The “Hooksters” are about to get up close and personal with their idol this weekend.
For those unsure what a Hookster is, it is the endearing term given to the fans of B.C. musician Shawn Hook, who arrives at the Interior Provincial Exhibition fairgrounds Saturday to be a part of the Armstrong 100 celebrations.
The all-ages concert is a free event to both Armstrong area students and residents who received ticket vouchers in their tax notices earlier this year. Some lucky locals will also get a VIP meet ‘n’ greet with Hook.
“Shawn is excited to play the signature event,” said Terri Wong, with the centennial committee, when announcing the concert back in May. “It will be a true family event with lots of food, music and entertainment for all.”
Raised in the South Slocan near Nelson, Hook, whose last name is actually Hlookoff, says his career in music “has been an unpredictable, rewarding journey thus far and I am beyond thankful for the continued support from my family, fans, management, label and everyone who believes in what I do.”
Known for adding modern electronic elements to his organic singer-songwriter, guitar and piano base, Hook is an accomplished musician who has been playing piano since he was four years old.
He recently made the news when he was nominated as breakthrough artist of the year at the 2013 Juno awards.
The nod came from his debut recording for EMI Music, Cosmonaut and the Girl, released in May 2012. Described as a “constellation of electro-spiked pop,” Hook says the album’s theme was influenced by his interest in space, astronomy and exploring.
“I was thinking of a cosmonaut and his girl. They rarely get to see each other. I relate to that because I’m never in one place for too long,” Hook said in his bio.
Singles Two Hearts Set On Fire and So Close have also garnered the pop artist attention, with the latter song making it to the top 10 of the Canadian adult contemporary radio charts in February, while another song off the album, Every Red Light, was nominated for two Canadian Radio Music Awards.
Working with some of the top producers in Canada and across the border, Hook has also written and co-produced songs for a number of TV shows on American networks ABC and ABC Family.
More recently his wide-ranging vocals were heard when Cosmonaut and the Girl’s lead track, Planet Earth, was used on an episode of the Canadian teen TV show Degrassi.
Saturday’s all-ages concert at the IPE grounds also features opening act The Matinee, a Vancouver band who were Peak Performance Project finalists in 2011.
Gates to the show open at 4 p.m. (rush seating) with local artists taking the stage prior to The Matinee at 7 p.m. and Hook at 9 p.m. A concession will also be on site, and visitors are welcome to bring their own picnics.
“Please bring your lawn chair or blanket to relax on and enjoy the concert,” said Wong.
Those without free ticket vouchers can purchase tickets for $10 per person at the Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce office (Visitor’s Centre) on Bridge Street, or at the gate.
