BRENDA GOUGH
NEWS Contributor
If you enjoyed the band Bend Sinister when they performed for the 2014 Parksville Canada Day celebration then be sure to catch them at Diana Krall Plaza in Nanaimo on Friday.
They will be performing at The Bathtub Launch Party in an outdoor music festival with Platinum Blonde, Bif Naked, The Harpooinist & the Axe Murderer and many more bands.
It is the only date on Vancouver Island for Platinum Blonde. The Canadian band formed in 1982 just at the time when new wave music was in its commercial glory.
Bend Sinister’s bass player Joseph Blood said its cool that a lot of the old bands are touring again.
Blood said his band will likely crash at his parents place in Parksville when they come to the Island for the Nanaimo gig.
As for the group’s fan base he said they can expect some fresh material when they take to the stage.
“We will be playing four or five news songs in Nanaimo,” he said, adding, “We have added a lot more bells and whistles.” He said the new songs are along the same trajectory as their old material, progressive pop, but added they are trying to do more dance songs. They also have a new member. Kristy-Leigh Audette will be joining them playing the trumpet and synthesizer.
Blood said the band hopes to have a new record out in 2016 and right now they are stoked about being nominated for the Limelight Award in Prog Magazine.
The 2015 Progressive Music Awards take place on September 3 in London. It’s the night when the glitterati of the prog world gather to honour talent old and new, from those acts making their first tentative forays into the wider musical world, to the prog overlords who have been there, done it and are now being recognized for their endeavours.
Bend Sinister is the only Canadian band nominated and Blood said they need fans to vote for them.
Blood admitted it’s no fun bugging people to vote for them but said it’s a great opportunity for the band and if they win they would try to work the UK into a tour.
If you cast your votes now you could be in with the chance of winning a pair of tickets to this year’s awards. Visit HYPERLINK “http://www.progmagazine.com/awards” www.progmagazine.com/awards.
Tickets for Bend Sinister and the rest of the bands playing Friday, July 24 at 4 p.m. are available at Cranky Dog Music in Parksville for $35 plus GST.
For your chance to win free tickets, email reporter@pqbnews.com with “Bath Tub Launch Party” in the subject line by 12 p.m., July 23. Please include your name and phone number to be eligible. The winner will be contacted by phone July 23.
Bend Sinister is the only Canadian band nominated and Blood said they need fans to vote for them.
Blood admitted it’s no fun bugging people to vote for them, but said it’s a great opportunity for the band and if they win they would try to work the UK into a tour.
If you cast your votes now you will give yourself a chance to win a pair of tickets to this year’s awards.
Visit www.progmagazine.com/awards.
Tickets for Bend Sinister and the rest of the bands playing Friday, July 24 at 4 p.m. are available at Cranky Dog Music in Parksville for $35 plus GST.
CONTEST
For your chance to win free tickets, e-mail reporter@pqbnews.com with “Bathtub Launch Party” in the subject line by 12 p.m., July 23. Please include your name and phone number to be eligible. The winner will be contacted by phone on Thursday, July 23.