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Battle of the Bands – Day 2 (Past Event)
Note: This event has already taken place. Check out the Live Music Events in Kelowna page for similar upcoming events.
Saturday, April 25 at 7:00pm – 11:00pm PDT
Live Music Events in Kelowna
Stage:
Outdoors
Age restrictions:
19+ only
Click here to buy tickets directly on SimpleTix.
Local talent. Live competition. One step closer to the main stage.
Battle of the Bands is back for its second year at Red Bird Brewing — and the stakes are higher than ever. In partnership with the team behind Rock The Lake Music Festival at Prospera Place, this two-night live music competition gives local artists a shot at performing on one of the region’s biggest festival stages.
Following a packed and wildly competitive debut event last year, Battle of the Bands returns April 24 and 25, 2026, bringing together some of the Okanagan’s most talented rock musicians. Each night, selected bands will take the stage to perform in front of a live audience and a panel of judges, all competing for a paid performance slot at Rock The Lake Music Festival this July.
Last year’s competition proved just how deep Kelowna’s talent pool runs. With two standout winners crowned, CrushXO and Lucky Monkey went on to open the Rock The Lake 2025 main stage — including performances ahead of Simple Plan and The Sheepdogs. This year’s event builds on that momentum, moving to Red Bird Brewing’s outdoor stage to welcome even more fans and elevate the experience.
Winners will be determined through a combination of audience participation and judge scoring, making every cheer, vote, and moment in the crowd count. Whether you’re there to support a friend, discover a new favourite band, or help decide who earns their place on the Rock The Lake lineup, Battle of the Bands is your chance to be part of the journey.
Join us for two nights of high-energy performances, local pride, and the thrill of live competition — all for just $10 per night.
Event Highlights
- Two nights of live local rock music
- Performances judged by industry professionals
- Audience participation helps decide the winners
- Two bands earn paid performance slots at Rock The Lake 2026
- Outdoor stage setting at Red Bird Brewing
Cold Flame
Cold Fame is an alternative pop-rock duo from BC, Canada, led by vocalist Jodi Pederson and guitarist Damian Anthony. Blending the energy and drive of alternative rock with electronic and pop influences, the band has crafted a unique and emotionally charged sound, inspired by classic horror tropes and suppressed feminine rage.
Damian, a skilled multi-instrumentalist and self-taught producer, brings his creative approach to songwriting and sound design, while Jodi’s powerful, haunting and anthemic vocals and lyricism adds a unique edge. Their dynamic partnership fuelled the band’s evolution, culminating in the release of their debut album, RED ROOM, in fall 2024.
The album’s breakout single, “Hello Reaper,” gained strong traction on Canadian radio, spending several months on the Alternative Top 40 and peaking at #29. Its follow-up, “Jawbreaker,” climbed even higher, reaching #13 and holding a spot in the Top 20 for several weeks, where it continues to chart. Their latest single, “Girls Gotta Eat,” landed in the Top 40 in December 2025 and continues to rise, marking Cold Fame’s third consecutive charting release.
Following the success of “Jawbreaker,” “Girls Gotta Eat” serves as the second single from Cold Fame’s forthcoming sophomore album, Love, Lust & Violence, set for release in 2026.
Their high energy live performances have landed them multiple festivals alongside artists like Gwen Stefani, Fleet Foxes, Cold War Kids, Peach Pit, Band of Skulls and more. This success has begun to cement Cold Fame’s reputation as one of Canada’s most exciting energetic pop-rock acts, while building anticipation for their 2026 release of Love, Lust & Violence, which will usher in a bold new era for the band.
Freeze The Fall
Freeze the Fall carve their sound from the shadows, melding hard-hitting modern metal with melodic hooks and lyrics that cut straight to the bone. Their songs hit with weight and intention: crushing riffs, ethereal vocal harmonies, and a sense of emotional gravity that lingers long after the final note fades.
Driven by powerful songwriting and a dark gothic Victorian aesthetic, Freeze the Fall stand out for their ability to channel vulnerability and intensity in equal measure. They create music that feels cinematic and deeply human, melodic enough to stay with you, heavy enough to knock you off balance, and thoughtful enough to hold you there.
Hotel Rumors
Hotel Rumors crash-landed into Vancouver’s indie music scene in 2020 with their sound bridging generations and welding the pulse of 80’s post-punk and new wave to the modern swagger of today’s indie rock.
Their tracks—Train to ’95, L.A. Heaven, and Summer Land—mix wanderlust, grit, and glossy escapism, echoing dance floors and distant cities.
In 2025, Hotel Rumors teamed up with heavyweight producer Darren Grahn at Vancouver’s Hipposonic Studios dropping two punchy singles Runaway and Billion Colors, a joyous anthem built for jumping, shouting, and seeing life in high-voltage clarity.
Live, they’re all heart and sweat—no shoe-gazing, no cynicism—just joy, motion, and irresistible sound lifting crowds higher, proof that they’re not chasing trends but reshaping decades of influence into something fresh.
Wander North
Wander North is a Northern Rock Band from, Kamloops!
Canyon Riders
Lenny and Pete, once fierce rivals on the lacrosse field, discovered a harmonious connection through their shared love for guitars and music. Their musical journey began in 2020 with impromptu busking performances at various spots around Port Coquitlam, where they quickly captivated audiences and earned the moniker ‘Lenny & Pete.’ These local troubadours infuse their music with the rich traditions of southern and heartland rock, folk, blues and country.
Together, alongside their friend and drummer Brett they formed ‘Canyon Riders’, and later introducing Dan on bass to complete the lineup. With each performance, their mission is to conjure the perfect atmosphere that’ll have your feet tapping to their music.
Whether performing as ‘Lenny and Pete’ or as the ‘Canyon Riders,’ these versatile musicians have been keeping a hectic schedule, gracing venues, private gatherings, and other entertaining events throughout Metro Vancouver and various communities across British Columbia.