Surrey’s Music City Showcase returns Feb. 7, spotlighting homegrown artists whose journeys began in local programs and now shine on a big stage.
A Night Where Local Talent Takes Centre Stage
On Feb. 7, Surrey’s music scene steps into the spotlight—and it does so with heart. The fourth annual Music City Showcase lands at the Surrey Arts Centre’s Studio Theatre, bringing nine homegrown artists together for a night that feels equal parts concert and celebration.
From first chords strummed in basements to polished sets under theatre lights, this showcase tells a simple story: when a city invests in its artists, they rise. As a result, audiences can expect an evening filled with growth, grit, and great music.
Built by Surrey, for Surrey
Cabaret-style seating sets the tone for an intimate Saturday night, while the event itself is powered by FUSIONpresents in partnership with Surrey Civic Theatres and the Surrey & White Rock Board of Trade’s Music City Centre.
Most performers call Surrey home. Moreover, all have appeared at community events across the city, including Bear Creek Lights and Sounds of Summer. Because of that shared history, the night feels like a reunion—one where fans and artists meet again, only this time with bigger dreams realized.
“This year’s showcase is a full-circle moment,” says Sami Ghawi of FUSIONpresents. “These are musicians who started in our programs and are now stepping onstage as confident, professional artists.”
From Mentorship to the Main Stage
Ghawi knows these journeys well. As a musician and educator, he has mentored several of the performers through Surrey’s BandAid program, a free, day-long workshop for young musicians. Later, in 2023, FUSIONpresents launched the Basement2Stage weekly workshops, helping artists refine their craft and find their voice.
Therefore, this concert is not just a performance. Instead, it is proof that mentorship works—and that community support can turn potential into presence.
CocoLarosa: Folk Songs with Saltwater Soul
Among the featured artists is CocoLarosa, the stage name of Surrey’s Harley Tangedal. By day, he works as a marine mechanic at his family business near Annieville Slough. By night, he writes award-winning folk songs shaped by guitars, shipyards, and lived experience.
“I started writing songs when I was 12 or 13,” Tangedal says. “For a long time, it stayed a hobby. Then I decided to take a crack at it.”
That leap paid off. Since then, CocoLarosa has performed at the Surrey Fusion Festival and the JUNO Awards preview concert at Surrey Civic Plaza. Naturally, some songs draw from marine life. One fan favourite, Gossip Queen, playfully nods to shipyard chatter and even name-checks Marilyn Monroe.
At the Feb. 7 showcase, he plans to share that track—along with another contender, Case of the Mondays. Looking ahead, he also has an album-release show in May at Langley’s Bez Arts Hub and a Blue Light Session in East Vancouver this March.
A Lineup That Spans Styles and Stories
While CocoLarosa brings folk warmth, the rest of the lineup adds colour and contrast.
Max Serna, a 20-year-old guitarist from Surrey, blends Latin rhythms with influences like John Mayer. Meanwhile, Emilyn delivers music that feels both intimate and arena-ready. Her sound mixes agile vocals, deep grooves, and raw energy that can stop a room cold.
Sieski offers something more whimsical. Her songs feel sensory and curious, shaped by inner worlds and human connection. In contrast, Drew Storey leans into indie-pop that feels personal, punchy, and honest—rooted in oldies yet shaped by modern sounds.
Khyla Granstrom weaves pop, folk, and indie together with ease. Kiara Dokaj, another Surrey standout, brings powerhouse vocals and commanding stage presence that leave audiences buzzing long after the last note.
Connor Nelson continues to gain attention for sharp lyrics and a defined sound, even landing placements on Netflix’s Ginny & Georgia. Finally, singer-songwriter Shane Terry rounds out the night with jazz-tinged melodies and thoughtful lyrics, inspired by artists like Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, and John Mayer.
Why This Night Matters
Together, these artists represent more than genres. They represent possibility. Each has taken a different path, yet all roads led back to this stage, on the same night, in the same city that helped shape them.
Therefore, the Music City Showcase is not just a concert. It is a snapshot of Surrey’s creative future—vibrant, diverse, and proudly local.
Show Details and Tickets
The Music City Showcase begins at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Surrey Arts Centre’s Studio Theatre. Tickets are $35 and are available at purchase.surrey.ca or by calling 604-501-5580.
If you want to see what happens when community meets creativity, this is the night to be there.
