Over $10,000 raised in the first BANDING TOGETHER CONCERT!

Local Musicians in support of the food banks Serving the Central Okanagan THE NEXT CONCERT IS Streaming Thursday, July 2, 2020 6:30 – 8:30 PM PDT www.cofoodbank.com/bandingtogether

Local Musicians have volunteered to team up with the Food Banks of the Central Okanagan in support of our communities in these times of need. Demands on the Food Banks have increased by between 20% – 30% in the last several weeks due to COVID-19 and they need help. Join us from your own living room for the second concert which is featuring such local favourites as Country star, Ben Klick, 5 time Juno award winner Julie Masi with Steve Soucy, the ever-popular Rick ‘Poppa Dawg’ Halisheff, and more. We are encouraging viewers to “Invite their Friends” (virtually that is) to join the party.

To join the party on July 2 go to: www.cofoodbank.com/bandingtogether To donate early please go to: www.cofoodbank.com/donate/bt (Donors will receive a tax receipt)

You can watch the previous concert here

20 years ago this week, I started to make regular trips to Vancouver to go to concerts. I don’t go to quite as many now, but I still try to get there 2-3 times a year.  These were all great shows.

Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Foo Fighters
GM Place, Vancouver
May 28th, 2000

Supergrass / Jet Set Satelite
Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, BC
May 29th, 2000

Lou Reed
Queen Elizabeth Theater, Vancouver, BC
June 3, 2000

-BLACK MASTIFF-
Edmonton’s Black Mastiff (Bob Yiannakoulias, Clay Shea, Allan Harding) is a band built around lifelong friendship and having fun, something they value above all else and extend to their audience in a porous, heavy, and vigorous live performance. Keeping it together has always characterized their stoner rock sound, that leads with a sly, moody, steady groove leaning into a blizzard of distortion, and borrows from a myriad of rock and soul influences from 70s metal to Stevie Wonder.

-STONE TORTOISE-
Heavy slow stoner sludge rock band based out of Kelowna BC.

-GONE COSMIC-

Formed by the collision of three of Calgary’s most incendiary bands, this pyrophonic soulcore entity is as enthralling as it is unexpected.

Celestial blues to quench your hedonist heart’s desire? Think blazing galaxies that entangle and throttle with a thousand spiral arms. How about powerful female vocals and surging stringwork that scrapes the pavement and claws at the stars?!

Thinking about this weekends Sloan show in Penticton (Oct. 26th) got me thinking.  I’ve been seeing this band live for 23 years now, and they never disappoint.  They’re one of those bands who, in high school and university, I always seemed to miss them when they played.  Its funny I have never seen them play live in Newfoundland, but I’m excited to be travelling (only an hour) for an overnight trip to see them in Penticton.  Get your tickets for this Saturday!

As a fun side note, I wrote this May 7th, 2005 after listing to Sloan’s A Sides Wins greatest hits cd.

My past shows

Eden MusicFest
The Cure, Live, Tragically Hip, Bush, Sloan, Porno for Pyros, Spirit of the West, Everclear, Spacehog…
Mosport Park, Bowmanville, ON.
July 13-15th, 1996

Sloan / Flashing Lights
Flashbacks
Kelowna, BC

Nov. 8th, 2001
The Strokes / Sloan / Rooney
The Orpheum Theatre
Vancouver, BC.
October 20th, 2002

Sloan / Yoko Casionos – Halloween Show
Flashback’s
Kelowna, BC
October 26th, 2006

Sloan / Dearly Beloved
Barking Parrot
Penticton, BC
June 2nd, 2011

Kelowna councillor Ryan Donn is hosting “Tributes for Teens: Arrival and Dreams,” presented by Valley First Insurance to raise funds to build a youth treatment centre in Kelowna.

The concert will take place at the Kelowna Community Theatre on October 25 at 7:30 p.m. featuring Arrival – Canada’s tribute to ABBA – and Dreams – the ultimate tribute to Fleetwood Mac, as well as special guest performances.

Music lovers can expect two authentic sounding six-piece tribute performances in full costumes with similar styles, looks and sounds to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees. Get an idea of their amazing style here!

“I’ve been inspired by my fellow councilors as I’ve seen them raise funds for great causes in our community. I’m excited to produce an entertaining night out at the Kelowna Community Theatre, raising funds for a great local charity filling a gap in our community,” says Donn.

All proceeds from the event will go to The Bridge Youth & Family Services’ Youth Recovery House campaign.

The Bridge is raising funds to build a 16-bed, live-in treatment centre for youth aged 18 and under to heal and recover from addiction. There are fewer than 50 publicly funded treatment beds for youth in B.C. and none in the Interior for those under 17 years old.

“We’re humbled and honoured by the support of councilor Donn and Valley First Insurance. They are helping us to change the story in the Okanagan for young people and their families struggling with addiction. A night of music that pays tribute to this community’s youth is a perfect way to celebrate them and to raise funds and awareness for the Youth Recovery House,” says Celine Thompson, executive director of The Bridge Youth & Family Services.

Date/Time: October 25th at 7:30pm
Location: Kelowna Community Theatre, Kelowna
Tickets here: Tier-A $44 | Tier-B $39 (Including fees and taxes)

It’s very sad to see this store close after 8 years (and two locations).  It’s so much more than a record store.  Richard and the staff have been such a big party of the downtown community, and the local artist community since they opened their doors.

A note from Richard:

Thank you to all the Artists, Poets, Authors, Filmmakers, Musicians, Singers and Bands who enriched our lives with their Music, Talent, Passion and Artistry.  Thank you to all the Arts & Music & Spoken Word fans who came and cheered and clapped and shared the Love.  For us it always was and always shall be about the Music. we’re very proud to have presented close to 400 shows over 8 years at Milkcrate, featuring over 1000+ artists !

Richard and The Milkcrate Crew