Rusty Rails, a bluegrass band, performed the final concert of the summer at Osoyoos Music in the Park on Friday evening. From left are Dr. Randall Moore, Denis Leclerc, Sheldon Friesen and Dr. Len Hatlelid. Bass player Leo Kilroe was out of the frame. The summer’s most popular concert was the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy, which drew about 600 people, but Friday’s turnout of 350 was more than expected. (Richard McGuire photo)
A crowd of more than 350 people turned out on Friday for the final Osoyoos Music in the Park concert of the season, the bluegrass band Rusty Rails.
It was a much clearer evening than a week earlier, when heavy smoke forced the crowd-pleasing East-Coast-style Cod Gone Wild to move indoors at the Sonora Centre.
Janis St. Louis, who organizes the concerts along with her two fellow members of the Three Amigos, said this year’s series has been fabulous.
“We’ve been very happy with the turnouts and with all of the musicians that came,” she said. “We’re very happy.”
The other two “Amigos” are Roland Berg and Debbie Dundass.
Unlike previous years where the occasional act hasn’t worked out, this year’s lineup had no duds, St. Louis said.
Early in July, the Aaron Halliday concert was also forced to move inside the Legion Hall due to a rainstorm, though the rest of the summer was exceptionally dry.
The biggest turnout by far was for the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy, which drew 600 people.
But there were other very successful events, including the Sabrina Weeks Dance Band.
St. Louis said she would like to bring both the Naden Band and Sabrina Weeks back next year if they are available. And if the Naden Band isn’t available, she might try for Jet Stream, of the Royal Canadian Air Force, which was the top attraction of 2017.
St. Louis said the Amigos aim to bring some variety to the lineup.
The audience seemed to be enjoying Friday’s bluegrass concert with Rusty Rails, although their underpowered sound system didn’t carry too well to audience seated in the farther reaches of Gyro Park.
“We haven’t had bluegrass here before and it’s a nice switch,” said St. Louis. “There’s a lot of people here tonight and all ages too. There’s lots of young kids here now running around, getting ice cream and running around even more.”
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
Rusty Rails, a bluegrass band, performed the final concert of the summer at Osoyoos Music in the Park on Friday evening. (Richard McGuire photo)
Rusty Rails, a bluegrass band, performed the final concert of the summer at Osoyoos Music in the Park on Friday evening. (Richard McGuire photo)
Rusty Rails, a bluegrass band, performed the final concert of the summer at Osoyoos Music in the Park on Friday evening. (Richard McGuire photo)
Rusty Rails, a bluegrass band, performed the final concert of the summer at Osoyoos Music in the Park on Friday evening. (Richard McGuire photo)
Rusty Rails, a bluegrass band, performed the final concert of the summer at Osoyoos Music in the Park on Friday evening. From left are Dr. Randall Moore, Denis Leclerc, Sheldon Friesen, Dr. Len Hatlelid, and Leo Kilroe. (Richard McGuire photo)
