On April 9, 2022, Cows Go Moo smashed a limited setlist of AC/DC and Metallica covers on a small stage at the space-themed Simapalooza in front of snow cross and speed trap races and a party at the base of the Yukon’s Mount Sima.
The bandmates were just 10 to 12 years old at the time. That powdery day was their first show together.
The now-teenage Yukon rockers as well as Bria Rose N' Thorns will be opening for Canadian rockstar Tom Cochrane — known for his international hit “Life is a Highway” from 1991 — during the Ride for Dad Yukon fundraiser concert at the Takhini arena in Whitehorse on April 5, 2025.
Through the event, Ride for Dad Yukon is raising money to fight against prostate cancer.
During a phone interview on March 27, Cochrane asked the News to pass on a message to the teen rockers: “Tell them we’d like to get them up there singing ‘Life is a Highway’ with us.”
Three of the Cows Go Moo band members spoke with the News by phone later that day from a vehicle in a parking lot outside a Kelowna, B.C., mall while waiting to play a show at a nightclub in Nelson, B.C.
The band name, commonly known as the Cows, came out of a pitch from now-13-year-old Louis Larsen, who plays keyboards and vocals, and a game of rock-paper-scissors. Other options were Demon Spine, Hell Priest and Muscle Dump Truck.
“When people first see the name of the band, they might expect a little kids’ band playing little toy instruments,” Thomas Koepke, 15, lead guitar, said.
“When they come away from our show, they'll see that we are very professional and very good at what we do.”
The rest of the band includes Connor Israel, 13, bass; Hannah Welsh, 15, drums; Luke Welsh, 14, lead singer; and Quinn Israel, 15, rhythm guitar.
Koepke explained they play a blend of classic rock-and-roll, a touch of metal and a bit of all the music the members listen to “moulded into one.”
The group’s setlist has taken off since their first show at Mount Sima. They rock out to six originals in addition to the old bangers.
Their nerves before each show have turned into excitement.
Koepke said the band was recruited to open for Cochrane while they were playing at the Blue Feather Music Festival organized by Gary Bailey.
Connor believes the band’s song that will resonate most with the crowd at the arena in Whitehorse this spring is an unreleased original called “Gates of Fire.”
“It's a heavy hitter,” Connor said.
Before ending the call with the Cows, the News delivered Cochrane’s invitation to the band.
The bandmates audibly responded with shock and thrill about getting on stage together.
Hannah compared Cochrane’s most popular song to a Canadian anthem.
“This means that all of the kids in Cows Go Moo are living the coolest childhood in the entire world,” Hannah said.
“I think this is a really special moment for all of us.”
Cochrane told the News that one of his biggest regrets was that he had never performed a show in the Yukon, but it’s been on his bucket list.
“I'm almost embarrassed to say. I've been everywhere in Canada,” he said.
He says his band is "totally stoked" to be performing in the Yukon capital.
Cochrane’s online bio indicates he has a history of getting behind causes including travelling the globe on behalf of World Vision. He has an accomplished set of citations and awards. His album “Mad Mad World” has made over three-million sales worldwide.
Cochrane indicated Ride for Dad Yukon is an important initiative to draw awareness around the risk and prevalence of prostate cancer.
“We are going to come up there and we're going to kick some butt. We're going to have such a good time, and we're just going to get everybody totally stoked and you know, the band parties pretty good on stage, but we have a few introspective moments. But, you know, get your party hats on, because we're going to celebrate life and shed some light on, of course, the prostate issue,” he said.
“There's a lot of ignorance about it and if you're not vigilant about it, then it can get you.”
The motorcycle ride-based charity organization in the territory has been part of the “Ride for Dad family” since 2010, according to the Yukon chapter’s website.
After a year of planning and at close to 90 per cent sold out — with more than 2,500 tickets sold — everything is coming together well but quickly for the show, according to Ride for Dad Yukon co-chair Mike Thorpe.
On March 31, they got access to the arena to start setting up stages and removing the glass — turning it from a community hockey rink into a rock concert venue.
Thorpe appreciated the support they have received from the community.
“Every single time we've needed something, wanted something, there's been somebody very close by that wants to help and support the event, and support our fight against prostate cancer,” he said.
Dr. Sudit Ranade, the Yukon’s chief medical health officer, told the News by phone on March 31 that more research is needed into what causes prostate cancer.
“One of the challenges with prostate cancer is that there's no clear causal pathway for why it develops, and because of that, it's harder to figure out how to prevent it,” he said.
There’s some evidence pointing to maintaining one’s overall health through healthy nutrition and physical activity to reduce risk but it's not entirely clear by how much, per Ranade. He said recognizing one’s own symptoms, like increased nighttime frequency of urination, and risk factors for aggressive or early forms of disease, such as a family history, is key.
Based on the latest cancer report prepared for the territory, Ranade said prostate cancer rates in the Yukon are comparable to the rest of the country.
“There's nothing unusual or different here,” he said.
Concert attendees are being encouraged to carpool and use public transit to avoid congestion, as noted in a Facebook post by Ride for Dad Yukon.
Park-and-ride locations are available at the Canadian Tire/Walmart parking lots and the Softball Yukon facility in Takhini, according to the post. The Facebook post lays out logistical and security information.
Contact Dana Hatherly at dana.hatherly@yukon-news.com
