Tom Zillich | The Now
Surrey-based Sophie’s Place will benefit from profits made at a KISS Army Depot “pop-up” store when it opens in Vancouver this Friday, June 28.
The shop will be filled with KISS-related merchandise for little more than a week – until July 7 – as a satellite operation at Tom Lee Music, 929 Granville St.
Just 200 wristband-wearing fans will get to attend an in-store appearance by KISS band members next Thursday as they launch their “Monster” tour of Canada, which includes a Saturday, July 6 concert at Rogers Arena. The fan “check in” time at the store is 10 a.m. July 4.
I’m told Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts will be at the noon press conference due to the city’s connection with Sophie’s Place, a facility for kids who have been physically, mentally or sexually abused.
The centre, located at The Centre for Child Development in Surrey, is named after Sophie Tweed-Simmons, daughter of KISS bassist Gene Simmons and Shannon Tweed.
KISS Army Depot pop-up stores are also due open next month in Calgary, Edmonton and Toronto.
CONCERT NEWS: ULRICH, OTHERS
Local concert announcements this week include Shari Ulrich at Blue Frog Studios on Thursday, July 25. The guitar-strumming folkie will be backed by her daughter, Julia Graff, and Ted Littlemore, Graff’s classmate at McGill, both on multiple instruments.
In North Surrey later this summer, Zeppelina, billed as “Canada’s only all-female tribute to Led Zeppelin,” will be shooting a music video at a gig Aug. 18 at Pancho and Lefty’s. Joining in the fun, at 10768 King George Blvd., will be their pals Snaggletooth, “the world’s loudest tribute to Motorhead.”
TICKETS FOR PNE CONCERTS
In case you missed it, the PNE’s Summer Night Concerts series has something for pretty much everyone, as usual.
The nightly gigs get going at 8: 30 p.m., starting Saturday, Aug. 17 with Melissa Etheridge and ending Monday, Sept. 2 with Loverboy. New this year is the WestJet Fan Zone, where a limited number of reserved tickets will be made available for a fee; otherwise, the concerts are free with fair admission.
Other performers in the series include The Jacksons (Aug. 18), Dean Brody (Aug. 20), Great Big Sea (Aug. 21), Colin James (Aug. 22), The Beach Boys (Aug. 23), Sam Roberts Band (Aug. 24), Corb Lund & the Hurtin’ Albertans (Aug. 25), Foreigner (Aug. 27), The Proclaimers (Aug. 28), Big Wreck (Aug. 29), Martina McBride (Aug. 30), REO Speedwagon (Aug. 31) and Lights (Sept. 1). More details are at www.pne.ca.
New music-related attractions at the PNE this year include “Duelling Pianos,” a twice-nightly, Vegas-style show at the 1,000-seat beer garden, and “80s Forever,” which pays tribute to the Madonna/M.J./Wham decade with three shows daily at Agrodome Plaza.