BreakOut West is only days away, bringing 3 nights of incredible live music to downtown Kelowna from October 11 to 13. Following up to Part 1 of this series, here are more of Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson’s drink and music pairings to enjoy as your explore Kelowna during BreakOut West.

Artist: Blessed
Pairing: Frequency Wine & Sound 2012 Pinot Noir

Abbotsford’s Blessed take listeners on a deep dive into dark, extended tunes, with swelling guitars and post-punk influences that are sure to win over new fans at BreakOut West. Kelowna’s Frequency Wine & Sound 2012 Pinot Noir has influences of its own — namely the sounds that emanate from the on-site recording studio and music gear. This cool, little, off-the-beaten-track spot released its 2012 Pinot Noir in 2017, after 18 months of aging in new French oak barrels. It’s rare to find Pinot this old that shows such a great combination of freshness and complexity.


Artist: Steph Cameron
Pairing: Ward's Picker's Hut Premium Cider 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by The View Winery (@theviewwinery) on

A crackpot guitar player, a razor-sharp songwriter, a powerful vocalist — Steph Cameron’s got it all, with her award-winning 2014 debut, Sad-Eyed Lonesome Lady, earning rave reviews across Canada and beyond. The music is tinged with an introspection and mournfulness, yet with a resilience that can’t help but inspire. And what to pair with Cameron? There’s something that makes you want to crack open a Ward’s Picker’s Hut Premium Cider, kick back and enjoy. The off-dry, very versatile cider counterbalances Cameron’s sadder moments, bringing hints of spice and bright apple notes lifted by modest carbonation.


Artist: Kidsmoke
Pairing: Mt. Boucherie 2017 Gewürztraminer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery (@mtboucheriewine) on

Kidsmoke is a Welsh quartet that manages to create shimmering pop songs with awe-inspiring vocal harmonies tinged with sadness, tipping their proverbial hats to The Byrds, The Smiths, and more. Their timeless, universally-approachable sound with surprising depth recalls the Mt. Boucherie 2017 Gewürztraminer, with hints of both stone-fruit sweetness and spice as well as remarkable length/staying power on the finish.


Artist: Yes We Mystic
Pairing: The Hatch Black Swift Vineyard 2014 Desert Valley Cabernet Franc
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by the hatch (@hatchwines) on

This Winnipeg quintet is sure to make plenty of fans at this year’s BreakOut West with their catchy, hook-laden art-pop-influenced rock and energetic live performances. Much like Yes We Mystic, the wines at The Hatch are playful, edgy and challenge the status quo while remaining incredibly approachable. The Hatch Black Swift Vineyard 2014 Desert Valley Vineyard Cabernet Franc features fruit sourced from the Okanagan Valley’s Golden Mile Bench, delivering deep ripe dark fruit and incredible complexity that suggests medium-term aging, but that’s also drinking beautifully right now.

To learn more about BreakOut West, visit https://breakoutwest.ca/. To buy a Showcase Festival wristband, visit the Kelowna Visitor Centre, located at 238 Queensway Avenue. For $15, you’ll gain access to 10 of Kelowna’s best music venues, where more than 60 bands from across western Canada will be performing. Use your wristband to hop from venue to venue and discover your next favourite Canadian act!


About Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson

In addition to writing about drinks for the Winnipeg Free Press and judging at national and international wine competitions (including the B.C. Wine Awards), Ben MacPhee-Sigurdson paired wine and music at Winnipeg’s Interstellar Rodeo during its three-year existence, selecting wines to pair with the likes of Beck, Wilco, Father John Misty, Blue Rodeo, and many more.


Check out more BreakOut blog posts: