Okanagan Vibes

We talk to the Alternator about their ArtMart (an art vending machine in the Rotary Centre for the Arts) and Seattle's Mike Edel comes on to talk about touring Germany (shorter drives and great beer hospitality), getting his song played on American Idol on the same day his car is broken into and coming to Kelowna to play Fernando's on May 22.

We hear from some musicians who are coming to share their talents with the Okanagan. Vancouver 90's grunge inspired band Rampant Lion is playing the Blue Grotto in Kamloops on May 2 and Doc Willoughby's in Kelowna on May 3. We talk to Conor Brant about the house that gave the group its name and being about the music not the image. Then front man of Winnipeg's The Proud Sons talks about touring with the Tea Party and coming full circle. The Proud Sons are playing the Kelowna Community Theatre on May 7.

Playwright Tracey Power talks about the world premier run of her play Glory. The story of a Canadian women's hockey team in 1933, the Western Canada Theater production is now on tour and coming to the Vernon and District Preforming Arts Center on Thursday, April 18. Sounds like it is poised to become an instant classic.

Brenley MacEachern from Madison Violet talks about 20 years in the music industry and filming a new music video about the groups origins. Then Moonfruits the art-folk group from Ottawa talk about why their first visit to the Okanagan is going to be especially meaningful.

Vancouver Island musician Sam Weber chats about his music, whether his exes know some of the songs he writes are about them and the time a RV issue lead him to create a small lake on a LA freeway while on tour. Sam will be in Kelowna playing at The Outback on March 26. If you you haven't heard his music you are definitely missing out. Then we talk about the Kelowna Fan Experience (March 22-24 in Kelowna) a major event that is one part fringe festival, one part comic-con and one part film festival. We hear how the event that now attracts thousands started out kind of by accident six years ago when New Vintage Theatre was looking to make a comic themed play interactive.

Another full episode of Okanagan music and theater. Ryan McMahon from Lion Bear Fox talks about going where you are wanted and playing house parties, actor Cheyenne Scott talks about the musical Children of God that is coming to the Vernon and District Preforming Arts Centre March 13 and Darren McMullen from Nova Scotia Celtic group Coig talks about how the super group came together almost by accident. Coig is getting ready to play shows at the Dream Cafe in Penticton and Creekside Theatre in Lake Country.

A jam packed edition of Okanagan Vibes with some awesome artists and creators talking about their work. First up Laura Mitic from Victoria band Carmanah tells us about touring Canada in the winter and opening for KD Lang. Then the director of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike at the Powerhouse Theater in Vernon talks about their hilarious and heartwarming play and finally something completely different. Jody DeSchutter the creative force behind the Ark Bench tells us about her participatory public art project in Lake Country's Jack Seaton Park. Check it out.

Dustin Bentall chats about hand making leather boots, his upcoming EP and touring with his famous father. We also hear a track from his upcoming EP. Dustin is set to play the Dream Cafe in Penticton on February 20. Then Eryn Kleyh from Vernon based She Hangs Brightly talks about the local music scene and their upcoming show opening for Chase the Bear on February 15 at Record City in Vernon. We also hear her favourite original track which is a different kind of love song (which is perhaps fitting for this Valentines Day week). Such lovely music played by such lovely humans. You should check it out.

Rosanna Burrill from Halifax indie-rock band Hillsburn tells us what it's like to tour in Europe and be in a band with your brother and Troy Gilmore from Vancouver-based band Chase the Bear tells us how he scored the band an opening slot at the Commodore Ballroom and how his mom helped name the hard rocking group. Also we hear tracks from both bands. Hillsburn is playing The Dream Cafe in Penticton on February 7. Chase the Bear will be at Record City in Vernon on February 15 and at Fernando's in Kelowna on February 16.

This week's edition of Okanagan Vibes features two Kelowna events that are providing a platform for local artists to shine. New Vintage Theater's artistic director Bonnie Gratz talks about their upcoming 10 minute play contest featuring original 10 minute plays from Thompson-Okanagan playwrights (including a grade 10 student whose play was chosen along side plays by some very seasoned professionals). Also on the show Cole Mash from Inspired Word Cafe talks about their upcoming "Battle of the 90's" poetry slam.

A very musical installment of Okanagan Vibes where I interview two musicians named Chris, one from each coast. Two time Juno winner Chris Luedecke is playing at the Dream Cafe in Penticton on Thursday and talked to me about his B.C. connections, what his kids think of his music and recording a new album in Montreal. Also on this episode I interview Chris Baxter from the Kelowna band Under the Rocks. They are playing no fewer than three shows in Kelowna this week. We talked about why he likes playing the banjo and what it was like to play Roots and Blues.

Stephanie Morin-Roberts is bringing Bushel & Peck (which she describes as like watching kittens play on acid) and Blindside (a comedic exploration of her own experiences growing up with a glass eye) to the Living Things Festival in Kelowna this week. She'll make you want to cancel all your other plans and go see both her shows instead.

A look at some of the interesting things going on in the Okanagan for the week of January 16, 2019. We talk to the curator of The Living Things Festival, hear from the lead singer of Whistler based alt-country group Marble Canyon and talk about a wordless version of a Shakespeare classic.