For Derek Lathrop, stepping into the spotlight to front The Hip Experience isn’t just about putting on a performance — it’s about filling some of the biggest hats in Canadian music history.
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As the frontman for the acclaimed Tragically Hip tribute band, Lathrop is preparing to bring the iconic sounds of Kingston, Ontario’s favourite sons to Lloydminster’s Vic Juba Community Theatre on Sept. 23.
What started eight years ago as a one-off performance for a cancer benefit charity event has grown into a massive, nationwide operation.
“We put together a set and it went really, really well,” Lathrop said in a recent interview from Mississauga, Ont. “Then, lo and behold, one gig led to two, led to three, led to four, now we’re doing 100 a year.”
The band, comprised of full-time professional musicians, includes Lathrop, rhythm guitarist Pat Raimondo, lead guitarist Peter Grant, bassist Todd Coldham, and drummer Mike Scime. Lathrop notes that because they play registered theatre venues, their performances pay out SOCAN royalties, ensuring the original members of The Tragically Hip are compensated for their work.
Transitioning from standard bar bands to a dedicated tribute act completely shifted Lathrop’s relationship with the Hip’s catalog.
“I have developed a whole new connection with these songs since I started doing this, just seeing the way people react to them and the impact that they have on people,” Lathrop said. “I see people in the crowd with tears in their eyes. I didn’t realize how much impact these songs have had on Canadians.”
For countless fans, the Hip’s music serves as a cultural anchor, tied directly to major life milestones and the collective grief of the country following Downie’s passing in 2017.
To keep the experience fresh for both the audience and themselves, the band never uses a fixed setlist, alternating their opening song every single night. Lathrop points to that initial rush as one of his highlights.
“Just feeling the energy as you’re coming onto the stage. The buildup of that over the first five minutes of the show is probably my second favourite part,” Lathrop said, adding that the final bow at the end of the night takes the top spot.
As the band continues what Lathrop describes as a “perpetual state of touring,” they prefer to let the music and the fans do the talking.
“If you want to know what we’re all about, we are all over social media,” Lathrop said. “Go onto our Facebook account, or Instagram account, and see what other people say about us. There’s all kinds of comments from all kinds of people all over the country who have all kinds of nice things to say.”
Tickets for the Sept. 23 performance are available HERE or at the Vic Juba Community Theatre box office.
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