Toronto Blues Society | » Loose Blues News – May 2017

Loose Blues News – May 2017

Published May 1, 2017 in Loose Blues News, News

Paul Reddick is riding high as his album Ride The One won this year’s JUNO for Blues Album of the Year. He’ll be on festival stages all summer with several plays in this area, the Kitchener Blues Festival, Orangeville Blues and Jazz and the Lighthouse Blues Festival. For Oakvillians, he’ll be at the Moonshine Café on May 27 and locally, he’ll be guesting with Big Groove at the Blue Goose on Sunday afternoon, May 14. Photo by Scott Doubt

Festival Announcements

The Kitchener Blues Festival (August 10-13) has some major international acts and all the usual suspects from the local blues scene. Big names include Bobby Rush, Rick Estrin and The Nightcats, The Harpoonist and The Axe Murderer, The Sheepdogs, Lucky Peterson, Lurrie Bell and from Australia, B3 wizard Lachy Doley (not to be confused with his brother Clayton Doley, who spent a lot of time in our hood and is also a phenomenal organist). Rockers Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings are also playing (but not together). The winner of their Youth Legacy Showcase will be showcased and Sunday always features their free pancake breakfast and this year a gospel show from A Joyous Noise. www.kitchenerbluesfestival.com

Mont Tremblant (July 7-16) just announced John Hammond, Coco Montoya, Ghostown Blues Band, CJ Chenier and lots of great Canadian talent. www.blues.tremblant.ca

Out Kincardine way, The Lighthouse Blues Festival, July 14, 15 and 16, is featuring four stages, an Antique Bike Exhibit, Vintage British Sports Car Display, TD Children’s Zone, StreetMarket, Artist Row and some top Canadian Blues talent on including Blackburn, Cheryl Lescom, Alfie Smith, Suzie Vinnick, Rick Taylor, Chuckee Zehr, Paul Reddick and International Blues Stars Toronzo Cannon, the Ghost Town Blues Band, Joe Louis Walker www.lighthousebluesfest.ca

In the Studio

Former TBS office manager and event coordinator Jordan Safer’s The Distillery is in the studio with legendary producer George Massenberg (Bonnie Rait, Earth Wind and Fire) and promise a new
release for this fall. Julian Fauth has wrapped up a new CD for Electro-Fi and though he has described it as a little “dark” it will surely show how deep into the blues Julian can get. Julian is also featured on many tracks of the upcoming Sugar Brown album which was recorded “old school” live in the studio direct to two-track tape. The recording also features West Coast guitarist Rocking Johnny Burgin who was performing around town with Sugar and raised a few eyebrows among local guitarslingers with his high energy (yet tasty) playing. The Sinners Choir has been making a big impact on the local scene for two or three years without ever releasing a full length CD but their army of devoted fans will be happy to know that they have almost completed a full-length CD of original material.

Opera News

Former TBS board member and blues singer/flautist Jani Lauzon has always been exploring new ground and breaking down barriers but now she’s on the big stage at the Four Seasons Centre in a… wait for it… opera! The opera Louis Riel first premiered back in 1967, when it was commissioned for Canada’s centennial and while the original opera had very little input from Indigenous voices, this version makes sure to rectify that. The production stays faithful to the original script but, by adding Indigenous people and their voices and perspectives, it is hoped that the audience will challenge what they are seeing onstage. “This will hopefully start a new precedent,” Lauzon adds. “What this does, in terms of our intersection and ability to be on that stage, is to show our youth that it’s possible to have those kinds of dreams.” The Opera plays until May 13 at the Four Seasons Centre. www.coc.ca

The Blues Tribe

Each month The Blues Tribe profiles a different Canadian Blues artist. Their April guest was Vancouver Island artist Mark Crissinger. In this episode, we learn about Mark’s rock band background, moving from Quebec to BC, and he discusses his current album “Night Light”. Songs performed are “Shake a Leg” and “Holding My Heart”. You can watch at www.bluestribe.ca/show

Breakoutwest News

Congratulations to the 2017 Western Canadian Music Awards Nominees for Blues Artist of the Year: Big Dave McLean (MB), Harpdog Brown (BC), James Buddy Rogers (BC), Kenny ‘Blues Boss” Wayne (BC), Ryan McNally (YT) and Steve Kozak Band (BC). The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer were nominated in the BreakOut Artist of the Year category. Winners will be announced and honoured at the Western Canadian Music Awards Networking Reception, and Industry Awards Brunch; September 13-17, 2017. www.breakoutwest.ca

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The Toronto Blues Society acknowledges the annual support of the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council and the Department of Canadian Heritage, and project support from FACTOR< and the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) and of Canada’s Private Broadcasters, The Canada Council for the Arts, the SOCAN Foundation, SOCAN, the Ontario Media Development Corporation, and the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.