In this issue…
• Gladstone Hotel First Thursday – Tonight: Carlos del Junco w/Ken Whiteley!
• The Rose Outdoor Friday Night Concert Series
• Underground Railroad Music Festival
• Talent Search Finalists
• Renew Now
• Toronto Blues Society Women’s Blues Revue
• Summer Blues Festivals
• Calling for Submissions to showcase at OCFF/IBC and Emerging Artist CD Tracks!
• Concert Notes
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 Gladstone Hotel First Thursday – Tonight: Carlos del Junco w/Ken Whiteley!
The Toronto Blues Society presents the best in blues talent the first Thursday of each month at The Melody Bar in The Gladstone Hotel. There is no cover charge and each performance begins at 8:30pm. Arrive early to get a good table, and don’t forget to try the hotel’s tasty local food menu. Tonight‘s performance features Maple Blues Award winner Carlos del Junco who just released his sixth full band CD Mongrel Mash. He will be accompanied by veteran multi-instrumentalist Ken Whiteley. Please note that the series will be paused for August, returning in September. http://www.gladstonehotel.com/food
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 The Rose Outdoor Friday Night Concert Series
The Rose Theatre in Brampton is hosting a free Friday night concert series that begins at 8pm each week. The line-up is: The Marigolds (tomorrow night), The Laws (July 15), Treasa Levasseur (July 22, pictured), Michael Pickett (July 29), Christina Martin (Aug 5), Kevin Breit Trio (Aug 19), Dean McTaggart & Friends w/Suzie Vinnick (Aug 26).
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 Underground Railroad Music Festival
The Underground Railroad Music Festival returns this year, taking place in Drayton at Centennial Park on August 13, Noon-7pm. Drayton is in the region of Ontario that was a main terminus on the Underground Railroad. The festival is a celebration of the lives and contributions of the early Black settlers that came to Canada in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s. Performances include Harrison Kennedy, Curley Bridges, Kevin Breit, Doug Watson, Chris & Jesse Whiteley, Miss Angel, Donovan Locke, Diana Braithwaite (pictured with Chris Whiteley) and guest speaker Pastor Tim Bailey. Tickets are available at http://www.braithwaiteandwhiteley.com/music-festival.html
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 Talent Search Finalists
The Toronto Blues Society will host performances from the six finalists at Nathan Phillips Square on Thurs Aug 18, noon- 2pm during City of Toronto’s Tasty Thursday series. Stop by on your lunch break and catch the best in emerging blues talent. The finalists have been selected to perform before a panel of judges where one artist will win a professional development package that includes showcase opportunities at the Blues Summit Six, the South Side Shuffle Festival and the Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival in 2012, a photo shoot with Bill King, mentoring sessions with industry professionals, rehearsal time at Pro Rehearsal & Backline, and more. Congrats to the finalists: Nicole Christian, The Distillery (pictured) , Richard Henderson, Bradleyboy MacArthur, Fraser Melvin Blues Band, and Ken Yoshioka!
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 Renew Now
The TBS membership rates have not changed for many years despite increases to the cost of printing and mailing. In addition, we have been absorbing the GST and now HST within the membership fee.
With the increase to the federal sales tax, we will be moving our rates up in the Charter, General and Family categories ($5) as of September. Take advantage of this early warning and renew now.
Enjoy the benefits of discounted tickets to TBS events. 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 – $45/year – Monthly Maple Blues Newsletter, membership card, discounts to TBS Events, exclusive access to special TBS events, other discounts, and voting rights.
FAMILY MEMBERSHIP – $65/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 – $30/year – Monthly Maple Blues Newsletter
STUDENT MEMBERSHIP – $20/year – Same benefits as CHARTER membership (please include student card number)
Contact the TBS office today!
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 Toronto Blues Society Women’s Blues Revue
The 25th annual Toronto Blues Society Women’s Blues Revue will take place at the historic Massey Hall on Saturday November 26. This year the band will feature band leader Donna Grantis (guitar), Lily Sazz (keyboards, pictured), Brandi Disterheft (bass), Lindsay Beaver (drums), Colleen Allen (sax), Carrie Chesnutt (sax) and Rebecca Hennessy (trumpet). Watch this space each week for more lineup details!
