Music in the Park | Music in the square

SUMMER 2026
Every Thursday  |  6PM – 8PM
Rotary Park:  1990 Maxwell Avenue

Spirit Square:  2012 Granite Avenue

Celebrate summer nights with Music in the Park on Thursday evenings all summer long at the Rotary Park Bandshell or Spirit Square

Bring your picnic and chairs, as well as your family and friends, and make this event one of the highlights of the summer.

CONTACT: Recreation Programmer
Merritt Civic Centre: 250.315.1050
Email: recreation@merritt.ca

Summer 2026 Line-up Spirit Square

July 2     |   Rule 857

July 9     |  Cal Volpe

July 16   |   JS Garcia Band

July 23   |  Ross Fairbairn

Aug 20   |  ZONNis

Summer 2026 Line-up Rotary Park

Aug 6     |  The Out Seer

Aug 13   |  Merritt Music Students

Aug 27   |  Outlaws and Lace

View more details below

JULY 2  |  RULE 857

A Band Of Rule Breakers

A classic rock band that covers some of the greatest tunes from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. RULE 857 has a full sound accomplished by tight bass guitar lines, melodic synth and keyboards, solid percussion rhythms, effortless guitar riffs, and scorching solos and vocals that will take you right back to the era of the tune.

Go take a peek at what they have been up to at http://www.https://rule857.com/

JULY 9  |  Cal Volpe

Growing up in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Cal found love for all types of music. Drawing from influences all over the spatial and temporal world, Cal incorporates sonic elements into his music from John Mayer-esque guitar rhythms, Mac Miller’s lyricism, and Ed Sheeran’s vocal melodies. His guitar-based musical landscape explores the vast space between retro and modern.

Go take a Peek of what Cal has been up to at https://calvolpe.bandcamp.com/music

JULY 16  |  JS Garcia Band

The JS Garcia Band hails mainly from Lake Country BC, and is well known locally for their dynamic energy and crowd-pleasing performances. 

The band is fronted by singer/songwriter/guitarist Jenn Boal whose on-stage energy has earned the band a reputation for “ballads and sass”.

The JS Garcia Band is rounded out with keyboardist Laverne Berget, guitarist and vocalist Jeff Gamble, drummer Ish Din, and bassist Curt Wenzlaff. Mixing folk, country, pop and rock styles, the band exudes that rare combination of great musicianship, onstage-chemistry, and rapport with the audience.

An evening with the JS Garcia Band is always memorable: this is a band that loves what they do, and they do it well.

Go take a peek at what they have been up to at https://garciaband.wixsite.com/jsgarcia

JULY 23  |  Ross Christopher Fairbairn

Ross Christopher Fairbairn is a solo musician from British Columbia performing original acoustic music rooted in Mississippi hill country blues. Drawing inspiration from artists like R.L. Burnside and Mississippi Fred McDowell, his performances lean into groove, repetition, and slide guitar, creating a steady, hypnotic feel that lives somewhere between songs and stories. Stripped down and rhythm-driven, his sets invite listeners in rather than shouting for attention, making space for both movement and listening.

AUGUST 6  |  The Out Seer

The Out Seer is a four-piece rock band with extensive experience performing across British Columbia. Their sound blends piano, guitar, bass, drums, and layered vocal harmonies, and has been compared by audiences to artists such as The Cranberries. Their set can cover up to two hours of original music, with the flexibility to include family-friendly cover material when appropriate for the venue or audience. Drawing on experience in a range of live performance settings, the band presents well-structured and adaptable performances suited to community, festival, and venue programming.
 
 
The Out Seer is a Canadian alt-rock indie band comprised of Ashley Pearce (vocals/guitar), Amanda Chan (vocals/keys), Lachlan Tocher (bass), Aybars Savat (drums), and Davis Yates (session guitar). The band members first met while studying music at Selkirk College in Nelson, British Columbia, where they formed lasting bonds and friendships. After graduation, life’s twists and turns brought them all to Vancouver, where they continued to collaborate on various projects until Ashley finally rallied the group to focus on creating original music together.
 
The Out Seer’s fifth member, pianist Amanda Chan, entered the fold more recently. Aybars and Ashley initially connected with Amanda while teaching at a private music school as fellow instructors. The girls perform as a duo around town, blending piano, guitar, and vocal harmonies. When the band realized the magic that keys could bring to their sound, Amanda was the obvious choice to join the lineup.
 
Each member of The Out Seer brings unique expertise and musical perspective to the table, creating a well-rounded and dynamic group. Collectively, they hold diplomas from Selkirk College’s Contemporary Music & Technology Program, and one member holds a Bachelor of Music from UBC. Based in the Greater Vancouver Area, they are an active and versatile ensemble, balancing a variety of gigs, recording sessions, and other musical projects out of their home base at Apricot Music Studios.
 
The Out Seer has already built an impressive resume: they’ve toured the Okanagan twice, performed at multiple festivals, and played numerous gigs across their province and city. Their growing discography includes an EP, several singles, and a debut album ‘Changes’ released in 2025. They’re currently hard at work on a new album to be released in 2026!

AUGUST 13  |  Merritt Music Students

Join us for an enchanting evening of live music performed by our own talented Music Students at Merritt Park. These young musicians, showcasing a diverse range of musical styles and instruments, are ready to impress with their skill and passion. Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity to support and celebrate local talent!

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AUGUST 20  |  ZONNis

Zonnis fits into any setting where music lovers are set to listen. Drawing upon their years of traveling and touring, their music takes you on a journey through upbeat and inspirational to somber and introspective, all with a healthy dose of humor thrown in for good measure.

While never hesitating to poke fun at the world around us, Zonnis rides the line to stay within enough boundaries that it can be enjoyed by folks of all walks of life. Styles range from traditional folk to alternative rock, with a bit of funk and soul tossed in as well.

Andrea and Adam love to visit exotic and foreign lands, and will go anywhere the music takes them. They especially love outdoor music festivals, and participate in every way possible, by dressing up for the party and bringing their uplifting good natures with them wherever the winds of fate deliver them.

Starting in 2024, they started performing with a backing band known as “The Afterparty”. Zonnis & The Afterparty offer a danceable hoe-down, while still maintaining the story-telling and personality of their duo performance.

AUGUST 27  | Outlaws and Lace

Hailing from the Fraser Valley, Outlaws and Lace, has had the privilege to entertain music lovers at the bandshell at Rotary Park in Merritt.  Featuring a diverse genre of blues, classic rock, classic country, new country, and bluegrass.  Outlaws and Lace deliver original and popular music inspired by the likes of Ashley McBryde, Chris Stapleton, Carley Pearce, Elle King, Brothers Osborne, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Brooks and Dunn, and many more.  Bring your friends, family, and dancing shoes – or dance in your bare feet.  Picnic and enjoy a lively and energetic performance at the Music in the Park.