 Billy Bryans 1948-2012
Montreal ex-patriot Billy Bryans passed away Monday surrounded by family and friends in Toronto after a wide ranging career in music. He played with Downchild and produced eight of their recordings including their first at Rochdale, Bootleg, and the commercial hit, Flip, Flop and Fly. His producing career touched on artists that included Dutch Mason, The Phantoms, Morgan Davis, Bopcats, Raffi, Lillian Allen and numerous world music artists. He is best known as founder and co-leader of the Parachute Club with Lorraine Segato, where in the 80s they secured four JUNO Awards including band of the year in 1985. An activist in the independent and multicultural side of the music industry he was a convincing advocate for African, Cuban and Brazilian music in recent years. A memorial Queen Street West parade and live music event is being organized for Lula Lounge, Sunday May 6.
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 Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival: June 1-3
The Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival features David Wilcox, Dylan Wickens, Larry Kurtz (pictured), Harpdog Brown, Douglas Watson, Little G Weevil, Wendy Lands, Alan Gerber, Heather Katz, Neil Chapman, Suzie Vinnick, Heaveyweights Brass Band, Charlie D’Acourt, Dwayne Dopsie, Sam Turton, Ryan Grist, Carlos del Junco, Bill Durst, Jill Barber, ODSS Jazz Band, Sweet Adelines, Clayton Doley, OMT, Al Lerman, Patrick Lehman, Humber College Jazz, Danny Marks, The Kat Kings, The Bluestones, Bradley Boy MacArthur, Son Roberts, Charlie Cooley, Delaney, Community Band, and Dust to Dust! http://objf.org/
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 Summer Blues Festivals
Summer is almost here! Check out these blues festivals and start planning for the warm weather!
Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival – June 1-3 http://objf.org/ Featuring David Wilcox, Dylan Wickens, Larry Kurtz, Harpdog Brown, Douglas Watson, Little G Weevil and more!
Waterfront Blues Festival – June 1-3 http://www.waterfrontblues.ca/ Featuring Dylan Wickens, Shakura S’Aida, Chris Antonik, Tad Robinson, John Primer, Johnny Max, Erin McCallum, MonkeyJunk, Eugene Hideaway Bridges and more!
Orillia Spring Blues Festival – June 8-10 http://www.orilliaspringblues.com Featuring Booker T. Jones(pictured), Jordan John & The Blues Angels, Mike McKenna/Lance Anderson, Curley Bridges, Chuck Jackson & The Big Bad Blues Band, Morgan Davis, Paul James Band, The Distillery, Ronnie Douglas, Wayne Buttery and more!
Chicago Blues Festival – June 8-10 Featuring Mavis Staples, L’il Ed & The Blues Imperials, Billy Branch and more!
TD Toronto Jazz Festival – June 22-July 1 http://torontojazz.com/ Featuring Tedeschi Trucks Band and more!
Montreal Jazz Festival – June 28-July 7 http://www.montrealjazzfest.com/ Featuring George Thorogood & The Destroyers, JJ Grey & Mofro and more!
Ottawa Bluesfest – July 4-15 http://www.ottawabluesfest.ca/
Porquis Blues Festival – July 6-8 http://www.porquis.ca/ Featuring Robin Banks, Pappy John’s Band, Erin McCAllum and more!
Thunder Bay Blues Festival – July 6-8 http://www.tbayblues.ca Featuring Tedeschi Trucks Band, Jonny Lang, .38 Special, Sonny Landreth, Scrapomatic, Joe Louis Walker, Sass Jordan, MonkeyJunk and more!
Tremblant International Blues Festival – July 6-15 http://www.tremblantblues.com
London International Bluesfest – July 13-15 http://www.thebluesfest.com/ Featuring Reverend Peyton’s Big Damned Band, Smokin’ Joe Kubek & Bnois King, Johnny Max, Steven Page and more!
