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September 2015 www.torontobluessociety.com Published by the ToronTo Blues socieTy since 1985 [email protected] Vol 31, No 9

CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #40011871Suzie Vinnick at WBRSugar Brown at Jazz BistroJohn’s Blues Picks

Loose Blues NewsEvent ListingsTop Blues

PHOTO BY JAMES DEAN

Terra Lightfoot will be a featured

vocalist at the TBS Women's Blues Revue

at Massey Hall on November 28

Suzie Vinnick - featured vocalist November 28 at Massey Hall

2 MapleBlues September 2015 www.torontobluessociety.com

The Toronto Blues Society is committed to the principles of the Personal Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) in safeguarding the collection, use, and disclosure of personal information.

CANADIAN PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #40011871 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to:

Toronto Blues Society, 910 Queen St. W. Ste. B04, Toronto, Canada M6J 1G6 Email: [email protected]

The Toronto Blues Society is a member of

ToronTo Blues SocieTy

910 Queen St. W. Ste. B04 Toronto, Canada M6J 1G6 Tel. (416) 538-3885 Toll-free 1-866-871-9457Email: [email protected] Website: www.torontobluessociety.comMapleBlues is published monthly by the Toronto Blues Society ISSN 0827-0597

2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORSDerek Andrews (President), Jon Arnold (Executive), Gord Brown, Lucie Dufault (Secretary), Sharon Evans, Sarah French, Michael Malone (Treasurer), Jamie MacDonald, Ed Parsons (Executive), Norman Robinson, Paul Sanderson, Mike Smith (Executive), John Valenteyn (Executive) Musicians Advisory Council: Chris Antonik, Brian Blain, Gary Kendall, Lily Sazz, Mark Stafford, Suzie Vinnick Membership Committee: Michael Malone, Lucie Dufault, Gord Brown, Sarah French, Mike Smith, Debbie Brown, Ed Parsons, Norm RobinsonVolunteer Committee: Ed Parsons, Sharon Evans, Lucie DufaultOffice Manager: Alice Sellwood [email protected]

Office Assistant: Ivy Farquhar-McDonnell

Event Coordinator: Jordan Safer [email protected]

Sponsorship Coordinator: Dougal Bichan [email protected]

Webmistress: Janine Stoll

Grants Officer: Barbara Isherwood

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Derek Andrews

Managing Editor: Brian Blain [email protected]

Contributing Editors: John Valenteyn, Alice Sellwood

Mailing and Distribution: Ed Parsons

Advertising & Sponsorship: Dougal & Co.

For rates & specs call 416-645-0295 Email: [email protected] or visit www.torontobluesociety.com/newsletters/rate-card

Charitable # 87487 7509 RR0001

The Toronto Blues Society acknowledges the annual support of the following agencies:

Project support is provided by:

an Ontario government agencyun organisme du gouvernement de l’Ontario

MapleBlues September 2015 3www.torontobluessociety.com

Every Wednesday, 8pm Hump Day Blues at Jazz Bistro, 251 Victoria St. Diana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley (Sept 2), Duane and Brooke Blackburn (Sept 9), Jack de Keyzer (Sept 16), Harrison Kennedy (Sept 23), Sugar Brown CD Release (Sept 30) and Morgan Davis (Oct 7) $10 cover ($8 for Charter Members).

Sunday, September 13, 1-4pm TBS' Annual "Blues in the Garden" in the Artscape Garden, 900 Queen St. W. (adjacent to the TBS office). Part of the Queen West Art Crawl. Jennis will perform. BBQ, Beer & Wine available for purchase.

Friday, October 16, 2015, noon-2pm, Westin Bristol Place, 950 Dixon Road, Toronto Blues Society Showcase at Folk Music Ontario. Featuring emerging blues & roots artists.

Saturday, November 28, Massey Hall, Women's Blues Revue with featured vocalists Jully Black, Crystal Shawanda, Rita Chiarelli, Suzie Vinnick, Terra Lightfoot and more to be announced. The 29th edition of The Women’s Blues Revue returns to the historic site of Massey Hall. Tickets are on sale now! Charter Members receive 20% off every ticket purchase. To retrieve the required promo code, please contact the TBS office.

Saturday, December 5, Toronto Blues Society Christmas Party with the Swingin' Blackjacks, Dora Keogh Irish Pub (next door to Allen's), 141 Danforth Avenue, (416) 778-1804, TBS Annual General Meeting will also take place earlier in the evening.

Monday, January 18, 2016, 7pm Koerner Hall, 273 Bloor St W, 19th Annual Maple Blues Awards. Tickets now available through the Koerner Hall Box Office. TBS Charter Members can purchase best available tickets for only $28! To take advantage of this offer, please contact the TBS Office at 416-538-3885 or [email protected] to retrieve the required promo code.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

New Members: Mark Lucas, Paul Wismer, Peter Pearson, Duane Blackburn, Suzanne Regimbal, John David Dexter

Renewing Members: Colleen Kenny, Tyler Yarema, Suzie Vinnick, Jon Arnold, Bud Tangney, Ken Wilson, Carlos del Junco, Doug Macvicar, Joe Gaul, John Mays, Michael Titherington, Cheryl Lescom, Al Lerman, Frederick Wayne Morrison, Jimmy Bowskill, Bob Hammond, Margaret Wood, David Gogo, Jim & Susan Hiraishi, Bob Walton, Paul James, Ken Cormack, David Vest, Mike Sloski, Dan Doiron, Bill Spring, James Cushing, Boris Totev, Elizabeth Dawe, Mary Powell-Perryment, David Tangness, Sam Coghlan

Many thanks to Rose Ker, Marie Pearce, Tom Robertson and Geoff Virag for their help with the newsletter mailing.

Many thanks as well to Carol Flett, Rose Ker and Nada Saranovich for their help at the Jazz Bistro.

The Toronto Blues Society is a Registered Charity

Make a donation beyond membership and merchandise, and get your charitable tax receipt in time for this year! (Charitable # 87487 7509 RR0001). You will be helping to support events like the annual Women's Blues Revue at Massey Hall, The Blues in the Schools program, The weekly Jazz Bistro Blues Series, numerous workshops and carreer development activities for the musician community as well as the Maple Blues Awards and the Blues Summit conference, the most important blues industry gathering in Canada that occurs every other year. Networking events within this conference allow for industry discussion alongside artist discovery through the showcase program.

Jennis (Dennis Gaumond and Jen Gillmor) will entertain at the TBS Annual "Blues in the Garden" event in the Artscape Garden (located adjacent to the TBS office) on Sunday, September 13, 1-4pm. This event is part of the Queen West Art Crawl. Free Admission.


Every Wednesday the Toronto Blues Society and Jazz Bistro present a weekly upscale blues concert celebrating the best in Canadian blues performers. Don’t miss intimate shows by local favourites and some of the best Canadian touring artists. Not a bad way to get over your Wednesday Hump Day Blues.

Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whiteley | September 2 @ 8:00 pm

As the venerable jazz and blues bible DOWNBEAT MAGAZINE said about Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whiteley: “It’s a rare and good thing when two talented performers join forces.” Audiences, critics, and blues lovers all over North America and Europe seem to agree.

