Brothers Tom and Chris Hooper met Kevin Kane in 1977 during their teens in Kelowna, BC. Sharing a mutual admiration for The Beatles and other British invasion bands and later punk rock they were soon jamming in the Hooper’s garage, as well as acting and producing their own super 8 films around the Kelowna area. In 1983 they decided to get serious and started writing and performing their own original material under the name The Grapes of Wrath and were soon opening for acts in Seattle and Vancouver. After raising money to record their first E.P. they caught the attention of upstart Vancouver indie label Nettwerk Productions who immediately signed the band. Their first full length album September Bowl of Green was released in 1985. In 1987 the band started making commercial radio waves with the release of Treehouse with Tom Cochrane in the producer’s chair, spawning the fan favourite Peace Of Mind, gaining major collage airplay in the U.S.A., and providing the band with their first Canadian gold album. Their 1989 release, Now and Again, was the band’s big breakthrough, and featured newly added keyboardist, Vincent Jones. Singles, All The Things I Wasn't and What Was Going Through My Head propelled the album to platinum status and soon the band went from playing bars to theatres and touring Europe. Fulfilling a life-long dream, 1991’s These Day’s saw the band recording at Abbey Road studios with legendary producer John Leckie. The resultant album continued the bands platinum success with the hits You May Be Right and I Am Here, which garnered them the fan favourite band award at the first Much Music Video Awards. In 1992, after a ten year run, the band broke up and pursued different musical paths. After a request to perform at Surrey Fusion Festival in 2008 the Grapes started to perform again and after signing with Toronto’s Aporia records they released High Road, named after the street in Kelowna where they first started practising in the Hooper’s basement. The album featured the track Good To See You which landed their first top 40 hit in 20 years. The Grapes Of Wrath continue to perform and appreciate the success they've had, the continuing fan support, and their life-long friendships.
We respectfully acknowledge that the Filberg Festival takes place on the unceded traditional territory of the K'omoks First Nation, Gila 'kasla...Hay ch q'a'.
