For the third year in a row, the RE/MAX Parks Alive Summer Music Series is on in Centennial Park.
For the next eight weeks, every Friday, musical acts from across B.C. will be performing live on Centennial Park's stage from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. RE/MAX 100 realtor and head of the Parks Alive organizing committee Dave Mingo said he and his colleagues are looking forward to bringing the event back this year.
"There are a bunch of us realtors at RE/MAX who want to give back to the community and we've been the ones who have been the glue to put this together," Mingo said. "We got a long list of sponsors and partners who are helping put this on. We're looking forward to having something for people to come down to at the park every Friday evening through the summer."
In addition to the live music, this year Mingo said they will have food trucks in attendance once more for those looking to grab dinner. He also added that so far this year mosquitoes have been almost non-existent and so long as the community gets some good sunny days, the concert series should be set up for success. Centennial Park's stage has endured a lot of vandalism over the years, Mingo noted, so he's happy to see it used for its intended purpose.
Rob Fry, Parks Alive's talent coordinator, said he has put together a diverse lineup of musicians playing everything from jazz to classic rock and folk to country. Most of the bands are from the Cariboo region, with Fry noting there was a lot of interest from local musicians in performing.
"There is a lot of talent out there so I'm looking forward to hearing all (the bands) throughout the summer," Fry remarked. "It's important after the last few years to get out and become a community again."
Opening the concert series on Friday, July 5 is Tragically Hip tribute band the Hip Replacements who specialize in covering the music of the legendary Canadian band. Fry remarked the Tragically Hip is one of his favourite bands of all time so he's eager to see how the Hip Replacements compare.
On July 12 Fry said the Jazz Kats, an all-instrumental group of jazz musicians, will be treating the community to an hour of jazz, followed by Clinton's Blue Wranglers. Throughout the summer Fry remarked different local musicians who are members of numerous bands will be making appearances on stage.
Bringing a pure rock sound will be Three Scotch In on July 19. This marks the Okanagan rock band's third time attending Parks Alive in 100 Mile House, Fry noted, and will also be performing during Hot July Nights on Sunday, July 21.
Coming down from the ?Esdilagh First Nation on July 26 is the Kordaroy Band who specialize in a mix of classic rock, country music and 60s pop music. Fry said this all First Nations band is also no stranger to 100 Mile House, having performed at Parks Alive and Hot July Nights in the past.
Clinton banjo player Bruce Ambler will be opening the show on Aug. 2 performing bluegrass music with some local guests. Following Ambler will be the Country Bumpkins who play a mix of country music and rock and roll.
The Cariboo Bob Band will also be bringing a mix of country and rock music on Aug. 9 with Fry noting the band is homegrown in the South Cariboo. Aug. 16 will be another double feature with new classic rock group Backroads being followed by longtime Cariboo country-rock band the Markabillies.
To end off the concert series the Milltown Philosophers, a bluegrass band based out of Quesnel, is coming down for a full two-hour concert. Fry said that there may be a ninth show on Aug. 30 if they're able to find a suitable act travelling through the region, though this has not been confirmed one way or the other as of the writing of this article.
Mingo said as a fellow fan of the Tragically Hip he's really looking forward to listening to the Hip Replacements play at the end of this week. He's also looking forward to the Return of Three Scotch In and the performance of the Jazz Kats. He praised Fry for bringing in so many local bands this year.
"We've got a bunch of great local bands. It's a mix of local and other British Columbia talent," Mingo remarked. "(Parks Alive) brings people out, brings families together and gets people out to see what a wonderful park we have. Along the way, they also get to listen to some great music."
