy, mixing all types of music together for unforgettable sets that keep the energy up and her dance floors moving.