Welcome to Highlife Records.
Celebrating 33 & 1/3+ years of Vinyl Records, CDs and Tapes in Vancouver!
NEW RELEASES & STAFF PICKS
Makaya McCraven – STRANGERS IN THE CITY
We've loved Makaya McCraven's Universal Beings LP and so we're jazzed to hear about new material! "Sides E & F". More info here on COS and here on Pitchfork. Check out this excerpt from a new film. You'll also catch a glimpse of McCraven's band including the remarkable Nubya Garcia, who recorded at Crew Studios in North Vancouver with Highlifer [...]
Review: We’re New Again – A Reimagining by Makaya McCraven
We’re New Again – A Reimagining by Makaya McCraven (International Anthem / XL Recordings) The ghost of the revolutionary American poet/musician/author Gil Scott-Heron must be dancing, and smiling broadly somewhere tonight with the recent release of the “new” record “We’re New Again” by a group led by Chicago drummer Makaya McCraven. Gil Scott-Heron died (age 62) in 2011 and had [...]
BEST OF 2019
Late November brings our annual "Best Of" publication. We love talking music - come by to compare notes on an excellent year in music. Sale prices in effect Friday Nov 29th & Saturday Nov 30th! DOWNLOAD HIGHLIFE BEST OF 2019 - PDF (7MBs)
Oxford American: South Carolina
Well, eclectic music fans, if it is close to winter, it is time again for the next (and this year, the 21st annual) music edition from our friends at the Oxford American magazine, out of Little Rock Arkansas and in alliance with the University of Central Arkansas. This year’s compilation - as is their recent practice - focuses on music, musicians [...]
Soul of A Nation 2 : Jazz is the Teacher, Funk is the Preacher
The thoughtful people at SoulJazz Records in London England have done it again. Their latest compilation “Soul of A Nation 2” is one of the deepest and most powerful compilations to come our way in many years, and is even stronger than the first volume from 2018. These compilations were chosen to provide a musical companion piece for an art [...]
Dennis Coffey “One Night at Morey’s: 1968” + Delvon Lamarr Trio “Live at KEXP”
If you are at all like me, you might have felt that after hearing artists like Booker T & the Mgs, Jimmy McGriff, Jimmy Smith, and Larry Young for years, there wasn't much still to discover from an organ /guitar / drums trio. Well here are two recent releases – recorded close to 50 years (!!!) apart – that have [...]
NEWS & EVENTS
Music for Now / Protest Music
Black Lives Matter. Highlifer Su Comandante paying tribute to Malcolm X. Bill points us to: ongoinghistoryofprotestsongs.com "This website focuses on the ongoing development of protest songs. The founder of this site and chief contributor CJ Baker is a published author and life long music fan. He is currently working on a nonfiction examination of the vital role music continues to [...]
WINTER YOUTH – Live In-Store
We're very pleased to present remarkable dark indie duo Winter Youth this Saturday Nov 2, at 2:00pm. They'll perform an acoustic set previewing their new album "Home". Highlifer a-dub had the good fortune to record one of their upcoming singles. Refreshments will be available! Bio: Winter Youth is a Vancouver based dark indie rock band. Singer-songwriters Emily Seal and Kas Baker create hauntingly beautiful songs encapsulating [...]
Orkestar Kriminal: Live Monday Night
We're very pleased to present the 8-piece phenomenon from Montreal Orkestar Kriminal for a very special in-store performance. Monday July 15th at 7pm "Along with their Yiddish gangster repertoire, Orkestar Kriminal has absorbed the Rebetika Mortika hash den anthems of the 1930s Greek underground. They can also be found performing in Khmer, Spanish, Danish, Romani, Ladino, Russian, Vietnamese, Hebrew or whatever other tongue might [...]
Tavis Triance In-Store Friday Night
Pleased to welcome back Tavis Triance! Join us on Friday May 3rd at 7pm for a preview of his new album, with refreshments on-hand. Here is footage from his last visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKENPb-Tl0M
RECORD STORE DAY 2019
Join us this Saturday April 13th! One of the best days pf the year. Spring, records on sale, beverages...
Sunday: PRE-RECORD STORE DAY PARTY AT STEEL & OAK
Purveyors of fine beer and good music Steel & Oak are throwing a pre-record store day party this Sunday April 7th Noon to 8pm. Noon to 8pm. DJs, Gift Certificates, Beer!