54-40 set to rock Sun Peaks Saturday, July 5.
High in the alpine heart of British Columbia, where mountain bikers cruise through wildflower-lined trails and the village hums with laid-back energy, Sun Peaks is about to get a major shot of adrenaline. The inaugural Rockin’ in the Peaks music festival is set to light up the resort this July 4th and 5th, and the lineup is pure Canadiana: 54-40, Big Sugar, and Wide Mouth Mason headline a weekend of rock and roll under the stars.
For bassist and co-founder of 54-40 Brad Merritt, the setting is more than just another stop on the tour—it’s a return to home turf.
“We’re a British Columbia band,” Merritt said in an interview with Radio NL’s Jeff Andreas. “We’ve played all over the province—Kamloops, Sun Peaks many times. And it’s always fun. The people have the right attitude; they’re grateful, they’re engaged. That’s what makes these festivals really click.”
A Mountain Stage with Heart
While major cities and massive venues have their draw, Merritt says there’s something uniquely powerful about performing in intimate, outdoor mountain settings like Sun Peaks.
“We consider what we do its own reward,” he said. “Just being able to play live to people, to generate community—it’s like a small religious experience for us.”
That passion shines through regardless of crowd size. From opening for the Rolling Stones to playing to 55,000 on Canada Day in Vancouver, 54-40 has seen it all. But Merritt says the ski hill shows—especially those where the audience can see the stars—hold a special magic. “There’s nothing we don’t like about playing live… as long as it sounds good for us,” he adds with a laugh.
A Truly Canadian Soundtrack
The Rockin’ in the Peaks weekend is steeped in Canadian pride. With fellow Canuck rockers Big Sugar and Wide Mouth Mason on the bill, the weekend offers a nostalgic and gritty soundtrack that spans decades of Canadian rock history. Merritt says it feels like a good time to wave the flag a little higher.
“There’s definitely more national pride now than we’ve seen in a while,” he said. “Canadians aren’t the most nationalistic people—and that’s usually a good thing—but lately, I think we’ve found reasons to rally. And that pride comes through in what we do and how we carry ourselves.”
That spirit is reflected in the crowd too, which often includes generations of fans. “We’re now seeing second-generation fans—kids who grew up listening to us because their parents played our music,” Merritt said. “And now they want to see the band live. That’s incredibly satisfying.”
Still Driven After Four Decades
Formed in 1981, 54-40 has not only endured—they’ve evolved. With founding members still on board and a new album in the works, the band shows no signs of slowing down.
“We’re a ‘what’s next?’ kind of group,” Merritt said. “We just got back from Portugal, where we recorded bed tracks for our new record. We’re mixing it now and planning to release it in the fall.”
That independent spirit has always defined 54-40. “You need a day job to do what we did in the early days,” Merritt laughs. “We were all in. It wasn’t glamorous. But it was serious, and we were committed. We still are.”
From Downhill Bikes to Downstrokes
Although Sun Peaks is a mountain biking mecca, don’t expect to see Merritt bombing downhill runs between sets.
“I used to be a pretty serious mountain biker,” he admits. “But now my friends have battery-powered downhill rigs, and I’ve still got my cross-country bike. My bones don’t heal the same way they did 25 years ago.”
These days, his outdoor adventures are more mellow—electric bike rides around Victoria or reminiscing about snowboarding on his still-functional board. “I haven’t snowboarded in a few years, but I think about it a lot,” he says. “Maybe I’ll make my way up to Sun Peaks one winter and wax up the board.”
Ready to Rock—Rain or Shine
While the band will be flying in fresh from a set at the Calgary Stampede the night before, Merritt is confident that the BC Interior is ready to bring the energy.
“Let’s see if Kamloops is ready to party like Calgary,” he joked. “Even if they aren’t, I’m sure they’ll enjoy it just fine.”
With clear skies in the forecast and the mountains echoing with guitar riffs, Rockin’ in the Peaks promises to be more than just a music festival—it’s a celebration of Canadian music, culture, and the enduring power of live performance.
