I actually missed the last two Bahamas shows he played in Kelowna this year, but I caught him in Ottawa opening for Wilco and he was fantastic.  Don’t miss this show!

Habitat is excited to announce the return of Bahamas to Kelowna on Wednesday, Dec. 8.

This will be Bahamas’ third date in Kelowna since his first at Habitat as part of the highly acclaimed Bonfire Ball tour with Jason Collett and Zeus as well as his second appearance opening for Sarah Harmer at the Kelowna Community Theatre in September.

Joining Bahamas this time around will be Toronto folk rocker Doug Paisley.

Afie Jurvanen, who performs as Bahamas, recorded his debut, Pink Strat (Nevado Records), in a cabin in rural Ontario in the winter of 2008, with his roommate at the time, Robbie Lackritz (Jamie Lidell, Feist). Many of the songs were saved up over a period of five years of touring as part of Jason Collett’s band, and then Feist’s band.

Similar to an old John Hammond or J.J. Cale recording, the production is straight-forward, simple and full of character—highlighting the storytelling and quaintness of the performances.

Though the arrangements are sparse, Jurvanen plays bass, drums, piano, various percussion, organ, slide, acoustic and nylon string guitars and his friends from Zeus, The Great Lake Swimmers, and Feist also join him on a few of the tracks.

Since the release of Pink Strat in the summer of 2009, Bahamas has performed with Elvis Costello, Sam Roberts, the Weakerthans, the Constantines, Amy Millan and Wilco.

Bahamas also received his first Juno nomination in 2010 for Roots Album of the Year.

Bahamas is currently finishing production on a second album and is embarking on their first Cross-Canada headlining tour.

Doug Paisley may come from Toronto but it would be no surprise if I found that he is originally from the Southern States.

His latest album, Constant Companion, is made up of simple acoustic and piano songs accompanied by Doug’s voice that blurs the line between country and folk.

Leslie Feist also makes an appearance on the album on the break-up ballad Don’t Make Me Wait. The album received four stars from Rolling Stone and was deemed one of the best singer/songwriter albums of 2010.

If you haven’t yet had the chance to see Bahamas live, then I suggest you won’t want to miss out on this. Afie is a talented musician who really connects with his audience and with his sly sense of humor he also tends to attract the attention of young ladies (so boys, don’t let your girlfriends go to this one alone).

Bahamas and Doug Paisley are the perfect pairing for a wintry night. Paisley will sympathize with your current dismal state of seasonal despair just to be followed by Bahamas whose lazy Sunday music will make you feel like a warm summer breeze is swaying your hammock back and forth.

Tickets for Bahamas at Habitat are $10 advance and $15 at the door. Advance tickets are available at Leo’s Video, Tweaked and Yummy Vintage Apparel or on the Habitat eStore (estore.thehabitat.ca). Doors are open at 8 p.m. with the show starting at 9 p.m. For more information visit www.thehabitat.ca.

Pyper Geddes is the assistant manager at Habitat in downtown Kelowna.