A dynamic duo renowned for high-energy interactive events on the Sunshine Coast has branched into concert promotion, with an all-star lineup confirmed for dates over the next month.
Scotty Collison and Faye Kiewitz established Coastal Hosts and Entertainment after Collison, originally a carpenter when he moved to the Coast, suffered a debilitating back injury in a skiing accident.
Then the Tapworks Brewing Company in Gibsons called and asked if he would host regular trivia nights.
“I’m kind of charismatic on the mic,” Collison said. “And I said, heck yeah. And then basically it’s ballooned into a full event, promotions and facilitation company.”
The pair creates and hosts games like rock ‘n’ roll bingo and large-scale crowd activities such as Bob Ross Painting Parties (all art supplies provided). Their regular venues have expanded to include the Gibsons Legion, Batch 44 Brewery and the Bricker Cider Company. They’re now in talks with locales in Vancouver, Squamish and Powell River. Collison is helping eateries like Joe’s on the Beach, PKLS Burgers, and the Daily Roast gain a toehold on the social networking app TikTok.
“In the middle of all that, I’m also getting married,” said Collison. He and Kiewitz will be hitched in Las Vegas at the Punk Rock Museum. The ceremony will be solemnized by his childhood idol Fat Mike, vocalist and bassist of the band NOFX.
The choice of officiant is especially meaningful for Collison, since he is a vocalist and instrumentalist for local NOFX tribute band SlowFX. It’s just one of five ensembles he plays with regularly (others include psychedelic rockers janky tiger and The Atchies).
A post-COVID groundswell of cultural activity across the Sunshine Coast attracted the attention of touring artists. In response, Collison and Kiewitz transitioned comfortably into the role of concert promoters.
“Essentially what’s happened is that we’ve garnered quite a beautiful community,” he said. “It’s a safe, loving community that is coming out to our events and it has created this word of mouth. Now people are approaching us.”
Coastal Hosts is producing back-to-back shows on June 27 and June 28, featuring Chris Murphy of the indie rock band Sloan and honky tonk ensemble Big Fancy and the Shiddy Cowboys, respectively.
This spring, Big Fancy and his cowpokes released their first studio album in five years, The Legendary Loser Wins Again. Also appearing on June 28 will be The Burying Ground, a group of East Van punk aficionados who a decade ago formed the group and dedicated it to re-interpreting classic Americana like blues and rags.
On July 13, Collison’s janky tiger will open at xwesam-Roberts Creek Hall for Yukon Blonde, the Juno-nominated Canadian indie rock band founded in Kelowna in the early 2000s. “It’s another dream come true,” Collison observed.
The following weekend, Halifax-based musician Matt Hughes will play at the Gibsons Legion, with another of Collison’s groups (The Atchies, fronted by Derek Atchison) opening for the keyboardist. Hughes released a new EP (The Motions) this spring.
On the last weekend in July, Collison and Kiewitz will present Toronto-based bluesy rockers The Marwills. The group had its start in B.C. and has played together for two decades, earning rave reviews at Haida Gwaii’s Edge of the World Festival.
Coastal Hosts has launched a website and email newsletter, which can be accessed via coastalhosts.ca for event listings and ticket details.
