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Battle of the Bands/Rock The Lake
By Vernon Matters Staff
Emerging talent

Two local bands win gigs at Rock The Lake

Mar 3, 2025 | 12:07 PM

Two Okanagan rock outfits have earned their spot on stage at this year’s Rock the Lake (RtL) come July.

It follows two nights of performances at Red Bird Brewing in Kelowna this weekend, which hosted the Battle of the Bands.

CrushXO and Lucky Monkey emerged as the two bands invited to have a paid spot at RTL this summer, July 11-13, 2025, outside Prospera Place.

CrushXO/Rock the Lake

The competition was presented by Rock The Lake Music Festival, powered by GSL Sports and Entertainment, and Red Bird Brewing, with support from RTL’s official media partner, K96.3 Kelowna’s Classic Rock, on Friday, Feb. 28, and Saturday, March 1, 2025.

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Over the two-day competition, 10 bands showcased their talent to sold-out crowds. Fans enjoyed performances from some of the region’s best rock bands, and judges found it challenging to select a single winner.

Lucky Monkey/Rock the Lake

“Our first-ever Battle of the Bands blew us away,” said Dustin Pakosh, Creative Director at GSL Sports and Entertainment in a media release.

“The energy and atmosphere at Red Bird Brewing was unreal, and the level of talent in the Okanagan’s rock scene is so good! And our team couldn’t be more proud to be a part of it. It caused us a problem. We couldn’t pick just one winner. So, we didn’t. We’re stoked to have both CrushXO and Lucky Monkey on board and can’t wait to see them live on the big stage at Rock The Lake.”

First-release three-day festival passes are available now for $169 + fees at rtlkelowna.com. Only a limited number of first-release passes are available before second-release pricing takes effect. The first wave of artists to join the local talent is expected to be announced soon.

Follow Rock The Lake on Facebook, Instagram, or X to stay updated on announcements, ticket releases, and more.

by Vernon Matters Staff
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