March Madness highlights local music in Sun Peaks

Music will be taking centre stage this March 3 to 26 as performers and musicians alike take part in the first ever March Madness in Sun Peaks.

“March Madness music month focuses on live music throughout the resort and gives people a reason to come to Sun Peaks and stay for a weekend or a night,” said Tourism Sun Peaks’ event coordinator Janice Nankivell. “You can go skiing or take part in any of our activities during the day and relax with some live music in the evening.”

For the entire month, there’ll be live performances by local musicians on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at Powder Hounds, Globe Café and Tapas Bar, Chopstixx, Mackdaddy’s nightclub and Masa’s Bar and Grill. There’s no cover charge for any of the performances.

Local performer Margit Bull, Sun Peaks locals Peter Ernst and Richard Foreman, Kamloops performer Dave Coalmine and Vernon’s Jodie Pederson are some of the musicians rocking the stage this month.

Ernst, a local restaurateur who’s also one of the performers, is helping to plan the event with Tourism Sun Peaks. A former professional musician in Germany, Ernst thinks it’s about time that Sun Peaks builds its own music scene, starting with an event like this.

“I believe Sun Peaks should be known for (live music) more. I’m trying to participate in the planning and helping. We should have a summer festival, a theme festival; we’re on our way,” he said. “I think it’s gonna happen one day but I think we have to be consistent with it.”

“We have Jam Nights in the summer at Bottom’s. I think we’re on our way to offer more,” he said. “I’m experimenting with some other guys to have more live music in Sun Peaks. The more the better.”

“We have a lot of local musicians that love to get up and play,” said Nankivell. “This is another aspect to give local musicians the chance to play in Sun Peaks and promote local and live music.”

Margit Bull, a local musician who lives near Heffley Lake, thinks it’s a great idea.

“I think it’s fantastic that (the resort) is holding March Music Madness and supporting local musicians at the same time,” said Bull. “Sun Peaks and the surrounding areas will definitely benefit from holding an event like this because each musician will draw a different crowd and introduce them to our fantastic mountain.”

The event caters to an audience with a wide range of musical tastes as there’s something for everyone, added Nankivell.

“We have some playing rock, we have some playing country, some playing folk and lots of classics and popular music as well.”

An open air patio party will be held at Powder Hounds on March 26, the last day of March Madness, where local acts get a chance to show off their musical talent followed by performances by many of the artists who took part in the event.

View SPIN’s Arts and Listings Guide for the event schedule.