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The subtitle, The Hard and the Strong, completes a title that fits in well with the opening press release quote from Mojo magazine that Julian Fauth ‘practically redefines eclectic’. Aside from a couple of originals, Fauth embarks on a journey through Anglo-American folk & blues standards re-imagined as only he can.

The blues will be alive and well in Atikoken, ON as long as these two stay there. They record there and sometimes they go to Clarksdale MS to record but this time they came here. And it’s a full band album, with Queen Street scene veterans and friends of Reno Jack’s from his days at the Cameron House coming on board.

Jack de Keyzer returns to Hugh’s Room Live on September 23^rd with this wonderful compilation in hand. Drawn from throughout his storied, twenty-four-year career this immediately becomes a ‘must have’. For this set, he has re-mastered and re-mixed the songs and added one from his side-career as a first call guitarist for Electro-Fi Records plus three previously unreleased tunes.

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.

Andria Simone will perform at the TBS Women’s Blues Revue

Blues at Kensington Jazz: The new kid on the block on Toronto’s jazz festival circuit, Kensington Market Jazz Festival debuted in style in 2016 when over 200 musicians performed over 3 days to packed houses, enthusiastic crowds and a buzzing neighbourhood. The second annual KMJF is back September 15, 16 and 17 with the addition of a big band stage and a new series of curated busking within popular Kensington Market businesses.

Take four accomplished younger players and add one veteran vocalist – it’s a recipe that worked for Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets featuring Sam Myers and it has been repeated successfully since. The Cash Box Kings was formed in Madison WI in 2001 by harmonica player Jay Nosek. South Side singer Oscar Wilson joined in 2007. There have been eight albums since and this is their first for Alligator.

This Montreal-based vocalist/songwriter/ harpist was first runnerup in our Talent Search in 2006 and showcased at the Blues Summit the following year. He released Sweet Warm Jelly in 2013. He continues the food theme with Big Beets. Guitarist Jim Bland opens the program in fine fashion with a reverb-laden solo before the band kicks in on “St. John Morning Blues”.

For blues bands actually based in Cottage Country instead of just visiting, we have The Mackenzie Blues Band in Owen Sound and Tobin Spring in Huntsville to name two, but there is now also 12BeLowZero, based in & around Port Elgin.

After a rather long hiatus on disc the veteran Hamilton band Trickbag is back (Not to be confused with an American band of the same name). They got their start backing King Biscuit Boy and three of the original members are still going strong: Larry Feudo on guitar & harp, Donna Panchezak on vocals & percussion and Paul Panchezak on drums.