Open Air Performances

SINGER/SONGWRITER STEVE HAS BEEN PERFORMING AS A SOLOIST OR IN A QUARTET FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS. HE HAS PLAYED AT THE LAUGHING MOON IN KELOWNA, PARKS ALIVE, AND AT VARIOUS ROTARY FUNCTIONS INCLUDING THE 2006 DISTRICT CONFERENCE.

HE ALSO SPENT A YEAR WITH THE “ENCORE THEATRE GROUP” IN KELOWNA PERFORMING DISNEY MEDLEYS AND VARIOUS OTHER SHOW TUNES.
IF THERE IS SOMETHING SPECIAL YOU WOULD LIKE TO HERE JUST ASK, HE WILL TRY TO ACCOMMADATE. WHETHER STEVE IS PERFORMING GARTH BROOKS ELVIS OR HIS OWN ORIGINAL MATERIAL, YOU WILL BE ENTERTAINED. SO SIT BACK AND ENJOY.

E-MAIL: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it PHONE 250-869-8588 OR 864-5301
URL: MYSPACE.COM/STEVESTAIRSMUSICSITE

 

Award winning singer/songwriter Jane Eamon loves all things related to writing songs. Having written and released 4 critically acclaimed CD’s in eight years, Eamon shows no signs of slowing down.

Eamon earned the 2005 Socan Songwriter of the Year award and the Best Female Artist award at the Okanagan Valley Music Awards and she has been named Best Folk Artist three years running. In addition, her music has been featured on several compilation albums, including “Protest Songs for a Better World” and “Dig Your Roots,” and she was the lead writer of the official Kelowna centennial song. She has won awards for her songwriting most notably Billboard, Great American Song Contest, Unisong Contest and recently placed #4 in the top Canadian albums for folk DJ radio airplay for January 2009.

What’s more, her passion for sharing her gift with others has earned her the title “Pastor of songwriting” in her hometown of Kelowna BC (alluding to her dedication to her craft and not to any religious involvement on Eamon’s part).

 

This 5-piece rock/jam band from Kelowna B.C. is going stronger than ever since the release of their 2008 CD ‘Place In Time.’ The CD has made it to Alaska, California, England, Germany, and even Alberta! As well, the band’s song ‘Ogopogo’ has proven to be a popular download on i-Tunes.

Grooveyard is one of the few bands (in this area) that carry the tradition of live improvisation to the stage. With jazz sensibilities, yet playing 100% rock music, the band members excel at listening and reacting to each other in the moment.

Another unique element of the band is their fabulous female drummer, Yvonne. Visit Yvonne’s drum page at http://drumsforgirls.ning.com/profile/YvonneCaldwell

See and hear the band at www.grooveyardrocks.ca

Purchase the CD Place In Time at i-Tunes or http://cdbaby.com/cd/gyard

See you this summer! Grooveyard

For over ten years, the Fabulous Flying Weekenders have been providing a combination of high energy blues and rock with a touch of country. Because of their diversified up-bringing, there are able to mix music from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and more for a great sound that everybody loves to dance to. From Reddeer , Alberta, Tim Deagnon plays guitar and sings all your country hits. Woody Axelrod, from Austin, Texas sings and plays guitar licks from the best of the dead Texans. Trent Uphill, drummer from North Battleford, Saskatchewan, loves the Stones and the Hip. Don Dunahoo, bass player and singer from Atlanta, Georgia, brings soul that ties it all together. This combination of musicians make for great rockin country blues that you just can’t help but dance too.

Olga Osipova is an award-winning singer/songwriter/ pianist and a jazz artist on the rise. A new Canadian, Olga grew up in St. Petersburg, Russia, and studied music in Germany. Those diverse cultural experiences are well reflected in her music, which besides jazz is full with flavors of world, cabaret, and fine European chanson.

After the launch of her all-original debut CD “Velvet & Lace” things started happening fast for Olga. Only a couple months after the Canadian release, the CD has already topped the smooth jazz charts in her native Russia, was added to rotation on many radio stations in Canada and across the world (USA, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, France, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, Poland etc.) Olga’s music is receiving rave reviews from the press including the prestigious JazzTimes Magazine; she won the Jazz Artist of the Year at the BC Interior Music Awards in 2008, and most recently, Olga was announced Finalist in the 8th Annual Independent Music Awards.