Diana Braithwaite is a descendant of the Wellington County pioneers in Canada. With roots in Florida, Diana’s ancestor’s escaped slavery through the Underground Railroad and lived for four generations in Wellington County, the first African-Canadian pioneer settlement in Ontario. Diana combines elements from Nina Simone, Esther Phillips, Lil Green and others to create her own unique authentic blues style. A forceful presence recognized on the Canadian and American blues scene as an artist with a unique sound who is keeping the authentic traditional blues sound alive in the contemporary blues scene today.

Multi-instrumentalist Chris Whiteley was born in Kansas. Whiteley has performed on over 200 recordings with the likes of Leon

Redbone and Blind John Davis. In Canada, Whiteley has received the Blues with a Feeling Award, for lifetime achievement in the blues. In January 2014 Chris Whiteley won the Maple Blues Award for the top blues horn player in Canada–for the 7th time.

Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whiteley have recorded 5 previous albums together with Electro-Fi Records and have toured all over North America, UK and Europe winning numerous awards for their songwriting and albums together.

Brooke & Duane Blackburn | September 9 @ 8:00 pm

Brooke Blackburn plays guitar with his two brothers in the popular R&B outfit BLACKBURN whose music is rich in the tradition of the blues, while inflected with R&B and soul and is electrified with an urban vibe. BLACKBURN brings it all together with conscious lyrics to create a smooth and soulful groove. The four member group has been writing and performing together since 1995. Duane Blackburn is “a powerful, emotive singer and recording the vocals live adds that extra excitement… his performance of the traditional gospel song, “Hush,” is simply magnificent!” (John Valenteyn, Mapleblues magazine)

Given their lineage – their father, highly regarded keyboard player Bobby Dean, a seminal figure of Toronto’s Blues and R&B

scene in the 60s – coupled with their evident talents and vast experience, it’s no wonder that they were the sensation at this year’s Blues Summit. Catching the band live, first time listeners are quickly drawn in by their natural, infectious in-the-pocket groove.

Jack de Keyzer | September 16 @ 8:00 pm

With 2 Junos and a hot new album, Jack de Keyzer and his Electric Love band will keep you rocking all night long!

From the Arctic Circle to Puerto Escondido, Mexico; from Athens, Greece to Hornby Island, BC, virtuoso guitarist, Jack de Keyzer plays the blues world wide. One of Canada’s most awarded and in demand live performers and session guitarists, Jack has released 8 CD’s and 1 DVD to date. He has also played on hundreds of recordings and live sessions with artists ranging from Etta James to Ronnie Hawkins and Bo Diddley to Blue Rodeo.

An incendiary live performer, soulful vocalist and world class song writer, de Keyzer performs an average of 180 shows per year and has brought audiences to their feet at many major Jazz and Blues Festivals including the Montreal Jazz Fest, Blues Sur Seine (France) The Ottawa Blues Festival and


Puerto Blues (Mexico). A much celebrated musician, de Keyzer has received five Juno nominations (Blues Album of the Year) and won Junos in 2003 and 2010. He has won 7 Maple Blues Awards (Canada’s national blues award), first place in the International Songwriting Competition and won CBC’s Great Canadian Blues Award from a poll of radio listeners. In 2009 Jack was invited to 24 Sussex Drive to give Prime Minister Stephen Harper and first lady Laureen Harper’s son a private concert and guitar lesson.

Always touring with an incredible band, Jack will have you rocking in your seat and swaying to his hot blues, soulful r&b and cool soul jazz. World class.

Harrison Kennedy | September 23 @ 8:00 pm

The usual blues alchemy doesn’t often include being born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, or singing for four years with one of the hottest Detroit soul bands. And it certainly doesn’t include a long career working as a supervisor in a chemical plant. Clearly, Harrison Kennedy didn’t follow any traditional formula in becoming a bluesman.

For the past decade, his recordings have earned Harrison Kennedy many accolades in the business. No less than B.B. King has hailed him as Canada’s premier blues performer. Singing and playing the mandolin, the banjo, the guitar and the harmonica in a mostly acoustic setting, his strong poetic writing and full sense of irony largely contribute to the growing success of this very special blues troubadour. His latest album, and his finest to date, Soulscape, displays formidable creativity as he delves into the many musical influences passed on to him. The release of this album is not only a giant step for Harrison; it is one for the blues.

Please Note: Admission is $10 but TBS members pay only $8 (let the reception desk know you are a member when you arrive).

There is something to be said about the dedication, ambition, and determination of a scholar; the drive to be the best and to offer his best work on whatever project is presented. Enter Sugar Brown, aka Dr. Ken Kawashima, PhD. Kawashima is a scholar and professor of East Asian history, as well as a scholar of music. His chosen musical endeavor is classic blues music and a concerted effort to record and preserve the unmistakable Chicago blues sound that harkens back to Chess Record’s famous releases. The 2014 release of Sugar Brown’s debut recordingSugar Brown’s Sad Day stunned listeners across Canada with his ease and force in playing and singing blues. He quickly earned recognition for his classic style and raucous performances from the media and festival bookers coast-to-coast.

Recently, Sugar Brown’s repertoire has morphed beyond Chicago blues and into a more chaotic and wild space shared by the Texas blues of Lightnin’ Hopkins and Frankie Lee Sims, as well as the trance-like blues of northern Mississippi’s R.L. Burnside. Sugar Brown’s highly anticipated, second studio album, Poor Lazarus, reveals Sugar Brown in his many diverse grooves, shades, and styles, and is the result of three years of performing and collaborating with harmonica maestro, Bharath Rajakumar (Bharath and his Rhythm Four), drummer extraordinaire, Art Makris (JW-Jones, Kid Ramos), and jug band star, Julia Narveson (Ever-Lovin’ Jug Band). Also on the album is Toronto-based drummer and percussionist, Pat Philips who added vibes to

Sugar Brown launches his new CD, Poor Lazarus at the Jazz Bistro on September 30th as part of the TBS Hump Day Blues Series

Pure Sugar the mix. Like Sugar Brown’s first album, Poor Lazarus was also recorded live-off-the-floor, full-track mono tape for that classic analog sound.

Poor Lazarus was inspired by recent events in the USA, namely, on August 9, 2014 Michael Brown was fatally shot and murdered by white police officers in Ferguson, Missouri. One month later, Kawashima discovered the 1911 song “Poor Lazarus” in Alan and John Lomax’s Folksongs of the USA, which tells the tragic story of a (white) police officer fatally shooting a black man named Lazarus. How history repeats itself—but always with differences in the present. To give this old song contemporary meaning and relevance, Kawashima composed a driving and swinging ostinato groove, which he imagined with a huge chromatic harp line that Rajakumar would eventually play and record beyond Kawashima’s wildest expectations. The decision to record “Poor Lazarus” in the wake of Ferguson, to not let the moment slip away, was the catalyst to record this singularly unique album.

A mix of originals and boldly crafted and arranged covers, Poor Lazarus features 14 standout tracks that are at once raw, vicious, and thought-provoking. From the opening notes of Frankie Lee Sims’ tune “Walking with Frankie”, to the desperate plea for one last chance with a lover on the visceral “Meet Me in the Country,” and finally to ingenious interpretations of Lewis Carroll’s, “The Mad Gardener’s Song” and Tom Waits’ “Get Behind the Mule”, Sugar Brown’s blues is sweet, dark, inconsolable, raw, and wild. Most of all, it’s blues that will make you move and get down!

