The weekend of May 11-14 2023 was one of the hottest in recorded history for those dates, for Kamloops, BC. The Blue Grotto added to the heat by bringing Alberta’s Paul Kype and Texas Flood to Kamloops for a couple of nights. Veteran band leader Paul Kype alternated with guitarist Steve Keenan on both lead vocals and guitar and blew away their admiring audience at the Grotto.

Drummer Brady Valgardson and bassist Kurt Ciesla held down the rhythm fort with their fine playing. Paul Kype and Texas Flood, as expected played a few songs from the Stevie Ray Vaughan playbook such as Cold Shot and Pride and Joy.

They added bluesy tunes from the catalogues of B.B. King, the Allman Brothers and others. The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Steve Winwood, the Doors, the Tragically Hip, Tom Petty and CCR were nicely represented in their set lists. Kype and friends also played the title track from their album Long Time Comin.’

It was another fun night at the Blue Grotto. The drinks were cold, the dance floor was full, and the staff were efficient and friendly. Not surprisingly, nobody complained about the heat!