Heritage Hall on Main Street

Music on Main is a music programming company that hosts the Modulus Festival, summer pop-up concerts and a variety of other performing arts events in Vancouver.

The organization provides the opportunity for local artists to showcase their skills.

Music on Main

Music on Main is a local non-profit organization that has contributed to the Vancouver music scene for over a decade. They don’t have a set venue; rather, they host events at various venues (which are usually on or near Main Street).

Some places that hold Music on Main shows include Heritage Hall, the Fox Cabaret and other spots in Mount Pleasant and beyond in Vancouver.

The loosening of COVID restrictions in the summer of 2021 opened up more opportunities for shows. Because of this, Music on Main hosted a Pop-Up Concert Series in August of 2021. The Pop-Up Concerts also happened in August of 2022.

The organization’s biggest event is the Modulus Festival which celebrates contemporary classical music. After not running in 2020, the festival returned in 2021. The dates for this event were November 4th to 10th. It was back again in 2022, from November 3rd to 8th.

Music at Mt. Pleasant Park — Mt. Pleasant Park

The Modulus Festival

The Modulus Festival is one of Music on Main’s signature events. After a COVID-imposed hiatus in 2020, the festival returned in 2021. The event happened again from November 3rd to 8th in 2022. The Modulus Festival is a great way to experience a variety of music and engage with it in interactive ways.

There are often artists brought in from around the world. In 2021 there was live music both in-person and online, private talks with the artists and more on offer. In 2022 the festival featured lots of live music and captivating performances.

One of the headliners this past year was the “Double Happiness: Detour This Way” series at Left of Main located at 211 Keefer Street. The series was an art-pop collection of migration stories by Nancy Tam and Robyn Jacob. The series ran from November 3rd to 12th, so for a few days longer than the Modulus Festival.

Other performers at the Modulus Festival between November 3rd and 8th in 2022 included François Houle, Ayelet Gottlieb, Dory Hayley, Standing Wave and No Hay Banda. Some of the shows took place at the Annex, located at 823 Seymour Street. The other venue for 2022 performances was the Roundhouse Community Centre located at 181 Roundhouse Mews in Yaletown.

Click Modulus Festival Schedule for more details about each performance.

Summer Pop-Up Concerts

Music on Main hosts a series of concerts in Mount Pleasant Park in the summer. In 2022, the concerts ran from August 9th to 12th and 16th to 18th. They were all free and open to the public.

Mount Pleasant Park is on 16th Avenue at 3161 Ontario Street which is about two blocks west of Main Street. It’s a small park with a large grassy area where people can sit and enjoy the music. Also at the park are basketball courts, a small skate park and a couple of play structures for young children.

Event organizers always encourage people to bring their own chairs and blankets to the event. Below is the full schedule for 2022. All the shows started at 6:30 pm. (Note: Concert performers and other details were subject to change.)

Tuesday, August 9th, 2022 – Paolo Bortolussi (flute), Min Jee Yoon (cello), and Lani Krantz (harp)
Wednesday, August 10th, 2022 – The Microcosmos String Quartet
Thursday, August 11th, 2022 – The Cedar String Quartet
Friday, August 12th, 2022 – With the artist to be confirmed
Tuesday, August 16th, 2022 – Vancouver Youth Choir
Wednesday, August 17th, 2022 – BC Chinese Music Ensemble
Thursday, August 18th, 2022 – The Vashaan Ensemble

Pop-Up Contest Giveaway

In 2022 Music on Main had a giveaway contest where a lucky person won two seasons passes to the 2022 Modulus Festival and Music for the Winter Solstice event which both take place towards the end of this year. Another prize was a $100 gift card to a restaurant. To enter the contest you had to sign up for Music on Main’s e-newsletter between August 1 and August 22, 2022.

Khaledi and Saijadi at Music on Main — Music at Mount Pleasant Park

Music on Main in Summer Video

The following short video clip shows one of the pop-up concerts at Mount Pleasant Park in 2021. Performing in the video are Persian musicians Saina Khaledi (playing the santour) and Ali Saijadi (playing the oud).

As you’ll see, the events drew a good number of people. Folk brought their lawn chairs or sat on the ground. Also as you’ll see, the concert was a quiet and peaceful event. You aren’t able to hear the music at the start of the video, but you can part way through as the camera gets closer.

Music for the Winter Solstice

Music on Main hosted a couple of candlelight concerts on December 14th and 15th in 2022. The Music for the Winter Solstice events took place at beautiful Heritage Hall which is located at 3102 Main Street in Vancouver.

Performing at the concerts were Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa (on piano), Robyn Jacob (on vocals & keyboard), Jonathan Lo (on cello) and Asitha Tennekoon (singing tenor). The music included a mix of art-pop songs as well as pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach and Alfredo Santa Ana’s A Short Song for the Longest Night of the Year.

The concerts started at 7:30 pm and general admission cost $49. Discounted tickets were also available for students and arts workers for $18.

For full details about the concerts click Music for the Winter Solstice.