37th Women’s Blues Revue

Massey Hall & Toronto Blues Society

Present

THE 37TH WOMEN’S BLUES REVUE 

Friday November 29, 2024

Live at Massey Hall

Bringing blues lovers together for an evening honouring the contributions to the genre with some of Canada’s finest musicians.

GET TICKETS HERE

Featured Performers

Diana Braithwaite

Deemed a “blues icon” by the Toronto Star newspaper, Diana Braithwaite, an award-winning dynamic blues singer has been touring worldwide keeping the blues alive and performing to tens of thousands over her vast career presenting dynamic shows that combine contemporary originals with captivating blues hits from yesteryear.

Dubbed a ”national treasure” by Jazz Fm’s radio host Danny Marks, Diana Braithwaite was chosen by Sarah McLachlan to open Lilith Fair at the Molson Amphitheatre for an audience of 18,000.   Her talent, and authentic blues shows have led her into the company of such stalwarts as Albert Collins, John Lee Hooker and Jeff Healey. It was an encouraging and inspirational step in her career when as a young singer starting out, Diana had the honour to sing with legendary blues artists Buddy Guy and Junior Wells at Theresa’s Lounge, Southside Chicago.

For the past twenty years, Diana joined forces with her musical and life partner multi-instrumentalist,  and multi-award winner, Chris Whiteley.  Together the duo have been thrilling audiences internationally from the Georgia Sea Islands to England, Ireland, Wales, and Spain with their unique brand of classic, vintage blues. Together the duo were deemed “Masters of old school blues” by Blues Revue magazine.

In 2022, Diana Braithwaite became the first Black speaker at the National Blues Summit in Toronto where she delivered a heartfelt uplifting speech on moving forward – keeping the blues alive.

Diana’s appearances at shows in North America, the U.K., and Europe led to her reputation as a world-class blues singer. A graceful performer who “sings from the heart”. Braithwaite has become known on the national and international blues scene as one of the authentic blues singers of our time.

Tanika Charles

2x Juno Awards R&B/Soul Recording of the Year nominee and 3x Polaris Music Prize long-list nominee Tanika Charles in synonymous with Canadian Soul music. She has embraced the sound and aesthetic of the genre without gimmick, whilst pushing the boundaries of what audiences can expect. Her music revels in honesty and attitude, her live show is high energy and endearing, and she continues to organically win audiences over one album, one stream, and one encore at a time. 

Tanika is an Edmonton-raised first generation Trinidadian-Canadian residing in Toronto, but she is most at home on the stage. She embarked on her first cross Canada tour in 2016 and began performing internationally in 2017. Since then she has performed in over 150 cities across 10 countries ranging from headlining club dates, main stage festival slots, and even moving trains. For bookings Tanika is represented by Paquin Artists Agency (Canada) and Cartel Concerts (France). 

Kellylee Evans

Juno Award-winning, multi-Juno nominee singer, songwriter and
motivational speaker Kellylee Evans is a high-octane, chameleon-like
performer whose natural charm and improvisational vocal style embody
jazz, soul, pop, and hip-hop. She has toured extensively throughout the
world and opened up for artists as varied as John Legend, Tony Bennett,
Willie Nelson and Erykah Badu captivating audiences along the way. Once
signed to Universal Music, today she releases music on her own label,
Enliven Media.

Her new EP, Show Love, offers a fresh and innovative approach that
establishes new sonic terrain built on the foundation of familiar sounds
and styles from her six previous studio projects.

Rebecca Hennessy

“Joy Will Find Us” is Rebecca Hennessy’s follow-up album to her acclaimed 2020 release, “All The Little Things You Do”“an album that can’t be recommended too highly” – Ron Schepper. . Rebecca’s inviting, warm and clear voice delivers a continuation of her story from the last album. Exploring themes of hope, healing and new life,

“Joy Will Find Us” was recorded a month before her daughter was born, and finished while learning how to be a new mom. This album was recorded and co-produced at her home studio with her husband, Michael Herring. The sounds of world-acclaimed and celebrated musical voices: guitarist, Kevin Breit (Sister’s Euclid, Johnny Goldtooth, Norah Jones); Drummers, Dave Clark (Rheostatics, Gord Downie) and Tim Shia (Worst Pop Band Ever) are also featured on this album.

This is Rebecca’s second album collaborating with award-winning producer and engineer, David Travers-Smith (Jane Siberry, Veda Hille, Jayme Stone) Similar to Rebecca’s previous album, David masterfully produced the sounds of “Joy Will Find Us” to a level of lush expression and cohesiveness.

In 2020, Rebecca was awarded a Toronto Arts Council grant to write new music featuring the poetry of acclaimed indigenous author, Thomas King. The seven new songs from this project will be recorded and released as Rebecca’s third vocal project in 2024/25. This project is a continuation of a previous working relationship with King that started 2017 when she was commissioned to write music using his poetry. The music that Rebecca wrote for King’s Poem, “Dig Up The Stories”, was featured as an instrumental big band arrangement for Christine Jensen’s = Orchestra at The NAC in 2019.

