Calgary, AB alternative blues/ rock musician Matt Blais is proud to announce the following Canadian tour dates in promotion of  his new album ‘The Heartbeat’ set for release on February 26, 2013 to follow up his 2010 debut full length ‘Let It Out’.

Feb 27, 2013 – 9pm – Fernando’s, 279 Bernard Ave, Kelowna, BC V1Y 1J6

Matt Blais comments:

“I love life on the road. I’m really looking forward to just getting in the van, meeting new people and seeing new things. I’ve got a great group of guys in the band who are fun to play with on stage and party with after. So I know that we, and all the audiences are gonna have a blast. Canada is such a huge country. I never realized that until planning a tour from one end to the other, so, this is a huge undertaking for any band. But, I’ve always believed in the hard work, grass roots, live music approach to building a fan base, so, I’m really excited.”

With the first single ‘Running’ hitting the airwaves and iPods across Canada, Matt is gaining comparisons to artists such as Sam Roberts, Matt Mays and Joel Plaskett.

Single Stream

Featuring ten emotionally charged tracks fueled by fiery rock and roll with smooth vintage soul. The combination of Blais’ passion for song writing and high energy spectacles is why critics and audiences continue to grow in number with every step forward he takes.

Sarah Cripps, an urban country artist born in Brighton, Ontario and currently based in Toronto, is part Neko Case, part Cowboy Junkies, and defying the ‘country’ label by bringing pop, roots and old-fashioned country elements into her style of music.  It has worked out well for her so far, winning a Toronto Independent Music Award for Best Country Artist in 2012.

Sarah is embarking the first leg of her ‘Ghosts of Men’ tour in Western Canada in February, following up in March with dates in Ontario before heading to Eastern Canada in April!  She has a date in Kelowna on February 20th at the Minstrel Cafe! You’d be hard pressed to find an artist who has paid her dues as many times over, honing her songwriting and travelling across Canada several times over to build her fan base the tried and true way – one show at a time.

Sarah’s new album, Change, will be sold at shows through her tour and released soon.  In addition, Sarah will maintain a video blog of her tour, release a creepy indie video for her track ‘Ghost of a Man’ and be active on social media.

23^rd April @ 8pm – Kelowna Community Theatre, KELOWNA

Tickets $74.85 from Ticketmaster

A musical biography of Michael Jackson’s life will be staged in theatres across Canada in 2013. After a hugely successful 2011 world tour to South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and South Asia, the musical biography Michael Jackson HIStory will tour Canada for the first time. 

Critics around the world have praised the production as a thrilling example of live entertainment and since the show’s launch in 2011 Michael Jackson fans worldwide have called for the show to tour internationally.

 Michael Jackson HIStory brings to the stage a level of production that will exceed all expectations and it’s an opportunity for Jackson fans to witness a concert they may never have experienced in their lifetime, or to relive memories they were lucky enough to make.

This musical biography will take fans right back to the Jackson 5 era before continuing on a thrilling journey to the current decade. Hit after hit tells the story of one of the greatest pop icons the world has ever known. In all, HIStory features over twenty songs performed live by Kenny Wizz.

The concert’s success is the product of 25 years of dedication from celebrated Las Vegas performer, Kenny Wizz, to championing MJ’s genius.

Repeatedly described as a musical juggernaut, Michael Jackson’s influence on popular culture and music is virtually unparalleled. Beside his inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Hollywood Walk of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame, Jackson held thirteen Grammy awards and 26 American Music Awards including “Artist of the Century”.

His roll of accolades, however, is almost too massive to mention, and for most the focus weighs more heavily on the music Jackson has shared since the 1960s. Songs such as ABC, Ben, Smooth Criminal, Beat It and many more will be performed on the upcoming HIStory tour, providing a flawless live experience that might otherwise be unattainable.

Three years after the King of Pop’s death his popularity has reached epic proportions. Fans continue to grapple with their loss in a multitude of ways, such as contributing to the 8.2 million Jackson albums sold just in 2009. Along with the cinema release of This Is It, DVD’s, merchandise and games, Billboard estimated that Jackson generated over $1 billion in revenue since his death.

But seasoned performer Kenny Wizz isn’t simply riding the surging wave of Jackson’s popularity. HIStory is the result of more than two decades perfecting “the art of sharing MJ”.

Wizz was shattered by Jackson’s death in June 2009. He closed his act down despite calls from fans to continue.

“My decision [to return] was more about giving back to fans rather than making money,” he said.

Wizz feels Jackson’s death has made concertgoers more critical of his performances.  “It’s more difficult because my act is observed through a microscope now he’s gone. People want the closest thing possible.”

The rampant popularity of recreation concerts is driven by their ability to transport a person to a time and place they once loved.

It’s a founding principle of the success of Showtime Management Australia – the producer behind the immensely popular concert series Queen – It’s a Kinda Magic – who will bring the HIStory tour to Canada.

Together with a live band of talented musicians, fully choreographed dancers, authentic costumes and the kind of high production values that can only be done justice in a theatre, Michael Jackson HIStory is the recreation of what fans want but can never again see – a Michael Jackson concert.

Today, Wizz is known to be the best Michael Jackson Impersonator in the entire world.

Wizz was just twenty when Michael Jackson’s career exploded with the release of the pivotal album ‘Thriller’. During that time, Wizz’s strong resemblance to Jackson heralded the start of a long career as a conduit for Jackson music. His regular performances in Atlantic City gratified audiences and allowed him to perfect his act. After tours in Europe and Asia, Wizz settled in Las Vegas where his show was signed for eleven years at the Riviera Hotel and Casino.

Wizz feels it’s almost time to hang up his Glitter gloves, and will do so in about four years’ time, a relatively short timeframe against the span of his career. For now, however, the legend continues, with Jackson’s extraordinary musical legacy set to live under a dazzling spotlight.

Purple Ear Productions

When: Wednesday, April 3^rd 2013

Where: Kelowna Community Theatre
Time: Doors open at 7:00pm
Open to All Ages

Wet Ape is excited to be bringing STARS back to Kelowna on Wednesday April 3rd. This tour stop is in support of their new album, The North. They will be bringing Vancouver natives and local favorites Said the Whale with them for a fun, vibrant live show!

–TICKETS–

Prices: $28 (Early Bird), $32 (Regular), $35 (At Door, if available)
Plus online service fees

**Ticketing for this Show will be General Admission. The seats at Kelowna Community Theatre will be on a first come, first serve basis. **

In 2005, J.F.Killah started her DJ career by dropping her first bass bomb in Halifax, NS. A couple years later, after earning her junglist stripes, she relocated across the country to Vancouver, BC at what couldn’t have been better timing to help launch North American know crew: SHAH DJs. She quickly rose to become a staple in the Vancouver party scene playing various club nights and underground raves, radio shows like Art of Beatz and Shadow Jugglers, and submitted infamous podcasts for various groups such as Suave Assassins.

Her unrelenting skills on the decks have earned her opening spots for the likes of Camo & Krooked,Loadstar, Netsky, Spor, Danny Byrd, Dirty Phonics, Shimon, Datsik and Excision to name a few. One of her latest accomplishments is a featured mini-mix of 100% originals by herself and Eradik which was hosted by wickedbad.net.

Eradik has been gracing the decks for nearly a decade. Starting as a jungle specialist in Halifax NS, he has steadily increased his spectrum to include multiple facets of dnb and embrace the rise of Dubstep. As an integral part of the SHAHdjs he has played at every regular DnB night Vancouver has to offer. He has opened for Marcus Visionary, killed it at Zombies vs Robots, brought the heavy to Bassface and continues to please crowds no matter the time or place.