- Sarah French

PHOTO BY RICK ZOLKOWER


Notes &Quotes

Saskatoon Suzie

What do you get when you blend 10 Maple Blues Awards, 3 JUNO Award nominations, a couple of finalist titles at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, more than a handful of albums, and a whole lot of soul? The final result would be one artist that has been decorated with some well-earned success: Suzie Vinnick. In this edition of Notes & Quotes, Suzie dives into conversation about being a multi-instrumentalist, the excitement about being on the road, and even touches on her thoughts about music itself.

For those who don’t know Vinnick, she’s well versed on her art of performance and musicianship, and has had her feet planted firmly in the Blues music scene for decades. A properly defined singer, songwriter, bass player, guitarist, and saxophonist, she’s performed with her fair share of artists that share that same immersion into the World of Roots. Suzie began her musical journey in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, at a young age, and from there, she has not looked back.

“I started playing guitar at the age of nine, then started playing sax at age 11, then bass at 13. Picking up the bass was really good for me from a musician’s perspective. I used to go to jams in Saskatoon on Saturdays, and play bass, and ended up sitting in for hours. The songs were predominantly Blues - I learned a lot from that. It taught me a whole new way of listening to and playing a song, and how bass playing is more than knowing how to play single notes on the root“.

Although Suzie released an album defining herself as a solo artist in 1994 (Angel in the Sidelines), she had already been on the scene recording music for a number of years. Of note: Back in 1992, she combined efforts with Tony Diteodoro (of Monkeyjunk), who at the time was playing in “Tony D. and His Cool Band”, and released an album. Vinnick’s history also

boasts her collaboration with artists such as Rick Fines (another multi Maple Blues Award winner), and other projects (The Marigolds, Betty and the Bobs, Vinnick-Sheppard-Harte) that she has been happy to share the bill with.

Suzie’s album Me ‘N Mabel (2011) was her very first all-Blues release as a solo effort, and it garnered her a Juno Award nomination in 2012. This paved the way for Vinnick’s most recent album, Live At Bluesville (2012), and the multi-instrumentalist has been touring consistently and extensively since its publication.

When speaking to a multi-faceted artist such as Vinnick, a natural question to ask is; what speaks most to an artist such as herself, musically speaking. Her answer is one that might be expected - from a person who has had a firm grasp on assembling sounds for almost a lifetime. She says:

“Listening to melody lines and the timbre of a vocal can really move something in me. To me, the melody lines on a guitar are voices too. Those voices I am talking about come in all forms of instruments and musical sound, and there’s something about that... intention that can really speak to my soul. With Blues, there are a lot of different voices. I love all kinds of music, but I’ve been playing the Blues for a long time, so I seem to really pick up on that.”

When asking Suzie about her current life of the road, she says, “This year, we have been doing a lot of house concerts, and that has been amazing. I’ve been playing a variety of events too, and that keeps things busy. I’m also always writing and working on new material. There’s always something on the horizon. It’s been really good”.

Having those decades of experience being a full time musician, a natural question to propose to Vinnick would be

if she could summarize her thoughts on having taken this path in life and occupation. She offers this; “I feel glad and grateful. It’s not an easy undertaking, being an artist and creative person as a profession, and running your own business. I will say though, that being a musician and creator has created so many life experiences that just might not have happened if it wasn’t for this life. The positive outcomes drastically outweigh any of the challenges that arise.”

Naturally, the conversation led to Suzie discussing the upcoming Women’s Blues Revue, and there was a lot to talk about with the woman who made her debut at the event as a featured artist back in 1994, and who has been affiliated with the all-star band since she joined as a regular band member in 1995. In doing the math, this year marks Suzie’s 20th year of being part of the Women’s Blues Review band, so it holds significance with the songstress. When talking about the event, Suzie is quick to tip her proverbial hat:

“It’s a great group of women, and it’s always fun to get together and share in the comradery. That first show was in 1994, so it’s been a lot of fun for a lot of years. And, I can say comfortably that it is an honour to perform with all of these girls, and it always has been over the years. I really try to speak out as often as possible about how great it has been, and how being in the band has opened some doors and created opportunities for me. Sharing the stage with artists that I respect in a beautiful venue is always something I will always look forward to.”

Vinnick will be standing on stage with the all-star Women’s Blues Revue band, offering her guitar expertise alongside Emily Burgess, who will also be donning a 6 string that night.

The Women’s Blues Revue is taking place at Massey Hall on November 28th, 2015. Jully Black, Rita Chiarelli as well as Suzie, Crystal Shawanda and Terra Lightfoot (who, alongside Emily Burgess, have also been featured in Notes & Quotes) will be in attendance for a performance as featured vocalists at the 29th annual event. For more information on the 29th Annual Women’s Blues Revue, or to purchase tickets, visit www.torontobluessociety.com/womens-blues-revue/

For more information on Suzie Vinnick, visit www.suzievinnick.com

- Erin McCallum

singer, songwriter, guitarist, bandleader


JOHNCAMPBELLJOHN

www.CAMPBELLJOHN.ca

“The string magic of the front man fascinates!”- ROLLING STONE GERMANY

“As with the best bluesmen,Campbelljohn gets better as

he gets older, inhabitingand understanding the blues,

the trials that must befaced through life.”

- CBC MUSIC- CBC MUSIC

Toronto Blues Society President Derek Andrews dropped by backstage at Ontario Place to pass on Matt Andersen's Maple Blues Award for Male Vocalist of the Year earned in January while he was on tour. Multiple MBA winner Andersen was opening for Blue Rodeo at the massive sold out venue, solo. Signed to True North Records, Matt tours relentlessly and is preparing songs for his next CD release.

Emmylou harris & rodney crowell

Performance Powered by Lexus

Thu Sep 17 8pm

with special guest Amy Helm

& The Handsome Strangers


cont’d on page 11

Festival Season winds down: The Southside Shuffle is bringing the festival season to a big finale in Port Credit on September 11-12-13 with JW-Jones, Canned Heat, Bobby Rush, Monkey Junk, Raoul And The Big Time, Suzie Vinnick, Cheryl Lescom, Rick Fines, an eagerly anticipated return of David Rotundo, a piano showcase featuring Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne, Lance Anderson and Tyler Yarema, TBS Talent Search Winner Michael Schatte will be featured and, of course, Canada's national blues band, Downchild. The Street Shuffle is September 12 from 2-6. southsideshuffle.com

Blues on the Beach: Shuffle headliner Canned Heat will be continuing their Ontario swing with an appearance at the Wasega Beach Festival on September 19. Other featured performers include Al Lerman, Cheryl Lescom, The Mackenzie Blues Band, Downchild Blues Band, Monkey Junk, The David Rotundo Band, A Tribute to Elvis, Lance Anderson and Roly Platt and more. Their Street Shuffle will take place on Saturday, September 19 from 11:30 - 3:30pm. www.wasagabeachblues.com

Niagara Blues: The Canal Bank Shuffle in downtown Thorold officialy wraps up another summer of great blues festivals in our corner of the blues world October 15-18 with some great blues talent including the Ghost Town Blues Band, Alexis P. Suter, David Gogo, Cedric Burnside Project, Johnny Rawls and many more, www.canalbankshuffle,com

Dutch Dilema: In other festival news, the Dutch Mason Blues Festival had a few setbacks due to risky weather but did manage to present Bonnie Raitt (in an indoor venue). Festival organizers cancelled three days worth of shows at Alderney Landing from Aug. 7 to 9. Some artists were moved

Danny Brooks and Lil Miss Debi with the Memphis Brothers will kick off the 2015/16 Season at Blues on The Rideau at The Cove Inn in Westport on September 25


(416) LOCAL LAGER

TORONTO’s BEER

indoors but others including local hero Matt Minglewood were left out with very short notice. DeWolfe says he's not going to let this setback kill the festival. "Keep in mind that lots of festivals have bad years, good years and our intention is to move forward and struggle forward and every year is a struggle to put this festival on."

