The guys shared a stage with Chasing Shadows on Friday night, November 17. Captured here is some simply amazing work of Martin Hawley. Thanks to Martin and everyone that came out to join us.
Fast and furious is pretty much the only way to describe the coming months for the guys in Five Wheel Drive..
Check out the show history page here and see for yourself, the guys are going in overdrive as they have secured upwards of 10 shows between now and July 1st. Include (so far) the month of August and it is 11 shows. Two of these are outdoor private parties this summer.
Be sure to keep checking here for exciting show announcements, as well as updates to the web site. You can also check out the band’s Facebook page.
The guys are ready to rock this Canada Day Weekend. It all starts on Friday July 1st when 5WD visits the Brooklin Legion for an afternoon of music and fun. Show starts at 1pm and goes until 6pm. Last summer the guys played at the Brooklin Spring Fair and a great time was had by all. This year promises to be even better.
Then on Saturday night the guys travel to Bobcaygeon to invade 72 Bolton Sports Cafe. It is the first trip there, and it promises to be a blast. Many friends of 5WD have played here, and to a man, they all say it is an amazing experience. A long weekend in cottage country, with cold beers, and rock and roll. I don’t know, something sounds just so right about that!
Wherever you are, whatever you plan to do, make it fun. But play safe and be smart. We want to see you at a future show.
This Friday night, March 4th, Five Wheel Drive will be playing live at the Ontario Lacrosse Association SAGM (Semi-Annual General Meeting). The meeting and show is being held at the Delta Meadowvale in Mississauga, Ontario. The band is scheduled to go on between 8:30 – 9:00pm on Friday night and play until after midnight.
It is a bit of a big deal for the band, specifically lead vocalist Gary Mark. “I was absolutely thrilled when I was asked if we could play. It is an unreal honour to play for lacrosse people; there’s none like them.” The OLA SAGM captures representatives from every minor association all across Ontario, as well as all Junior and Major Clubs over the course of the weekend. Various meetings, discussions and training takes place each year.
“I have been involved in lacrosse is some capacity (player, referee, timekeeper, coach, volunteer) almost every year since I was five years old. I owe so much to the game; lifelong friends and relationships, and of course all of the memories from the game that I can share with my family. Ironically, 2016 will be the first year I am not involved with the game in any capacity for as long as I can remember. But I left because I felt it was time, and I now have some other interests (music) that really occupy my time. It will be a little bitter sweet going into this meeting now as an entertainer. Sure I will miss it, but I am so excited to play and share my other passion with so many friends and peers.”
Five Wheel Drive is the band that was put together 4 years ago, and the group started playing live 3 years ago. Since then the group (who focuses on playing those classic rock songs you love but don’t hear very often), have been playing regularly throughout Durham Region and beyond. “We like to be a little different so you won’t hear Brown Eyed Girl, or Mustang Sally”, said keyboardist Fernando Laguardia. “Sure they are great songs but every bar band on the continent plays them. We go for the wow factor, as in wow I cannot believe that they did that one, I have not heard it in so long. ”
Mark says that being in a band is a mirror image of being on a lacrosse team or volunteer executive. “We practice to get better and we all have our certain roles. Individually we are all good at what we do, but when the 5 of us work together, we can really make some amazing things happen. It is just like it is on the floor.”
For more information about Five Wheel Drive you can follow the band on Facebook at www.facebook.com/5wdband, or go to the bands website at 5wheeldrive.ca
The band will be “Rocking A Christmas Wish” on Saturday December 20, when they visit the Brooklin Pub. This is the newest establishment in Brooklin and sports a very modern and new look.
Five Wheel Drive will be hosting a fundraiser in support of the Children’s Wish Foundation and Hearth Place. These two local charities offer unmatched services to many families in the Durham Region area and the band wanted to give back to such worthy causes.
Tickets for the event cna be purchased online at Event Brite’s Online Site or a very limited supply can be purchased at the door. The night will include a silent auction, live music and much more.
The band hopes that you will take the time at this special time of year to support others that need it most. 100% of the sales of tickets and all other activities will go directly to these two charities.
On Saturday November 1st, Five Wheel Drive will make their first visit to The Honest Lawyer in Whitby. The Honest Lawyer is located in the Empire theater plaza on Consumers Drive, just off of the 401.
It will be a great night of classic rock and a chance to dance and enjoy yourself. Come on out and join in on the fun!
The guys have just booked the Summer 2014 Shows and it is time to announce their whereabouts. But first, a big welcome to Jeff Pearson, new lead guitarist for the band.
Five Wheel Drive will play Friday June 27 when they return to Frosty John’s in Bowmanville. Then on July 12 the guys travel to the newly renovated MVP Lounge in Mississauga, and return again as an opening act for Revelation 17 on Saturday August 2nd. On Saturday August 16, the guys return to Oshawa to play the Players Bench, and round out the Summer / open the fall by playing Whisky John’s in Oshawa on Friday September 26.
For all of the details, locations, start times, etc. please check out the bands Facebook events page at https://www.facebook.com/5wdband/events
The gang were back in action on Saturday January 11th, their third show in four weeks. This time the band played to a full house at the Player’s Bench in Oshawa. It was the band’s first show at Player’s Bench but will not be the last for sure.
5WD will be returning in May, with the possibility of an earlier date as well. Keep checking the Upcoming Events page for an up to date list of upcoming shows.
Durham Region’s newest Classic Rock and Roll Dance Band, Five Wheel Drive invite you to spend New Year’s Eve with them. They will be playing live at The Hunter’s Horn Pub in Whitby (965 Dundas St W, L1P 1L5 905-665-7395).
5WD plays a variety of dance music including Bryan Adams, REM, ZZ Top, Don Henley, Tom Petty, Robert Palmer, as well as some old classics from The Romantics, J Geils and Cheap Trick.
Tickets are $20 which include a buffet, door prizes, and champagne at midnight. Tickets are availble at the bar.
All details are in the attached image.
No need to sit around for another boring New Year’s Eve. Come on out and dance your socks off! 5WD will “Shake You All Night Long”, “All Summer Long”, and take you on a trip to “The Twilight Zone” where you will “Save A Horse” and “Ride A Cowboy”.
Saturday October 19th was a day for Five Wheel Drive to remember. It was the first show with new lead guitarist Jay Lovell. and while all five members of the band would say there are definitely things to work on, mainly the timing for everyone, this night could not have gone any better.
The original members welcomed Jay aboard and Jay in turn wowed the crowd (and even his new band mates) at Black Bear, having turned in a 30 song set, after only four practices with the group spanning a whopping ten days.
There was a chemistry that everyone felt and all band members are looking forward to continuing this momentum.
The band will play a Charity fund-raiser for “Four Paws Dog Rescue” this Saturday night, October 26th, at the Knights Of Columbus Hall in Whitby. The group will then take a month to work on new material and play a private Christmas function on Saturday December 14. In the new year, 5WD will hit the Player’s Bench in Oshawa on January 11, and the band is currently booking shows for February and beyond.
5wheeldrive.ca 