The Back Alley Concert Series is returning to Oliver this summer to rock the kegs down at the Old Firehall.
Hosted at the Firehall Brewery and Pappa’s Firehall Bistro, the concert series features grassroots live music, a beverage garden, fresh craft beer, local wines and artists.
Organizers hunted down quality musicians from the area, called up their wine-making friends to give them a venue to pour and invited local artists to display their creations on site during the concerts.
The back alley area is dressed up with tents, stage and sound, shaded areas, portable toilets and the bar. Firehall Brewery taps a one-of-a-kind artisan cask, one specially brewed for each gig, to pour alongside their main beer selection.
“This is a break-even event run by volunteers, including our brewery staff, that very often sells out and is packed to the brim with smiling faces,” said one of the Firehall organizers.
The concert series kicks off on June 13 with Tiger Moon playing. They are a duo out of Kelowna playing folded-up styles of bluegrass, rock and roll, reggae and soul. The concert will feature Covert Farms Estate Winery and local artists The Fibre Broads
On July 18 the trio Devon Coyote will take the stage. They feature sincere songwriting, melodic guitars, smooth bass lines and raw, animalistic framing. The feature winery is Hester Creek Estate Winery and local artists are Marion Trimble and Enid Baker.
Lefty, a original hard rock band, will be playing music on Aug. 29. The four person band is a mix of many styles but the end result is high energy as a result of influence from pop to indie, punk to country, airy and light to hard and heavy. Young & Wyse Collection will be the feature winery and local artists are Ed Duckes and Brandt Leinor.
These events are not open to minors. Gates open at 6 p.m. with music starting at 7 p.m. Food is not served at the show, so picnic meals are encouraged, or take out is available from Poppa’s. Tickets are pre-sold at Pappa’s Firehall Bistro and are $15 plus tax.