Windsor International Bluesfest– July 13-15 http://www.thebluesfest.com/ Featuring Edgar Winter, Sugar Ray, Big Brother & the Holding Company, Jimmy Bowskill and more!
Frankford Island Blues Festival July 13-15 http://www.loyalblues.ca/festival.htm
Beaches International Jazz Festival – July 20-29 http://www.beachesjazz.com/
Underground Railroad Music Festival – August 18 http://www.braithwaiteandwhiteley.com/music-festival.html Featuring Diana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley, Curley Bridges, Blackburn, Harrison Kennedy and more!
Donnacona Blues Festival – Aug 7-12 http://www.donnaconablues.com/
Kitchener Blues Festival – August 9-12 http://www.kitchenerbluesfestival.com Featuring Colin James, Los Lobos, The Twisters, David Rotundo, John Finley, Douglas Watson, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Alfie Smith, Carlos del Junco, Ken Whiteley, Harry Manx, Pappy John’s Band, Marcia Ball, Shane Murphy, Treasa Levasseur, Joe Louis Walker, Cheryl Lescom, James Anthony, Taj Mahal, John Knight and more!
Festiblues – August 10-14 http://www.festiblues.com/ Featuring Anthony Gomes, The 24th Street Wailers, Blues Bound, Pamela, Patrick Lehman and more!
Calabogie Blues Festival – August 17-19 http://calabogieblues.com
Limestone City Blues Festival – Aug 23-26 http://www.kingstonblues.com
Edmonton Blues Festival – Aug 24-26 http://www.bluesinternationalltd.com/ Featuring Moreland & Arbuckle, Duke Robillard, Charlie Musselwhite, Lionel Young, Tommy Castro and more!
Southside Shuffle – September 7-9 http://www.southsideshuffle.com/ Featuring the 2012 TBS Talent Search Winner and more!
Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival – September 11-16 http://www.harvestjazzandblues.com Featuring Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Maceo Parker, Charles Bradley, John Mayall, Oli Brown and more!
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 Submit for the TBS Talent Search
Attention emerging Canadian blues artists…The Toronto Blues Society Talent Search is back! Six finalists will be chosen to perform at the finals taking place at Nathan Phillips Square during City of Toronto’s Tasty Thursdays on Thursday August 16, noon-2pm. The finalists will compete for a grand prize which includes a showcase at the Blues Summit Six, a performance at the Southside Shuffle Festival, a show at The Delta Chelsea Monarchs Pub, a photo shoot with Bill King, recording/mixing time at Revolution Studios, and consultations with industry professionals!
Submissions are open now, and close on Friday June 15 at 5pm. You may submit through Sonicbidshttp://www.sonicbids.com/Opportunity/OpportunityView.aspx?opportunity_id=106751 or send a physical package to the TBS office (Talent Search Submission, 910 Queen Street West, Suite B04, Toronto, ON, M6J 1G6) with a CD, one sheet, and a cheque for $15. Eligibility is limited to acts who are not on a major label, do not have a major distribution deal (i.e. not distributed to retail stores) and have not been chosen as a finalist in a past edition of the talent search.
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 SAVE MONEY on TBS events
Become a TBS Member Today! Have the Maple Blues Magazine delivered right to your door each month. Meet like-minded blues lovers and help keep the blues alive in Toronto. The Toronto Blues Society offers several different membership options:
CHARTER MEMBERSHIP – $50/year – Monthly Maple Blues Newsletter, membership card, DISCOUNTS to TBS Events, exclusive access to special TBS events, other discounts, and voting rights.
FAMILY MEMBERSHIP – $70/year – Same privileges as Charter membership for a maximum of two adults and two children under 19.
INSTITUTIONAL or BENEFACTOR MEMBERSHIP – $125/year – Same privileges as Charter membership, plus more – Please inquire.
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP – $35/year – Monthly Maple Blues Newsletter sent in fourth class mail
STUDENT MEMBERSHIP – $20/year – Same benefits as CHARTER membership (please include student card number)
Contact the TBS office today!
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