Kelowna live music blog presents…. Countdown to the Rockanagan Music Festival (September 28^th and 29^th). Get your tickets now at the five participating venues.

Rockanagan Featured band of the day – Kim McMechan (folk)
Friday night @ Sturgeon Hall

Kim McMechan spent most of her childhood years pretending to practice her minuets when what she was really doing was writing terrible songs that fell somewhere in style between John Denver and Abba. (You can’t imagine what a terrible combination this was.) She was also obsessed with the Minipops for probably much longer than should have been allowed. Her first attempt at forming a band was in grade 5 when she gathered some of the neighborhood girls together to teach them 3-part harmony to “We’re the Kids of America” even though they were all Canadians.

Things have improved a great deal since then. Kim received some notable success a few years back when 12 of her songs were included in a series of 5 compilation albums through Vineyard Music Group. The records went on to collectively sell over 75,000 copies worldwide, and garnered Kim radio play on stations across North America & Australia and fan mail from around the world.

She writes, she’s been told, “beautifully wrought tunes”, often described by critics as “haunting” and “open-hearted”, which have gone on to receive high praise. Her voice too, has wowed audiences, teetering somewhere between gritty and lonesome, & full of folk-like purity. In 1999, a reviewer from Toronto hailed Kim and her songwriting as “Canada’s best-kept secret.”

Kelowna live music blog presents…. Countdown to the Rockanagan Music Festival (September 28^th and 29^th). Get your tickets now at the five participating venues.

Featured band of the day – Crystal Leigh (singer-songwriter)
Friday night @ Sturgeon Hall

Chrystal Leigh is seductive blues based rock and roll music all composed through voice and piano. 
Chrystal is an original singer/songwriter who combines a sultry lyrical attack of bluesy soul with
a distinctive '70 musical approach. This music is embodied with emotion sung to
break the conventional ways of life and to possess people with the dyer need to
express themselves.

Chad VanGaalen is very prolific. Skelliconnection was culled from hundreds of songs Chad has recorded over the last year or so, while holed up in his bare bones basement home studio. Using handmade instruments alongside those available to mere mortals, he’s created an even more diverse assemblage of music than for his last album and debut, Infiniheart. Chad resides in Calgary, Alberta, which is in Canada. He’s an amazingly talented illustrator and animator. There’s a chance you might have seen the videos he made for his own “Clinically Dead” and Love as Laughter’s “Dirty Lives.” They were featured on MTV2’s Subterranean video show, which Chad also hosted. He’s played with Built to Spill, Wolf Parade, The Pixies, and Stars, to name a few. Mostly, Chad likes to stay home and make songs and drawings. Chad’s new record, on the other hand, resides somewhere a little more difficult to pin down. It’s a restless, living thing, roaming between simple yet beautiful ballads, aggressively dissonant post-punk, and jazz-inflected synth-pop explorations, at times whimsical, and at others heartrending.

Kelowna live music blog presents…. Countdown to the Rockanagan Music Festival (September 28^th and 29^th). Get your tickets now at the five participating venues.

Rockanagan – Featured band of the day – Closing iris (rock)
Friday night @ Sturgeon Hall

Many struggle to be free of the anxious thoughts that haunt us. Most of us don’t understand why we feel like this. Some choose religion.. or medicate with drugs.. or maybe sex? adrenaline, shopping, work, escape, ambition, family, adventure..

Have you tried it all? Have you found a way out?

First album coming soon:

‘Another Reason (To Lie to Yourself)’

Kelowna live music blog presents…. Countdown to the Rockanagan Music Festival (September 28^th and 29^th). Get your tickets now at the five participating venues.

Featured band of the day – Gorgeous Priceless (rock)
Friday night @ Doc Willoughby’s

Gorgeous Priceless emerged from the mouth of God at the dawn of time with a bible of original songs. They are charged with the task of preaching smooth to the devoted and mellow to the masses. ……….. To do so they will use the gospel of Blues, the word of Folk, the eucharist of Funk and the resurrection of Rock to achieve life everlasting……… When Ryan, the ordained minister of smooth from the brotherhood of the telecaster met Matt, a fellow old soul with abilities to express the universal flow, the harmonics were deafening and GP came to light. The two funky apostles quickly wrote several mellow parables. Soon after, an angel of funk named Dave appeared to them in vision of thunderous grooves; the church was almost complete. The three began searching for the spirit of time. After a long journey through the desert of uncertainty a lone traveller appeared with sticks of lightning and groove to spare, his name was Chad. The union was complete and a new day was born ……………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………………….OUR MUSIC IS OUR CHURCH ******************************************************************************************************************************** ********************When Gorgeous Priceless exploded onto the scene earlier this year the response was phenomenal. They rocked 100 people out of their seats and onto the dance floor with their solid 45 minute set of all original rockin,funky, blues.Since then they have continued to spread their groove around British Columbia playing packed shows every other weekend and still finding time to record their 6 song self titled EP. Gorgeous Priceless is currently fine tuning their second set, booking summer dates and jamming 7 days a week.

Kelowna live music blog presents…. Countdown to the Rockanagan Music Festival (September 28^th and 29^th). Get your tickets now at the five participating venues.

