Oscar Lopez

For years, Oscar Lopez was one of our neighbours. He and his family lived just up the road in Naramata, and he played in our building so often, back when it was The Dream Cafe, that he once joked he hoped audiences hadn’t grown tired of him. They never did. This November he returns to the same address for three shows over one weekend.
Born in Santiago, Chile, Lopez came to Canada more than four decades ago and taught himself a guitar language all his own: Latin fire and flamenco rhythm, crossed with jazz, blues, and pop, on a nylon-string guitar that can sound like a whole band. That sound has earned him two Juno Awards for instrumental album, in 2002 and 2005.
His Okanagan roots run deeper than the gigs. He made Apasionado right here in Penticton, at the urging of local keyboardist and music educator Justin Glibbery, and launched it at the Shatford Centre. Lopez has said the album found its direction in memories of his time in this town. Hearing those songs played back in the place that shaped them is exactly what this room was built for.
He arrives as a duo, pared down so every run, strum, and slap of the guitar body reaches the back row. Lopez calls himself “a people’s guitar player,” and his shows are built on improvisation, surprises, and conversation with the audience. Friday night, Saturday afternoon, or Saturday night: pick your show and help us welcome an old friend home.