By Times Chronicle Staff
Oliver’s Music in the Park summer concerts present an “all- Okanagan” lineup at the community park bandshell for their eight-week series.
And keeping the music fresh, four of the bands in this summer’s lineup are new to the local stage.
Music in the Park runs Thursdays July 3 to August 21 from 6:30 – 8 p.m. at the Oliver Community Bandshell. Admission is by donation, with $5 a suggested minimum.
Should the weather turn inclement a weather venue is located in the community hall next door. All shows have food truck service and audiences are invited to bring a lawn chair and some shades to enjoy the concerts.
Penticton Concert Band blasts off the summer season on Thursday, July 3 with a big brass fanfare. They make their return appearance after ten years, playing the hits from Broadway musicals, swing and jazz standards, and band classics, with a few pop tunes for good measure.
Serving up a grits‘n’gumbo medley of bluegrass, roots and folk, the Cliff McIntyre Band returns to the stage on Thursday, July 10. The local quartet is deep in musical talent, with instruments adding a variety of authentic folk flavours. Fans of Dylan, Morrison, The Band, Prine and Earle can travel southwards without leaving Canada.
The BluesTown Blues Band is a highly anticipated newcomer to the Oliver stage, hailing from just up the road in Okanagan Falls. Honing their talent at pubs up and down the Okanagan, they play a tight mix of blues, soul and funk on Thursday, July 17.
Crowd favourite Uncorked! gets the party started with rock and pop classics on Thursday, July 24. Lead singer Lisa Salting channels rockers Ricky Lee Jones, Grace Slick, and Christine McVie. This Naramata band covers familiar hits by the Eagles, BeeGees, Springsteen, Seger, Clapton, and the Stones.
Midsummer sunshine brings out The Rays onstage, delivering reggae, ska, and rock on Thursday, July 31. This sunny four-piece band turns up the heat with a blend of originals and classics. These newcomers are in the running for Best of Penticton 2025 award.
On Thursday, August 7, the cheerful Melomaniacs duo returns for a second season with country, rock and bluegrass tunes. As their name suggests, they can croon mellow Everly Brothers or Blue Rodeo, rock some Dire Straits, or go a little crazy with familiar cartoon “toons”. Audiences can expect the unexpected with their diverse set list.
Highly anticipated, the Yard Katz will prowl the Oliver stage for the first time on Thursday, August 14. Medal winners in the Best of Penticton 2024, these five cats play classic rock and blues.
Closing out the summer is the Kristi Neumann Band on Thursday, August 21. Singer/songwriter Kristi paid her dues in Nashville but now calls Oliver home and has racked up several impressive gig venues, with the bandshell being the latest. Neumann sings her own country pop tunes, mixing it up with familiar covers.
Every concert provides picnic fare from either Pit Stop Smokery or Law of Attraction food trucks. An arts council market will promote the activities and wares of its members at many of the concerts.
Music in the Park is a program of the Oliver Community Arts Council.
