Fan favourite Cruzeros reunite for Canada Day show

BAND WILL CLOSE OUT FRIDAY NIGHT CONCERT SERIES

KELOWNA – The Cruzeros, local fan favourites and one of the most successful bands out of Kelowna, are reuniting to headline the Canada Day concert series at Waterfront Park.

And while singer and guitarist Barry Mathers says there’s no hard plans for the band to continue beyond Canada Day, he thinks it won’t be the last.

“Everyone was pretty excited at the rehearsals so you never know,” Mathers says.

Mathers says fans on Friday night will hear some new arrangements of familiar songs but the set list will be based on their numerous top forty country hits.

“All in all, it’s going to be an up tempo rocking hour and a half set,” he adds.

Friday night’s line-up will include original member Curtis Tullman and back-up singer Rachel Matkin, plus bassist Jim Ryan, drummer Jay Swetlishoff, lead guitarist Gary Smyth and keyboardist Rod Miller.

Tulman and Mathers began playing together in the mid-1980s but didn’t get a break until the mid-1990s when they recorded their first album earning them a series of hits on the national country charts and a Juno nomination for country group of the year.

The band continued to play both locally and internationally until 2008 and have made just a few appearances since then.

Friday’s show takes place on the TD Beach stage at Tugboat Beach as part of the Celebrate Canada Day Kelowna festival.

The Cruzeros hit the stage at 8:50 p.m.and will play until just before the fireworks display at 10:30 p.m.

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