Benefit Concert for Jeff Healey Park: Friends of the late Jeff Healey will be performing a benefit to make Etobicoke’s Jeff Healey Park more accessible for disabled children. On Thursday April 12 at 9pm, Sound Academy (11 Polson St) will host artists including Randy Bachman, Paul James, Jack de Keyzer, Danny Marks, Tony “Wild T” Springer, Lamont James, and the Dave Murphy Band in an effort to raise funds to acquire special playground equipment for disabled children. Tickets can be purchased in advance through www.ticketmaster.ca. Doors at 8pm
Stratford Blues: There will be a fundraiser for the Stratford Blues & Ribfest on April 14 at the Rotary Complex. It will help provide funding to put on a quality event at the Stratford Blues & Ribfest annual festival held in late June. The festival is now in its third year of production held on Lakeshore Drive and in and around the Allman arena. Tickets are available for 25.00 each or a table of 8 may be reserved for $200.00. Musical entertainment will be provided by Connor Gains and Alfie Smith. www.stratfordbluesandribfest.ca/
In The Studio: The Erin McCallum Band are heading into the studio this April to record Erin McCallum’s 4th album. This one will be recorded at The Wood Shed studio with Jack DeKeyzer producing. www.erinmccallum.com
Talking Music at Toronto Public Libraries: The founding owner of Stony Plain Records and longtime host of CBC’s Saturday Night Blues, Petersen is one of the country’s most trusted authorities on all things blues. In this foray into print, interviews some of the world’s most important and loved artists, including Long John Baldry, Eric Burdon, Ry Cooder, Mick Fleetwood, Jeff Healey, Alan Lomax, Sam Phillips, Maria Muldaur, Bonnie Raitt, Duke Robillard and Mavis Staples. Don’t miss this rare treat to meet and quiz our national bluesologist. Holger will be speaking at S. Walter Stewart on Wednesday April 18 at 7pm-8:30pm, and at Cedarbrae on April 19 at 1pm-2:30pm. Both of these events are free to the public, and Holger will be joined by Richard Flohil.
Blues Breakdown in Collingwood: The Gary Kendall Band will take the stage at Collingwood`s hottest new Blues & Roots venue, Casbah on Sunday, Apr. 29th 3-7pm as part of the club`s Blues Breakdown Sunday Matinee series. Wild T and the Spirit play May 6 and the Johnny Max Band will be on for June 10 www.casbahbar.com
Nominations: Michael Jerome Browne’s song “At It Again” from his recent Borealis album, The Road Is Dark, has just been nominated in the Blues Song category at the Independent Music Awards (not to be confused with the Indies based in Toronto). Other Canadian nominees include Bruce Cockburn, April Verch, Alexandre Desilets.and more. Michael is also nominated for an award at Quebec’s annual “Lys Blues” Awards being presented on April 22 in Montreal. Other familiar names on the nominee list include Dawn Tyler Watson, Angel Forrest, Mike Goudreau, Steve Hill, Rob Lutes, Kevin Mark and many more. There will be performances from Slim Wood, Mike DeWay, Gilles Sioui, Jimmy James, Jim Zeller, Andrée Dupré, Jean Millaire, Ricky Paquette, Paul Deslauriers and special recognition to Quebec blues veteran Jean Millaire and Jim Zeller
Blues & the Spirit Symposium: Dominican University will present the third biannual Blues & the Spirit Symposium on Friday and Saturday, May 18 and 19 in River Forest, IL The symposium this year focuses on racial appropriation and gender representation in the blues and will include a singular performance by four of Chicago’s most renowned blues “divas.” In addition, the annual Blues and the Spirit Award will be presented to Marie Dixon, widow of blues legend Willie Dixon and president of the Blues Heaven Foundation. The Blues & the Spirit Symposium was inaugurated in 2008 to explore the shared roots of blues and gospel music and their enduring impact on contemporary music and society. The symposium features distinguished scholars of African American music and culture as well as nationally known and locally revered blues and gospel performers. The symposium will open Friday evening with a panel discussion on the current state of the blues genre featuring respected musicians and performers Sugar Blue, Billy Branch, Matthew Skoller, Deitra Farr and Sharon Lewis as well as recently retired deputy director of the Chicago Mayor’s Office of Special Events, Barry Dolins.
Following the panel discussion, participants will be transported by bus to the Harlem Avenue Lounge in Berwyn where they will have the special opportunity to see performing together for the first time four of Chicago’s most renowned blues divas, Deitra Farr, Peaches Staten, Nellie Travis and Sharon Lewis. Other panels will focus on Cultural Tourism and the Blues, the intersection of blues and hip-hop and more. The closing keynote address will be delivered by Mark Anthony Neal, professor of Black popular culture in the Department of African and African American Studies at Duke University. Following the address, participants will be transported by bus to an after-party at Rosa’s Lounge in Chicago where they will be treated to a special performance by blues legend Sugar Blue and friends. More at www.dom.edu/blues