Music in the Park better than ever

For more than two decades, Canada Day in Kamloops has marked the kick-off to two solid months of evening serenades in Riverside Park.

The annual event germinated from a seed planted during the 1993 Canada Summer Games, and it has grown into a mature plant that continues to bloom every year.

“It’s more of a tradition now,” co-ordinator Henry Small said Monday.

“I see a trend of people jumping on board and throwing money at more acts to raise the level.”

This year, Western Canada Theatre and B.C. Living Arts have beefed up the budget for the July 12 acts, while Ribfest has come on board to subsidize more expensive acts for Aug. 8, 9 and 10.

The B.C.Lottery Corp. has also jumped on the sponsorship bandwagon, supporting the July 30 Midsummer Music Jam.

With Small being tasked to find as broad a selection of acts as possible, on a budget that hasn’t changed in the last 10 years, that extra financial boost is welcome.

“Overall I think the level has been raised immensely,” he said.

“People are coming through and will work for less than what they would normally earn just to cover expenses. The hard part is usually the weekends. Those kind of acts are usually being paid five times what they’re being paid at Music in the Park. But overall, it’s better than it was and we do have some interesting stuff coming in. and each year there seems to be a little more of that.”

Music in the Park has spread across the Overlanders Bridge to McDonald Park as well, with Friday night performances slated in July and August.

This year’s schedule is as follows. The performances are all free, at the Rotary Bandshell from 7 to 8:30 p.m. from July 1 to August 31.

July at Riverside Park
July 1 — Canada Day, various acts
July 2 — Reflections of Bob Seger (Rock)
July 3 — The Skinny (Soul Reggae Ska): facebook.com/skinnyreggae
July 4 — Compassion Gorilla (World Beat): compassiongorilla.com
July 5 — Anita Eccleston (Jazzy Pop): anitaeccleston.com
July 6 — Pugs & Crows (Instrumentals): pugsandcrows.com
July 7 — The Hellbound Hepcats (Rockabilly): hellboundhepcats.com
July 8 — Kamloops Big Band (Big Band Classics)
July 9 — Darrel & Saskia (Canadiana): thegreatplains.ca
July 10 — Sarah Burton (Rockin’ Roots Pop): saraburton.ca
July 11 — Andrea Superstein (Torchy Pop): andreasuperstein.com
July 12 — HIJACKED by B.C. Living Arts and Western Canada Theatre (WCT) Starring: Jenie Thai (Singer/Songwriter Extraordinaire): jeniethai.ca, Santa Lucia (Latin Funk): santaluciamusic.com and Brickhouse (Vancouver’s Best): getinthehouse.wordpress.com
July 13 — The Wheat In The Barley (Celtic): wheatinthebarley.com
July 14 — 100 mile house (English Folk Roots): 100milehouse.co.uk
July 15 — The Jessica Stuart Few (Folk Jazz Power Trio): jessicastuartmusic.com
July 16 — Sean Ashby (Sarah McLachlan Guitarist): seanashby.com
July 17 — Les Tireux d’Roches (French Canadiana): tireuxderoches.com
July 18 — Bend Sinister (Great Rock Pop): bendsinisterband.com
July 19 — Me and Mae (Country Rock): meandmae.com
July 20 — Young Running (Canadian Roots): youngrunning.com
July 21 — Class Action (Ska): classactionska.ca
July 22 — Headwater (Roots Rock): headwater.ca
July 23 — Paul Filek (Pop): paulfilek.com
July 24 — The Sturgeons (Folk): facebook.com/TheSturgeons and Scarlett Jane (Roots Rock): scarlettjane.com
July 25 — Sabrina Weeks & Swing Cat Bounce (Swing Blues): sabrinaweeks.com
July 26 — Zoo Lion (Rock): zoolionmusic.com
July 27 — Mike MacKenzie (Blues Rock): mikemackenzie.com
July 28 — Whiskey Jane (Country Rock): whiskeyjane.com
July 29 — Spencer’s Dirty Matadors (Rasta Cowpunk Blues)
July 30 — BCLC Midsummer Music Jam with Robyn & Ryleigh (Country Pop Sisters): robynandryleigh.com and Champagne Republic (Funky R&B): champagnerepublic.com
July 31 — Glorious Sons (Rock): theglorioussons.com

July at McDonald Park
July 4 — Last Child (Rock)
July 11 — Trama (Rock)
July 18 — Doc & The Disorderlies (Roots): docandthedisorderlies.ca
July 25 — Jane Perrett (Classical Soprano & Showtunes): janeperrett.com

August at Riverside Park
Aug 1 — The Longriders: Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute
Aug 2 — Tasman Jude (Jamaican Reggae): tasmanjude.bandcamp.com
Aug 3 — Johnny Don’t (Folk Rock): facebook.com/johnnydontmusic
Aug 4 — Rube Band (Ambassadors of Fun): kamloopsrubeband.org
Aug 5 — The Wildrose Ramblers (Country Rock): thewildroseramblers.com
Aug 6 — Tequila Mockingbird Orchestra (Gypsy Roots): tequilamockingbirdorchestra.com
Aug 7 — The Harpdog Brown Band (Blues): harpdogbrown.com
Aug 8 — Ribfest Presents: Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer (Stompin’ Down Home Blues): harpoonistaxemurderer.com
Aug 9 — Ribfest Presents: Dreams: Tribute to Fleetwood Mac (Rock): tributetofleetwoodmac.ca
Aug 10 — Ribfest Presents: Henry Small Band (Rock Blues) henrysmall.ca
Aug 11 — Blackberry Wood (Gypsy Folk): blackberrywood.ca
Aug 12 — Maritime Kitchen Party (East Coast Celtic): maritimekitchenparty.ca
Aug 13 — Jolene Landygo (Country Rock)
Aug 14 — Paisley Groove (Classics)
Aug 15 — Paul Black (Blues)
Aug 16 — Jarrod Tyler Band (Pop Rock)
Aug 17 — Fourplay (Classic Rock): fourplayjazz.com
Aug 18 — Heather Blush & The Uppercuts (Bluesy Pop): heatherblush.com
Aug 19 — Dave Coalmine (Folk Pop Rock)
Aug 20 — Jess & The Serious Dogs (Classic Rock)
Aug 21 — Cod Gone Wild (Maritime Music): codgonewild.ca
Aug 22 — Frapp City (Rock)
Aug 23— The Steadies (Reggae Pop Rock): thesteadies.ca
Aug 24 — Blue Voodoo (Blues Duo): bluevoodooband.com
Aug 25 — Scott Cook (Hi Tech Hobo): scottcook.net
Aug 26 — Johnny Cash Starring: Gary Kehoe (Country): johnnycashequivalent.com
Aug 27 — Blackdog Blue (Original Classic Rock): blackdogblue.ca
Aug 28 — Darklark (Indie Electro Pop)
Aug 29 — The Blue Mules (Blues): thebluemules.com
Aug 30 — Sally & The Melo Hearts (Great Cover Band): sallyandthemelohearts.com
Aug 31 — Earthbound (Funky World Music)

August at McDonald Park
Aug 1 — Mickael Maddison (Adult Acoustic Rock): mickaelmaddison.com
Aug 8 — Dodie Goldney (Classic Pop Rock)
Aug 15 — Chapter 9 (Rock)
Aug 22 — Matt Stanley & The Decoys (Rock): mattstanleyandthedecoys.com
Aug 29 — Sabrina Weeks (Blues Country): sabrinaweeks.com