Rebecca has released 9 other albums to date as co-leader or bandleader and has toured Mexico, Panama, Sri Lanka, Europe, USA and extensively in Canada. She joined the Yamaha Artist roster in 2021 and has also performed and recorded with internationally recognized artists including Adele, Ron Sexsmith, Andy Kim, Owen Pallett, Broken Social Scene and Feist. She was the bandleader and trumpeter for Massey Hall’s Women’s Blues Revue (2013-2022) and in 2018, won the Toronto Arts Foundation Emerging Jazz Artist Award and was nominated for Montreal Jazz Festival Grand Prix de Jazz in 2016.

Meghan Parnell

Meghan Parnell is the lead singer and co-leader for Bywater Call, a multi-time Independent Blues and Maple Blues Award nominated band, and who was most recently named as a nominee for the UK Blues Awards International Artist of the Year alongside winner Larkin Poe.

With Bywater Call, Meghan has toured extensively in Europe, the USA and Canada, including several performances on Joe Bonamassa’s “Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea” Mediterranean Cruise in 2023 and an invitation to join Robert Randolph on stage during his set at the Briggs Farm Festival in Nescopeck, PA.

The band released their third studio album “Shepherd” on August 9, 2024.

Crystal Shawanda

Juno Award-winning powerhouse Crystal Shawanda is back with her latest studio album, Midnight Blues, on True North Records. Her latest fiery blues collection showcases her full-throttle raspy voice, unmatched in today`s musical landscape, and an authentic appreciation for the genre dating back to her youth.Produced and engineered in Nashville by her husband and long-time collaborator Dwayne Strobel, Midnight Blues — her eighth studio album, and fifth since switching from a chart-topping career as a country artist — is a collection of original songs, such as the seductive-sounding rocker “Midnight Blues,” swampy dancefloor groove “Rumpshaker,” and gentler “Take A Little Walk With The Moon,” as well as covers of the Howlin` Wolf classic “Evil” and her take on Celine Dion`s hit “That`s Just The Woman In Me.”Born in Wiikwemkoong First Nation, on Manitoulin Island, in Northern Ontario, Crystal was introduced to the blues by her eldest brother and to old-time country by her parents. “I was also into other styles of music that led me to the blues,” she says, citing everything from Elvis Presley`s “Hound Dog,” written by Big Mama Thornton, to R&B-pop star Monica`s “Misty Blue,” by Dorothy Moore.And yet Crystal`s first foray as a professional singer was in country music, not blues. She was in her early 20s and had immediate success after signing a U.S. record deal with RCA Nashville. 2008`s Dawn of a New Day, featuring the single “You Can Let Go,” reached No. 1 on the Canadian Country Album chart and No. 16 on the Billboard Top Country Albums, the highest charting album by a full-blooded Canadian Indigenous country artist (in the SoundScan-era).The following year she left the label and created her own, New Sun Records. Her first release was the holiday album I`ll Be Home For Christmas. Her next country album was 2010`s Just Like You, which won a 2013 Juno Award for Best Aboriginal Album, before she made the change to the blues with 2014`s The Whole World`s Got The Blues. Two years later, in quick succession, came 2016`s Fish Out of Water and 2017`s Voodoo Woman, then recognition as a bonafide blues talent with 2020`s Church House Blues, which won the 2021 Juno Award for Best Blues album.

Quisha Wint – Host

Quisha Wint is a dynamic performing artist, community leader, entrepreneur, and speaker/host. She is the President of QW Productions, overseeing a range of creative projects in the music and entertainment industry. As the Chair of the Toronto Blues Society, Quisha has been instrumental in leading the organization through key initiatives, including the Maple Blues Awards and community outreach efforts. She is also the co-producer, in partnership with Massey Hall, for the 37th annual Women’s Blues Revue, a celebrated event showcasing top female talent in blues music.

In addition to her leadership in the blues community, Quisha has served on the board and programming committee for Hugh’s Room Live since 2020, contributing to the strategic direction of one of Toronto’s premier live music venues.

Quisha is the co-founder, alongside author Jennifer Dance Bowen, of Dandelions in the Wind, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth through theatrical performances, audio theatre, and educational programs. Under her leadership, the company performed its first musical in 2017 and is now focused on bringing the production back to the public stage after transitioning to audio theatre during the pandemic.

With a deep passion for music, arts, and community, Quisha mentors young talents, organizes vocal classes and music camps, and shares her expertise through presentations like her upcoming songwriting workshop for educators. As a speaker and host, she engages audiences across a variety of platforms, further expanding her influence within the cultural landscape. Her commitment to diversity, youth mentorship, and artistic expression makes her a vital figure in Toronto’s cultural community.