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Washboard Union to headline White Rock Canada Day celebration

Online event will be live-streamed from Blue Frog Studios beginning at 7 p.m. on July 1
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Juno Award-winning country band The Washboard Union will play the Longhorn Saloon during the 2019 Cloverdale Rodeo & Country Fair, held on the May long weekend. (Contributed photo)

Country band Washboard Union – one of the most talked-about musical groups in Canada – will headline White Rock’s Virtual Canada Day by the Bay celebrations.

A media release from the city Wednesday announced the band will join the roster of entertainers who will live-stream the two-hour celebration from the stage of Blue Frog Studios, starting at 7 p.m. on July 1.

The city also announced that Vancouver radio station 97.3 JR Country has come aboard as the media partner for the event.

READ ALSO: White Rock to plan virtual Canada Day celebration

While definitely country, Washboard Union – comprised of musicians Aaron Grain, Chris Duncombe and David Roberts – has created a stir with a hard-to-pigeonhole, but appealing, brand of three-part vocal harmony, top-notch musicianship, and upbeat songs that celebrate the simple joys of life.

In the process they have gone from the Western Canadian bar circuit in the early 2010s to playing for more than 200,000 people in North America and Europe in 2019 – and became the first country band to win a JUNO Award for breakthrough group of the year.

They have also notched multiple awards, including being named Canadian Country Music Association group of the year, and have several Top 10 and Top 20 hits in Canada, including the fan favourite Country Thunder and the summer anthem Dock Rock, both of which are featured on their current album Everbound.

Also featured in the event will be the innovative and playful music of young Vancouver-based jazz-funk-art pop group Ludic, plus the comedy of John Cullen (of CBC Radio’s The Debaters).

READ ALSO: Surrey to livestream its Canada Day celebration this year

Hosted by the Drama Class’ Michele Partridge and starting with the national anthem, led by ‘Mr O Canada’ – White Rock’s Mark Donnelly – the celebration will also include an online marketplace, trivia, prizes and fundraising offers to benefit White Rock Museum and Archives.

To join the celebration from home, tune in to the city’s Facebook page or YouTube channel just before 7 p.m. on July 1.

An all-day line-up of events will also be offered throughout Canada Day – for more details visit whiterockcity.ca/canadaday



alex.browne@peacearchnews.com

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