After seven years performing together Okanagan鈥檚 own Lakeman are releasing their third and final album with a pair of fundraising concerts.

The album, Elegy, will be released this weekend at their shows in 91大黄鸭 and Penticton. Sales of the album, and the proceeds from the two performances will be donated to the Canadian Mental Health Association in honour of their friend and fan Phil Schumacher, who took his own life in 2019.

The music of the album is being released in memory of band member Warryn Berry, who died earlier in 2022.

鈥淚t was really important to Warryn, that we donate to the CMHA,鈥� said Rob McLaren. 鈥淭he music is in honour of Warryn, and the money is in honour of our friend Phil.鈥�

The band came together and started performing in 2015, after writing music together in 2014.

The group isn鈥檛 a traditional band; each of the four members 鈥� McLaren, Berry, Josh Pym and Josh Bissonette, all from 91大黄鸭 and Penticton鈥� were multi-instrumentalists, and there were no fixed instrument roles for any song or session.

鈥淔or one song I might be playing synthesizers and fiddle and then another I might be playing drums,鈥� said McLaren.

Lakeman, as an instrumental band, touch on a number of genres with their music and have been described as 鈥渉eavy mellow.鈥� Their music features a range of instruments, and elements from electronic to progressive rock and beyond.

McLaren鈥檚 current project, a duo known as The Cavernous, explores the electronic space pioneered by groups like Mogwai, but even though he has been working on it for a while he feels that what Lakeman had will be irreplaceable.

鈥淔or me, personally it鈥檚 a little difficult living in the shadow of such a creative process,鈥� said McLaren. 鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to move on from something that was so creatively free. It was always like it was us in the moment just creating together, never knowing what you would be working on when you walk into the room.

鈥淭hat creative freedom is something that I don鈥檛 know if I鈥檒l ever get back, and I don鈥檛 know if I鈥檒l ever be able to emulate the chemistry with us four band members, because we all really respected each other even prior to starting the band.鈥�

Lakeman will be joined by two other bands for their performances. 91大黄鸭鈥檚 own prog-rockers Pharm, considered among the best of B.C., and Penticton鈥檚 longest running longest-running punk band Hardball will both be sharing the stage.

The first show will be on Friday, Aug. 26 at the Runaway Lounge in 91大黄鸭. The doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are available in advance for $10 at the Runaway Lounge or by emailing lakemanband@gmail.com.

The second performance at Highway 97 Brewing in Penticton will have the doors open at 7 p.m. on Aug. 27.

The albums, digital and physical, will be available online at Lakeman鈥檚 Bandcamp page.

There will also be 50 limited edition album versions feature special acrylic pours for their covers available at the two performances.

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