By Holly Fraughton, Pique Newsmagazine

Leading up to and during the Olympics, Whistler's homegrown songstress, Ali Milner, was front and centre on many stages, including during the local opening ceremonies and the Paralympic closing show. While that was a busy time for this 20-year-old performer, things don't seem to have slowed down much since then.

"It's been pretty hectic, I guess," she reflected. "But awesome!"

Late last week, Milner was just catching her breath, coming down from a Canada Day concert that saw her taking the stage with legendary singers Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLachlan and others at Vancouver's Lilith Fair date.

"I grew up knowing they were kind of big stars, but it wasn't until recently where I was really looking them up and realizing what huge influences they had on the world," said Milner.

Milner had met McLachlan a few times through performances in Whistler and Vancouver. A few months ago, Milner received an e-mail from the singer's manager, asking if she'd like to be a part of the Vancouver Lilith Fair date. Milner jumped at the opportunity and was rewarded with an inspiring experience, meeting and working with some female powerhouses in the music industry.

"They're huge stars, but they're also real people, so it was kind of an interesting thing to meet them. It kind of makes it feel possible that I could have a career like that, as well," said Milner.

"It was incredible: so supportive, and you think when you're a young, upcoming artist playing on a bigger tour date like that, you think that maybe the huge artists might not be accessible or anything, but I got to speak with them at the press conference and backstage before the final number and they're all just so nice and real women, and they're just living their lives!"

Milner played a 35-minute set of almost all original tunes from her last album, I Dare You (she played one cover, Higher and Higher by Jackie Wilson, at the end to get everyone dancing), and received a "great" reaction from the audience.

"They seemed to be willing to discover new music and sit and listen; it was really great. There were people dancing at the front, and it was awesome."

At the end of the day, everyone got up on stage together to perform one final song, a lesser-known tune by Bruce Springsteen. Milner sings a few words and giggles, admitting she had never heard it before.

"It was a bit intimidating I guess, especially because it was televised. I don't really get nervous anymore, I just get excited. But the Paralympics, for some reason, televised gigs freak me out," she laughed.

"I remember just before I got up on stage at Lilith, I got kind of nervous," she admitted. "And not excited - nervous! Because who knows who's in the crowd?"

As it turns out, at least one member of the music industry was in the audience, watching Milner perform: Terry McBride, Sarah McLachlan's manager and co-founder of Lilith Fair.

"He said he really enjoyed my set, so that was really great."

Lilith was the icing on the cake, of sorts. The Olympic experience has definitely helped to open a lot of doors for this born and bred Whistlerite.

"Performing on a world stage was an incredible opportunity and it was great. I've gotten messages from people from Germany that were like, 'I saw you in Whistler Village!'

"I kind of just keep on chugging, I just keep working; it's been a great thing to add to my resume," she said.

Since the Games, Milner has played a lot of live shows and traveled to some "random" places, including festivals and shows in Utah and England to perform. Straight after the Games, she was off to London with her bass player and drummer to make her UK debut at the City Showcase Festival. There, she played a few shows and made great connections with other musicians and people in the industry.

"The organizers of the festival are starting an agent management company, so I'm talking about working with them, maybe going back to the UK, so it was a really successful trip in that way."

Whistler's singing and songwriting sweetheart released her self-titled debut album at the age of 14, and released her sophomore album, I Dare You, last fall, transitioning from straight-up jazz to a more pop-influenced sound.

"I've been honing my sound and getting more and more comfortable on stage and working with a band and playing shows that way, because it's very different from playing in hotels or something. It's a completely, completely different ball game."

Now, she's getting ready to start writing for her next album, a project that will explore a more soulful sound, reminiscent of the legendary Ray Charles.

"I'm ready for people to see where I'm at now."

Check out Ali using the V-Piano at a recent showcase: keep an eye on this one, she is going to be huge!

https://www.roland.co.uk/articles/default.aspx?a=10724&c=3

Lilith has an amazing history.  From 1997 through 1999, Lilith Fair was one of the highest grossing touring festivals in the world, with over 1.5 million fans in attendance and raising over $10 million dollars for national and local charities. Founded by Grammy-award winning artist Sarah McLachlan along with Dan Fraser, Marty Diamond and Terry McBride, Lilith Fair was the only tour of its kind—a celebration of women in music featuring artists like Sheryl Crow, Christina Aguilera, Erykah Badu, The Dixie Chicks, Missy Elliot, The Pretenders, Nelly Furtado, Jewel, Queen Latifah, Indigo Girls, Tegan and Sara and of course, Sarah McLachlan.

Nearly 6 months ago, Nettwerk CEO and Lilith Fair co-founder Terry McBride announced that the all-female festival would make its return in Summer 2010.  And they invited Ali Milner to be part of the Vancouver show.  For more information, please visit http://www.livenation.com/edp/eventId/420409

Hot foot from scoring a huge personal triumph performing throughout the Vancouver Winter Olympics,

Now all flight restrictions into the UK have been lifted, the young Canadian singing star can make it into the country to premiere her unique musical sound - a fusion of indie, r ’n’b, jazz and soul - to London audiences at some of the city’s leading music showrooms: The 100 Club on Oxford Street (May 6^th ) - doors open at 7.30pm. ; The Regal Room, 64 Fulham Palace Road (May 7^th) - doors open at 8:30 pm; and Regent Street’s The Apple Store and TM Lewin (May 8^th).

