Live Music Venue Spotlight: The Streaming Cafe

Well Christmas has passed and the New Year celebrations are on the horizon. I do hope that you are enjoying the festive season so far. I certainly am! For this edition of my Hear in Kelowna column, we're going to take a closer look at one of Kelowna's live music venues.

First, let me provide you with a little background. I recently had the pleasure of entertaining a visitor from New York. Inevitably, we ended up discussing Kelowna's music scene. Prior to visiting, my guest had researched Kelowna and therefore anticipated Kelowna's solid music scene. However, that is not the norm. To the contrary, I think it is fair to say that there's actually more happening in Kelowna, music wise, than people usually realize or give it credit for, and that includes Kelowna residents. I have to admit, when I first moved here from England, just over eight years ago, I knew little of the venues and bands that Kelowna is home to. However, as a music lover, I eventually started to realize that there's quite a bit of music happening in Kelowna. It's just a matter of finding it! With that in mind, I hope that my bi-weekly “Live Music Events” lists go some way to helping you discover some of the live music that is happening around Kelowna on a regular basis. Anyway, I digress...

When discussing Kelowna's music scene, it's of course necessary to mention some of the city's venues. As such, I'd like to take this opportunity to highlight one of my favourite venues in Kelowna:

The Streaming Cafe.

The Streaming Cafe is a self-described “listening room inspired to discover, connect & promote independent artists.” Located at 596 Leon Avenue, that's right near Safeway in the downtown core, the Streaming Cafe's mission is “to be a community that mixes a love of good coffee with a love of good music and art.” The Streaming Cafe is a venue committed to promoting talented musicians, and I am consistently impressed by the calibre of musician that the Streaming Cafe is able to attract. For instance, in the past year alone, this intimate and charming little venue has played host to the likes of Jordan Klassen, Portage and Main, Mike Edel, Windmills, Paper Beat Scissors, Ali Milner, Andy Shauf and many, many more. As you might imagine (or know), events at the Streaming Cafe often feature in my “Live Music Events” lists.

Another really cool thing about the Streaming Cafe is the fact that performances are streamed live on the Internet. That means if you can't make it to a particular performance, you can still take it in online. Hence the name; the Streaming Cafe! This great little Kelowna venue seems entirely sincere in its endeavour to promote quality music. The Streaming Cafe is also licensed meaning that you can enjoy a beer as well as the music. In addition, the Streaming Cafe is an establishment committed to providing patrons with excellent coffee at a reasonable price. The interior of the cafe is modern and comfortable, but it is quite small. If you plan on attending an event, I recommend arriving early if you'd like to ensure you get a seat. Actually, the cafe is currently in the midst of an expansion, so perhaps this problem will soon be a thing of the past!

Outside of music the Streaming Cafe also plays host to art shows, comedy nights, forums, and more. I've attended a number of concerts at the cafe, and it is a great place to enjoy live music. It is certainly one of Kelowna's gems, and the fact that the cafe is trying to foster community and spirit around Kelowna's music and arts scene is brilliant. I definitely recommend dropping in for a show when you get a chance. The Streaming Cafe is one of my favourite places in Kelowna, and once you've visited, I am sure you'll understand why.

You can find the Streaming Cafe online on Facebook, Twitter or its official website.

Happy New Year!

Do you want to contact Vince? E-mail him at: vince@welcometokelowna.com or connect with him on Twitter or LinkedIn. You can also hear Vince play some of Canada's best indie music from emerging artists every Wednesday on the Music City Podcast.