Black Cat Soul puts their own spin on old blues and soul favourites and classics. (Contributed photo)

An up-and-coming band from the Okanagan Valley will be coming to Osoyoos for the first time as the Music and the Elks concert series continues.

Black Cat Soul, a four-piece group based out of Kelowna, was formed just about a year ago and are starting to gain a reputation as an outstanding group of musicians and live performers, said Earl Krushelnicki, the long-time blues music promoter who recently moved to Osoyoos from Prince George and the man responsible for bringing in more than a half dozen blues and rock acts to the Elks Hall in Osoyoos over the past year.

“Black Cat Soul is based out of Kelowna and this four-piece band is gaining recognition for performing their own brand of smooth blues, roots and soul music and putting their own spin on old blues and soul favourites and classics,” said Krushelnicki.

The lead singer in the group is a woman called Betty Goodacre, who has a wonderful voice and is an outstanding live performer, he said. Other members of the group include James Hay on guitar and vocals, Brian Maguire on drums and vocals and Chris Stanford on upright and electric bass.

“When I was up in Prince George I managed to run into James Hay at a show I had organized in Smithers,” he said. “When I found out he and Betty had decided to work together in Black Cat Soul, I contacted them.”

Hay made it very clear Black Cat Soul would love to perform in Osoyoos as they have never played a gig in this community and the wheels were set in motion to bring them to the Elks Hall, he said.

The last two shows he helped promote at the Osoyoos Elks Hall – which included Canadian blues guitar legend David Gogo and boogie woogie piano player Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne – both sold out and he’s hoping for another full house for Black Cat Soul on Feb. 21, said Krushelnicki.

“The people in Osoyoos were asking me to bring in a band with a female lead singer, so I listened to them and this is a new band with a lot of talent and I think they’re going to put on a fantastic show,” he said.

Tickets for the concert are $20 and can be purchased at Mills Office Productivity on Main Street in Osoyoos or by calling Ken at 250-495-3936.

More information about this concert and future shows being brought to the Elks Hall in Osoyoos can be found online at www.musicattheelks.com.

KEITH LACEY

Osoyoos Times