Blues On The Rideau Line-Up: Blues On The Rideau – the Dinner and Show Fundraiser Series that has been running

at The Cove Country Inn in Westport, Ontario for the past 10 years and is now recognized as one of the premier Blues Series in Canada - is pleased to announce it’s 2015/16 Line-Up featuring some of Canada’s best Blues bands with a mix of popular returnees and a couple of new bands that have never played BOTR before. As in previous years every show is a fundraiser for a different local charity. To date the Series has raised over $55,000. The goal for this season is another $5K. Here's the line-up:

September 25 - From Texas/Toronto, Danny Brooks W. Lil’ Miss Debi & The Memphis Brothers; October 23- From Alabama/Victoria BC, David Vest & The Willing Victims; November 20 - From Peterborough/Wainfleet - Rick Fines & Suzie Vinnick W/Band; January 22 & 23 - From Hamilton, Steve Strongman Band; February 19 - From Toronto, Jack De Keyzer Band; March 25 - From Montreal, Angel Forrest Band; April 22 - From Montreal, Ria Reece Band; May 13 - From Hamilton, Harrison Kennedy Band.

LOOSE BLUES NEWS cont’d from p 9

cont’d on page 15


Colin Linden Rich in Love Stony Plain/Warner

Colin Linden’s first studio album in six years features some his finest writing. That he’s found time to write anything, let alone an album this good when his list of current projects is longer than my column is as good a mark of his genius as there can be. To set these songs in the best possible light, we have a beautifully minimal production: one guitar (or mandolin or ukelele), light backing keyboard and bass & drums played by his 25-year accomplices, John Dymond and Gary Craig. He says in the press release that he’s always considered himself a blues player foremost and he definitely proves that here. “Knob & Tube” is a delightful tune comparing his love relationship to various aspects of electric current. “The Hurt” is much more serious, demanding that an end to facile apologies when only something sincere could begin to remove the pain. Etta James and Cassius Clay figure in the verses. Charlie Musselwhite’s prominent harp work here is a stroke of genius. “Rich In Love” has some more subdued harp from Charlie, adding to the atmospheric sound of a song about someone who’s rich in love but little else. “And Then You Begin (to start again)” is a marvellous country blues, just Linden and some light organ as he sings of picking yourself up and moving on. “No More Cheap Wine” is as close to a rocker as he gets here - a band track about leaving the party life behind, with some beautiful slide work. “Paybacks Are Hell” is to be taken literally: you don’t get to heaven dealing in paybacks. With such wonderful singing and songwriting, it’s almost a crime that he spends so much of his time as a hired session man and/or producer, but his work there contributes so much it really becomes a tough call - long may

Illustration by Nathaniel Mesner

driven opener “Light It Up” shows all the cards: high energy, fast-paced and loaded with fresh ideas, these guys are going to have a good time and they’re going to take you with them. “(It’s) You” and “Show Me Yours” keep the party going with very different but equally danceable songs - a delightful sequence. “Show Me Yours” is especially noteworthy, with its catchy chorus. They wanted to do a David Wilcox song, “Hot Hot Papa”, and why not then ask the fellow Stony Plain artist to join in? Wilcox trades verses

with Marriner and the three come up with some hot hot guitar work. A live performance, without Wilcox, is at www.monkeyjunkband.com. They always do funk particularly well and “ Love Attack” is excellent. Up until “Live Another Day” we’ve gotten guitars, bass & drums and some harp on some fairly standard blues themes. This ambitious song features keyboards and studio effects to enhance its social commentary: amidst all the world’s troubles you have to find something that will allow you to live another day. There are fine solos on harp and guitar. “Learn How To Love” is a power ballad and it’s a good one, of life after a breakup. We’re back to rocking for “Lucky One” and the slightly slower “Travelin’ Light”, and then a closing soul tour de force in “Meet Me At Midnight” - gorgeous guitars and organ support Marriner’s powerful vocal on a stunning tune. What a way to end the disc. Big Sugar’s Gordy Johnson deserves special mention for his contributions on guitar throughout. This band just keeps getting better, the official release date is September 25th but I’m sure you’ll hear some of the new tunes at the Southside Shuffle on Friday, September 11 and at the Music By The Bay show in Ajax on the 18th.

Sugar Brown Poor Lazarus Self

Sugar Brown is also known as Dr. Ken Kawashima, Ph.D. While his doctorate is in East Asian history, he applies the same high level of expertise to classic blues. The lengths to which this man of Japanese/Korean heritage, raised in Ohio and a long time Toronto resident has gone to do this will be apparent from the moment you hit

he last! The official release date is September 25 and it will be available for streaming at the usual places.

David Gogo Vicksburg Call Cordova Bay/Fontana North/Universal

Nanaimo’s favourite bluesman David Gogo wanted album #14 to rock out and he has succeeded admirably. “Cuts Me To The Bone” has a powerful opening riff and it takes off from there, a breakup song maybe but you can lose yourself in this one. For all the years he’s he’s been doing this, it may be his best song yet. “Fooling Myself” is a blues grinder with a couple of excellent guitar solos, one of them by guest Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown fame. “The Loner” is the early Neil Young song with Gogo’s guitars taking the organ part in the original but I do think Neil would like this version. “There’s A Hole” is a doom-laden acoustic country blues with some marvellous harp by Shawn Hall of the Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer. Gogo’s guitar work on slide and finger picked is exceeded only by his vocal about his departed lover. His multiple awards and nominations are for his electric guitar playing but he’s put a country blues on the last few discs now and I hope he continues to do that, they’re top notch stuff. The title song, “Vicksburg Call”, is excellent, a highlight among highlights, a song about meeting a girl on a trip down south and what happened after that. Must have been quite the girl. “Coulda Shoulda Woulda” channels Chuck Berry in a song about saving his romance - this one’s a keeper too. Steven Stills’ “Jet Set (Sigh)” and Annie Lennox’s “Why” are fine performances in a varied program. He also wanted Vicksburg Call to be more of a band album and Jay Stevens on bass & Bill Hicks on drums rose to the task as they obviously contributed a great deal.

