By Dale Bass
Sun Peaks built it — an outdoor stage — and they came by the thousands to hear Kevin Costner and Modern West perform.
Granted, the audience was predominantly female, something Costner remarked on early in his 90-minute performance on Saturday, July 7 — reminding the men “who got dragged up here that it’s free.”
Kamloops musicians were well represented during the day-long event, with Tall Weeds opening, followed by Margit Bull and Sweetgrass.
Paul Filek was the last to perform before Costner and his band arrived, casually walking from the Delta Sun Peaks, posing for photographs, signing autgraphs and generally enjoying the day.
In fact, he told the crowd perched on the hill he felt at ease at Sun Peaks because it reminded him of his home in Aspen.
Earlier, Costner, guitarist John Coinman and drummer Larry Cobb hit the driving range for a while, again taking their time and interacting with the crowd that gathered.
Lauren Pilszek was invited up on stage at one point to perform a rap number she had written for the show.
Her creativity won her a prize offered by concert sponsor Country 103 — a chance to perform and an overnight stay at the resort.
Barriere resident Donna Meek, a volunteer at the concert, said in the six years she’s been at Sun Peaks, “this is the best thing that’s ever happened.”
Businesses were also delighted with the day.
Virtually every hotel room was booked, all the mountain bikes were rented and there were lineups at restaurants.
The concert kicked off a series of musical events at Sun Peaks this summer, including a retro weekend in August and another outdoor concert on Sept. 1 with Matthew Good.
~ Dale Bass is a reporter for Kamloops This Week