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Wesley ready to rock White Rock beach

City-born singer-songwriter headlines TD Concerts at the Pier kickoff
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Daniel Wesley returns to White Rock beach for a free set this Saturday as part of the TD Concerts at the Pier series.

White Rock-born Canadian alt. rock musician Daniel Wesley has a simple definition of the reggae-influenced sound that brought him international fame.

"It's beach music," he told Peace Arch News on Wednesday.

"A little of everything – but, for the most part, good vibes to hang out with," he added. "Throw it on at a beach or as background to a party hang."

Which would seem to make him the perfect choice for headlining Saturday's (July 9) premiere of the 2016 TD Concerts at the Pier series.

The free waterfront concert gets underway at 7 p.m. at the RE/MAX Sea Stage (beside White Rock Museum and Archives on Marine Drive) with opening acts Switch to Black and The Katherines.

Coming back to White Rock to play is "nostalgic," for the musician – who recently  moved back to South Surrey with his wife and their two young children.

"My friends and I have so many memories here on this strip and I grew up hanging at White Rock beach with my family," he said. "So now I come down here with my kids often and it's great."

Raised in the Brookswood area of Langley, Wesley counts among his influences Mason Jennings, Bob Marley, The Beatles and Pearl Jam.

He first found his way into performing through school choirs and high school ukelele and concert band ensembles, but by 15 he had formed his first band, The Dropouts, which was followed by stints as frontman for the bands General Mayhem, Audiophile and Replica.

His first two albums, Outlaw and Driftin', were recorded in 2006 and 2007, but it was with Sing and Dance (2007), and particularly the track Ooh Ohh – his biggest single to date – that his music finally found find a widespread mainstream audience.

Subsequent albums include Daniel Wesley (2009), Easy Livin' (2011), and I Am Your Man (2013).

"We will be playing from all seven albums," he said of Saturday's concert.

"We just recorded a live album at the Commodore Ballroom so we are fresh on the whole catalogue. But it'll be heavy on (songs from) I Am Your Man and the self-titled album."

For Wesley, Saturday's show is an eagerly-awaited follow-up to his debut TD Concerts by the Pier performance last year.

While that was well-received, Wesley feels an injury he suffered last year put a crimp in his ability to put on the kind of show he wanted for the hometown crowd.

"I severed my Achilles in May of 2015 – I was in a cast and crutches for four months," he said.

"Last summer felt like a dream realized playing by this beach – this year will be even better because I'll be live on two legs," he added.

"I'm finally back to normal a year later and all ready to rock!"