An annual wilderness concert series — which this weekend will launch its fourth summer of performances — has become one of the Living Forest Institute's longest-lived outreach initiatives. For a nonprofit organization that's also collaborating with the University of BC in a thousand-year botanical experiment, longevity has become its watchword.
"We started the concert series in 2022," said Sarah Lowis, the institute's president. "Before that we had hikes and workshops. For this year's concert series, the theme is ‘Expansion’: all about the expansion and connection of Elphinstone's protected forest areas above Roberts Creek."
Audience members trek along a 20-minute route to reach a natural amphitheatre known as Health Trail Forest Trailhead #1, opposite the Oxygen Trail Forest where 2024 performances took place. The three shows — which debut with improvisational poetry and music by Em Postl (vocals) and Thomas Hoeller (guitar) on Sunday afternoon — provide an opportunity for low-key environmental advocacy and high-calibre cultural engagement. Performers are selected and coordinated by vocalist and keyboardist Anna Lumière.
"Of course, the priority is connecting the community to the forest like we always do, so they can experience the woods," added Lowis, "and to enjoy music under the trees.”
Earlier this year, a sister organization — Elphinstone Logging Focus — engaged Coast artist Tyler Gentry to create an all-natural installation at the head of the Health Trail. Gentry's terraced trunks and standing stones form a verdant entrée for hikers (a full-length one-way transit takes approximately 4.5 hours). "You're sort of left with this feeling — oh, is there a human intervention here or is this naturally formed?" said Lowis.
Hiwus Calvin Craigan, a shíshálh Elder and oral knowledge keeper, is scheduled to share information about a proposal he created with Elphinstone Logging Focus called the Elphinstone Indigenous Conservation Protected Area. Lowis said the Living Forest Institute has learned to keep educational content concise, preceding the music which then occupies centre stage.
Sunday's artists, Em Postl and Thomas Hoeller, are currently collaborating on the Streams Poetry Project. The project was conceived nine years ago as a way for poems and poets to act as equal collaborators in the creation of music. Their forthcoming debut album will feature Elisa Thorn (harp), Kevin Romain (drums) and James Meger (bass).
On Aug. 3, the Understory Choir, led by Kiki Connelly and supported by Anna Lumiere (on voice and melodica) and Mike Agranovich (singer and guitarist) will encourage audience participation with an impromptu choir.
The final concert of the summer takes place on Aug. 24, featuring producer and music educator Steve Wright in collaboration with all-round jazz artist Graham Ord. The duo will perform a lineup dubbed "Water's Journey," featuring Wright on guitar and Ord playing an array of instruments: tenor and soprano saxophones, flutes, electronic wind instrument and percussion.
In addition to the wilderness concert series, the volunteer-run Living Forest Institute is meanwhile collaborating with The Only Animal Theatre Society and the University of British Columbia to cultivate a cedar grove that will see use as an outdoor presentation venue in 1,000 years. The experiment is situated at the site of a clearcut near Clack Creek. Over a millennium, a cedar tree can grow to a diameter that requires 18 people with linked arms to encircle it.
Admission details and hiking instructions for the outdoor concert series (donations are solicited at the trailhead) can be found online at livingforestinstitute.ca/expansion.
