One of the great rock鈥檔鈥檙oll bands to come out of Canada doesn鈥檛 plan on slowing down anytime soon.

The Tea Party was founded in 1990 and received seven of their 13 JUNO Award nominations between 1994 and 1988. The band has stayed together longer than their idols, Led Zeppelin and The Beatles.

Their unmistakable guitar riffs infused with middle eastern, celtic and mediterranean music sets them apart from the rest. Their willingness to stand out from the rest offered rewards and now the band is revered internationally.

As their career has continued, they have grown in popularity internationally. Becoming well known and in-demand in Australia and the U.S.

In the beginning of their career lead singer, Jeff Martin was constantly compared to the likes of the Doors鈥� frontman, Jim Morrison but they have forged their own path and cemented their mark on rock history.

鈥淲e have always stayed true to who we are, never followed trends even when everyone was either doing the grunge thing or doing nothing,鈥� said drummer, Jeff Burrows.

The band took a break in 2005 but couldn鈥檛 quit each other and reunited in 2011.

鈥淲hen we fell out and we were the complete opposite of that time 鈥� that was Canada rock鈥檚 heyday. None of it really had to do with the grunge scene. We always stayed true to our roots and realized we have always been very eclectic and we never pigeonholed ourselves to one sound,鈥� said Burrows. 鈥淚t鈥檚 strange now鈥� listening to these new bands (that now) all sound like (the) stuff (we were) doing 30 years ago 鈥� they are right on track and we are just doing what we do.鈥�

RELATED: Shakey Graves brings his musical evolution to the Okanagan Valley

When The Tea Party kicks off the Black River Tour, Dec. 27 in Toronto it will have been the longest time they haven鈥檛 toured together since their six-year hiatus.

鈥�2020 will be our 30th anniversary when a band turns 30 years-old you really don鈥檛 have that perspective until say it out loud. Look at when Zeppelin started that they were done in 1980 and it鈥檚 crazy to look at things like The Beatles, did they play for 30 years? Nowhere near. So when you look at it that way to be appreciated on a national level like we are it鈥檚 an honour and we carry that weight knowing that we are very grateful for everything afforded us and keeps us going,鈥� said Burrows.

The drummer says that their success stems from their inability to conform to trends, allowing them to be a band that almost 30 years later isn鈥檛 touring their hits but is still touring with new albums along with a few fan favourites thrown into the line-up.

RELATED: The Arkells bring Rally Cry to 琉璃神社

It was when the band played with the Sydney Youth Orchestra in Australia that Burrows had chills running down his spine. They performed Requiem, a song dedicated to their manager Steve Hoffman who died of cancer with the symphony and an opera singer wove her voice through the song to a full house in 2017.

鈥淚t was mind boggling, it鈥檚 something I am most grateful for, it鈥檚 those opportunities that you look around and say I don鈥檛 belong here. It鈥檚 unreal,鈥� said Burrows.

The eclectic hard rock band will be stopping in 琉璃神社 May 7 at the 琉璃神社 Community Theatre. Tickets are available at

To report a typo, email:
newstips@kelownacapnews.com.

sydney.morton@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .