Concerts on Tap brings classical music into spaces you might not otherwise expect, in other words, your local brewery or distillery. At the heart of our series is a simple concept: every Concerts on Tap show features four different musical pieces that have been paired with a flight of craft beer or mini cocktails. Each pairing has been specifically chosen to complement the character of the piece it’s been matched with, inviting audiences to engage with classical music in a way that feels playful, unexpected, and hopefully, fun!

get to know us

Hi! We are local musicians and self-proclaimed beer nerds Heather Beaty and Molly MacKinnon, and together we are partnering with Vancouver’s favourite breweries to present Concerts on Tap, a series that brings together two of our great loves: classical music and craft beer.

At Concerts on Tap, we pair four selections of music with a flight of beer or spirits, taking care to match each piece with a drink that complements its unique character. Every pairing decision is a collaborative process between us and the venue’s expert brewing or distilling team. We are looking to present audiences with a classical music experience that feels playful and unexpected, and we’re serious about truly engaging with every venue we bring our concerts to. With this in mind, Concerts on Tap curates the overall theme of each show in a way that highlights the unique character of each Vancouver space hosting the event.

Our first concert Strange Music took place at Strange Fellows Brewing, a brewery that uses an old-world aesthetic as a central source of inspiration for its beer crafting. Co-founder and co-artistic director of Concerts on Tap Heather Beaty is currently specializing in early music, specifically the baroque flute, so it was only natural we gravitated towards music of the 17th and 18th century for this particular show. We had fun presenting music by JS Bach and GF Telemann for a trio ensemble comprised of baroque flute, cello and harpsichord on loan from Early Music Vancouver.

Our second show Symphonicity took place in Resurrection Spirits; a rye, gin, and whisky distillery in East Vancouver known for its unique cocktail creations using 100% BC rye grain. At this show, Resurrection’s mixologists curated a flight of delicious thematic cocktails to complement the selections of 1980s pop tunes performed by a symphonic percussion and orchestral ensemble.

It’s safe to say that at Concerts on Tap we have a ton of fun programming our shows and creating a special evening for our audiences. See event listings for future shows!