Big Pacific

Fans of guitar-driven, blues-based classic rock will want to keep their ears open for Big Pacific. The south island-based band who have accumulatively toured across the globe, wear their influences proudly; listeners will be reminded of a gamut of 70s music, from Cream to Little Feat and even Huey Lewis and the News, and Joe Bonamassa.

Big Pacific Band are promoting their eponymously-titled CD “Big Pacific 1” with an impressive lineup of 2018 music festivals - view their schedule HERE and a much anticipated Canadian tour in 2019.

 Band bios Guitarist Roly Sandoval is a veteran of Western Canada’s professional music scene. Starting off in Calgary in the 80s he went on to work in some of Alberta’s premier rock bands. He’s also done extensive studio work, appeared on radio and TV, and has played great rock and roll from the Arctic Circle to Mexico. Brendan Hedley, on keys and vocals, started his music career at the Victoria Conservatory of Music at the ripe young age of 4. He was mentored in the jazz world by pianist Richard Bird and picked up Latin influences while living in Mexico . Hedley has also enjoyed the pleasure of working with Bo Diddley, Dutch Mason, Big Dave Mclean, , David GoGo and B.B. King protégé Ruby Wilson. Bassist Gavin Dixon grew up in Yorkshire, England, where he played on the local circuit and hung out with the likes of Robert Palmer and ‘The Rats,’ who would later inspire David Bowie’s ‘Spiders from Mars.’ Other career highlights included opening for The Hollies, The Searchers and the Pretty Things. After arriving in Canada he did a couple of short tours opening for Rare Earth and Kiss and hooked up, for the first time, with Nick Dockter in the band Fragile. He’s happy to be playing with Nick again. Nick Dokter on drums and vocals started his music career in South Africa at the tender age of 14, quickly becoming a sought-after session player. He continued his studio work in London at the PYE Studio where he rubbed shoulders with Ronnie Wood, Arthur Brown, and Van Morrison. Nick carried on his session work upon arrival in Canada, working with the Juno-nominated Richard Stepp Band, Oliver and the Elements and Jimmy D, son of late Muddy Waters guitar man Jimmy Rogers. Sound engineer Ron Obvious Vermuelen is a veteran of Vancouver’s punk scene, working with producer Bob Rock in the 70s to record DOA, the Pointed Sticks and the Subhumans. In the 90s he designed and built studios for Bryan Adams, k.d. lang, Bob Rock, Colin James and Mutt Lang. He now calls Vancouver Island home.

Ladysmith, BC