Performers
Pretty for the People
The Hoodikatz
The Hoodikatz are a 6-piece classic pop-rock band from Cranbrook, BC. The band is a collection of well-seasoned musicians who met at a jam and just couldn’t get enough of the best high energy music from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Their unique brand of entertainment fuses wailing guitars and killer lead vocals with crowd pleasing tunes that will get toes tapping, hands clapping and will make you want to get up and dance!
The Black Diamond Band
The Black Diamond Band was started in the summer of 1975 by brothers Les and Fred Bolen, right after their family band Misty Twilight. In 1981, Les joined with Brad Couttie in the show band Sensation & the Rocking T-Birds.
In 1985, Black Diamond was reformed with Don Duthie on bass guitar and eventually Wilf Warkentin on another guitar, and there’s been various personnel changes between then and where the band is now, nearly 49 years later! Considered by many as Cranbrook’s number one party/wedding/cover band, they still cover songs mostly with a focus on the 70’s and 80’s rock and some country.
Jazz Hutch & Friends
Jazz Hutch (aka Jim Hutchison) is an emerging jazz vocal sensation! With his unique phrasing, voice and understated and care-free delivery, he is a distinctively smooth and swinging interpreter of the many moods found in the jazz standard song book, whether it be swing, Latin or expressive ballads. He has studied with jazz luminaries such as Kurt Elling and Rene Marie and is influenced and inspired by the late Mel Torme and Eva Cassidy. He is one of the busiest jazz vocalists in Calgary, having formed Jim Hutchison Jazz Works, a six piece little big band twelve years ago. 200 performances later his recently released album Mood Indigo is the culmination and result of the many friendships formed performing with numerous outstanding jazz musicians over the years, several of whom appear on the album. Prior to forming Jazz Works Jim studied classical voice and was a chorister with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and Calgary Opera.
Aaron Alander
Aaron Alander is a local to Cranbrook and has toured extensively throughout the Skeena/Bulkley Valley and Vancover as an originals band with a broad selection of self-penned songs and now performs locally as a solo act with a cleverly chosen grab-bag of suitable cover-tunes on the acoustic and electric guitar and aims to deliver heartfelt music no matter the genre. Alander has recorded in several studios and has music on Spotify and garage band as well as built and ran an $80,000 dollar recording studio in Terrace BC with his twin brother and session recorded multiple instruments (guitar, drums, bass) and vocals, as well as cover-drummed for many bands. He’s settled here in Cranbrook and adores performing in the restaurant scene in beautiful Kimberley BC.
Ian Skorscha
Ian Skorscha is a musician born in Patagonia, Argentina.
Alternating his solo songwriting project with session work for a few bands in different countries led him to become a nomad, a troubadour.
Ian is cultivating a personal and worldly sound nourished from Latin and Folk rhythms. Committed with words and guitar Ian takes us on a journey along his paths, moving between languages he seeks to create bridges on every place he passes through.
His second album will be out in 2024.
“Lilah” the first one, a pic to his earliest compositions, is on Bandcamp and all the streaming platforms.
AllenSONG
AllenSONG is Nova Scotia born, award-winning songwriter/guitarist Paul Allen and his British wife and vocalist Petra, who are described as a “Folk-Pop duo with Soul”.
The essence of AllenSONG is beautiful songs with thought provoking lyrics and well crafted melodies in a fusion of folk, pop, soul and roots styles. Authentic songs of life and love that touch the heart and represent a soundtrack of the human condition.
Paul has been writing songs and performing since 1972 and was a founding member of the successful 1980’s Canadian reggae band “Activate”, performing alongside artists like Spirit of the West, Kenny Shields and Streetheart.
After receiving two A.R.I.A. (Alberta Recording Industry Assoc.) songwriting awards in 1990/91, Paul left to form recording act “Viewer Discretion”, performing on stage, radio and TV with artists like Grapes of Wrath and Sarah McLachlan.
In 2000 after 30 years pursuing fame and fortune, Paul turned his back on the music industry and bought a candy factory!
2014 marked the re-boot of his musical career as a SOCAN songwriter. Since then he has received Regional, National and International awards and recognitions for his compositional abilities. In 2016 Paul formed acoustic duo AllenSONG as a performance vehicle for his songs and is now a self-promoted, independent artist.
AllenSONG’s goal in concert is to create an atmosphere in which people become emotionally moved. Paul’s unique melodic cross-picking style and soulful baritone voice blending with Petra’s breathy harmonies, do a great job of transmitting emotion. AllenSONG music exudes a warmth and simple honesty that will elicit a tear and a smile.
Turtle Valley Band
TURTLE VALLEY: ROCK THROUGH THE AGES!
Turtle Valley has been rockin’ the Valley for 17 years. We play 65 years of rock, and some country too!
- On drums and lead vocals, Alfie Huston
- On keys, guitars, harps, and vocals, Joan Southworth
- On bass, Bill Lockie, a local jazz legend, who has also performed with Terry Jacks and the Chessmen and has opened for The Beach Boys
- On guitar, another member of the local jazz scene, Jake McIntire-Paul
- On sax, Cranbrook musician Larry Dureski
Sean Whalen
Bio is attached, please just update all areas to read as Sean Whalen, instead of Sean Michael. Thank you.