An iconic Canadian group will headline on the opening night of the 69th annual Penticton Peach Festival.
Chilliwack will make their first-ever appearance at Peachfest on Aug. 3, on the Peters Bros. main stage in Okanagan Lake Park.
During the 1970s and ‘80s, Chilliwack charted 23 hit records in Canada including seven which hit the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. They also recorded four platinum and two gold albums.
“We finally have Chilliwack coming to Peach Festival,” said Bill Kolter, Peachfest entertainment director. “They have to be one of the greatest bands in Canadian music history.”
Chilliwack has gone through many personnel changes over the years, but the one constant has been singer/songwriter Bill Henderson. Besides playing lead guitar and singing lead vocals on all of their hits, Henderson has won a Juno Award for production and was named as a member of the Order of Canada.
Their long list of hits includes: My Girl (Gone, Gone, Gone), I Believe, Lonesome Mary, Whatcha Gonna Do (When I’m Gone), Fly At Night, California Girl, Crazy Talk, Arms of Mary and Baby Blue.
Opening for Chilliwack will be the popular Vancouver-based group The Phonix sponsored by Grizzly Excavating. There is no admission charge for Peach Festival concerts.
The concert is sponsored by Tim Hortons.
Peach Festival, which is considered the largest free festival in Canada, is scheduled Aug. 3-7. For further information, go to peachfest.com