By Steve Hubrecht
Is Invermere about to become Music Town, B.C?
If local event organizers Mountain Home Productions have their way, it certainly will be.
Last summer was a landmark one in Invermere for music, with two concerts here starring big name musicians: Colin James at the Boogie Bash in May; and Tom Cochrane at the Invermere Mountain Block Party concert in September.
Both are Juno award winning performers, with reputations larger than what might reasonably be expected from a mountain town with a population of just 3,900 and hours from any large urban centre. Consequently both shows generated considerable buzz in the Columbia Valley.
But it turns out that Life is a Highway and the Canadian face of swing revival were just the beginning.
Mountain Home Productions co-founder Stephen Raaflaub outlined a potential concert lineup for 2025 that features four more big-name musicians playing concerts or block parties throughout the summer, as well as off-season shows at the Columbia Valley Centre in January, February and April with top tribute bands.
The tribute band lineup includes ‘The Legendary Life of Tom Petty’ in January; a Clearwater Creedence Revival (CCR) tribute band in February; and ‘Piano Men’ (an Elton John and Billy Joel tribute act) in April.
Come summer, the tentative lineup for concerts include Kim Mitchell playing at the second Boogie Bash on the Victoria Day long weekend; Blue Rodeo in July; Trooper and B.C. funk stalwarts Five Alarm Funk on the B.C Day long weekend in August; and Canadian folk icon Sarah McLachlan during the Labour Day long weekend.
The first Boogie Bash with Colin James had a crowd of 1,250, the Mountain Block Party with Tom Cochrane had 1,450. Raaflaub and fellow Mountain Home Productions co-owner Jeff Parry are hoping for crowds of 1,650 at each of the four summer shows.
“We’re excited. The higher calibre of artist, that elevates us (the Columbia Valley),” said Raaflaub. “We’re going to start seeing people from Cranbrook coming to Invermere to see concerts instead of the other way around.”
Raaflaub floated the lineup and the planned expansion of concerts past Invermere council last week, and his ideas were received enthusiastically.
“I’m gung-ho. As far as I’m concerned, let’s bring it on,” said Invermere mayor Al Miller.
Councillor Gerry Taft suggested possibly using alternate locations, aside from the arena and 13th Street, for some of the concerts, such as Pothole Park or the green space to the east and south of Pynelogs Cultural Centre.
Raaflaub concurred that the spot by Pynelogs could be especially good for the Sarah McLachlan show.
