Rockanagan truly becomes an Okanagan-wide music festival this year. Because of the success of Rockangan '07 and '08, what began as a Kelowna-only festival gets much bigger in 2009. We've added venues in Vernon, Lake Country and Penticton, giving us eight venues covering the whole Valley.
The festival takes place Sept. 24-27.

The eight venues are:

Bohemian Cafe, 524 Bernard Ave., Kelowna
Boomers Night Club, 2900 29th Ave., Vernon
Creekside Theatre, 10241 Bottom Wood Lake Rd, Lake Country
Grateful Fed, 509 Bernard Ave., Kelowna
Gotchas, 238 Leon Ave., Kelowna
O'Flannigan's Pub, 319 Queensway Ave., Kelowna
Sturgeon Hall, 1481 Water St., Kelonwa
Mule Night Club - 218 Martin St., Penticton

Lee Aaron, the Metal Queen of the '80s and '90s, will showcase three concerts in the Okanagan - Boomers in Vernon, Creekside Theatre in Lake Country and The Mule Night Club in Penticton. The Canadian icon, who started out as a shy teen singing in high school musicals, went on to international success with chart-toppers like Whatcha Do To My Body, Hands On, Some Girls Do and Metal Queen. With multi platinum sales and 12 albums to her credit, Aaron has been nominated for eight Juno Awards, won the CMPA Songwriters Award and a MuchMusic Video Award, as well as toured the world extensively and appeared on dozens of magazine covers. Chart Magazine proclaimed Aaron’s BodyRock LP one of the 20 most influential Canadian albums of the '80s, with artists like Avril Lavigne, Alanis Morrisette and Shania Twain “under Aaron’s influence.” MuchMusic’s “Listed” show rated Aaron one of the top Female Rockers of all time.

The Vernon and Penticton portions of Rockanagan take place Thursday and Friday, with 10 acts slated for those two cities.

In Kelowna, Rockanagan takes place Friday and Saturday nights. More than 30 acts will perform five Kelowna venues, with music ranging from rock to reggae to folk.

A "Musicians' Bizarre" takes place Sunday in two bars in the Prestige Inn, corner of Harvey Avenue and Bernard Avenue, located at the foot of the bridge in Kelowna. The VIP party is a thank-you for musicians, and will include a jam session with Gypsy Fist hosting, tables for musicians to sell their merchandise, and an opportunity for VIPs to meet and greet musicians who participated in Rockanagan. Anyone who purchased a wristband for the entire festival gains access to the VIP party.

Tickets for Kelowna wristbands cost $30 and can be purchased at Hemp City, 526A Bernard Ave., call (250) 868-3088. Anyone without a wristband but wanting to see a particular band simply pays $10 cover at the door.

Tickets for the Lake Country Lee Aaron Showcase Concert cost $20 and can be purchased at the Creekside Theatre Box Office, call 250-766-9309.

In Vernon and Penticton, cover charge is $10 at the door per night for both Thursday and Friday.