54•40, Slugs playing Peachfest
Two legendary Canadian classic rock bands will be performing a free concert on the Peters Bros. main stage on Aug. 12 at the Penticton Peach Festival.
The Saturday headlining entertainment includes Vancouver band 54•40, presented by Peters Bros Paving, and Doug & the Slugs, presented by the Penticton Lakeside Resort.
In 2017, 54•40 attracted a capacity crowd to Okanagan Lake Park.
“We’re thrilled to have 54•40 back at Peach Festival,” said festival president Shawna Guitard. “They are loved by fans of all ages, making them truly a multi-generational band.”
During their incredible career, 54•40 has recorded four platinum albums, charted 18 singles on the Canadian charts and been nominated for eight Juno Awards. Their biggest hits include: I Go Blind; Ocean Pearl; Casual Viewin'; and Since When.
The present line-up has three original members including lead singer and guitarist Neil Osborne.
The band made national headlines in 2018 for being victims of a theft where they had seven vintage guitars stolen. Police eventually recovered five of the seven following a police raid in Surrey.
Opening for 54•40 are Doug & the Slugs, who will be making their first appearance at the Peach Festival. They were scheduled to perform at PeachFest in 2022 but were forced to cancel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Doug & the Slugs, known as one of Canada's great party bands, has charted 10 singles and has been nominated for four Juno Awards. Their greatest hits include: Too Bad; Who Knows How to Make Love Stay; Making It Work; and Tomcat Prowl.
Following the death of lead singer Doug Bennett in 2004, the band took a lengthy hiatus but the founding members later reunited with the blessing of Bennett’s family, and now features singer Ted Okos, who hails from Kelowna.
Doug and the Slugs’ set at 2018’s Rock the Lake in Kelowna was considered by many to be the highlight of the festival.
The band’s history was profiled in the recent documentary Doug and the Slugs and Me by director Teresa Alfeld.
Canada's largest free festival is scheduled Aug. 9-13. Headlining entertainment acts already announced include Kim Mitchell and Captain Tractor (Aug. 9) presented by Peters Bros Paving and Tim Hortons Country Night featuring Aaron Pritchett and Matt Lang (Aug. 10).