Gladstone Series: Layla Zoe – Tonight!

The Toronto Blues Society presents the best in blues talent the first Thursday of each month at the recently renovated Melody Bar in The Gladstone Hotel. Performances are free to the public and begin at 9pm. The next show is tonight featuring a duo performance by Layla Zoe!

Mark your calendar for Morgan Davis (May 3) http://www.gladstonehotel.com

Congrats to JUNO Award Winner MonkeyJunk!

MonkeyJunk took home the blues award at the JUNO Awards and also presented an award to Leslie Feist on live television! Congrats to MonkeyJunk and the other nominees in the blues category: Suzie Vinnick, Harrison Kennedy, Bill Johnson, and David Gogo who performed at The Rainbow Bistro in Ottawa during JUNOFest!

Benefit Concert for Jeff Healey Park

Friends of the late Jeff Healey (pictured) will be performing a benefit to make Etobicoke’s Jeff Healey Park more accessible for disabled children. On Thursday April 12 at 9pm, Sound Academy (11 Polson St) will host artists including Randy Bachman, Paul James, Jack de Keyzer, Danny Marks, Tony “Wild T” Springer, Lamont James, and the Dave Murphy Band in an effort to raise funds to acquire special playground equipment for disabled children. Tickets can be purchased in advance through www.ticketmaster.ca. Doors at 8pm.

Digital Dollars: Let’s Get Video

The fourth Digital Dollars seminar “Let’s Get Video” will take place at Lula Lounge (1585 Dundas St W, M6K 1T9) on Saturday April 21, 1pm-4pm. This session will feature David Newland (Roots Music Canada, host), Eric Alper (eOne Music), Andy Frank (Frankcasting New Media), Joel Goldberg (Joel Goldberg Productions) and Tiffany Ferguson (MuchFACT). The monthly seminar series features leading thinkers on the new digital music landscape. Check out the first three sessions at www.livestream.com/torontobluessociety. The FREE ADMISSION series is being presented by the Toronto Blues Society, Batuki Music, OCFF and Lula Lounge, and is supported by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture.
Mark your calendar for the final session “Let’s Get Music Fans” on Sat May 26 featuring Johan Hultqvist (Pinwheel Music), Kevin LeFlar (Official Community), Reginald Ray (Small World Music), Dmitri Vietze (Rock Paper Scissors) and Allison Saretsky (Luminato). http://digitaldollars2012.com/

Talent Search Submissions

Attention emerging Canadian blues artists…The Toronto Blues Society Talent Search is back! Six finalists will be chosen to perform at the finals taking place at Nathan Phillips Square during City of Toronto’s Tasty Thursdays on Thursday August 16, noon-2pm. The finalists will compete for a grand prize which includes a showcase at the Blues Summit Six, a performance at the Southside Shuffle Festival, a show at The Delta Chelsea Monarchs Pub, a photo shoot with Bill King, recording/mixing time at Revolution Studios, and consultations with industry professionals.

Submissions are open now, and close on Friday June 15 at 5pm. You may submit through Sonicbids http://www.sonicbids.com/Opportunity/OpportunityView.aspx?opportunity_id=106751 or send a physical package to the TBS office (Talent Search Submission, 910 Queen Street West, Suite B04, Toronto, ON, M6J 1G6) with a CD, one sheet, and a cheque for $15. Eligibility is limited to acts who are not on a major label, do not have a major distribution deal (i.e. not distributed to retail stores) and have not been chosen as a finalist in a past edition of the talent search.

