The award-winning and multi-instrumentalist Shineolas will play a funky and rollicking show at Knox United Church in Parksville on Sept. 30.
The six-piece combo performs original tunes that fuse together diverse musical styles like Texas Swing, roots, funk, country, blues, bluegrass and vintage jazz.
The band, which has its roots in Vancouver, has established itself in the mid-Island area, playing shows recently at venues like Parksville’s outdoor theatre.
Band leader Bruce Gerrish (lead vocals, guitar, banjo and ukulele) said his favourite part about live performance is the crowd interaction.
“If you’re a musician you want that live music experience,” he said. “They’ll respond to you and the more the audience responds, the more the band responds, so it’s a real reciprocal thing.”
Gerrish will be joined on stage by Marty Steele, John Ellis, Tom Neville, James McRae and Larry Miller.
The band members are seasoned professionals who have played with famous musicians including Colin James, Bruce Cockburn and Andy Williams.
READ MORE: Arts council hopes to bring Group of Seven collection to Parksville
Gerrish moved from Vancouver to Nanaimo shortly before the pandemic started and now owns and operates Cozy Shack Studios with Ellis. He said he relocated to the Island for the lower cost of living and a more relaxed place to live.
His new Island version of the Shineolas has been together since early last spring and includes Qualicum Beach’s Neville, who used to travel to Vancouver to play with the original Shineolas.
Gerrish’s album Quirkophony has received airplay on the CBC and the BBC, as well as in Germany, the Netherlands and Italy.
The show starts at 7 p.m. at Knox United Church (345 Pym St.) Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets are $25 and available online at Eventbrite or with cash at Parksville retailers Close to You Ladies Fashions and Fireside Books.