Canadian rock legends in Vernon Funtastic Music Festival lineup

VERNON – The music festival at the Funtastic Slo-pitch tournament this summer will include Canadian rock legends and some of the top local bands in the Okanagan.

Organizers have announced Big Sugar and Platinum Blonde will play the music festival portion of the annual sports event, which goes June 30, July 1 and July 2, at 

Big Sugar, who have opened for the likes of the Rolling Stones and ZZ Top, is touring their new eclectic album Calling All The Youth, according to a media release.

“The Nyabinghi drums, the dub reggae, the Detroit soul, the Texas blues — all of those things are coming together, sometimes in the same song,” frontman Gordie Johnson says in the release. “Not consciously. We acknowledge all the cultures that collide to make our music, so it just comes out that way.”

Big Sugar will be headlining the Saturday night concert, which includes Platinum Blonde, local tribute group The Shawn Lightfoot Band and Vernon rockers The Dirt.

Friday night’s lineup includes The Hip Show, a tribute to The Tragically Hip, U2 tribute band U4 and Armstrong country cover band the Dirt Road Kings.

One of the Okanagan’s most well known bands The Young’uns will play the Thursday night concert along with Hog Wild and Cosmic Brew.

For more information about the Funtastic Slo-pitch Tournament and Music Festival go to the website.

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