MonkeyJunk Moon Turn Red Stony Plain/Warner

Steve Marriner, Tony D and Matt Sobb really rock out on this new one. The slide-


play. The sound is totally authentic: he has tried very hard to re-create the studio sound of those old recordings and the recording methods as well. As with his last album, this is live off the floor, full-track mono to tube amps and tape. His vocals, always the hardest part, are truly remarkable: there is enthusiasm and genuine talent at work here. His originals are in the time-tested tradition: you’ll recognize riffs and lines here and there but they’re always fresh sounding. He does a number of covers but they are distinctive in their arrangements & performance and he

moves seamlessly from the classic to more modern. He plays guitar very well indeed and drummer extraordinaire Art Makris is right there with him. Jug band star Julia Everson joins them on sax for a raucous take on Frankie Lee Sims’ “Walking With Frankie”. Tom Waits’ “Get Behind The Mule” fits in so well it takes a moment to realize it’s not an old blues. The version of R. L. Burnside’s “Goin’ Down South” is a major highlight - a spot on take. “Poor Lazarus” is a song that Sugar Brown found on a Lomax compilation and he decided that, with some updating, it fit perfectly as a vehicle for his commentary on the events in Ferguson, Missouri and elsewhere. Bharath Rajakumar, his frequent collaborator and someone equally devoted to classic blues, plays a magnificent harp accompaniment to a standout song. He guests on several others in this generous program. Sugar Brown can stretch the boundaries too as with “The Mad Gardener’s Song”, based on words by Lewis Carroll, which comes close to the sound that catl is known for. Make sure you get to the Jazz Bistro on Hump Wednesday, September 30th for the CD Release Party.

Duke Robillard The Acoustic Blues & Roots of Duke Robillard Stony Plain/Warner

Duke Robillard’s own discography runs to almost thirty albums so far and one sometimes wonders what he would do for the next one. It seems he has too and he has for some years now been assembling a tribute to roots styles that he loves and that have

influenced him. There are eighteen songs in this generous program, so I’ll restrict myself to only a few of them. Big Bill Broonzy’s “Big Bill’s Blues” is just Duke on guitar & vocal with Matt McCabe on piano – superb. “Jimmie’s Texas Blues” (Jimmie Rogers) features Duke with Mary Flower on lap steel with a standout vocal. Robbie Robertson’s “Evangeline” sounds like it came from the ‘40’s and Sunny Crownover sings it wonderfully. “I’m Gonna Buy Me Dog (To Take The Place Of You)” is a live band track with Jerry Portnoy on harp – it’s as good as the title suggests. W.C. Handy’s “St. Louis Blues”, gets quite an innovative reading, with Billy Novick on clarinet and the Providence Mandolin Orchestra. Sleepy John Estes’ “Someday Baby” gets a straight delivery, an original that is not heard often enough these days. Jon Ross takes Yank Rachel’s mandolin part and Doug James

plays Hammie Nixon’s harmonica part. Duke carries off the Estes vocal very well indeed. Robert Lockwood’s “Take A Little Walk With Me” is another live track, with McCabe on piano. Maria Muldaur sings “Santa Claus Blues” in a studio recording with the full band. Jay McShann joins Duke for “Profoundly Blue”, a beautiful performance of the jazz standard. As with the Colin Linden and MonkeyJunk, this album will be available on September 25th.

Shemekia Copeland Outskirts of Love Alligator/Fontana North/Universal

In 2012, Shemekia Copeland was crowned the “New Queen of the Blues” at the Chicago Blues Festival and the passing of the crown from Koko’s family couldn’t have been more appropriate. Shemekia is back on Alligator Records and this production does her up proud: new songs – some not blues and some not original but all excellent. She is in top form on vocals here as she was at this year’s Festival, a major highlight of that weekend. She has always dealt in social commentary and several songs here are sterling new examples: the opening “(Living

on the) Outskirts of Love” is a roaring way to start, the verses about with runaway brides and neglected children. In “Crossbone Beach” the narrator is a victim of date rape and seeking payback - powerful songs both on subjects that need to be addressed. Robert Randolph guests with his steel guitar. She usually does a song by her father on each outing and this time it’s “Devil’s Hand”, done in African arrangement with a horn section. Perhaps this is not an unusual choice given Johnny Clyde Copeland’s African album but it’s a lovely version nonetheless. A contemporary take on Sonny & Brownie’s “The Battle Is Over” leads into a fabulous new country blues duet with Alvin Youngblood Hart on a song about the homeless, “Cardbox

Box”. The rest of the disc is much more varied with “Drivin’ Out Of Nashville (with a body in the trunk)” her first country tune, Solomon Burke’s “I Feel A Sin Coming On” getting a wonderful R&B workout, Jesse Winchester’s “Isn’t That So” in a rhumba arrangement and ZZ Top’s “Jesus Just Left Chicago” with Billy Gibbons himself on guitar. Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Long As I Can See The Light” gets a beautiful vocal from Shemekia. Albert King’s “Wrapped Up In Love Again” and Jesse Mae Hemphill’s “Lord Help The Poor And Needy” end the disc back familiar territory - the latter a stellar way to end as Hemphill’s song fits Shemekia’s philosophy exactly. There have been a number of fine blues albums this year and this one will be near or at the top of that list. We’ll see that at awards time. She was just at the Calabogie Festival but www.shemekiacopeland.com shows no more Canadian dates. The release date is September 11 and the album will be available at all the usual sites for purchase and streaming.

-John Valenteyn

[email protected]


* = Canadian

This month’s recommended listening by Brad Wheeler, music

writer for the Globe and Mail (globeandmail.com and Twitter: bwheelerglobe

*Sugar Brown Poor Lazarus SelfRobert Cray 4 Nights of 40 Years Live Provogue*Colin Linden Rich in Love Stony PlainGary Clark Jr. The Story of Sonny Boy Slim WarnerBuddy Guy Born to Play Guitar RCABilly Gibbons and the BFG’s Perfectamundo ConcordShemekia Copeland Outskirts of Love Alligator*David Gogo Vicksburg Call Cordova BayJ.B. Hutto & His Hawks, with Sunnyland Slim Hawk Squat DelmarkJimi Hendrix Experience Freedom: Atlanta Pop Festival Sony/LegacyMadisen Ward and the Mama Bear Skeleton Crew Universal*Samantha Martin & Delta Sugar Send the Nightingale IndependentLeo Bud Welch I Don't Prefer No Blues Big Legal MessPop Staples Don't Lose This Anti-*Harrison Kennedy This is From Here Electro-FiSteve Earle Terraplane New West*Philip Sayce Influence WarnerOmar Coleman Born and Raised DelmarkFantastic Negrito An Honest Man Blackball Universe*Michael Jerome Browne Sliding Delta BorealisCharlie Musselwhite I Ain’t Lyin’ Henrietta

All BOTR shows run from 7 to 11 pm and include a delicious full course buffet dinner served by the Cove’s friendly staff. The venue is small, intimate and relaxed. After dinner you get to see and dance to world class Blues bands up close and personal – the way Blues is best enjoyed! - all for a very reasonable price – $65 (plus tax). There are door prize giveaways at every show and 2 Grand Prizes drawn at the end of the season. Advance reservations are required and it is wise to book well in advance, especially if you want to stay overnight. Rooms at The Cove and nearby B&B’s and motels frequently sell out for Blues nights. Call 613-273-3636. Note that there has been a small increase in price and a new Reservation Policy – a credit card number is required with the reservation (although the card is not charged until the night of the show). Cancellations or changes in the reservation can be made up to a week prior to the event without penalty. www.BluesOnTheRideau.ca Ticket Giveaway: Blues/Soul sensation The Alabama Shakes play Toronto's Air Canada Centre (ACC) on Wednesday, September 23, 8pm, and The Toronto Blues Society is giving away two pairs of tickets to the show! To enter the giveaway, send an email to [email protected] with the email subject: Alabama Shakes and an answer to the following question: "What year was the Toronto Blues Society founded?" (Please Note: Only TBS Charter Members or equivalent are eligible to participate in this ticket giveaway. )

The Passion Of The Guitar: The Royal Conservatory of Music's newest music appreciation course, "The Passion Of The Guitar" hosted by Toronto bluesman Danny Marks, kicks off September 24th. The series will run Thursday evenings at the Royal Conservatory of Music (273 Bloor St W) from September 24 to October 29 (7:00pm-8:30pm). Toronto Blues Society Charter Members receive 10% off registration! Please contact the TBS office to retrieve the required promo code.