Featured band of the day – Hub (Vernon – hard rock)

Friday night @ Doc Willoughby’s

Hub is an original rock band from Vernon BC. They perform thoughtful, powerful, catchy powerpop songs with a fast, fun feel. Hub was introduced to the Okanagan area in the summer of 2005 and in a short time have garnered praise from both audiences and peers. More importantly, they have rocked hard, had fun and made friends. In May 2007 Hub released their 6 Song EP entitled “3” Recorded under a clothing store and mixed in an apartment, this solid encapsulation of the bands direction packs a punch. Hub continues to rock local venues with an ever growing repertoire.

Kelowna live music blog presents…. Countdown to the Rockanagan Music Festival (September 28^th and 29^th). Get your tickets now at the five participating venues.

Rockanagan Featured band of the day – Danny Echo (rock)
Friday night @ O’ Flanigan’s

With life spinning out of control on tour in the UK as “The Ryecatchers,” Danny and Mark decided it was time for a change… Returning to Vancouver, Danny bumped into an old flame, Shannon, and after a few drinks she decided she would rather be in a band than a relationship with him. Danny reluctantly agreed, phoned Mark, and formed Danny Echo in the fall of 2005! Since then the Vancouver music scene has embraced the incredible vibe of Danny Echos’ rock and rollio presence. “Half the audience knows the words better than I do,” Danny said at a recent Railway club show. And even if they don’t know the songs, audiences still get into the energy and sounds of Danny Echo. With influences drawing from the greats like The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Beatles, Radiohead, Oasis, and U2, Danny Echo reverberates with all that is melodic, all that is catchy, and all that is rock and roll. As Mark observed, “it’s all that it should be, damn it!! In between rockin’ out around Western Canada and playing around Vancouver, a 5 song EP has been recorded and is now available for download at dannyecho.com. The full length album is currently being written and arranged, and will be out in time for Christmas – but only if you behave yourselves, you spoiled little brats!

Kelowna live music blog presents…. Countdown to the Rockanagan Music Festival (September 28^th and 29^th). Get your tickets now at the five participating venues.

Rockanagan Featured band of the day – La Clase Obrera (world)
Friday night @ O’ Flanigan’s

“La Clase Obrera” is the work of singer-songwriter Michael Laveck. His debut album, “to ward”, was recorded in Michael’s apartment while living in Busan, South Korea and released in the Spring of 2006. A year was spent learning, finishing and playing songs old and new with the help and commitment of Dave Miller and Patrick Carle. Talented friends and fellow travelers Jan Dawson, Remco Dalmaijer and Jon Frymire added harmonies (drunken choir…), banjo and slide guitar. Once the initial tracking was finished, Michael flew to Stockholm, Sweden and assisted Stefan Edlund with the final mix.

Recently, Michael has returned to Canada and is finishing the mix for his second album entitled “for over”…which is being offered in it’s current, non-mixed stage free for a limited time on this site (the new album! link). This new release features eleven new songs from Michael and a brand new line-up of supporting talent including: Ole Janssen on sax and flute, Stefan Edlund on keys, Per Wallman on drums, bass and electric guitar, Amy Widmer with piano and vocals, and Remco back on banjo…

His latest collaboration has him matched up, once again, with banjo, dobro and this time around we have mandola and digeridoo …throw in a synth a couple old tube amps and a lap-steel voilla…electro-acoustic folk-pop.

Kelowna live music blog presents…. Countdown to the Rockanagan Music Festival (September 28^th and 29^th). Get your tickets now at the five participating venues.

Rockanagan Featured band of the day – Inkblot (rock)
Friday night @ O’ Flanigan’s

!nkblot is a Kelowna based original rock band in now their 3rd year. With youth on their side, !nkblot has created an original sound of their own. Their originals encompass a wide range of sounds. Soft rock to heavier rock dynamics make up the original recordings. !nkblot incorporates standard cover songs ranging from the sixties with songs by the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix through various musical influences of the 70’s until now, including the Black Crowes, ZZ Top and Led Zeppelin. Presently !nkblot is recording their first CD which includes their first singles “Fallen For An Angel” and “King of your Jungle”. The CD is expected to be released in late 07 but probably early 08. !nkblot has performed at numerous bars including: Rose’s Pub, The Blue Gator, Whiskey Jack’s, The Zodiac Pub, The Grateful Fed, Dakota’s Sports Bar, Oflanagans, Ernies Pud, Woodies Pub and Raakel’s Pub. The band has volunteered at many local fund raisers such as: The Terry Fox Run, Run for the Cure and the Iridian Youth Detox Center in Kelowna. !nkblot has played at festivals including the Dragon Boat Festival, Mardi Gras, Regatta, Summerland Festival of Lights and the Memorial Cup in Kelowna. Conroy was also the lead guitar player for the band the MacGregor’s during the 6 city Get Outta Town Tour in 06. !nkblot is available for summer tours and weekend shows and would be ideal to open for recording acts.

Kelowna live music blog presents…. Countdown to the Rockanagan Music Festival (September 28^th and 29^th). Get your tickets now at the five participating venues.

Rockanagan Featured band of the day – Grooveyard (jam band)
Saturday night @ The Fintry Queen

Grooveyard is an evolution of many things; of creativity and life and music and freedom, but mostly it’s about a group of people who enjoy getting together and making music.

I’ve seen these guys a couple times and they put on a great live show. There choice of Grateful Dead cover tunes are awesome! Also playing Saturday night on the Fintry Queen is Sazacha Red Sky (Vernon – electric pop and blues) and Haymaker (rockabilly) aka Whisky Dick.