A concert atop a mountain? Why not, for this Kelowna band

Within seconds of meeting Sam Cooke, it's easy to believe he would stop at nothing to pursue any creative idea that storms into his head, even if it's initially shot down.

It starts with the clothing; a Bass Pro Shop trucker cap, accompanied by a vintage General Motors puffer, a black tee, and black cargo pants. Oh, and you can’t look beyond the flowing, golden, curly locks.

Sam’s idea started simple enough; capture he and his brother Jake’s band, 538st, performing in front of a sunset.

Inspired in part while watching a show at Frequency Sound 528, with golden hues washing over the Okanagan landscape, Sam thought, 'what an amazing opportunity to perform in front of that.'

After convincing Jake, the team tapped some of Kelowna’s top talent to assemble the vision.

The duo turned to videographer Noah Dorsey and his production company, while 538st's publicist, Harmony Taetz, also came on board to help with set design. Downtown clothier Grey Hearts Denim helped outfit the band for the shoot.

“Once we had all these amazing people come in and lend a head, it was no failing from there,” Sam told Kelowna10 during an interview alongside Jake in their mobile recording studio.

Weeks of planning ensued, and it culminated in 538 St. Live at Kuipers Peak - a three-track concert filmed at Kuipers Peak Mountain Park during a picturesque sunset in October 2022.

In the 12-minute video, 538st showcases its upbeat blend of funk, rhythm & blues, and hip-hip – aptly branded surf-hop by their fans – surrounded by a swirl of sleek mid-century modern furniture. The final cut was recently debuted during a release party at Bernie’s Cinema.

“The whole thing from start to finish was just go, go, go,” Sam explained. “The sun is only up for so long, and we are trying to capture it when it’s going down.”

The team knew they had enough time to capture three full takes – and they did just that.

The day started at about 7:30 a.m. and ran late into the evening. It was filled with lengthy hikes hauling furniture, clothing, and equipment to the top of the mountain, with everyone acutely aware any minor hiccups could hamper the shoot.

“But everyone did their jobs so well,” Jake said. “And once we saw the first take, we knew it was going to work. It’s hard to miss with a location like that and the quality of people that were there.”

Since its release in May, the reaction from people both in and outside of Kelowna has been humbling, the pair admit.

Beyond the showcase of their own talent, the project’s mission was always to create a piece of work that highlighted not just 538st, but the creative aptitude Kelowna has to offer.

Both believe they did just that.

“It’s an audacious goal, to want to make the best, most high-quality thing that we could or that has come out of Kelowna,” Jake explained. “But it was not us, it was the team.”

The pair hope the video can inspire others in Kelowna to put ideas into action.

“Take that leap even if people might say no at the start,” Sam said. “Keep pushing. Make it happen. And you could come out with a piece of magic, like we did, and that’s pretty awesome.”

538 St. Live at Kuipers Peak can be viewed online.