LOUISE BOISVERT began her passion for the stage at age 7 in a tap class. By age 13 she was performing with professional dance companies has won many awards both through dance and singing. She has built a reputation of being able to beautifully capture the sound of Julie Andrews. She was an active cast member of the North Shore Light Opera Society and her repertoire includes Broadway, Classical, Jazz and just simply “Entertainment”.

She has been a performer for the Lake Country Performing Arts Society, Rotary Club as well as Full House Productions. She is a teaching staff member of Dreamotion Dance Studio and is an active part of the Lake Country Community through her volunteer work at retirement homes and in helping organize theatre events and fundraisers.

ROSLYN FRANTZ is well known and loved in the Okanagan as a distinguished pianist for over 25 years. Ms. Frantz, the piano soloist, concert artist, vocal coach and accompanist has earned accolades in music since she was twelve. She began her career playing the Mozart concerto no. 21 (Elvira Madigan) with the Portland Junior Symphony. Then repeated appearances with the Portland Symphony at age 16 playing the Schumann concerto and the Rachmaninoff 3rd.

She has brought her music into the performing world with Viva Musica, of which she is co-founder and Music Director bringing Opera and Broadway to the Okanagan. In 2004 Miss Frantz received the coveted KADAC Honor in the Arts Award from the City of Kelowna.

Twenty years ago Okanagan’s Heartstrings had its first rehearsal in Carr’s Landing. Born in Lake Country, the quartet is made up of string players who are all members of the Okanagan Symphony. Denis Letourneau is first violin and concertmaster of the symphony. Susan Schaffer is second violin and assistant concertmaster of the symphony. Shari House, who plays viola in the symphony, is from Oyama and is the founder of the quartet. John Wells is assistant principal cellist of the symphony.

Over the years the group has played more than 500 Okanagan weddings, exciting grand openings (Shaw Cable, Overwaitea, CBC and CHBC studios, Kelowna Public Library, Kelowna Art Gallery, Harvest Golf, Gallaghers Canyon Golf, The Grand Okanagan Resort) and corporate gala events. At the prestigious James Pattison annual conventions Heartstrings has performed for former U.S. Presidents George Bush Senior and Ronald Reagan.

When an event requires polished professionals and the classic black tie look...Heartstrings to the rescue!

To quote Leslie Smith, organizer of this years GESS grad.fundraising dance. " You know the band is GREAT when.......it's 1.30 in the morning,the dance floor is packed ,the band has played for almost five hours and the crowd is demanding more. RETRO ROCKETT is a five piece dance rock band that covers great danceable songs from all genres of rock from rockabilly to punk. RETRO ROCKETT features Lake Country residents, Steve Kaczkowski, guitar, Smokin Joe Schocter,drums, Vernon residents Gord Matovitch, guitar and lead vocals,multi-instrumentalist Dale Johnstone,keyboards guitar,harp and vocals and last but certainly not least Terry" the rock" Sullivan on bass. Put on your dancing shoes,come on down and tear it up with Lake Countrys favourite dance-rock band RETRO-ROCKETT.

Les Copeland has always played guitar! He is schooled in most styles and can improvise ANYTHING. Copeland’s self-taught, string-bending versatilities are derived from a rich mixture of blues, jazz, Spanish flamenco, pop and classical music.

He fell in love with the blues after hearing Mississippi Fred McDowell and has traveled and performed throughout Canada and the United States. Les in known in western Canada for performing with and promoting legendary blues artists such as Honeyboy Edwards, Jimmie D Lane, Sonny Rhodes, Jimmie Lee Robinson and others. He resides in Vernon B. C. where he supports his growing family by touring and playing local gigs. Les and Honeyboy Edwards will be performing at the 2008 Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival.

 

One look at Ashleigh Somerville – aka Smashlee – gleefully attacking one of her vintage 4-string guitars, and you know you’re in for something different.

It’s hard to define Smashlee’s driving but somehow charming original rock, but with song titles like “Why Can’t I Be Hawaiian?” and “Surfin’ Everyday”, you can see why she gets descriptions like ‘Jimmy Buffett-meets-the-Barenaked-Ladies’. Smashlee will tell you she plays “sunshine surf rock”.

