The first night of the Twilight Concert Series is just around the corner, with Abbotsford’s Quinn and Tonic taking the stage Thursday, July 24.
Tasha Janzen, just one of the five-piece rock band, said the Agassiz show is part of a busy summer for the musicians. They all keep part time jobs, as well as meeting at least three times a week for rehearsals, business meetings and writing sessions, in addition to at least eight gigs over the summer months.
But they’re not complaining.
“We’re hoping to some shows further into B.C., and start booking into the fall,” Janzen said.
They’ll be bringing a wide mix of music to the concert stage next Thursday, with contemporary pop/rock covers, a few acoustic songs, and a handful of originals.
“We try to pull from all sorts of different places,” she said, covering everything from Imagine Dragons to Stevie Nicks. As for covers, some they play just as the audiences know and love them, while others they adjust to make just their own.
“There are some, like Hit Me With Your Best Shot, that we do exactly the same,” she said. “People know and love that song.”
Quinn and Tonic have been playing together for just under a year, but each member of the band brought previous experience to the table.
The lead, Savannah Quinn, had been pursuing a music career for several years before she decided to take it to the next level and find a band in October of 2013. She was showcased at the Rockin’ River Music Fest in Maple Ridge, and the Berry Beat Festival in Abbotsford. She has even received a regional Arty Awards nomination for Best Performing Artist.
First to be pulled into the band were Janzen, on keys and main back-up vocals, and Rick Chappell, lead guitar and back-up vocals. Janzen and Quinn grew up together and had played several small acoustic sets together at church events.
Janzen then contacted Colin Hoock, bass, who she knew from summer camp. Quinn and Chappell went to high school together and had also worked on various music projects together over the years. Finally, Chappell brought in Nick Kirby, drums, who he was in a classic rock cover band with, and just so happened to be his cousin.
It’s all made for what is shaping up to be a popular Fraser Valley rock band, ready to take on whatever comes their way next.
The District of Kent’s Twilight Concert Series will be held at Centennial Park (by the Agricultural Hall) in front of the barbecue shelter, while Pioneer Park continues to be restored. This year the series is supported by funding from the Agassiz Harrison Lions Club, the Harrison Agassiz Chamber of Commerce and Prospera Credit Union. Todd Richard will perform on July 31 and Her Brothers will perform on Aug. 13.
The concerts run from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The concerts are free to the community and the performances are for a general audience. A small donation is encouraged at each performance to help offset the performer costs. The Agassiz Fire Department will be there selling hot dogs and cold drinks and operating the ECD Success by Six Bouncy Castle for the kids.
An “art in the park” will be set up, as well.
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