It’ll be a modern twist on some old music traditions when Vernon’s own Maritime- Celtic band Cod Gone Wild welcomes in 2015 with a little help from its friends.
The Cods will be joined by modern bluegrass band The Trips and rock/country band The Shawn Lightfoot Band for A Wild New Year’s party at the Vernon Recreation Complex auditorium, Wednesday.
“The concert features an evening of non-stop live music that will keep you entertained and dancing all night,” said Andrew Mercer, lead singer/guitarist with Cod Gone Wild and producer with Cod Productions, hosting the show. “It was important to us when we were planning the show this year to have a wide variety of quality music that will have people dancing and singing all night long. The addition of The Trips and The Shawn Lightfoot Band to the bill certainly does this and we truly have something for everyone.”
Kelowna band The Trips will kick off the night with an opening set beginning at 9 p.m. Hailed by many as the “band of the summer,” members of The Trips say they love to rip it up and have fun with an audience.
“They take many familiar tunes along with their own originals and give them their own alternative bluegrass treatments and people just love it,” said Mercer, adding he and the Cods had the pleasure of performing alongside The Trips at the Interior Provincial Exhibition in Armstrong this past summer.
“We knew that they would be the perfect band to get the crowd going at our New Year’s Eve event this year. They have an energetic stage presence and impeccable musicality that will have the place on wheels.”
Following The Trips is The Shawn Lightfoot Band, who will alternate sets with the Cods until 2 a.m.
One of the Okanagan’s most popular live acts, Vernon’s Shawn Lightfoot Band is intensely charismatic with undeniably magnetic stage presence, said Mercer.
“Their music is the result of seamlessly covering a vast and diverse range of material from rock to country to pop and of course the ever-popular Neil Diamond tribute that is part of their show,” said Mercer. “Captivating is often the word used to describe The Shawn Lightfoot Band. The band thrives on engaging the audience to create a live experience like no other.”
Since forming in the spring of 2010, the band’s local popularity has sky-rocketed. They have played numerous venues and their high profile exposure has quickly catapulted the band into high demand.
The New Year’s Eve show will also act as somewhat of a send-off for Cod Gone Wild, as band members are heading out on tour just a few short days after the show.
The Cods will be embarking on a 20-show Alberta tour in just 24 days.
“We are excited to play the New Year’s Eve show at home before we head out on busy (and cold) tour of Alberta,” said Mercer. “It will be nice to see familiar faces to celebrate the New Year with us before we head out.”
Advanced tickets for A Wild New Year’s are available now until Wednesday at a cost of $40. Ticket price includes champagne, party favours and snacks. Doors open at 8 p.m., with music running from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m. This is a 19+ event and there will be a cash bar. Tickets will be available at the door, provided the event is not sold out, for $50 each. You can purchase tickets online at www.ticketseller.ca, by phone at 250-549-SHOW or by dropping into the Ticket Seller box office located at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre.
Partial proceeds of the event will be donated to the Arran Campbell Memorial Youth Pipe band to send kids to piping and drumming camp.
