Metchosin’s favourite flared-jeans-wearing rockers are making a name for themselves in the music world.
Posh Coat – a fiery three-piece born out of Royal Bay Secondary School, founded in 2022 – has been named to Music BC’s ARC program, a prestigious artist development initiative designed to help the province’s top emerging talent sharpen their edge.
The Metchosin-based trio is made up of Andrew Whitney (guitar and vocals), Luke Hanna (drums), and Tricia True (bass and backing vocals).
Of the 15 acts selected into the ARC program, they’re the only ones from Vancouver Island.
“We were pretty shocked,” True said. “It’s such a competitive program and to be the only Island band selected – it’s a huge honour.”
Their sound is hard to pin down – a gritty cocktail of indie rock, blues, and beachy pop that fuses soul-pleasing rock and roll with stylish rawness.
“We’re kind of hard to define,” True laughed. “There’s some indie rock at the core, but live, we love to throw in blues, beachy vibes – even a little pop rock. It’s a bit chaotic and controlled all at once.”
They’ve released eight songs so far, with their latest single – fittingly titled “Chuck Taylors” – continuing their trend of blending catchy riffs with expressive vocals and sleek hooks.
The band’s name even has its roots in high school.
Back when they were competing in music showcases against fellow teen bands, including an R&B group from Vic High School, one standout drummer named “Boshco” always left an impression.
“He just brought this amazing energy to every performance,” Whitney said. “One day, it clicked that we could riff off his name. We went through name generators and everything, but ‘Posh Coat’ stuck – it felt right.”
Now, they’re ready to take things to the next level.
The ARC program, which runs in three phases – the clinic, the retreat, and the show – kicks off with a three-day boot camp in Vancouver, focused on building a music business from the ground up.
“We’ve got the music part down, but ARC is going to give us the business side – branding, revenue streams, building a long-term plan,” Whitney said. “It’s going to force us to look at the future of Posh Coat as more than just a passion project.”
For the Metchosin trio, ARC isn’t just about fine-tuning their business plan – it’s a chance to double down on what makes their sound different.
“It’s easy to fall into trends or do what’s safe,” added Hanna. “But this is our shot to figure out what makes us stand out and lean into that.”
After the clinic, the band will head into the mountains of Princeton for a five-day retreat with world-class mentors, exploring creative growth and audience-building in an immersive, off-grid setting.
“I think I’m most excited for that part,” True said. “Being out there with no distractions, just focusing on us and where we’re going as a band – that’s pretty special.”
The program ends with “The Show,” a final performance in Vancouver where the cohort will showcase what they’ve learned.
“We’ve played some great gigs already,” Whitney said. “But this one feels like a culmination of everything we’ve worked toward. We can’t wait.”
With a spot in ARC and a string of electric live shows under their belt, Posh Coat is carving out something distinctly their own – not just as musicians, but as a unit learning how to make it all count.
“It’s wild to think how far we’ve come from jamming in a garage after school,” Hanna said. “Now we’re being told we’ve got something worth investing in.”
And with their eyes on the stage – and the long road ahead – the band isn’t just chasing the dream. They’re shaping it on their own terms, one chaotic, catchy, coast-grown track at a time.