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 Summer Blues Festivals
Ottawa Bluesfest – July 5-17 http://www.ottawabluesfest.ca/
Porquis Blues Festival – July 8-10 http://www.porquis.ca/
Thunder Bay Blues Festival featuring Buddy Guy (pictured) – July 8-10 http://www.tbayblues.ca
Blues Mountain Ribfest – July 8-10 http://www.bluemountainschiliribfest.ca/
Mariposa Folk Festival – July 8-10 http://www.mariposafolk.com/
London International Bluesfest – July 15-17 http://www.thebluesfest.com/
Windsor International Bluesfest – July 15-17 http://www.thebluesfest.com/
Frankford Island Blues Festival – July 15-17 http://www.loyalblues.ca
Beaches International Jazz Festival – July 15-24 – http://www.beachesjazz.com/
Burlington Jazz & Blues Festival – July 22-24 http://www.burlingtonjazzbluesfestival.ca/
Kitchener Blues Festival – August 4-7 http://www.kitchenerbluesfestival.com
Underground Railroad Music Festival – August 13 http://www.braithwaiteandwhiteley.com/music-festival.html
Limestone City Blues Festival – August 25-28 http://www.kingstonblues.com/
CNE Blues Festival – August 28 http://www.theex.com/
Southside Shuffle – September 9-11 http://www.southsideshuffle.com/
Blues Festival Season has arrived! For more information on blues, roots, and jazz festivals, check out https://torontobluessociety.com/2011/05/summer-blues-festivals/, as well as http://bluesfestivalguide.com/, http://www.ocff.ca/, http://www.jazzfestivalscanada.ca/
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 Calling for Submissions to showcase at OCFF/IBC and Emerging Artist CD Tracks!
EMERGING ARTIST CD: The Toronto Blues Society is putting together an emerging Toronto artist compilation recording. If you are an artist who is still in the development stage of your career and have original material already recorded, please contact the office with a link to your music.
ONTARIO COUNCIL OF FOLK FESTIVALS: The Toronto Blues Society will once again put on a showcase at the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals Conference taking place in Niagara Falls, Oct 13-16. This annual conference provides an opportunity for artists to network with festivals, publications, promoters, publicists, agents and other artists. For more information on the conference, go to http://www.ocff.ca. Contact the TBS office if you are interested in a showcase slot and conditions.
INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE: The International Blues Challenge takes place in Memphis Jan 31-Feb 4. If you are a tour-ready artist interested in representing the TBS, please contact the office to learn more. There are three categories that can be represented: youth (under 21), solo/duo, or band (3 or more members). To find out more about IBC, go to http://www.blues.org/ibc/#ref=ibc_index
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 Concert Notes
The Black Keys – Molson Amphitheatre – July 7 | Eric Bibb – Peter’s Players – July 8 | Oli Brown w/The Distillery – Lee’s Palace – July 12 | Leon Russell w/Paul James – Sound Academy – July 13 | Suzie Vinnick (pictured) – Nathan Phillips Square – July 13 | McKenna Gibson Band – Hugh’s Room – July 15 | John Primer – Wilno Tavern – July 15 | Matt Schofield Trio – Peter’s Players – July 15 | Kal David – Peter’s Players – July 16 | John Primer – Tweedsmuir Hotel – July 16 | The Distillery CD Release – Gladstone Hotel – July 28 | Chris Smither – Hugh’s Room – July 31 | Johnny Winter – Oakville Centre – Aug 3 | Jimmie Vaughan – Peter’s Players – Aug 4 & 5 | Johnny Winter w/David Gogo – Picton Regent Theatre – Aug 5 | Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne – Delta Chelsea Hotel Monarchs Pub – Aug 6 | John Mayall – Peter’s Players – Aug 8 | Willie “Big Eyes” Smith – Peter’s Players – Aug 11 | FATHEAD – Hugh’s Room – Aug 12 | Dr. John – Rose Theatre – Aug 12 | Suzie Vinnick – Mel Lastman Square – Aug 12 | Urban Preacher CD Release – Mod Club Theatre – Aug 13 | Kelly Joe Phelps – Hugh’s Room – Aug 16 | John Finley & The Checkmates – Peter’s Players – Aug 17 | Gregg Allman– Queen Elizabeth Theatre – Sept 9 | Rita Chiarelli – Hugh’s Room – Sept 17 | Boubacar Traore – Hugh’s Room – Oct 3 | Michael Jerome Browne – Gladstone Hotel Melody Bar – Nov 3 | John Mayall w/Harrison Kennedy – Brock University Centre for the Arts – Dec 1
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