Submitted by Jim Thompson & Dave Fullerton
The Oceanside Big Band (OBB) burst onto the music scene in October 2022, bringing a fresh and energetic vibe to the Parksville area. It all started when I, Jim Thompson, a retired high school band director and former leader of jazz and rock bands in Coquitlam, saw a golden opportunity for a new Big Band in our community. My old friend and fellow musician, Dave Fullerton, who had also recently retired and settled in the mid-island area, was deeply involved in the local music scene. Together, we quickly realized that our combined network of friends and former colleagues in the area could form a top-notch big band.
Dave, ever the enthusiastic musician, was not only willing to play but also direct the band. He had an impressive collection of big band literature that got us started without any initial expense. Our venture was further boosted by the enthusiastic support of Brent Kellas, the Ballenas Music Department Head. Brent graciously offered us his band room for rehearsals and lent his incredible talent as one of our trombone players. Truly, he is Parksville’s very own “Music Man!”
Our rhythm section is anchored by the legendary Wayne Finucan, a local musician whose professional music career spans over 70 years. Wayne is famous for hosting the Backyard Concert Series in the Parksville-Qualicum Beach area and has generously hosted OBB in concert many times.
In 2023, we were honored when Dr. Paul Rathke, Musical Director of the Oceanside Concert Band, invited OBB to perform at their fall concert at Parksville’s Knox United Church. That first ‘season’ was a resounding success, despite some challenges like venue rental costs and insurance. Thanks to Ken Bibby from our trumpet section, we found a solution by joining Oceanside Music in September 2023. This membership provided us the platform to host our very own Knox Church concert in May 2024, featuring guest solo vocalist Gary Lovell. We played for almost two hours to an enthusiastic audience, marking a significant milestone for our band.
The excitement didn’t stop there. We followed up with another backyard concert at Wayne’s, performed for residents at Berwick Parksville Retirement Community, and gave a concert in Qualicum Beach to support the preservation and restoration of St. Andrews Lodge. Our journey has been incredible, and we owe much of our success to the wonderful support from the community and our association with Oceanside Music.
As we look forward to our next season, we’re excited to continue growing and strengthening our ties with Oceanside Music. For updates on our performances and events, check out Oceanside Music’s event page and follow us on Facebook. We can’t wait to see you at our next concert!