Are you All Shook Up?

Mike Schell

Event producers are an unique breed. They are essentially willing to risk their own cash, blood sweat, and tears to offer you a great night of entertainment. 

Once an event is happening, the producer is either front and centre welcoming folk, or working on a few last details, or sitting quietly in the back, content that the great moment you’re about to experience is due to their hard efforts.

There is so much risk in the game it is amazing that anybody still does it, but the drive to create a big moment for audiences, and maybe make some money doing it, is a very fulfilling experience. 

One of our rising star local producers is Mike Schell. You may have seen him play trumpet for Uptown Hornz, or seen him behind the scenes at Westside Daze, or at one of the sold-out tribute act shows rolling through the Okanagan these past few years. 

Schell Shock Entertainment

Mike’s company is Schell Shock Entertainment, and was started by his brother, Trey, seven years ago. It has evolved from a small hip-hop production company to an entertainment company with over 30 acts on their roster.  

The company is now working on national tours, and Mike is the promoter, producer and sometimes the show’s performer. 

The main focus is on tribute acts such as Elvis, Tom Jones, and Kenny Rogers, as they know those shows will sell well to a demographic looking to spend money on songs they know. 

Mike’s last weekend was a bit wild. A show he had worked on, the Janis Joplin tribute, rolled through the Okanagan only to be cancelled 24 hours before the event, because of a medical emergency. 

The conversations to explain the situation, along with the refund discussions, make for a tough situation for Mike. Cancelling someone’s well-planned night out on the town isn’t fun for anyone, but he spend five hours at the Vernon venue offering the news himself to the those who had come for the show. It is an experience that no event producer wants to go through. 

Now, if I do a story on Mike and don’t give more information on the next show he is promoting, it would be a crime. So, here are the details of the next show he is bringing to Kelowna at the beginning of February.

Donny Edwards coming to the RCA

In this show, coming February 2 and 3, the King takes you back to the start of Elvis Presley’s career in the 50s, which was also the start of the rock ’n' roll revolution. You’ll hear hits like Hound Dog, Don't Be Cruel, Love Me Tender, and All Shook Up. 

Then you’ll be grooving in the 60s, with hits like It's Now or Never and Viva Las Vegas.

Finally, you’ll be mellowed out by the Presley concert music of the 70s, with hit songs like Burning Love, My Way, American Trilogy, and Suspicious Minds. 

Donny Edwards’ performance is so authentic with the looks, moves, and voice that you’ll feel as though you're seeing the King himself. 

An internationally known, award-winning veteran entertainer, Edwards performs his tribute to sold-out audiences worldwide. He is a Las Vegas casino headliner act, and is the only tribute artist to perform at Graceland.

He has portrayed the King in commercials worldwide, and has been in several Elvis Presley documentaries.

The Donny Edwards tribute honours the memory of Elvis Presley in the most authentic way possible. 

Donny will be touring with Western Canada's premiere Elvis tribute band, The Cadillac Kings,  featuring the Uptown Hornz.

The show, presented by Schell Shock Entertainment and TCB Rock and Roll Legends, is not to be missed.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.