The Cruisers set to hit the stage at the Esplanade with original songs from the band's album release. Courtesy/The Cruisers

By Jayk Sterkenburg

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat’s ‘youngest party band’ set to hit the big stage Friday

May 25, 2025 | 7:00 PM

Medicine Hat’s self-described “youngest party band” are hitting the stage at the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre on Friday.

The band will be releasing their first full length album on the same day.

The Cruisers band is made up of four friends, the youngest of which being only 12 years old and the eldest 16.

The group has already come a long way. Lead guitar player and vocalist Gibson Roset said the band initially started when he was in grade three.

“We were like, ‘We should make a band’. So I started bringing my ukulele to school, we played under the tree for the first few years,” he said Sunday.

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Roset said this lead to The Cruisers playing the Stampede Summer Jam when he was in grade six, and more shows around the city the next year.

Now they will share the big stage at the Esplanade, 16 year old bass player and vocalist Drew Cruickshank said.

“Seeing my dad perform in the musicals there, I wanted to be like that,” he said.

“Now doing this is, I don’t know- it feels super rewarding for all my efforts I’ve put in with these guys.”

Cruickshank (left) said booking a show at the Esplanade feels rewarding for all his efforts he’s made with the group. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

Pianist and vocalist Oliver Hopkins said the band is quite lucky to receive the support they have from the city.

He said that includes the support from the band’s fundraiser show at Casa Amigos in February to finance the new album.

“We see musicians in Calgary struggling, and outside of Medicine Hat,” he said.

“Here there’s so many great musicians that help each other out, and businesses [that] are so supportive, and they’re very well paying and let us do what we love and not have to get a summer job.”

12 year old drummer and vocalist Jude Roset said all of the bands are like a big family in Medicine Hat.

“It’s nice being younger, because it’s a cooler experience to see us and it’s more impressive, I guess,” he said.

“Because we’re so young, and it’s just fun to come to our shows and see us play.”

Roset (left) said It’s nice being a younger band, because it’s more impressive to see them. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

Gibson Roset said currently the band is playing as many shows as they can, to get to a point where they can be recognized for original songs.

“Our goal is to play our own stuff, play originals,” he said.

“Hopefully people will like them.”

The Cruisers will play a mix of original songs and covers on Friday, with a setlist that includes classic and hard rock, pop, and “a pinch of metal”.

The show starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Esplanade, and tickets are still available.