Photo by Kim Lawton

“THANKS FOR THE GREAT CONCERT SEASON from the Firehall Brewery”

Well folks, that wraps it up for this summer season of music here at the Firehall Brewery! The BACK ALLEY CONCERT SERIES this summer went amazingly well. The music rocked, the beer & wine flowed, the dance floor saw some excitement, and most importantly we saw many many smiles leaving the brewery after each gig. Thank you to all who came to support local music and local beer & wine, it means a lot! In a small town like Oliver, it makes a big difference. Much is owed to our great crew of volunteers, and we’d like to thank them by name:

Sandy Boblin
Kyle Campbell
Richard Drescher
Hillary Frank
Jenelle Hellyer
Cody Kasper
Dave Kassian
Darryl Lange
Sheila Lange
Jim Murray
Megan Myles

Joanne Ruhland
Carson Ruhland
Celina Ruhland
Marisa Ruhland
Marie-Eve Ruhland

Tyler Swan
Larry Swartzenberger
Mike Szalay
Polo Veintimilla
Aggie Weinrich
Mark Weinrich

If we missed any names, SORRY! You know who you are: THANK YOU!

June 15 – FOREVER YOUNG: this Neil Young cover band from Summerland was back by popular demand to open up the concert season! They sang the classics of one of our favourite Canadian artists, and you can be sure the crowd was singing along. Bill Eggert from Fairview Cellars was pouring his estate wine at this concert.

July 20 – WINED IT UP: the South Okanagan’s own Cowboy Rock band got everyone wound up on the dance floor for our July show. A great mix of classic rock tunes and original songs with Mikie Spillet’s cowboy flair! We had John & Maria Ferreira pouring their Quinta Ferreira estate wines, and there was even birthday cake for everyone. Happy Birthday ma!

August 24 – booked MALIBU KNIGHTS, replaced by GREAT WHITE NORTH because of last minute cancellation: two days before the gig, the lead singer and guitarist of the Malibu Knights had a very unfortunate motor vehicle accident that has the band out of commission for 6 weeks. They were very excited for the show here in Oliver, so they agreed to open up next year’s Back Alley Concert Series in the summer of 2014. We were able to fill the spot with Great White North, an alternative folk rock project led by local Mike Szalay. Some of the Firehall Brewery brew crew is in the band, so we experienced the event from a new perspective (from the stage instead of behind the kegs!). The brewery’s Brew Chief Sid Ruhland and his new bride Marie-Eve even got up to play a few songs with Carson Ruhland. The dance floor was full by the end of the night; a great finish to the concert season. Ted & Lorraine Kane were pouring us their wines from Riverstone Estate Winery.

Thanks again to everyone, and remember:

SHOP LOCAL ~ EAT LOCAL ~ DRINK LOCAL ~ LISTEN LOCAL ~ BE LOCAL

Cheers! www.firehallbrewery.com