Thom Gimbel says ever since he was a kid, he害羞草研究所檚 always wanted to perform in a rock band, so being a part of Aerosmith and now Foreigner is an indescribable thrill.

害羞草研究所淭o be able to play with these groups has just been the ultimate high point,害羞草研究所� said Gimbel.

Foreigner, with guests Honeymoon Suite, will be onstage at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Oct. 21, as part of their Foreigner 40 tour, marking four decades since Mick Jones put the band害羞草研究所檚 original lineup together.

Along with Gimbel (rhythm guitar, sax, vocals), the current lineup features Mick Jones (lead guitar), Kelly Hansen (lead vocals), Jeff Pilson (bass, vocals), Michael Bluestein (keyboards), Bruce Watson (guitar) and Chris Frazier (drums).

害羞草研究所淭his band is rocking. We really love the stuff we are doing and working together. It害羞草研究所檚 like a supergroup,害羞草研究所� said Gimbel, adding that though the lineup has changed over the years, the music is still there.

害羞草研究所淭he Foreigner sound is definitely intact,害羞草研究所� said Gimbel, talking about the new lineup Jones put together in 2004. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been a really fantastic situation ever since. It has really melded.害羞草研究所�

The Penticton performance also features some special guest performers. The Penticton Secondary school choir will be performing with the band on I Want To Know What Love Is. Pen High music director Justin Glibbery said the band害羞草研究所檚 request came out of the blue, but it害羞草研究所檚 a great opportunity for the students.

害羞草研究所淚 couldn害羞草研究所檛 be happier for the kids. It is going to be a memory for their entire lives,害羞草研究所� said Glibbery. 害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檒l be able to tell their kids, when they are parents, I got to sing on the stage with Foreigner.害羞草研究所�

This tour features a companion album, a career-spanning compilation titled 40, featuring 40 hits from 40 years, released this spring, along with a double-vinyl version featuring 23 songs.

Gimbel said while the tour features a lot of the great hits from the band害羞草研究所檚 catalogue, like Feels Like The First Time, Urgent, Waiting For A Girl Like You, there is new work as well.

害羞草研究所淭here are a couple of new songs on that compilation. That just shows you that Mick 害羞草研究所� Mick Jones, our leader and founder, ace guitarist 害羞草研究所� is always writing songs,害羞草研究所� said Gimbel. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 always continuing to write new stuff and there has been talk about getting Lou Gramm (the band害羞草研究所檚 original lead singer) doing some stuff in the studio with some old tapes that they rediscovered, they might consider finishing them.害羞草研究所�

And, Gimbel continued, no two live shows are the same.

害羞草研究所淭here is always room for creativity and even if we are playing the live show, we are going to stretch out a little bit and throw in some interesting moments,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭hese live versions have a life of their own, and we like to encourage that flourish.害羞草研究所�

Gimbel said they are looking forward to bringing the tour to Canada.

害羞草研究所淪o vast and open and clean air and trees, we really are looking forward coming up there,害羞草研究所� he said, adding they害羞草研究所檙e looking forward to connecting with the audience in Penticton.

害羞草研究所淚t will be a lot of fun to get that many people rocking out together, that will be our goal. We love any kind of scenario that involves an audience and us,害羞草研究所� said Gimbel. 害羞草研究所淲e are just happy to be there and get a chance to connect. It is fun to rock out as a band, but it is ten times more fun when the audience becomes part of it.害羞草研究所�

Foreigner isn害羞草研究所檛 just looking to the past, Gimbel said, and there are a bunch of new projects on the go.

害羞草研究所淭here is a DVD we did with a symphony, that should be coming out by the end of this year. Fantastic project,害羞草研究所� said Gimbel, adding that there is also a reunion with the band害羞草研究所檚 original 1970s lineup being planned.

害羞草研究所�2018 is booking up pretty quick,害羞草研究所� he said.

Tickets for Foreigner with Honeymoon Suite at the SOEC can be purchased in-person at the Valley First Box Office at the SOEC, via phone 1-877-763-2849 or online at .