In this issue…
• Gladstone Hotel First Thursday – Eugene Smith (Aug 4)
• Talent Search Finalists
• Toronto Blues Society Women’s Blues Revue – Tickets On Sale Aug 15
• Maple Blues Awards – Tickets on sale now!
• Concert For Peace
• Summer Blues Festivals
• Concert Notes
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 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.
Mark 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
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 Talent Search Finalists
Congrats to the finalists:
Nicole Christian – http://www.nicolechristian.org
The Distillery – http://www.thedistilleryblues.com
Richard Henderson – http://www.myspace.com/richardhendersonsteelguitar
Bradleyboy MacArthur – http://www.bradleyboymacarthur.com
The Fraser Melvin Blues Band (pictured) – http://www.myspace.com/frasermelvinbluesband
Ken Yoshioka – http://www.myspace.com/kenyoshioka
Emceed by CKLN radio personality Blues Doctor 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. http://www.toronto.ca/special_events/thursdays/2011/index.htm
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 Toronto Blues Society Women’s Blues Revue – Tickets On Sale Aug 15
The 25th 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), Colleen Allen (sax, pictured), Carrie Chesnutt (sax) and Rebecca Hennessy (trumpet). Watch this space each week for more lineup details! The TBS member pre-sale begins Aug 10, public on sale is Aug 15.
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 Maple Blues Awards – Tickets on sale now!
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. Tickets are on sale now! If you are a Charter Member in good standing, please call the TBS office to obtain the special discount code.
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 Concert For Peace
Michael and Louise Pickett present the fourth annual Concert For Peace on the north shore of Lake Erie in Crystal Beach, ON on September 4. This unique non-profit event supports www.ecojustice.ca (formerly Sierra Legal Defense Fund), and is a festival style show of top talent. Confirmed performers include Michael Pickett, Dominic Mancuso, DK Ibomeka w/Kevin Barrett, and Hard Ryde. For more information and to purchase tickets in advance, please visit http://www.michaelpickett.com/news.shtml
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 Summer Blues Festivals
Kitchener Blues Festival featuring Gregg Allman (pictured) – 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/
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/
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 Concert Notes
Chris Smither – Hugh’s Room – July 31 | Johnny Winter – Oakville Centre – Aug 3 | Eugene Smith – Gladstone Hotel Melody Bar – Aug 4 | Jimmie Vaughan – Peter’s Players – Aug 4 & 5 | Bryan Lee – Cadillac Lounge – Aug 4 | Johnny Winter w/David Gogo – Constance Bay Community Centre – Aug 4 | Johnny Winter w/David Gogo – Picton Regent Theatre – Aug 5 | Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne (pictured) – 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 | Kelly Joe Phelps – Hugh’s Room – Aug 16 | Gary Clark Jr – Peter’s Players – Aug 18 | Eric Sardinas – Hollywood on the Queensway – Aug 25 | 2nd Annual Tribute to The Beatles featuring Nicole Christian & Alfie Smith, Saidah Baba Talibah & Donna Grantis – Hugh’s Room – Sept 2 | Gregg Allman w/Colin Linden – Queen Elizabeth Theatre – Sept 9 | Rita Chiarelli – Hugh’s Room – Sept 17 | Robin Banks w/Teddy Leonard – Gladstone Hotel Melody Bar – Sept 22 | Paul James, Jack de Keyzer & Danny Marks – Hugh’s Room – Sept 28 | Boubacar Traore – Hugh’s Room – Oct 3 | Jimmy Bowskill solo – Gladstone Hotel Melody Bar – Oct 6 | Jeff Beck – Massey Hall – Oct 18 | Michael Jerome Browne – Gladstone Hotel Melody Bar – Nov 3 | Anthony Gomes Blues Band – Hugh’s Room – Nov 3 | Sharon Robinson – Hugh’s Room – Nov 11 | Toronto Blues Society Women’s Blues Revue – Massey Hall – Nov 26 | John Mayall w/Harrison Kennedy – Brock University Centre for the Arts – Dec 1 | Doc MacLean – Gladstone Hotel Melody Bar – Dec 1 | Maple Blues Awards – Koerner Hall – Jan 16 | Mavis Staples – Koerner Hall – Jan 29 | Sweet Honey in the Rock – Koerner Hall – Feb 10
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