Ashleigh grew up in the Okanagan Valley and has released two CDs: Smashlee’s Wee CD, a four-song EP of her patented ‘sunshine surf rock’, and this past Christmas, a genre-defying LP called Peace, Love, Joy.

Smashlee is currently honing material for a full LP of sunshine surf rock. In the meantime, you can catch her as a solo act or with her band, the Fakey Luau, playing select engagements throughout BC, and wherever else the sun may be shining…

Ashleigh can be contacted via her website, www.smashlee.com or by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Jennifer moved to the Okanagan in 1997 with her high school sweetheart, Sean. They married in 1998 and have created a loving family including their eight year old daughter, Sophia, and their 3 year old son, Benjamin.

Music has always provided an escape and inspiration for Jennifer. Her older brother, Alex, inspired her to learn how to play the guitar so that she could put his poetry to music and create original songs.

After a few years of playing, a musical audition earned her an invitation to attend a songwriting workshop by Bill Henderson and Roy Forbes held in Summerland. This experience profoundly improved her confidence in her musical skills and gave her the courage to enter two of her songs into an International Songwriting Contest. Her songs, Save Us, and Shadow of Midnight, moved on to the second round of judging from the original fifteen thousand entrants received from all over Canada and the United States.

Performing at Coffee House singer/songwriting evenings and weddings, as well as producing work related musical showcases, filled her need to be surrounded by musical creativity while still enjoying her professional career as a teacher.

Lonny Eagleton began playing guitar at the age of 13. Now he is only 17 and has already been playing professionally at various events around the Okanagan such as the 2008 BC Summer Games, Wakefest, and at the Lance Armstrong Cancer Research fund raiser. Lonny is an extremely versatile guitarist who plays many styles of music such as Rock, Blues, Jazz, Classical, Flamenco, Acoustic, Metal and all related genres. Lonny has been hired to play shows with various recording artists including Ryan Donn, Jackson Cook and Leah West. He also performs with his own band, Wild Rose. For bookings, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Born in Northern Louisiana and raised in Central California, this now Okanagan girl has a long history in the entertainment industry. Her journeys involved a long friendship with the New Christy Minstrels lead singer Barry McGuire who took her under his wing. She went onto singing in many bands including her all girls R&B band and then onto theatre where she won a talent search spot in ‘Broadway and Beyond’ in 2003. With her musical backup team Bernie Addington and Neville Bowman, Teena promises a mix of original and classic jazz and Latin tunes for your enjoyment. www.gowdy.ca/teenaree

Blues vocalist Cat Wells, influenced by Billie Holiday, Etta James and Janis Joplin, has shared the stage with "the Ray Charles Orchestra" opened for ZZ Top, Crash Test Dummies, Jeff Healey and countless others and has performed from Alaska to the Grand Cayman Islands to audiences as large as 10,000.
www.phatbetty.com

For over 18 years, The Zamboni Brothers have been entertaining Okanagan audiences with a fresh mix of Rock ‘n Roll and light hearted comedy. This Band is a four piece (a bunch of guitars, drums and a bass) combo and LOVES HARMONY! With a wide ranging repertoire covering over 40 years of great Rock ‘n Roll, the Zamboni Brothers will excite any audience. Here’s a unique band that generates a “Good Time” atmosphere and will make your social evening one to be remembered.

Ken Heatherington
Founder, vocalist and lead guitars – Ken has been playing across Canada for over 40 years and now calls Kelowna home. His musical background has involved VERY,VERY long hair and skin‐tight leather pants, but now Ken sports a conservative haircut and, on the advice of his doctor, baggy trousers.

Les Bellamy
Les is More….than just a Bass player. He sings, dances, and is great with Light Bright. This wandering minstrel has been playing professionally for 20 years. We don’t really know where or with whom…but we let him play with us because he owns a truck.

Jim Dupuis
This quiet Peachland native has been drumming throughout the Okanagon for more than 30 years and boy, are his arms tired! Jim is a solid percussionist and all ‘round nice guy, and says he’s Neil Young’s cousin…. We have our doubts. Jim also owns a Van.

