“GRAPES OF WRATH” REUNION TOUR MAKES STOP IN KELOWNA FOR FREE SHOW 

Festivals Kelowna, K96.3FM and Music BC will be presenting Kelowna’s own “Grapes of Wrath” in a special, free concert event on Wednesday, August 28th in Waterfront Park as part of the final “K96.3Wednesday Night Showcase” of the 2013 Parks Alive! Entertainment Season presented by Okanagan Strata Management.

“We’re always looking for unique elements to include in our Parks Alive! program each year,” explains Renata Mills, Executive Director of Festivals Kelowna. “In fact, we started planning this event last October when we learned the ‘Grapes of Wrath’ were touring. When we heard about the reunion tour and knew the boys were from Kelowna, we connected the dots with timing and our partners, and voila – a great end of summer show was created.”

“The Grapes of Wrath” was formed in Kelowna in 1983 by brothers Chris and Tom Hooper, and childhood friend Kevin Kane. They took their name from the Steinbeck novel which, ironically, none of the band had ever read. Signed to Vancouver’s Nettwork Records in 1984, they quickly rose to critical and commercial success with Canadian industry legends like Tom Cochrane and Sarah McLachlan working with the band, leading to platinum-selling albums and industry acclaim. Following the band’s break-up in the early 90’s, they reconnected in 2010 and began to work on new material, resulting in a brand new album in 2013, “High Road”, their first in over 20 years. The first single off the disc, “Good to See You” is already garnering rave reviews with its upbeat, catchy sound.

“The timing of this special Parks Alive! concert couldn’t be better,” enthuses Mills. “After talking with the band we discovered that this show on August 28th will be almost 30 years to the day of the very first ‘Grapes of Wrath’ show. How cool is that?”.

The special Parks Alive! concert will run from 6:00pm until 9:00pm and also feature the winner of the ‘K96.3 Artist Development Program’ produced by Music BC as the opening act. Families are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch, blankets or low lawn chairs, and join their fellow Kelowna residents for a wonderful night of live music. Admission to the show is free, but Parks Alive! will accept cash donations at the event with all proceeds directed back into the program.

Parks Alive! is a production of Festivals Kelowna, producer of family-friendly events that enhance the lifestyle of our residents and visitors through positive cultural experiences in our parks.