Odds and sods from the Toronto blues community and beyond.
Festival Fever: If you didn’t get to a summer blues festival yet, the night is young. Coming up August 4, the world-class Kitchener finds its legs and even though it might not have the long list of American superstars that we have seen pre-pandemic, they’re bringing in a slew of top-notch blues greats from the States and beyond
Festivals in Full Swing: The Toronto Jazz Festival is happening as we go to print with a smattering of blues content
Congratulations! Brooke Blackburn wins solo/duo category at the IBC Challenge at Bobby O’Brien’s in Kitchener. Blackburn, a Torontonian, will be representing the Grand River Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. He used to call Guelph home.
Union Summer Market: With massive renovations and upgrades nearing completion, Union Station is working to create social spaces for travellers and a variety of communities. Toronto Blues Society will be a partner in presenting a series of free outdoor concerts on the north face of Union Station, in the shadow of the Royal York and offering a mix of food / beverage options with fine music talent. At press time the line up is still forming but noon-hour concerts followed by after-work sessions will fill the calendar, TBS enjoying the lunch sessions with “Blue Monday” artists drawn from Toronto’s deep reservoir of performers.
Memphis Calling: Congratulations to Bywater Call who who were just selected to represent the Grand River Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. They rocked Stonewalls in Hamilton along with the Paul Coombs Band, Riley Michaels, Frank Cosentino, Garnetta & Dagroovmasters, Long Black Cadillacs and Jim Dan Dee for a memorable showcase of Southern Ontario blues talent.
Toronto City Budget includes Increases For The Arts: Toronto City Council has approved an enhancement of $1.83 million to Economic Development and Culture, of which Toronto Arts Council will receive a much-needed $500,000, or 2% increase. This increase, which comes at a time of ongoing pandemic disruption, affirms City Council’s understanding of the benefits of arts funding to the city. According to Stats Canada, Toronto’s arts sector has been amongst the very hardest hit by COVID-19. For the last couple of years, every musician in town has been singing the blues.
Talkin’ Blues: Mako Funasaka has posted the 300th episode of the Talkin’ Blues Podcast featuring an interview with American guitarist, composer, singer, songwriter and producer Steve Vai
Pioneering Canadian blueswomen honoured: On December 17, Canada’s “First Lady of the Blues,” Salome Bey was posthumously inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame. Jackie Richardson, who was chosen to honour Salome was herself just invested into the Order of Canada for “…distinguished service in or to a particular community, group or field of activity.” Both women have been an inspiration to a whole new generation of young female singers who are making their mark on the Canadian (and international) blues scene.
Grammy Nominations: Congratulations to the nominees
Raoul and the Show Time: The multi-talented harpmeister Raoul Bhaneja is part of one of the hottest new shows on TV, Lost Symbol, one of the biggest releases of the year. It is an American TV series that comes under the adventure and mystery genre. Its story has been adapted from the novel named The Lost Symbol, which Dan Brown wrote. Brown is the author of the acclaimed Da Vinci Code franchise. Raoul plays a janitor/hit-man and puts on a rather sinister persona. As they say in showbiz, he killed it. Showing now Monday nights on Showcase.
©2024 Toronto Blues Society. Design by Janine Stoll Media.
TBS logo and WBR artwork by Barbara Klunder
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.
