In this issue…
• Gladstone Hotel First Thursday – Eugene Smith (Aug 4)
• Talent Search Finalists
• Toronto Blues Society Women’s Blues Revue
• Maple Blues Awards Presale
• Summer Blues Festivals
• Concert Notes

Gladstone Hotel First Thursday – Eugene Smith (Aug 4)

The Toronto Blues Society presents the best in blues talent the first Thursday of each month at The Melody Bar in The Gladstone Hotel. There is no cover charge and each performance begins at 8:30pm. Blues veteran Eugene Smith (pictured) performs on Aug 4. Marks your calendars for the fall lineup: Robin Banks w/Teddy Leonard (Sept 22 – note that this is not a first Thurs), Jimmy Bowskill solo (Oct 6), Michael Jerome Browne CD Release (Nov 3), and Doc MacLean (Dec 1). http://www.gladstonehotel.com/food

Talent Search Finalists

Congrats to the finalists:

Nicole Christian – http://www.nicolechristian.org 
The Distillery – http://www.reverbnation.com/thedistilleryblues 
Richard Henderson – http://www.myspace.com/richardhendersonsteelguitar 
Bradleyboy MacArthur (pictured) – http://www.bradleyboymacarthur.com 
The Fraser Melvin Blues Band – http://www.myspace.com/frasermelvinbluesband
Ken Yoshioka – http://www.myspace.com/kenyoshioka 

Emceed by radio personality Julie Hill, The Toronto Blues Society will host performances from the six finalists at Nathan Phillips Square on Thurs Aug 18, noon- 2pm during City of Toronto’s Tasty Thursday series. Stop by on your lunch break and catch the best in emerging blues talent. The finalists have been selected to perform before a panel of judges (Julie Hill, Richard Flohil, Rico Ferrara, Paul Sanderson) where one artist will win a professional development package that includes showcase opportunities at the Blues Summit Six, the South Side Shuffle Festival and the Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival, a photo shoot with Bill King, and more.

Toronto Blues Society Women’s Blues Revue

The 25^th annual Toronto Blues Society Women’s Blues Revue will take place at the historic Massey Hall on Saturday November 26. This year the band will feature band leader Donna Grantis (guitar), Lily Sazz (keyboards), Brandi Disterheft (bass), Lindsay Beaver (drums, pictured), Colleen Allen (sax), Carrie Chesnutt (sax) and Rebecca Hennessy (trumpet). Watch this space each week for more lineup details! The TBS member pre-sale begins Aug 10.

Maple Blues Awards Presale

For a third consecutive year, the Toronto Blues Society Maple Blues Awards take place in Koerner Hall on Monday, January 16, 2012. The 15th anniversary of the annual gala event celebrating Canadian blues features the finest musicians and special guests from across Canada, all backed by the Maple Blues Band. TBS member pre-sale tickets are on sale now! If you are a Charter Member in good standing, please call the TBS office to obtain the presale code and instructions. The public on sale date is July 25.

Summer Blues Festivals

Beaches International Jazz Festival featuring Raoul & The Big Time (pictured) – July 15-24 – http://www.beachesjazz.com/
Burlington Jazz & Blues Festival – July 22-24 http://www.burlingtonjazzbluesfestival.ca/
Kitchener Blues Festival – August 4-7 http://www.kitchenerbluesfestival.com
Underground Railroad Music Festival – August 13 http://www.braithwaiteandwhiteley.com/music-festival.html
Limestone City Blues Festival – August 25-28 http://www.kingstonblues.com/
CNE Blues Festival – August 28 http://www.theex.com/ 
Southside Shuffle – September 9-11 http://www.southsideshuffle.com/

Blues Festival Season is here! For more information on blues, roots, and jazz festivals, check out https://torontobluessociety.com/2011/05/summer-blues-festivals/, as well as http://bluesfestivalguide.com/, http://www.ocff.ca/, http://www.jazzfestivalscanada.ca/ 

Concert Notes

Little Miss Higgins (pictured) – Dakota Tavern – July 22  |  The Distillery CD Release – Gladstone Hotel Melody Bar – July 28  |  Chris Smither – Hugh’s Room – July 31 | Johnny Winter – Oakville Centre – Aug 3  |  Jimmie Vaughan – Peter’s Players – Aug 4 & 5  |  Bryan Lee – Cadillac Lounge – Aug 4  |  Johnny Winter w/David Gogo – Picton Regent Theatre – Aug 5  |  Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne – Delta Chelsea Hotel Monarchs Pub – Aug 6  |  John Mayall – Peter’s Players – Aug 8  |  Willie “Big Eyes” Smith – Peter’s Players – Aug 11  |  FATHEAD – Hugh’s Room – Aug 12  |  Dr. John – Rose Theatre – Aug 12  |  Suzie Vinnick – Mel Lastman Square – Aug 12  |  Urban Preacher CD Release – Mod Club Theatre – Aug 13  |  Kelly Joe Phelps – Hugh’s Room – Aug 16  |  John Finley & The Checkmates – Peter’s Players – Aug 17  |  Eric Sardinas – Hollywood on the Queensway – Aug 25  |  Colin Linden – Queen Elizabeth Theatre – Sept 9  |  Gregg Allman– Queen Elizabeth Theatre – Sept 9  |  Warren Haynes – Queen Elizabeth Theatre – Sept 14  |  Rita Chiarelli – Hugh’s Room – Sept 17  |  Paul James, Jack de Keyzer & Danny Marks – Hugh’s Room – Sept 28  |  Boubacar Traore – Hugh’s Room – Oct 3  |  Jeff Beck – Massey Hall – Oct 18  |  Michael Jerome Browne – Gladstone Hotel Melody Bar – Nov 3  |  Toronto Blues Society Women’s Blues Revue – Massey Hall – Nov 26  |  John Mayall w/Harrison Kennedy – Brock University Centre for the Arts – Dec 1  |  Maple Blues Awards – Koerner Hall – Jan 16  |  Mavis Staples – Koerner Hall – Jan 29  |  Sweet Honey in the Rock – Koerner Hall – Feb 10