New Weekly Music Series Hits Hard Rock Cafe: Greg Godovitz and The Jerome Godboo Trio have launched a new Saturday afternoon matinee at the Hard Rock Cafe's Club 279! The "Hard Rock Cafe's Saturday Matinee" will run from 2pm-6pm each Saturday and will feature a rotating list of musicians and special guests.

Blues Matinee's Return: This fall will see two clubs in southern Ontario re-instating the long standing tradition of the afternoon Blues Matinee. The Duck in St.Catharines kicks off their 8th year of presenting a Saturday series on Sept.26th

LOOSE BLUES NEWS cont’d from p 11 with hosts, The Mighty Duck Blues Band and special guest Jack de Keyzer. The Blue Goose in the Mimico neighbourhood of Toronto did a trial run of their Sunday afternoon Blues At The Goose series in June. It was a big success and will return on Sept.27th featuring The BG Rhythm Section, Downchild`s Gary Kendall and Mike Fitzpatrick with special guests, Jerome Godboo and Eric Schenkman. The Duck`s time slot is 2:30-6:30pm and The Goose is 4-8pm. For the full listings go to www.mightyduckbluesband.com and www.bluestime.ca The Where It`s At listings in Maple Blues will also carry full lineup info for both venues starting with the October issue.

Behind The Scenes: Some blues-friendly music industry leaders have been shuffled around this summer including former TBS office Manager Tim Des Islets who is starting his own artist management company (with Steve Strongman as a client). Michael Murray was the Music and Arts Service Organizations Officer at the Ontario Arts Council since 2007 and has now joined the Toronto Musicians Association as Executive Director. As a musician (trumpet, electronics and voice), songwriter and as a professional with CPA, CMA and MBA designations, Michael’s combination of skills led to exceptional

development work with OAC and he will surely bring some great new energy to the TMA. Murray says, "It is my vision that the TMA is a leader in making the Greater Toronto Area the best region nationally and internationally for musicians to live and work and by doing so help the GTA protect and grow it’s reputation as one of the world’s major music and art centres.”

Also, south of the border, The Blues Foundation has a New President & CEO. Barbara B. Newman has been selected to succeed Jay Sieleman as President and Chief Executive Officer of The Blues Foundation, the Memphis-based, international music organizationdedicated to preserving blues music history, celebrating recording and performance excellence, supporting blues educationand ensuring the future of this unique art form. She will take the helm October 1. She and her husband, Bruce Newman, a Memphis entertainment attorney and CPA, have co-produced multiple fundraising concerts for a variety of organizations, gaining experience in all logistical areas of music production and event planning. Her vision includes ensuring The Blues Foundation grows its financial viability to reach an even larger constituency.


Find Yourself in the Birthplace of the Blues

No matter what your pleasure, you’ll find it in Mississippi! The Birthplace of America’s Music is also known for its world-class golf, spas, casinos, beaches, southern cuisine and of course, our southern hospitality!For more information visit www.visitmississippi.org

sePtembeR 18 - 20, 2015

StoneBridge

s Featuring sCanneD heat - 50Th anNiverSary Tour • The lEgendAry dOwnchIld bLues Band

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BigNamesSmallTheatreWe are proud to bring world-class artists to our intimate, 450 seat theatre.

Visit OakvilleCentre.ca to see our complete 2015/2016 SEASON lineup!

All performances are atThe Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts | 130 Navy Street | Downtown Oakville

Box Office: 905-815-2021 OakvilleCentre.ca

HERITAGE BLUES ORCHESTRASaturday, October 17, 2015

THE LEGENDARY DOWNCHILD BLUES BANDWednesday, March 30, 2016

RUTHIE FOSTER with guest HARRISON KENNEDY Thursday, April 21, 2016


4 Days 25 bucks

in advance

$30 at the door

VISIT FOR DETAILS

GHOST TOWN BLUES BANDGRADY CHAMPION JOHNNY RAWLSALEXIS P. SUTERREVEREND RAVEN & THE CHAIN SMOKING ALTAR BOYS

JACK de KEYZER RED DIRT REVELATORSDAVID GOGOCEDRIC BURNSIDE PROJECTJEREMIAH JOHNSONCÉCILE DOO-KINGUÉ BRENT JOHNSON

MAD DOGS & ENGLISHMEN (Lance Anderson, Chuck Jackson and Allstar Band)

HARPER & MIDWEST KINDAL LERMANKIRBY SEWELLFATHEADMICHAEL PICKETT BANDMORGAN DAVISCONOR GAINSMICHAEL SCHATTE BANDWATERSTREET BLUES BANDHARRISON KENNEDY ….. and more to be announced.

THE 14TH ANNUAL CANAL BANK SHUFFLE BLUES

OCTOBER 15-18, 2015 THOROLD, ONTARIO CANADA

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TORONTO LISTINGSAir Canada Centre 50 Bay Street Wed-23-Sep 7PM Alabama Shakes Artscape Garden 910 Queen Street West 416-538-3885 Sun-13-Sep 1-4PM JennisDakota Tavern, Ossington & Dundas Sat-19-Sep 7-9PM Paul Reddick & The Sidemen reunionFOE Eagles Club 17 Elm St Toronto M5G 1H1 416-962-4029 Sun-13-Sep 5:00 AM Murray Porter soloFat City Blues 890 College Street 647-345-8282 Sat-26-Sep 9:30PM Raoul & The Big Time Fort York - Garrison Common 18-19-20 Sep Catl, Lucinda Williams, and more Toronto Urban Roots Fest)Gate 403 416-588-2930 Tue-1-Sep 5PM Howard Willett Blues Duo Fri-4-Sep 9PM Fraser Melvin Blues Band Sat-5-Sep 5PM Bill Heffernan & Friends Sat-5-Sep 9PM Melissa Boyce Mon-7-Sep 9PM Bruce Chapman Sat-12-Sep 5PM Bill Heffernan & Friends Tue-15-Sep 9PM Mike Nagoda Fri-18-Sep 9PM Julian Fauth Sat-19-Sep 5PM Bill Heffernan & Friends Sat-19-Sep 9PM Sweet Derrick Blues Band Mon-21-Sep 9PM Rob Davis Blues Duo Sat-26-Sep 5PM Bill Heffernan & Friends Sun-27-Sep 5PM Cheryl White Rhythm&Blues Band Tue-29-Sep 9PM Gary Cain Blues Band Horseshoe Tavern 370 Queen Street West 416-598-4226 Thu-10-Sep 8:30 PM The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer Wed-16-Sep 8:30 PM Cold Specks Fri-18-Sep 9PM Shakey Graves Thu-1-Oct 8:30 PM The Wood Brothers Hugh’s Room 416-531-6604 Sat-19-Sep 8:30 PM Rita Chiarelli Thu-1-Oct 8:30 PM Cheryl Lescom & The Tucson Choir Boys with Special Guests Loco Zydeco Fri-2-Oct John Primer Thu-8-Oct Maria Muldaur Sat-10-Oct 8:30 PM Jack de Keyzer, Danny Marks, Selena Evangeline, Phil Naro A Tribute to Willie DixonJazz Bistro 416-363-5299 Wed-2-Sep 8PM Diana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley Wed-16-Sep 8PM Jack de Keyzer Wed-23-Sep 8PM Harrison Kennedy Wed-30-Sep 8PM Sugar Brown CD Release Wed-7-Oct 8PM Morgan DavisMonarch’s Pub - Chelsea Hotel 416-585-4351 Thu-3-Sep 8PM Gary Kendall Band Thu-10-Sep 8PM JW Jones Band