Graham Schofield
Vocalist and Rhythm Guitar Player – Graham was born in the bathroom of a record store, swaddled in sheet music. Thus began his life as a musician. This displaced prairie boy has been strummin’ professionally for 30 years. Graham doesn’t own a van, Truck or a driver’s license….but he’s OK.

For Bookings, call Ken at 862-5903 or Les at 470-2429

Take Five is a recent addition to Kelowna’s music scene.  Five guys singing acapella; Can it get any better?  Take Five performs a variety of genres including tunes made famous by the Nylons, contemporary singles, and hits from the 50’s and 60’s.  Whether you need a great rendition of the National Anthem, or some background cocktail hour entertainment, Take Five has what you need.  Take Five is:  Gary Brucker, Dennis Colpitts, Ross Dumontet, Bob Emslie and Brad Klassen.  You can reach Take Five by calling Bob at 250-762-2551 or Brad at 250-764-7203.

The Lake Country Big Band was formed in January of 2000 at the initiative of Oyama resident Eddie Atherton. It was made up of mainly Lake Country residents of all ages. At present there are 20 musicians in the band playing swing, jazz, rock & roll, plus other tunes from the 40's

With songs like " Blue Moon, Sunrise-Sunset, Swinging on A Star and Raindrops Are Falling on My Head, Okanagan entertainers, Sally Evans and Molly Boyd would love to have you join them as they perform their favourite songs about the moon, the stars, the sun and the rain! It's a lighthearted show full of popular melodies that will have you singing along. A well-known duo, Sally and Molly have been entertaining audiences for the past 3 1/2 years with their "Songs of the War Years" show - their tribute to the music of the Second World War. Last year they performed that show at Lake Country Open Air Performances and their energy, talents and love of performing and entertaining their audiences has brought them back for a return engagement........This is an all weather show so we'll " Sing in the Sunshine" or we'll be "Singing in The Rain!!!"

James and the Country Gentlemen is an acoustic guitar trio comprised of Daniel Favell, Stefan Raupach and Johann Linghor. We play jazz, blues, funk, and latin. As a trio we have played together under the direction of Neil Fraser for three years. Over the past few years we have played at many benefit concerts such as: Amplify youth centre grand opening, Rwandan orphans and B.C Children's Hospital. We also have played at Komasket music festival in 2008 and a Vernon Art Gallery opening. Most recently we were awarded most outstanding combo at the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival.

Winners of the 2009 Rare Earth Our Kids Have Talent Competition.
Thanks to everyone who supported us!
We will be playing at the Rare Earth Jazz and Blues Festival August 8th and 9th.

Mark Atherton is in his final year of study for his Opera Performance Degree at the University of British Colombia. He has been singing for the last 10 years and growing up in a musical family, it was no surprise that music has been his path in life. He started singing jazz and musical theatre and finally found his way to the operatic stage. His love of jazz is never too far away and plans to continue performing jazz throughout his musical career. Whilst at UBC Mark has taken part in many operas including Falstaff, Die Fledermaus and The Gondoliers, and has sung Nemorino in excerpts from The Elixer of Love, Alfredo in La Traviata, Ferrando in Cosi Fan Tutte, and Tamino in The Magic Flute. He most recently completed a tour of China with UBC opera ensemble where they performed concerts in Beijing and Chengdu. After the completion of his Opera degree, Mark plans to complete a master’s degree in Opera Performance and then take on the operatic world.

Andrea’s vocal abilities have been described as pure and powerful with an engaging sound.  She has an Energy and Charisma that is inspiring yet down to earth while reshaping traditional standards, Pop Classics and Country Music.

She was born and raised on an Alberta cattle ranch and would consider her roots to be Pure Country!  Being the youngest of three daughters and part of a musical family, Andrea watched her Sisters enter singing, dancing and piano competitions. Andrea became interested in music and privately entertained in her big sisters bedroom.

