What a fantastic year 2016 was! We played easily our most exciting shows since the band’s inception. We kicked off the year with an over the top corporate 80’s Extravaganza at the Toronto Airport Sheraton with our friend Emm Gryner singing with us. What a sensory overload that gig was with the entire crowd dressed in 80s gear, a full arcade, celebrity impersonators, and the Delorean from BACK TO THE FUTURE.
We were pumped to be asked to play the Wally’s Charity Golf Tournament After Party for the 4th year in a row to support 5 Counties Children’s Services. The band were honoured with a Port Hope Civic Award for Philanthropy for the charities they supported in 2015. The award came on the same day that the world learned that legendary artist PRINCE had suddenly passed away and the band performed an impromptu version of Purple Rain while accepting their award.
Throughout the year we played several backyard parties around the G.T.A. and got to meet representatives from there local Police Departments in the process. Lucky for us the Police also loved their 80s tunes and with a few minor volume adjustments the shows were allowed to continue into the night. Canada Day was once again spent at the Port Hope Bandshell where the boys lured the crowds back after heavy downpours just prior to going on stage. At our return performance at the Cameco Summer Concert Series the town was melting in the ensuing heatwave but still came out in record numbers. We were joined by longtime friend Shawn Inwards for several tunes. Shawn and Christian had been friends since Public School, played music together in highschool, and were long overdue to be back on stage together.
Another fantastic evening was had when Storm The Palace was asked to perform at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre at the after party for the 37th annual Dora Awards celebrating the best in Canadian Theatre and Dance. We were excited to have Emm Gryner join us on stage for that performance as well. Later that year all minds were on our 2nd Annual Halloween Party. A packed Gymnasium at the Rec Centre in Port Hope once again didn’t let us down with creative costumes and enthusiasm in spades. That night thousands of dollars were raised for Northumberland Fare Share Food Bank as well as a sizable donation to the Northumberland Mall Giving Tree. We also got to play to new friends the following week at the 120 Dinner in Toronto for an intimate birthday party playing an all Alternative set.
After being hit with a minor throat injury later that week Christian was advised not to sing for the rest of the year, but thankfully Luke McFadden and Dave Vasey stepped in to sing for our second year performing at The Northumberland Humane Society’s Bow Wow Ball fundraiser celebrating the NHS’s 50th year in existence.
2016 is in the can and 2017 is already shaping up to be another fun-filled year. If you are thinking of throwing a party, charity or corporate event contact us now as several months are already fully booked for us.
THANK YOU so much to all that continue to support Storm The Palace.
Adam, Christian & Tim