Thu-17-Sep 8PM Harpdog Brown Thu-24-Sep 8PM Jack de Keyzer Thu-1-Oct 8PM Jerome Godboo, Shawn Kellerman, Gary Craig, Eric Schenkman On Cue Billiards 349 Jane 647-766-0349 Mon-14-Sep 8PM Ken Yoshioka Sat-26-Sep 10:30 PM Ken Yoshioka, Julian Fauth, Dave McManus Chicago Blues Tribute Mon-28-Sep 8PM Ken Yoshioka Rex Hotel 194 Queen W. at University Sun-13-Sep 3:30 PM Doctor Nick and the Rollercoasters Sat-19-Sep 3:30 PM Jerome Godboo, Shawn Kellerman,Gary Craig, Eric Schenkman SEVEN44 744 Mount Pleasant Ave. 416-885-3408 Sat-12-Sep 4PM Don River Blues Band The Blue Goose 1 Blue Goose St. 416-255-2442 Sun-27-Sep 4PM The BG Rhythm Section Blues At The Goose w/ special guests Jerome Godboo & Eric Schen-kmanThe Brogue Lakeshore Rd & Hurontario Fri-11-Sep 10PM Jerome Godboo, Shawn Kellerman, Gary Craig, Eric Schenkman Port Credit Southside Shuffle The Hole In The Wall 2867 Dundas west 647-350-3564 Fri-4-Sep 10PM Ken Yoshioka Trio

905 & BEYOND4023 Wellington Court 4023 Wellington Court Crystal Beach 289-876-9202 Sun-6-Sep 2PM Dominic Mancuso, Suz-ie Vinnick, Mike Branton, Michael Pickett 7th Annual Concert for PeaceAcoustic Grill 172 Main Street Picton 613-476-2887 Sun-20-Sep 6PM Eugene Smith Bay City Music Hall 289-389-9900 Sun-6-Sep 2PM Bay City Blues Band with Frank Cosentino 2-6pm Sun-13-Sep 2PM Bay City Blues Band with Jake Chisolm 2-6pm Sun-20-Sep 2PM Bay City Blues Band with Spencer McKenzie 2-6pm Sun-27-Sep 2PM Bay City Blues Band with Tony “Wild T” Springer 2-6pmBlack Wolf Smokehouse 139 Broad-way Orangeville 519-941-1313 Wed-16-Sep 8PM Black Wolf Blues Jam with Larry Kurtz & Bruce Ley of Trouble & Strife Open Blues JamBlue Spruce Bed & Breakfast 297 Erie Street Stratford 519-271-0068 Sat-3-Oct 3PM Eugene Smith Col. Mustard’s Pub & Deli 16925 Yonge St Newmarket 905-895-6663 Thu-8-Oct 8PM Jerome Godboo guests with Lou Moore Etwell Concert Series 2012 Etwell Rd Huntsville 705-789-2972 Sun-13-Sep 3PM Paul Deslauriers Band Sun-20-Sep 3PM Harpdog Brown with Little Victor Sun-27-Sep 3PM Julian Fauth Sun-4-Oct 3PM Jake & the Fundamen-tals Hy Hope Farm 905-655-4123 Sat-26-Sep 12PM Jerome Godboo, Alec

Fraser, Shawn Kellerman, Al Cross Lakeshore Road Lakeshore Rd & Hurontario Port Credit Sat-12-Sep 2PM The Mississauga Delta Blues Band with Blus Bros. Southside Shuffle Street Shuffle, 2-6pmLong & McQuade 36 King Street North Waterloo 519 Fri-25-Sep 7PM Harmonica Clinic with Jerome Godboo & Shawn Kellerman Bring an A harmonicaMemorial Park Port Credit 11-12-13 Sep Southside Shuffle Blues Festival Canned Heat, Bobby Rush, Downchild and morePeter’s Players 830 Muskoka Rd S Gravenhurst 705-687-2117 Sat-12-Sep 8PM Coco Montoya Poetry Jazz Cafe 224 Augusta Avenue Toronto (416) 599-5299 Sat-5-Sep 9PM Dan McKinnon Fri-18-Sep 9PM Dan McKinnon RCHA Speakeasy 193 Ontario St. Kingston Sat-3-Oct 9:30 PM Jerome Godboo, Shawn Kellerman, Gary Craig, Eric Schenkman Presented by the Kingston Blues SocietyRoc ‘N Doc’s Mississauga 905-891-1754 Sat-12-Sep 10PM Jerome Godboo, Shawn Kellerman, Gary Craig, Eric Schenkman Sun-13-Sep 2PM The Mississauga Delta

Blues Band with Blus Bros. Simcoe Jazz & Blues 926 Simcoe St. N. Oshawa 905-435-1111 Fri-2-Oct 9PM Jerome Godboo, Shawn Kellerman, Gary Craig, Eric Schenkman St. Francis Centre 78 Church Street South Ajax 905-831-8661 Fri-18-Sep 8:30 PM MonkeyJunk with Paul Reddick Music by the Bay Live presentsSticky Fingers 150 Dunlop St. W. Barrie Fri-18-Sep 9:30 PM Jerome Godboo, Shawn Kellerman, Eric Schenkman TD Place Arena 1015 Bank Street Ottawa Thu-24-Sep 7PM Alabama Shakes The Beacon 146 45th St Wasaga Beach 705-725-8555 Sat-12-Sep 8PM Eugene Smith and the Warm-Up Band Reunion showThe Cove Inn 2 Bedford St Westport 613-273-3636 Fri-25-Sep 7PM Danny Brooks & Lil’ Miss Debi w. The Memphis Brothers Blues On The Rideau Dinner & Show Fundraiser $65The Duck 244 Ontario St. St. Catha-rines ON 905-687-9505 Sat-26-Sep 2:30 PM The Mighty Duck Blues Band Blues Matinee w/ special guest Jack de Keyzer Sat-26-Sep 8PM The Swingin Black-jacks Rocklabilly Night

