From 2008 through 2024, Derek Sharp captivated audiences across North America as lead vocalist, lead guitarist and frontman extraordinaire of the legendary 70s Rock band, The Guess Who. In those 16 years, he performed almost one thousand shows, packing houses, and generating legions of fans with his vocal mastery and riveting showmanship.  These fans can’t wait to see and hear Derek once again.

And he is BACK!  With original hit songs, a brand new album, and an awesome new band -- Derek Sharp & The Champagne Jam -- to spearhead a revival of Power Pop in a show that celebrates the undeniable spirit of this appealing music genre.  It’s a night of hooks, harmonies and heart, paying tribute to the Power Pop pioneers—Badfinger, ELO, and The Raspberries—and the bands that carried the torch, like Cheap Trick, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, The Rembrandts, Jellyfish, and more. But it’s more than just a tribute—Derek Sharp & The Champagne Jam bring the genre full circle, also introducing fans to their own original music and proving that Power Pop isn’t just a legacy—it’s alive and evolving!   The songs from the band’s popular debut album, Plein D’Amour have already exceeded 2 MILLION Spotify streams, and their new album, Crossing the Rubicon, is similarly destined for greatness. 

EDUCATIONAL/COMMUNITY OUTREACH

As a way to involve music students and the community-at-large in the show and a great way to sell tickets to family, friends and neighbors, you can invite a local orchestra to perform onstage with Derek Sharp & The Champagne Jam. Orchestra charts for select songs from their original music are available for workshops and concert performances.

ABOUT POWER POP MUSIC:  A SHORT TUTORIAL

The roots of Power Pop can be traced back to the British Invasion of the 1960s, particularly the music of The Beatles, The Who, and The Kinks, who combined rock’s energy and aggression with pop’s melodic sensibilities, creating a template for future power pop artists.  In the United States, bands like The Byrds and The Beach Boys were also instrumental in shaping Power Pop.

Pete Townshend, the guitarist and principal songwriter for The Who, is credited as the originator of the name “Power Pop.” He used the phrase to describe the type of music The Who performed in the late 1960s—upbeat, catchy, hook-driven—but the name wouldn’t catch on until the 1970s. By then, bands like The Raspberries and Cheap Trick were being recognized as prominent Power Pop bands.  Power Pop bands broke onto the mainstream Pop charts by the late 1970s and 1980s. Quintessential Power Pop singles included: "My Sharona" by The Knack, "What I Like About You" by The Romantics, "I Want You To Want Me" by Cheap Trick, “I Think We’re Alone Now” by The Rubinoos, "Heart of Glass" by Blondie, "Starry Eyes” by The Records, "September Gurls" by Big Star, "Couldn't I Just Tell You" by Todd Rundgren, and "Cruel to Be Kind" by Nick Lowe.

Power pop competed with dance-pop and hair metal for mainstream attention in the 1980s, but it found new fans in the indie rock scene with artists like R.E.M., Teenage Fanclub, The Posies.  The genre thrived in the 1990s, thanks to groups like Weezer, Lit, The Connells, and Matthew Sweet. The influence of Power Pop can also be seen in twenty-first-century artists like Paramore, Fall-Out Boy, and Fountains of Wayne…and now, Derek Sharp & The Champagne Jam.

Power Pop songs are characterized by their strong melodies and catchy hooks. The genre places a high emphasis on memorable choruses and verses, often featuring harmonized vocals that add a lush, layered quality to the music.  Lyrically, Power Pop tends to focus on themes of love, relationships, and youthful experiences. The lyrics are often direct and relatable, contributing to the genre’s broad appeal. 

With its blend of Rock’s energy and Pop’s melodic sensibility, Power Pop has left an indelible mark on the music world and continues to thrive today. Derek Sharp & The Champagne lead a new era of Power Pop with their fantastic new music and their Power Pop Tour.