Blues for the Red Door: The spirit of Big Rude Jake comes forth for the 10th Annual “Blues for the Red Door” soiree. The fundraiser returns to the Long Branch Social House in Etobicoke on Sunday, November 10. This year’s fundraiser features Shakura S’Aida, Brooke Blackburn, Garnetta Cromwell, Cheryl Lescom, Chuck Jackson and Tyler Yarema with an all-star backup band, Roberta Hunt, Rebecca Hennesy, Russ Boswell and Michelle Josef under the musical direction of Margaret Stowe. Johnny Max returns as the lively, indefatigable host-with-the-most where he will channel the spirit of the event’s founder, Jake Hiebert.
Back in 2014, after reading news articles on the demise of the premises for the Red Door Shelter, Jake wanted to do something to help. “I knew that there had to be a way for me to support the construction of a new building. I knew it was not acceptable that the vital services the Shelter provides to our communities, would no longer exist. The families needed a place to go, a safe place where they could build on a new future that was full of peace and serenity. One in which the children could flourish, and parents could do more than just survive. They could live a life without violence and with a support system to ensure that they could thrive in the future.” A new facility was built and since 2020 the funds have been supporting the food bank and child and youth programming at Red Door. www.bluesforthereddoor.ca.

Doc’s Diary: If you didn’t catch Doc MacLean at the Southside Shuffle, his Secret Stories Tour will briefly dip back into Ontario this month before he returns to South Africa. On tour most of this year, he made his way through Australia, UK, Ireland, and is currently playing dates in Eastern Canada and the Maritime provinces. Try to catch his unique brand of delta blues and roots as he briefly circles back into Ontario on these dates: Noon concert at Toronto Metropolitan University on Nov. 7, Ganaraska Hotel in Port Hope on Nov 8 Old Church Theatre in Trenton on Nov. 9, The Cove at Westport on Nov. 14, and for those in Uxbridge a House Concert is planned for Nov. 23. For more tour info, see https://jojomanblues.blogspot.com/

Ken Whiteley’s CD Release & Sunday Gospel Matinee @ Hugh’s Room Live: On Sunday, November 24, Ken Whiteley celebrates the release of a new album, Unseen Hands 12 Songs 12 Strings. Georgia Harmer, Garnetta Cromwell and Ciceal Levy, backed by the great rhythm section of Bucky Berger on drums and Ben Whiteley on bass. Speaking of the new album Ken says, “When the younger generation asks me in the future what I did at this crucial time in our climate emergency I want to be able to say that I did the best I could. This new album is one piece of that effort.” Showtime is 2pm. Check out the first single/video, “Hole In The Clouds” on YouTube.

Western Canadian Music Awards: The winners of Breakout West have been announced and Blue Moon Marquee gained another trophy for their mantle. The other nominees for Blues Artist of the Year were Brandon Isaak, Garret T. Willie, Kinjo & Young and Paul Black. https://breakoutwest.ca/awards/music-awards

Celebrating a Toronto landmark: Author Daniel Tate, who put out a comprehensive overview of the Toronto music scene in his book/blog/i-gram The Flyer Vault, has a new book called Stories of the Stage which celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Scotiabank Arena with memories of the Tragically Hip, Madonna and even a bit of blues via Eric Clapton.

– Brian Blain, Janet Alilovic