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Monday, March 18, 2024
March 18, 2024

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Bits ‘n’ Pieces: New Year’s to be rockin’ at Hilton in Vancouver

By , Columbian staff writer
Published:

Blake Sakamoto doesn’t live in Vancouver. But sometimes it seems like he does.

“I hang out in Vancouver a lot,” he said. “I’ve gotten to know the community really well.”

Sakamoto has been deeply involved in the Fort Vancouver National Trust’s Fourth of July fireworks show for the past decade, he said. His role has evolved from sound tech to stage manager and entertainment director.

Even before that claim to fame, though, Sakamoto was a genuine rock star, touring the world as a keyboard player with the Dan Reed Network in the 1980s and opening for acts such as the Rolling Stones and David Bowie. He enjoyed the onstage glory, but he was also curious about the backstage machinations that made it look so glorious. The rock festival scene was starting up in those days, and Sakamoto found himself fascinated: “How on Earth do they manage when it’s 200,000 people? You see the organization and you’re so impressed by how these things come together.”

Sakamoto recalls picking the brain of legendary concert promoter Bill Graham of San Francisco, who started out putting on happenings with the likes of the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane, and went on to produce huge benefit concerts and festivals before his death in 1991.

“God bless him, he rode in our van on tour, and I could ask him anything I wanted,” Sakamoto said.

Eventually Sakamota took a 20-year breather to raise a family, he said. But all that organizational know-how was still in his head’s backstage, and he started putting it to good use with Vancouver’s fireworks show.

Then, a friend who works at the Hilton Vancouver Washington downtown invited him to add some spark to this year’s New Year’s Eve. At first, he just figured on staging an event for others while playing in Portland himself that night. Then, he thought again and decided instead to rock the Hilton with his current band, The Nu Wavers: The Best of the ’80s and More. Opening for the Nu Wavers will be Vancouver’s own Beat Frequency, who appeared a few years ago on the TV talent show “The Voice.” There will also be a performance by aerialist Rebecca Palmer.

And, it’ll all be a benefit for the Fort Vancouver National Trust, he said. After Sakamoto covers expenses, the trust gets the rest.

“A ton of people migrate down to Portland instead of hanging out in Vancouver for New Year’s Eve,” he said. “We should start building an event Vancouver can call its own.”

He said he hopes this year’s event is the first annual, he said.

Now 53, Sakamoto added that it’s a joy to see his peers still rockin’, both onstage and in the audience at their shows.

“It’s fun to see your generation still kicking ass,” he said.

Vancouver’s New Year’s Eve begins with VIP dining at 6:30 p.m. for $125. Admission with appetizers and reserved seating at 7:30 p.m. is $90. General admission with appetizers buffet until 10 p.m. is $70 ($80 at the door), and late admission for music only at 10 p.m. is $30 ($40 at the door).

Visit bit.ly/13zkgiu to learn more. The Hilton is at 301 W. Sixth St.


Bits ‘n’ Pieces appears Fridays and Saturdays. If you have a story you’d like to share, email bits@columbian.com

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