Concerts of NoteDiana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley – Jazz Bistro – Sept 2 | Duane and Brooke Blackburn – Jazz Bistro – Sept 9 | Jack de Keyzer – Jazz Bistro – Sept 16 | Music by the Bay Live Presents: MonkeyJunk with Special Guest Paul Reddick – St. Francis Centre, Ajax – Sept 18 | Rita Chiarelli – Hugh's Room – Sept 19 | Alabama Shakes – Air Canada Centre – Sept 23 | Harrison Kennedy – Jazz Bistro – Sept 23 | Sugar Brown CD Release – Jazz Bistro – Sept 30| John Primer and the Real Deal Blues Band – Hugh's Room – Oct 2 | Maria Muldaur – Hugh's Room – Oct 8 | Willie Dixon: A Tribute to the Man who was The Blues – Hugh's Room – Oct 10 | Tribute to the Steel Delta Blues feat. Sean Pinchin, Alfie Smith and more! – Hugh's Room – Oct 16 | Heritage Blues Orchestra – Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts – Oct 17 | Chris Antonik – Violet's Venue – Oct 24 | Music by the Bay Live Presents: Chuck Jackson & The All Stars – St. Francis Centre, Ajax – Oct 31 | Music by the Bay Live Presents: Steve Hill – St. Francis Centre, Ajax – Nov 13 | Women's Blues Revue – Massey Hall – Nov 28 | Music by the Bay Live Presents: Bluesy Christmas – St. Francis Centre, Ajax – Dec 18 | Maple Blues Awards – Koerner Hall – Jan 18, 2016 | Kat Danser's Mississippi Juke Joint feat. Steve Dawson – Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts – Mar 19, 2016 | Downchild – Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts – Mar 30, 2016 | Randy Bachman – Massey Hall – Apr 21, 2016 | Ruthie Foster with guest Harrison Kennedy – Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts – Apr 21, 2016


The London Music Club 185 Queens Ave. London ON 519 Sat-3-Oct 7:30 PM The Hogtown Allstars 50th Anniversary Blues BashThe Recplex 1724 Mosley St. Wasaga Beach 705-429-3844 Fri-18-Sep 8PM The Hogtown Allstars w/ special guests Boogie Woogie Blues BanquetRiverside Room, Royal Canadian Legion 36 Front St. Port Credit 905-278-1905 Thu-10-Sep 8:30 PM The Hogtown Allstars w/ special guests 11-12 Sep 10:30 PM The Gary Kendall Band Festival JamViolet’s Venue 52 Morrow Rd. Barrie 705-238-9282 Fri-4-Sep 8:15 PM The Weber Brothers Fri-11-Sep 8:15 PM Wayne Baker Brooks Fri-18-Sep 8:15 PM Wishbone Ash Sat-19-Sep 8:15 PM Albert Cummings Fri-25-Sep 8:15 PM Jack Semple Fri-2-Oct 8:15 PM Anthony Gomes Sat-10-Oct 8:15 PM Frank Bang Wasaga Beach Blues Festival Wasa-ga Beach Sat-19-Sep 11:30 AM The Mississauga Delta Blues Band with Blus Bros. Street Shuffle 19-20-Sep 9:30 PM Canned Heat, Downchild, Cheryl Lescom, David Rotundo and more

REPEATINGEVERY SATURDAYBlue Goose 1 Blue Goose St. 416-255-2442 Toronto The Danny B Blues Band 3PM (Every Sat)Carrigan Arms 2025 Upper Middle Road 905-332-6131 Burlington The Sil Simone Band with guest 2PM (Every Sat)Castro’s Lounge 2116 Queen St. E. 416-699-8272 Toronto Big Rude Jake’s Monk Junkies 4:30 PM (Every Sat)Frankie’s Ristorante 1 Main St. 905-852-1011 Uxbridge Tim Bastmeyer 7PM (Every Sat)Hard Rock Cafe 279 Yonge St (416) 362-3636 Toronto Hard Rock Cafe Saturday Matinee with Greg Godovitz 2PM (Every Sat)Liquid Lounge 159 Sydenham St 519-759-3939 Brantford Liquid Lounge Allstars with special guests 3PM (Every Sat)Old Winery 2288 Niagara Stone Rd 905-468-8900 Niagara on the Lake

Niagara Rhythm Section with guests 9PM (Every Sat)Outrigger Tap & Table 2232 Queen St E 416-748-2232 Toronto Johnny Wright & Michael Fonfara 3PM (Every Sat)Reservoir Lounge 52 Wellington St E 416-955-0887 Toronto Tyler Yarema and His Rhythm 9:45 PM (Every Sat)Rex Hotel 194 Queen St W 416-598-2475 Toronto Danny Marks 12PM (Every Sat)Warmington’s Bistro 519-770-4941 The Bent Bugle Band 4PM with guests (Every Sat) EVERY SUNDAYGrossman’s Tavern 379 Spadina Ave. 416-977-7000 Toronto Brian Cober Jam 9:30 PM Drums and amp provided (Every Sun)Roc ‘N Doc’s 905-891-1754 Chuck Jackson & The All Stars 4:30 PM (Every Sun) EVERY MONDAYBlack Swan Tavern 154 Danforth Ave 416-469-0537 Toronto Sebastian Agnello 9:30 PM Acoustic (Every Mon)Orbit Room 580A College St 416-535-0613 Toronto Jordan John 10PM (Every Mon) EVERY TUESDAYBlack Swan Tavern 416-469-0537 Peter Verity 9:30 PM Roots (Every Tue)Brando’s on Market 135 Market St 519-720-6758 Brantford Chris Brown host 10PM Open Jam (Every Tue)Reservoir Lounge 416-955-0887 Tyler Yarema and His Rhythm 9:45 PM (Every Tue)Sauce on Danforth 1376 Danforth Ave 647-748-1376 Toronto Julian Fauth 6PM (Every Tue) EVERY WEDNESDAYBlack Swan Tavern 416-469-0537 Nicola Vaughan 9:30 PM Open Jam (Every Wed)Bobby O’Brien’s 125 King St W 519-743-5657 Kitchener Dave Rodenburg, John Lee & Jim Boudreau 8PM (Every Wed) Open Blues JamGate 403 416-588-2930 Julian Fauth 9PM (Every Wed)Inter Steer Tavern 361 Roncesvalles Ave 416-604-3333 Toronto Fraser/Daley 8PM (Every Wed)

Browse to www.torontobluessociety.com and click on "Live Blues" scroll down and enter your event into the form provided. From there it will be promoted in this newsletter, on our website and in our weekly e-mail blasts. Please keep the gig listings within reasonable driving distance of Toronto. If you're having trouble send a note to [email protected]

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Lancaster Smokehouse 519-743-4331 Matt Weidinger 6PM (Every Wed)Reservoir Lounge 416-955-0887 Robin Banks 8:45 PM (Every Wed)Ten Restaurant & Wine Bar 130 Lake-shore Rd E 905-271-0016 Port Credit Chuck Jackson & Tyler Yarema 8PM (Every Wed) EVERY THURSDAYCol. Mustard’s Pub & Deli 905-895-6663 Lou Moore plus guest 9PM (Every Thu)

Harbour Street Fish Bar 10 Keith Ave, 705-293-3474 Collingwood Wayne Buttery Band 7PM (Reservoir Lounge 416-955-0887 Mary McKay 9:45 PM (Every Thu) EVERY FRIDAYLancaster Smokehouse 574 Lan-caster St W 519-743-4331 Kitchener John McKinley Band 8PM Warmington’s Bistro 42 George St 519-770-4941 Brantford The Bent Bugle Band 8PM with guests

The original Sidemen (l. to r. Vince Maccarone,Greg Marshak, Paul Reddick and Kyle Ferguson), re-unite for a rare (dare we say historic?) appearance at the Dakota Tavern, Ossington & Dundas, Saturday, September 19. It's an early show, 7-9PM


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