The holidays are all about happiness and togetherness, and nothing unites people and lifts moods more than music.
Regardless of genre, music is a universal language that dates back over 45,000 years!
Kamloops' music scene may not date that far back, but it does have some huge and very talented established and emerging names.
We're not ones to break traditions predating the Paleolithic Age, so we're naming the Best Local Bands or Musicians in Kamloops, as voted by you, and brought to you by Valley First, a division of First West Credit Union.
Jeremy Kneeshaw is one funky, muli-talented songwriter and performer straight out of Kamloops.
It's difficult to pin Jeremy Kneeshaw down since he does a bit of absolutely everything.
Is he a solo act or a band? He's a solo act as well as part of a duo and a trio.
What instrument does he play? Let's start with guitar, piano, drums, bass, mandolin, banjo, flute, accordion and more, naturally.
One thing we do know for sure is, with band or without, Jeremy Kneeshaw puts on a highly energetic, fun-filled and soulful show that will not leave you disappointed.
For bringing a new sound to Kamloops, and one that is uniquely him, Jeremy Kneeshaw is this year's bronze winner for Best Local Band or Musician in Kamloops, as voted by you.
Check out his newest album on Spotify, iTunes, or Google Play, and follow him on Facebook.
Dave Coalmine is also many things, but he's definitely a rock star at heart.
Dave Coalmine has a number of musical projects, ranging from solo acoustic to wild karaoke. The one putting him in the spotlight today is the Dave Coalmine Band.
The Dave Coalmine Band is a 5-piece band focusing on variety. That means constant switching through upbeat dance music and hits from over the last 5 or so decades.
Between originals and covers of various genres, the one thing that does stay constant throughout a Dave Coalmine Band show is the full dancefloor.
The Dave Coalmine Band's harmonious mix of piano, bass, drums, and electric and acoustic guitar gets any pub, club, festival or wedding rocking, and for that, they are this year's silver winners for Best Local Band or Musician in Kamloops, as voted by you.
Check out the Dave Coalmine Band's channel on YouTube and Soundcloud, and follow them on Facebook.
Madison Olds may be a Kamloops local, but her music has spread far beyond just Kamloops and BC!
Madison has been topping charts since 2019 but has been making music for much longer.
The release of Madison's debut album immediately opened doors for her to open stages for the likes of Willie Nelson and Kacey Musgraves. Her hit, "Thank You", placed her within the Top 10 of 2019's CBC Searchlight as well as on Canada's Hot AC Radio Charts and as far as Singapore's Music Matters showcase.
The 2021 release of her EP, "Drowning in My Thoughts", launched Madison internationally, garnering her 1.7 million streams. Hits like "Best Part of Me" went on to reach the Top 30 on several Billboard and Media base charts, including #22 on Billboard's Emerging Canadian Artists chart.
Madison has since won Bell Media's "Future Star" program, but we think she's already quite the star!
Check out Madison's music directly on her site, Spotify, YouTube, and Soundcloud, and join her TikTok initiatives drawing support and awareness for stem cell research and garnering her millions of likes!