.."Music is my way of personal expression... It is how I connect with people and the world around me...Singing to me; is my Destiny Fulfilled." 
Andrea was given the honor to sing at the 1993 Canada Summer Games. She moved to Music City USA, to “Pursue her Dream” and networked with industry professionals.  After leaving Nashville it was off to Phoenix Arizona where she sang full time with various bands singing Blues, Pop, Country and Contemporary Christian Music. She was one of the City's most sought after National Anthem Singer's, Singing for the Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago Cubs. In 2004 Andrea won an “Okanagan Idol” contest and has performed at Merritt Mountain Music Festival.

Andrea enjoys living in the Okanagan and resides in Vernon near friends and family where she is raising two beautiful boys and continuing to pursue her singing.

"...singing is the music of my soul and the Heart of who I am..."

It'll be full steam ahead in Lake Country on Friday August 14th when heritage
entertainers The Kettle Valley Brakemen perform in Beasley Park at 6:00 pm.  Okanagan Life Magazine says of the band:  "Every show is a rollicking history lesson."  2009 is the twelfth year that the overall clad Brakemen have been touring southern B.C. telling true stories of our railway history and singing original train songs.  In that time, audience interest in "heritage music" has grown dramatically. "Local people want to keep their history alive, and tourists want to know what makes an area unique" says head Brakeman, Jack Godwin.  "Our concerts use dramatic and humorous tales from the past to bring to life B.C.'s colourful steam rail era.  Our melodies are simple, the force of our music lies in the lyrics, in the stories we sing about.  We're just doing what the old time troubadours did,"  Godwin adds.  This year the group's touring schedule stretches from the coast to the Kootenays and includes recent appearances in Castlegar, Ft. Steele, Kelowna and Midway.  Band schedule: www.kvbrakemen.com concert details: 250-766-2698

We met six years ago at an open mic at "the Well" in Kelowna and have been making music since then. Many other members have come and gone but, the two of us have always stuck with one another. Musically, We've grown since then into a two man acoustic performance that has become original to us and has taken us on a path that we would never of imagined possible. Playing music is our passion and is what drives both of our lives. Making new melodies, creating new hooks, writing new words and being able to perform them to a live audience is what we thrive on. We have only one goal and that is to share our music with as many people as possible. The energy that music brings to people or the energy that the people bring to the music is beyond anything that words can describe and that is what makes it a staple in the lives of both of us.

If you would like to get in contact with us please e-mail us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or check us out on myspace.com/devonandkevin

PARADOX is a four-member rock band with a style all its own.

The band consists of Dan Marcelino, Jeff Chimney, Gordie Harrison and Sam Kaplan. Having gone to the same school, they all got to know each other very well. They share a passion for music and spend many hours jamming.

Jeff, Gordie and Sam are still in High School. Jeff plays the guitar and also sings. Gordie plays bass and sings back-up vocals. Sam is on keyboard.

Dan Marcelino is the lead singer and the drummer. He started playing the drums at the age of twelve. He played Jazz with his school and won several awards, including best instrumentalist and Top Young Drummer in Canada. In 2005, when he was only fifteen, his Jazz Combo got recognized as “Young Entrepreneurs of the Year” from the District of Lake Country Chamber of Commerce. Dan has been very busy playing with various musicians in the Okanagan. He drums for Blue City, Dog Skin Suit, Too Low 4 Zero, Lake Country Church Band, and PARADOX. He's very passionate about music and is always hungry for more knowledge.

PARADOX has a mission...to change the world with its music, one community at a time.

PHAT NERO is a band that has, since the outset, been about more than just the music. We are on a journey, a journey to open some minds and expand some experiences. Carried by the muses and extolled by us through our music. In perquisition of aural art that speaks to the core of us all. With HEART, MIND & SOUL, we endeavour to bring you that part of ourselves which we all share. This has also been a saga of self-reacquianting as we are constantly realizing just who and what we are. We are a culmination of our experiences and it shows through our performances.

Songwriting has been the paramount ingredient into what we do and the direction that we are traversing. Conceived in the bosom of Lake Country on the crest of Sunburn Hill, we descend in the name of entertainment. A band, a brotherhood of four, with extensive musical experience that has a real love for the creative and performing aspects of being auditory artists.

We are on the never ending quest of being relevant, artistic & entertaining.

Audio Link: http://www.reverbnation.com/phatnero
Youtube Link: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=PHATNERO&view=videos