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This month’s recommended listening by Brad Wheeler, music writer for the Globe and Mail Twitter: @bwheelerglobe

Blues for the Red Door is back and some of the finest musicians from across Southern Ontario will again take the stage at Lula Lounge on Sunday, November 3 to give of their time, sing their hearts out and make music for this worthy cause. This year’s amazing lineup includes headliners Tyler Yarema & Janice Hagen, Jerome Godboo, Rick Taylor, Fraser Melvin & Raha Javanfar, Johnny Max, Sugar Brown, Sean Pinchin, as well as special appearance from Bywater Call with the night hosted and presented by Big Rude Jake (pictured), and Pivotal Productions.

Join us on Monday, October 28 at the Dakota Tavern to experience the International Blues Challenge “Road to Memphis” competition. Cheer for your favourite artist as they battle on stage to represent Toronto at the IBC. This year Sean Pinchin and Brian Blain will compete for the Solo/Duo Category while Sandra Bouza and Jim Dan Dee will reveal their chops for the Band category at the IBC.

Tickets: $7/TBS Members, $10/Non-Members | Admission at door. Cash Only.

The monthly Blues series, “Blues Revival” continues with the 2019 TBS Talent Search runner-up Kalyna Rakel on October 17! Come and enjoy a blues evening in an intimate space surrounded by vinyl, Armenian coffee, booze, and some good yums that Antikka – Cafe & Records has to offer!

Toronzo Cannon is as good a representation of Chicago blues today as you’re likely to find: born and raised in the projects on the south side near Theresa’s Lounge, playing in blues bands behind local players Tommy McCracken, Wayne Baker Brooks, L.V. Banks and Joanna Connor, the singer/guitarist formed his own band in 2003. He sees a Chicago that few people see because he’s CTA bus driver.

Arsen Shomakhov’s last album, Dynamic, got him a nomination for New Artist in the Maple Blues Awards. For his new one, this Russian-born Vancouver resident went to one of the hottest studios in blues today, Kid Andersen’s Greaseland in San Jose CA. 

The name Jennis combines Jen Gillmor and Dennis Gaumond. Gillmor is a veteran of our Indie scene and Gaumond is a veteran Guelph-based guitarist with several pre-Jennis releases in his discography.

This month’s recommended listening by John Valenteyn, host of John Valenteyn’s Blues on ciut.fm, 89.5 and CD reviewer for Maple Blues.  

John Valenteyn’s Blues on CIUT-FM has moved to a new time. It’s now broadcast Fridays from 1-2pm.  John showcases concert previews, Blues Society events, new music releases and blues news. The shows are available as podcasts at www.ciut.fm. Photo by Doug MacVicar.

As our first bluesman made a member of the Order of Canada, Big Dave McLean’s new album was highly anticipated. It turns out that it is the first one devoted almost entirely to his own songs.