Mississippi Tourism: Golf & Blues Experience

It’s not too late to book your April blues trip! Love Golf? Love Blues? Get the best of both worlds with the Mississippi Tourism’s International Golf & Blues Experience! Hosted by Chuck Jackson, upcoming trips take place April 15-21 in Biloxi, MS and Oct 7-13 in Tunica, MS. To learn more, find out about TBS group rates and to book your trip, go to http://www.golfandblues.net/?refid=torontobluessociety

Holger Petersen – Talking Music at Toronto Public Libraries

The founding owner of Stony Plain Records and longtime host of CBC’s Saturday Night Blues, Petersen is one of the country’s most trusted authorities on all things blues. In this foray into print, he interviews some of the world’s most important and loved artists including Long John Baldry, Ry Cooder, Mick Fleetwood, Jeff Healey, Alan Lomax, Sam Phillips, Maria Muldaur, Bonnie Raitt, Duke Robillard and Mavis Staples. Don’t miss this rare treat to meet and quiz our national bluesologist. Holger will be speaking at S. Walter Stewart (170 Memorial Park Ave) on April 18 at 7pm-8:30pm, and at Cedarbrae (545 Markham Road) on April 19 at 1pm-2:30pm. Both of these events are free to the public, and Holger will be joined by Richard Flohil.

TBS 27th Birthday Party

Mark your calendar, the Toronto Blues Society is celebrating 27 years of promoting and preserving blues in Toronto! The Delta Chelsea Monarchs Pub will host the FREE event featuring a performance by Morgan Davis (pictured) on Thursday May 24 starting at 9pm, and cake will be served!

Become a TBS Member Today

SAVE MONEY on TBS events. Have the Maple Blues Magazine delivered right to your door each month. Meet like-minded blues lovers and help keep the blues alive in Toronto. The Toronto Blues Society offers several different membership options:

CHARTER MEMBERSHIP – $50/year – Monthly Maple Blues Newsletter, membership card, DISCOUNTS to TBS Events, exclusive access to special TBS events, other discounts, and voting rights.

FAMILY MEMBERSHIP – $70/year – Same privileges as Charter membership for a maximum of two adults and two children under 19.

INSTITUTIONAL or BENEFACTOR MEMBERSHIP – $125/year – Same privileges as Charter membership, plus more – Please inquire.

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP – $35/year – Monthly Maple Blues Newsletter sent in fourth class mail

STUDENT MEMBERSHIP – $20/year – Same benefits as CHARTER membership (please include student card number)

Contact the TBS office today!

Concert Notes

Layla Zoe– Gladstone Hotel Melody Bar – April 5  |  Canal Bank Shuffle Easter Event – April 5/6  |  Guitar Mikey – Hamilton Place – April 7  |  Bob Dylan Tribute w/Paul James, Shakura S’Aida, Suzie Vinnick and more – Hugh’s Room – April 7  |  Jeff Healey Park Accesibility Fundraiser featuring Randy Bachman, Danny Marks, Paul James, Jack de Keyzer, Tony “Wild T” Springer (pictured) – Sound Academy – April 12  |  Buddy Guy – Massey Hall – April 13  |  Stratford Rib & Blues Fest – April 14  |  Garrett Mason & Keith Hallet – Hugh’s Room – April 16  |  Colin James – Massey Hall – April 20  |  Ken Yoshioka CD Release – Aquila – April 21  |  Lee Oskar, David Rotundo, Enrico Crivellaro – Hugh’s Room – April 25  |  Kellylee Evans – Glenn Gould Studio – April 27  | Morgan Davis – Gladstone Hotel Melody Bar – May 3  |  Susie Arioli CD Release – Hugh’s Room – May 9  |  Steve Strongman CD Release – Delta  Chelsea Monarchs Pub – May 12  |  Shakura S’Aida CD Release – Hugh’s Room – May 18  |  Jay Douglas – Glenn Gould Studio – May 18  |  BB King – Casino Rama – May 24/25  |  TBS Birthday Party w/Morgan Davis – Delta Chelsea Monarchs Pub – May 24  |  Bonnie Raitt – Massey Hall – May 26  |  Kelly Joe Phelps – Hugh’s Room – June 1  |  George Thorogood & The Destroyers – Massey Hall – June 2  |  JW Jones CD Release – Hugh’s Room – June 7  |  Tedeschi Trucks Band – Toronto Jazz Festival – June 29  |  Toronto Blues Society Talent Search Finals – Nathan Phillips Square – Aug 16  |  26^th Toronto Blues Society Women’s Blues Revue – Massey Hall – Nov 24