When: January 15, 16, 2005.
Where: Silver Dollar, Chicago’s, Healey’s, Monarchs.
Who: Twenty Blues Artists, see attached
What: National Blues Showcase
Why: A celebration of the blues.
Toronto, December 8, 2004…The Toronto Blues Society has selected the artists for its Blues Summit II Festival, Jan 15-17 at venues throughout Toronto. The winners were chosen from submissions from across the country and range from long-established artists such as Montreal’s Bob Walsh and Sidemen veteran Paul Reddick to newcomers Roxanne Potvin from Ottawa and wunderkind Jimmy Bowskill out of Peterborough.
The festival kicks off on Jan 15 as Montreal takes over Healey’s (178 Bathurst St.) with performances from Bharath and the Catfish, Kevin Mark, Bob Walsh, and Pat the White. This is a rare chance to see some of the Quebec blues scene’s hottest acts in one place.
At the Silver Dollar Room (486 Spadina Ave.), one of two new artists featured at the festival will take to the stage. Potvin, nominated for New Artist of the Year at the 8th Annual Maple Blues Awards, will share the night with Anderson/Sloski, Raoul and the Bigtime, and Ottawa’s JW-Jones. On Sunday, fellow New Artist nominee Bowskill will play at Healey’s with Toronto superstars Reuben Cherry, and African blues guitarist Adam Solomon. Kevin Breit‘s boundary pushing project John & the Sisters, close the night. For a complete list of all showcasing artists and venues, visit www.torontobluessociety.com/summit/showcases.htm.
The festival runs concurrently with Blues Summit II, January 15-17 at the Delta Chelsea Hotel (33 Gerard St. W.) in Toronto. This three-day conference is an opportunity for the blues community to personally connect with key leaders in the industry, and attend professional development seminars, working meetings, and showcase concerts. Blues Summit II is the largest meeting of blues artistic directors in Canada with representatives from over 20 blues, roots, and jazz festivals including: Edmonton Blues Festival, Hornby Island Blues Festival, Thunder Bay Blues Festival, South Side Shuffle, Distillery Blues Festival, Harvest Jazz and Blues (Fredricton), and Festi Blues (Montreal).
Blues artists and industry members can register for Blues Summit II online at www.torontobluessociety.com/summit. Delegates attending the Summit or the Maple Blues Awards are eligible for a special room price at the Delta Chelsea Hotel. To receive this special rate, rooms must be booked before December 31.
The Blues Summit is supported by Northern Blues Records, FACTOR and the Government of Canada through the Canadian Music Fund, the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Canada Council, SOCAN, the Ontario Ministry of Culture and the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council.