TORONTO —
Arkells are making ready for the Gray Cup’s halftime present similar to the gamers that can compete within the CFL’s championship recreation.
The Canadian rock band was introduced because the halftime performers for this yr’s Gray Cup on Friday night time. Lead singer Max Kerman stated that he and his bandmates have been making ready for the intermission present on Dec. 12 by watching recreation tape.
“We’re taking a look at performances from the Tremendous Bowl halftime present, like Prince or Springsteen or Bruno Mars, or Gray Cup efficiency like Keith City a few years in the past was unimaginable,” stated Kerman, who additionally talked about Kanye West’s efficiency on the Brit Awards.
“What methods can we steal from these artists? After which how can we amalgamate all these concepts into one thing that Arkells would do?”
Planning a halftime present was a singular inventive alternative for Arkells, in response to Kerman. He stated that when the band first fashioned in 2006 after they have been at college students McMaster College the problem was simply to really feel assured at a small bar.
Since then they’ve pushed themselves as each musicians and performers, and to take the stage at Tim Hortons Discipline on nationwide tv is one other new problem.
“It is a tremendous creative undertaking to tackle as a band,” stated Kerman. “You realize, making a set checklist and placing on a stay present is one endeavour that we’re fairly accustomed to. We have gotten good at it, I believe, through the years.
“However making a 15-minute efficiency for tv is a completely totally different ball recreation. No pun meant.”
It will likely be one thing of a homecoming for Arkells, who’re named after Arkell Avenue in Hamilton’s Westdale neighbourhood, close to McMaster the place the unique 5 band members all went to high school. They’re additionally accustomed to the Gray Cup venue, drawing 24,000 followers to Tim Hortons Discipline for a live performance in June 2018.
“We all know the venue workers, we all know that the parents within the entrance workplace with the Ticats, we all know that folks at metropolis corridor in Hamilton,” stated Kerman, a self-described Tiger-Cats fan. “I understand how a lot effort has been put into making this yr’s Gray Cup actually particular.”
It will likely be the primary Gray Cup in two years because the COVID-19 pandemic pressured the CFL to skip the 2020 season. It is also the primary time the championship recreation has been held in Hamilton in 25 years. The southern Ontario metropolis final hosted the Gray Cup in 1996 at Ivor Wynne Stadium.
“The purpose of our band has all the time been to deliver folks collectively,” stated Kerman. “Canadians from coast-to-coast will descend on Hamilton for this occasion, and tens of millions throughout the nation will likely be taking it in from dwelling.
“After the challenges of the previous 20 months, we’re honoured to be the band that will get music and sports activities followers again to singing and dancing.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Nov. 12, 2021.
