The Coal Creek Festival is gearing up to light up the Roche Percee Campground with music, community, and celebration, and one of this year’s headliners is promising a show to remember. Earl Pereira, a three-time Juno nominee and Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee, is set to take the stage with his genre-blending band, The Steadies.
For Pereira, live performances are all about creating connections. “Fans can expect lots of energy, lots of interacting. I love to get the crowd involved and bring everyone in together,” he said. “It has to be more than just music being played and people listening. There has to be an emotional connection, and that’s what people are really looking for.”
Over the years, Pereira has played more than 900 shows worldwide and shared stages with icons like Gwen Stefani and Ziggy Marley. Among his most memorable moments was meeting Bob Marley’s original bassist, Aston Barrett. “He’s one of my musical heroes,” Pereira shared. “Another great moment was giving our first album to Ziggy’s kids. It had a black-and-white cover with crayons to colour, and they just started colouring. I thought, ‘Oh my God, Bob Marley’s kids are colouring my album.’ That was pretty amazing.”
Alongside the live performance, fans can also look forward to new music. The Steadies’ latest single, Vaporizer, will debut its official music video on August 23, the same day as their Coal Creek Festival performance. Shot in Mexico during one of their winter tours, the video captures the fun, beauty, and vibrant spirit that inspire the band’s sound.
With infectious rhythms, heartfelt energy, and plenty of audience participation, Pereira says his goal is simple: “I just want to make sure everyone has a great time. They’re going to be singing, dancing, and leaving with big smiles.”
The Steadies will hit the Coal Creek Festival stage on August 23rd, adding their island-rock fusion to a weekend packed with music and community spirit.