Kim Churchill Captivates Khatsahlano Street Party
After a two-year hiatus, Vancouver’s biggest outdoor free festival, the Khatsahlano Street Party, finally returned. With over 50 musicians and artists, one humble, barefoot Australian stole the show by a landslide. If you were walking through the Kitsilano streets after 6:40pm, you would’ve heard the buzz of on-lookers raving about Kim Churchill, the performer that just captivated all of West 4th Avenue from the MacDonald stage. Though the clouds sheltered the sun right before his set began, Kim’s radiant energy brought light that caught the attention of anyone who walked by.
I sat down with Kim Churchill before his show to talk about his music, current Canadian tour, and his love for our beautiful West Coast. “I’ve been coming back to Canada for about 2 to 4 months a year, for about 12 years”, Kim said, admitting to being here for around almost 3 years collectively. While on the island, Kim wrote one of his EP’s “FORGETTING” in Sidney, BC. With 4 EPs each written in different parts of the world, they amalgamate to create “I AM FORGETTING THE END AGAIN”. Kim’s artistic diversity is evident, as each EP has a slightly different sound, yet all still encapsulate the notorious melodic sounds you’d expect from the talented singer-songwriter.
Kim spoke about the atmosphere you could expect at one of his shows, admitting that “each gig is different, but there’s always going to be a lot of love, and a lot of energy. By the end of the show it’s often ferocious, fierce, and exciting”. This was evident on Saturday as Kim noticed members from the back of the crowd timidly standing by, apprehensively moving closer with each song. In classic Kim Churchill fashion, he assured the audience that they didn’t have to be scared, and they could come closer to the stage and have some fun. On-lookers glanced at each other for unspoken permission to let a little loose, and the energy Kim radiated solidified any feelings that the performance was going to be the best of the night. The dancing began as several fans from the front row shouted support for the artist. Kim reciprocated the good vibes, declaring from the stage, “I think we’re friends now” - a gesture symbolic to the way Kim seems to carry himself; friendly, welcoming, (and heaps fun).
It was evident that such positive energy would translate to an optimistic yet mindful perspective on trusting the path of your journey while working towards your dreams. “It’s really important to fail”, Kim said. “Failure is the mark of a life well lived. When I get to the end of my life, I want to see thousands of failures; I want to have fallen off my surfboard millions of times, because that’s how I know I've improved… don't stop, keep going”. Kim reflects this sentiment often as a poetic lyricist, especially in his latest single, “Fighter”. Kim assured, “Over time, everything you dreamed about happening might not happen in the way you thought it would, but you'll have moments when you realize that it's better than what you could have planned or imagined. And that's how life and the universe works. They key is that it’s hard, but the only time you actually fail… is if you stop”.
No matter if you were a previous fan of Kim Churchill, or a lucky new enthusiast, it was hard not to walk away feeling energized and uplifted by Kim’s performance on West 4th avenue. After the global pandemic put a halt to the Khatsahlano Street Party, it was only fitting that two years later it would be back in full force, with someone like Kim Churchill leading the party with his radiant energy and hypnotic sound. A beautiful reminder to keep holding out for better days, while remaining present and grateful for where you are now. I hear it actually works best if you are barefoot and dancing too.
If you are in the Vancouver area, catch Kim Churchill at the Biltmore Cabaret on July 27th.
