Acrpost: A Project of the Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres

Event Description

Garden Grooves Festival 2026 – Night Three closes the three-day festival on Saturday, March 21st, by pushing sound forward, spotlighting artists who thrive at the edges of genre and imagination. From experimental hip-hop and soul-infused production to vibrant Latin-pop energy, this final night captures Garden Grooves’ fearless approach to curation — where innovation, global influence, and artistic risk are centre stage.

Headlining the night is Shabazz Palaces, the visionary Seattle-based project led by Ishmael Butler (Digable Planets). Renowned for redefining alternative hip-hop, Shabazz Palaces blends abstract lyricism with Afro-futurist soundscapes, electronic textures, and avant-garde jazz influences. With landmark releases like Black Up, Butler’s work has reshaped the boundaries of hip-hop, delivering live performances that are immersive, cerebral, and uncompromising.

Joining them is Calgary duo Sargeant X Comrade, whose Polaris-longlisted album Magic Radio fuses lush soul vocals with richly layered hip-hop production, creating music that’s both intimate and groove-driven.

Opening the night is TrippyCals, a Victoria-based Latin-pop group blending bilingual rap, funk-infused guitar, and modern Latin rhythms.