Partying into 2017
The Rocket Revue continue their New Year’s Eve tradition with countdown show at Parkway Banquet Hall
If you missed The Rocket Revue last New Year’s Eve, your second chance is here.
The local band is ringing in the new year at the Parkway Banquet Hall on Lansdowne St. W. on Saturday.
They played their first New Year’s Eve show in 15 years last year, and plan to fill the dance floor yet again going into 2017.
“We had a really good crowd last year and a lot of people had a lot of fun ... so we thought we’d bring it back again,” said Greg Weichel.
Weichel brought the band together in 1999, though back then, they went by The Rocket 88s.
With a change of name, along with a few crew members, The Rocket Revue is made up of many well-known musicians in Peterborough.
Brent Bailey, Alan Black, Andy Pryde, Gary Peeples and Shea Bailey make up the rhythm section and Weichel, Rob Roy, Steve McCracken and Jim Usher are on horns.
Buzz Thompson also played with the band for a number of years, until the lead vocalist suffered a series of mini strokes in 2015.
Weichel describes the group as a “swinging, rocking, blues band,” that has a solid rhythm section and an excellent horn section.
“We’re able to do some really powerful music that a lot of bands don’t do, because they don’t have the horns and the players that we do,” he said.
They play a variety of styles of music that span over eight decades, keeping it lively and fun, Weichel said.
“A lot of people come to this show to dance.”
This year’s special guest is Beau Dixon, who graced the stage with The Rocket Revue last year, too.
Tickets are $42 and include party favours at midnight. Tickets are available at Moondance and the Parkway Banquet Hall (in the Parkway Plaza, beside Mark’s Work Wearhouse).
Doors open at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m.