This weekend was the first getaway since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I can honestly say it was SO refreshing to see so many faces outside participating in an outdoor show! The Bannock Shack Field Bash is an annual festival situated in Napanee Ontario. It is a family-run event on a camp-ground where people can enjoy live music, delicious barbecue, pop-up shopping and many other activities! They allow the musicians to play well into the night as well during an open-mic jam by a large bonfire; zero light pollution in the vicinity makes for a dreamy night falling asleep in a tent under the stars. To those who are not afraid of bugs (I am TERRIFIED of all creepy crawlies, just so you know.) I definitely recommend visiting this festival next year!


Now, as for the main act of my weekend shoot, The Sunset Drip is a local 80's style rock and roll band from Montreal, QC. They are a three piece consisting of Mosquito Mike as their lead vocalist and bassist, Brandon Gear as their Guitarist, and Anthony Valmora their drummer. Although they have not performed in a while for a live audience, they threw a KILLER show I'm blessed that The Sunset Drip took me along to their first performance in too long! They were all unimaginably thrilled to be getting back into the live music scene this summer, Mike couldn't contain himself and popped his bass string during the show. But the band was ready for any outcome and transitioned him changing his bass so smoothly with a jam, which Mike actually sang while tuning his bass. As they say, "the show must go on.". It was a very engaging show that enticed the young girls in the audience to 'rock the boat' and head-bang to their amazing original songs! Their setlist featured songs from their recently released Debut EP: Bad Driver and two unreleased singles called Ivory and Desert Smile. Their single "Where is the Sun" has actually been featured on our local classic rock radio station Chom 97.7 as Jason Rockman's 'Shiny New Tune of the Week'. It was amazing to hear them live and they always throw such a great performance, no matter the circumstances.


Also, Alice Slick of Scarlet Wives - another local Montreal band whom Mosquito Mike plays the bass for - got to perform Sunday night as well. Not originally on the line-up for the festival, she took a little break from recording her album and tagged along this weekend as Brandon's girlfriend to assist with the merchandise sales and enjoy the show. Unfortunately, one of the scheduled performances was not able to attend due to a personal matter and Alice was asked to stand in. Without hesitation, despite her drummer not being present at the show and not having a planned setlist, she made it happen and threw a great show! They closed the evening by doing a jam with Alice on vocals and The Sunset Drip as instrumental; it was a wild evening and I'm blessed to have been invited to capture these moments!