It’s Festival Time… around the valley, and the Okanagan is beginning to look like Europe, with all the Music Festivals coming our way! 

This weekend it is the Summerland Action Festival, with a great line-up of music.  We can enjoy the Castanet “Garage Band” winners, ‘ScissorKick’, and the multi-talent Singer/Songwriter Henry Small, whom sang with Burton Cummings, Prism, and fronted the critically acclaimed John Entwistle Band for about ten years! 

More local Talent will also be on hand, including the finalists from “Kids Have Talent 2012” competition.  Summerland Action Festival is running all weekend beginning June 1st, and running until June 3rd!  Full schedule appears below “Under the Lights”. 

In July we can look forward to “Sturgis North”-a fun filled group of days featuring none other than “Blue Oyster Cult”, “Foghat”, “Kim Mitchell”, “Nick Gilder”, “The Stampeders” and more!  “Sturgis North” runs July 18th to July 22nd in Vernon, with the music acts appearing at the MotoPlex. 

Then we head down to Penticton for the “Rock The Peach Music Festival”!  Veteran music Talent rubbing shoulders with the up and coming Local Talent!!  ‘Rock The Peach’ promises to be the Summer event, with “Three Dog Night”, “War”, “Sam Roberts Band” and more!  Not only can we see and hear these great Talents, but enjoy our own Local Artists as well.  We’ll have more details on all of these Festivals in the weeks to come. 

The driving force behind legendary “House Of Lords”, James Christian has announced a new solo album is in the works!  The Lead Vocalist is currently recording what will become his third solo effort.  His first, “Rude Awakening”, hit hard in the heart of Melodic Rock music fans all over the planet in the mid-nineties.  “Meet The Man”, his second effort, released in 2004 was leaning more to the ‘House Of Lords’ sound.  Early reports on his latest has it that solo number three will return to his Melodic roots, complete with a few heartfelt ballads!                                                                                                                                              

The Norwegian Rock-Siren, ISSA, whom I had the privilege to interview and review her Works, is embarking on a very special recording fashioned by the President of Frontiers Records, and produced by Keyboardist Alessandro Del Vecchio of ‘Hardline’.  The album will be called “AOR Classics Vol. 1”!  ISSA will put her vocal talent on the line for this one, re-vitalising some hidden treasures-worth looking for  this Fall!

Now, do we remember the Summer Hit “Baby Come Back”  from the group ‘Player’ heating up the Summer Romances of yesteryear?  Well, they are back! And here is a sneak peek at what we can expect from these two Romantic Troubadours!

       Player “Addiction”                                      
         Frontiers Records    
Review by: Bruce E.J. Atkinson                                                                                                                      
 
Although only a three song digital release, “Addiction” shouts out clearly that ‘Player’ have returned! 

“My Addiction”, a brand new song from the group, shows Player at their finest.  A beautiful up-tempo song full of melody and positive lyrics.  A modern love song for the Summer of 2012…almost West Coast, close your eyes and you can actually see the sunset over Los Angles!!
 
“Too Many Reasons” lets us know that these guys are serious about their comeback.  A song full of attitude, mature musical forays, and one that will stick in your mind!  “Addiction” is just a sample of what we can expect from Player and their new full length album, which will be released later this year.
    
Player in 2012?...Yes!—“Baby Come Back”!!

Upcoming Club/Concert Highlights:

Dave’s Sports Bar:  Jimmy LeGuilloux:  June 1^st  Poppa Dawg:  June 2^nd 

Lake City Bowl:  Anvil  August 4^th                                     

VooDoo’s   (Penticton)   Sunday  Blues Jam—every Sunday!!     

Notable Concerts:  

SUMMERLAND ACTION FESTIVAL: June 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd

Summerland City Park Main Stage: 2012 PERFORMANCE Line-up:

   Friday June 1, 2012 (Opening Festivities, Beverage Garden and Rock’n Good Times)

6:00     Hotsands Beach (Recording Artist R & B & retro rock)

7:15     Scissor Kick (retro-rock and recording artists)

8:00     Worms Hate Rain (Hits & Retro rock)

9:00     The Led Zeppelin Show (Led Zepplin tribute act)

10:20   Fireworks Display

  Saturday June 2, 2012 (Youth, Teen & Family Day)

11:00   Tina Ferlizza (popular Summerland youth performer)

11:30   Mariah (popular Summerland youth performer)

12:00   Finalists from KIDS HAVE TALENT 2012 Contest

1:30     Summerland Showcase (TBA)

1:40     Donovan Sweet (80s theme, Rhythm & Blues & Retro Hits)

2:30     Crazy Hearts Blue Grass Band

3:30     Pink Torpedo (80s Tribute Act : Hits, Classic & Retro Rock)

4:30     Rann Berry & Random Act (R&B 80s Funk Hits & disco Hits) –

5:50     Henry Small (ex-Prism & John Entwistle Band-Top International Talent)

  Sunday June 3, 2012 (Feature Acts and Awards Ceremonies)

11:30   Summerland School of Dance           

12:10   Blue Healer (Classic Rock & Retro Hit)

1:15     Forever Young – Neil Young Tribute

2:40     Worms Hate Rain (Popular Hits, Classic Rock, Country Rock, R&B)

4:00     Aerosmith Rocks (Award winning Aerosmith tribute act)

    ‘Notes & News’:     Westside Daze: Great Canada Day line-up and activities: June 29^th-30^th and July 1^st   Watch here for more info!    Next week we will have an update on: The Flu

……if you have a musical story or news and would like me to write something… drop me a line at:  fbainternational@telus.net  and let’s celebrate Kelowna’s rich and varied music community together!!.....