Parksville’s Canada Day celebrations will be topped off with the boom of fireworks and the boom of a Vancouver-based headliner this year.
Seven bands in total will be performing at Canada Day in Parksville, including La Familia, Vinyl Feedback and The Moonshine Mollys. But it’s The Boom Booms that will finish off the night.
Formed in 2008, the band has toured across North America, Latin America and Europe, headlined the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival in 2014 and was voted the best unsigned band in Vancouver for four years in a row by the readers of the Georgia Strait.
The Boom Booms have always had an eclectic taste, with hints of jazz, reggae, rock, latin folk and gospel popping up in various songs. Keyboardist Sean Ross says the band’s sound has gone through phases, and is often inspired by trips they’ve taken.
“We did a huge road trip in the beginning before Hot Rum (the band’s first album) came out and spent time in Latin America, so there is definitely a big kind of Central American influence on that one,” said Ross. “And then in 2013 we went to Brazil for about thee months and so definitely got infected by the music down there.”
Asked to pinpoint a signature sound, Ross said, “We’re just all about playing uplifting dance music really. We want to play music that can help people loosen up and kind of take a break from their day. So I think that’s probably the one sentiment that’s kind of been pervasive through all of the different things that we’ve done.”
The band is coming to Parksville with lots of experience playing on the Island and in Canada Day celebrations.
Ross said that, in addition to not having to sell tickets, he and the band enjoy getting to play for such a varied audience.
“You get toddlers to seniors, and that’s something I think doesn’t happen enough,” he said. “So Canada Day is a wicked time to have everybody out.”
This year, the band is coming to Canada Day with some new material. Their third album is set for release in July, and Ross said you can expect to hear some songs from it.
It will, of course, feature music with a range of influences, but with lyrics inspired by lead singer (also Sean’s brother) Aaron Ross’s life.
“I know I can speak for Aaron on this from a songwriter perspective, he really wanted to write a group of songs that are really about telling stories, his personal stories,” said Sean. “So it’s a very personal album.”
At the same time, it will still have that uplifting groove the band is always aiming for, he said.
After nearly 10 years in existence, and having survived some bumps along the road, Sean said the band is hoping this latest album will push them to another level.
“I’m really excited for it to come out,” he said.
Music begins at 12:45 p.m. on July 1st in the Parksville Community Park, with The Boom Booms taking the stage at 9:15 p.m.