Now well-established as a key date for music lovers and industry talent spotters alike, London’s City Showcase has proved a major stepping stone for a raft of artists that have gone on to outstanding international acclaim and success over the years.

Ali Milner will join a distinguished line up of musical moguls whose early career was enhanced in this way including Razorlight, Scouting for Girls, Newton Faulkner, Keane, Amy Winehouse, N-Dubz, Akala, Lady Sovereign and Sway. The festival provides a rare opportunity to glimpse tomorrow’s future stars.

Nineteen year-old Ali is fast carving a reputation for her own sound on the Indie/Jazz music scene across North America. In London she will be showcasing that rich pure sound and amazing vocal depth , performing songs with her band from her new album I Dare You, which she developed by collaborating and co-writing songs with the likes of Shaun Verreault (lead singer, Wide Mouth Mason) and Jim Vallance (Bryan Adams’ writing partner). She describes it as “a total creative process.” With no rehearsal beforehand Ali and the band enjoyed the freedom of experimenting with the sound, which was recorded live off the floor at Vancouver’s Armoury Studios, to capture the essence of the music. The album is a testament to musical purity. The first single from the album, “Crystal Clear”, been wowing fans via special live appearances and Internet downloads available at http://www.myspace.com/alimilner.

Despite her young age, Ali Milner is becoming a seasoned performer who recorded her first album at the age of 14. She has a packed schedule, and growing international fan base, while her performances are increasingly reviewed and acclaimed by music magazines and sites. City Showcase follows a busy schedule which in the last few months has seen her performing in Tokyo, Vancouver, Toronto, Arizona and along the west coast from British Columbia to Los Angeles. She has been booked to participate in Sarah McLachlan's upcoming tour, Lilith Fair In July.

Media Contact: Lyndsay Turley, lyndsay@greeniris.co.uk, 07775 742 688

ALI MILNER: "Can't Change This Girl"

So there you are carving the Upper Panorama run and looking pretty damned good, truth be told, when a boarder with screaming red hair goes flaming by you at Mach two. That was not Shaun White.

But it could very well have been singer-songwriter Ali Milner, who is very comfortable up here in these hills because, you see, she grew up in Whistler. She's a Babe of the Blackburn, a Spawn of the Schuss. Incredibly, she doesn't have an Australian accent.

There were 350 kids in her high school and she had the same group in her graduating class she had in Grade 1. And grad wasn't that far back -- she turns 20 next month. But already she has her second album out and has scored random gigs from the Four Seasons in Whistler to work in Arizona, Tokyo and London.

There were also a couple of shows with the Olympic/ Paralympic activities. And to think it all started -- as good things in life always seem to -- with a trip to Costco.

"I was probably 10 or 11," says Milner. "I was with my mother at Costco and they have that little listening station where you can sample stuff and there was this CD called The Great Ladies and the Great Gents of Jazz and I just got really into it. I was really stoked on Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday."

Pretty alert for a kid that age but perhaps not too surprising considering she grew up in a home where musical tastes ranged from Stevie Ray Vaughn to Dave Brubeck to Garth Brooks. By 13, Milner was taking piano and, while she learned the great jazz standards that compilation CD inspired in her, today she's veering away from specializing in any one genre.

On her current I Dare You release, you can hear the jazzy inflections but there's a lot of contemporary pop in there.

Milner's free download this week is called "Can't Change This Girl," co-written with producer Don McLeod and singer-songwriter Sherry St. Germain.

"Me and Sherry were actually going through breakups at the same time," says Milner. "Pretty much our breakups inspired it. I think it says me, the singer, is a strong person and I'm not willing to change, you have to love me for who I am. I think it's important that you don't want to change someone. And you can't change anyone."

Download songs from these artists at theprovince.com/musicdownloadstoday and watch for more every Tuesday!

jpmac@gmx.net

The festival audience consists of the millions of West End visitors, shoppers and workers as well as the 'tastemakers' from the music industry. City Showcase, London’s leading festival for new music known for premiering such well known artists as as Razorlight, Scouting For Girls, Newton Faulkner, Keane, Amy Winehouse, N-Dubz, Akala, Lady Sovereign and Sway. I'm excited!

The evening features a cocktail reception followed by a four course gastronomic feast, created by Chef Robert LeCrom, along with silent and live auctions filled with sought after treasures.

This year's exciting evening features performances by the Vancouver Men's Chorus' own members, and the amazing jazz and blues singer, Ali Milner. Whistler, BC’s own Milner has been compared to famous songstresses like Fiona Apple, Sara Bareilles and Estelle. The 19-year-old musician with a pure sound and amazing vocal depth performs a repertoire of her own compositions with her band or accompanies herself on piano.

Started as part of our 25th Anniversary Season, the Legacy Gala is an evening to celebrate our success and to share with our patrons an amazing evening of food, wine, and song.

Held at the historic Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, this event takes place high atop this Castle in the Heart of the City, on The Roof. The elegant surroundings, as well as beautiful panoramic views of the city, only add to the truly magical evening.

Tickets are $135 per person (includes a $50 Tax Receipt)

www.vancouvermenschorus.ca/Concerts/LegacyGala.html