Come and enjoy great music on Saturday, July 22 at 6 p.m. at the Pass Creek Exhibition Grounds.
There will be five bands and this year is special with two world-class special guests bands/groups.
Gilles Parenteau, formerly from Quebec and now living in Balfour will be returning with his five keyboards. Gilles is well known internationally as one of the most proficient and innovative organist/keyboardists. If you are not familiar with Gilles, he is a composer, arranger and performer and has worked on Hollywood movies, on cruise ships, at concerts and fashion shows on many parts of the globe. He has worked extensively with CBC Radio and teaches at the music school at Selkirk College in Nelson.
One of his former students, Kiesza, had a hit recording and Gilles performed all the accompaniment. This song was viewed on YouTube by 250 million viewers and they also appeared together live on Good Morning America. For the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, Gilles did an arrangement of O Canada, which he also performed. This year Gilles has been to Africa, Quebec, and just recently Toronto where he was part of a benefit concert with Kiesza.
Our other special guest is Andy Park, originally from Los Angeles. Andy earned his B.A. at UCLA before moving to Surrey, B.C. He is a musician, singer, songwriter, author and recording artist. He has travelled all over North America and many other parts of the world performing, speaking and teaching. He has written some of the most popular contemporary gospel songs of today.
Other groups appearing will be Unction Junction with members from Nelson, Salmo, Castlegar and Warfield, Trail Presbyterian Church Trio/Quartet and the Junction Worship Band – led by a former student of Gilles Parenteau.
There will not be an admission charged for this event, but there will be a collection taken. To be able to hear this caliber of music and you name the price, it is an evening not to be missed. This is a family-friendly event so please leave pets at home. There will be an ice cream truck on site and cold beverages available. Bring lawn chairs, sweaters or light jackets as the evening gets cool.
If you enjoy good music, this is an event you don’t want to miss. There will be something for everyone, from gospel rock to contemporary gospel to traditional gospel music.
In the unlikely event of rain, the festival will move to the New Life Assembly Church at 602-7th Street, Castlegar across from Stanley Humphries High School.
For more info, email john491@shaw.ca or phone (250) 365-7456.