Georgia Straight
Posts
July 8 2025: Vancouver’s Mother Mother on global stardom

July 8 2025: Vancouver’s Mother Mother on global stardom

Plus: Your ultra-local July horoscopes, Vivek Shraya, and foodie recommendations

July 08, 2025

Hey there. How’s your Tuesday going?

It’s another lovely summer day in Vancouver, perfect for drinking in a park, or a sunset swim in Kits Pool, or a hike that you haven’t done quite enough preparation for. What’s the worst that could happen, besides an embarrassing helicopter rescue?

— V.
Associate editor

— FEATURE —

Mother Mother leans into Nostalgia

There was a time when only Canadians knew how cool Mother Mother was. That all changed when the Vancouver-based group blew up on TikTok, racking up millions of fans overnight and introducing the world to what the band can do. But the newfound fame hasn’t gone to frontman Ryan Guldemond’s head. “I’ll eat red beans and sleep on a couch,” he reflects, as long as he gets to play music. “This is a finer experience than all the rest.”

— LIVING —

MEC is back in Canadian hands. Can it rebuild its reputation?

MEC has had a turbulent few years since it was sold off to an American private equity firm in 2020. But Chris Speyer, the new chief merchandising officer and partner, has a vision. “Maybe I'm a hopeless optimist,” he says, “but the outdoors matters a lot during periods of uncertainty.”

Your very Vancouver horoscopes for July
Pleasant Day Festival debuts August 9! Enjoy 25+ BC music acts, refreshing beer gardens, and Main Street's best local eats. One of summer’s biggest foodie events!*
Comedy gets cooking at The Improv Centre's new summer-themed improv show!*
*sponsored listing

Stay awhile at Sandhill Urban Winery – Downtown Kelowna’s wine destination

Elevate your weekend with a visit to Sandhill Urban Winery — the ultimate downtown Kelowna destination. Since 1997, Sandhill has crafted award-winning wines from six select vineyards across the Okanagan and Similkameen valleys. Visit the stylish urban tasting room for signature wine flights, weekly events, and daily happy hour from 3pm to close, featuring wines by the glass and curated small bites.

Whether you’re wine touring with friends or planning a foodie getaway, Sandhill is a must stop destination. Escape the city — and discover Kelowna’s boldest wine experience at Sandhill Urban Winery. Plan your visit today.

— ARTS —

There’s no such thing as too much Vivek Shraya

Vivek Shraya’s How to Fail as a Popstar certainly made it sound like the multidisciplinary artist wasn’t going to succeed. But that’s far from the truth, as she embraces excess on her latest album. We chatted with the star ahead of her appearance at Indian Summer Festival this week.

A Q&A with rising comedian Kiran Deol
Little Mountain Gallery introduces comedy contest series
Theatre Under the Stars presents Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Legally Blonde: The Musical. Now through August 16 in Stanley Park!*
Eastside Arts Festival: Art workshops, music, walking tours, dance, and more, all in the Eastside Arts District! Free music all day, July 26, Maclean Park.*
*sponsored listing

— FOOD & DRINK —

Chef’s picks: The Fairmont Pacific Rim’s Kate Siegel

Pastry chef extraordinaire Kate Siegel dishes on her favourite dessert spot, guilty pleasure cocktail, and where to find the best fried eggplant.

Belgard Kitchen hosts a one-night dinner with Modern Perogie
Mister and Paragon are a matcha-made in heaven
To accompany this season’s endless evenings, check out this selection of sunkissed whites and rosés from some of British Columbia’s most talented winemakers, so you can taste summer with every sip.*
*sponsored listing

Flexible workspaces. Proven results.

Flexible workspaces that work harder for your business. WeWork helps companies of all sizes reduce overhead while creating environments where employees love to work. Better spaces, better results, better bottom line. Connect with a WeWork expert today.

— ICYMI —

Here are 30 can’t-miss events for July
And 30 cool concerts this month, too
The Hycroft is hosting a secret soirée
The Mousetrap is not to be messed with

— THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK —

VISUAL ARTS: Hank Bull’s reflective Message from the Forest opened yesterday. (To September 5 @ Pendulum Gallery)

WORKSHOP: Create poetry and prose based on random junk at this drop-in class series. (July 8 to August 26 @ Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre)

SPORTS: The Gastown Grand Prix brings bikes to the cobblestone streets. (July 9 @ Gastown)

BOOKS: Writers Samantha Nock and Rachael Moorthy discuss in-between places. (July 9 @ Enabling Arts)

COMEDY: In improvised variety show Gravy Pool, Ivy and Maddie take up wrestling. (July 10 @ Chill x Studio)

VISUAL ARTS: Vancouver-based artist Corina Hanson displays two collections in Not, about nothing. (July 10 to August 27 @ Amelia Douglas Gallery, New Westminster)

MUSIC: Parks in Burnaby are full of music on Thursday and Friday nights now. (July 10 to August 29 @ parks in Burnaby)

—

Want to know what else is happening in Vancouver? Check out our events listings.

That’s it!

You made it all the way to the bottom, and we love you for it! Readers like you are what keep us going. If you want to support free arts and culture journalism, send this newsletter to a friend.