Celso Machado & Josh Searles - Sunshine Coast Double Bill
Friends, neighbors and musical innovators Celso Machado and Josh J. Searles come together in a remarkable double bill. Celso Machado is a Brazilian-born world music guitarist, percussionist, and multi-instrumentalist now based in Gibsons, BC on the Sunshine Coast. Born on January 27, 1953, into a musical family, Machado grew up immersed in the vibrant sounds of Brazil. His father was a guitarist and bandleader, and five of his six brothers also became professional musicians, making music a natural and essential part of his early life.
From a young age, Machado displayed a deep passion for rhythm, melody, and storytelling through sound. Over the decades, he has developed a unique voice as a composer and performer, blending the traditional music of Brazil with global influences. His work draws heavily from the rich cultural traditions of his homeland, particularly the music and folklore of African slaves brought to Brazil in the 16th century, as well as the indigenous Tupi people — once one of the largest and most influential native groups in South America prior to Portuguese colonization.
Throughout his career, Machado has remained deeply committed to exploring and celebrating cultural diversity. While Brazilian rhythms such as samba, bossa nova, maracatu, and choro form the core of his artistry, he has also drawn inspiration from African, Middle Eastern, European, and Asian musical traditions. His collaborations are equally global in spirit, including extensive work with Chinese pipa (lute) player Qiu Xia He, whose distinctive sound can be heard on several of his recordings. Today, Celso Machado continues to inspire audiences worldwide with his joyful virtuosity, rhythmic innovation, and deep reverence for the global language of music.
Josh J. Searles has spent a lifetime honing his craft across various genres and instruments. An acclaimed and award winning classical guitarist, composer, and DJ, Searles international performance career began at the young age of 15. He has performed classical guitar in solo concerts and chamber music, french horn in quartets, orchestra and concert band, as well as his more avant-garde music: live electronica utilizing outboard synthesizers, drum machines, samplers, computers and live instruments. His dynamic range has taken him across Canada, the US, the UK, and Spain, including collaborations with renowned Brazilian guitarist and percussionist Celso Machado.
In addition to his prolific music career, Searles has contributed scores to films that have premiered at the Vancouver International Film Festival. His work has also been featured in award-winning shorts like Ana Valine's “A Love Poem,” which won Best Experimental Film at Videobardo in Buenos Aires. His original compositions have also appeared in video productions and short films, such as Helen Haig-Brown's Pel'sic (Home Coming).
Searles holds a Master's degree in classical guitar performance from the prestigious University of Alicante, where he studied under world-renowned guitarists, including Grammy-winning David Russell, Manuel Barrueco, and Meng Su. In 2019 he was rewarded with the E.G. Montgomery award for excellence in performance by world class Cuban guitarist Alexander Dunn.
As Ghost Orchid, Searles draws on decades of musical experience from his electronic projects Daega Sound and Tamarak, where he produced and remixed an impressive catalogue of original works released on international labels such as Muti Music, Interchill, and Deep Heads. His music has graced the stages of iconic festivals like Mutek, Shambhala, and Bass Coast. At the same time, multiple releases, including the Hatched EP, have reached the Top 10 charts on Beatport and Junodownload.
Celso Machado playing Parazula.
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Tickets are $45 for General Admission, $37 for Seniors/Students, $15 for Youth (18 & under). Purchase tickets on the link below.
Be sure to come early to enjoy our concession and pre-concert performances by talented classical guitar students at 6:15 pm. The main concert starts at 7:00 pm.
*This event will take place at Pacific Spirit United Church, Vancouver, BC.
November 22, 2025 - 7 PM with a pre-concert performance at 6:15 PM
Pacific Spirit United Church, 2195 W 45th Ave, Vancouver, BC