A summer of BLUES
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Some featured artists at this summer's Labatt's Blues & BBQ at Harbourfront Centre ( top L to R: Susan Tedeschi, Tarbox Ramblers, Suzie Arioli & Jordan Officer, Michael Pickett; Bottom L to R: Dawn Tyler Watson, Harry Manx, Super ChiKan
It's festival season and blues festivals figure prominently on the summer landscape, even though we are continually reminded that blues accounts for barely a percentage or two of the entire music spectrum. Still, Toronto blues fans will have plenty of reason to stay in the city for a few muggy week-ends to hear some premiere blues acts. The premiere event in Canada's capital of the blues is the Labatt's Blues & BBQ Festival at Harbourfront Centre, July 6,7 and 8
The festival kicks off with a ticketed show on the Friday Night featuring Shemekia Copeland and Susan Tedeschi, two next-generation blueswomen who have made a big impression in a short time. After the Pier Party, make your way to the Lakeside Terrace for Tony D or the Brigantine Room for the Tarbox Ramblers (making their Toronto debut).
Saturday July 7th, there's a non-stop barrage of free blues performances and it goes like this:
1:00 Reely The Blues Film Series: Double bill Look Up and Sing Out Part 1 and 2 AND Pops Staples: Live in Concert Studio Theatre
2:00 Susie Arioli Swing Band Norigen Stage
3:00 Harry Manx Ann Tindal Stage
3:00 Workshop: Upright Bass Clinic with Russell Jackson and Terry Wilkins Lakeside Terrace
3:30 Michael Pickett Norigen Stage
4:30 Paul James Ann Tindal Stage
5:00 Reely The Blues Film Series: Double bill Fame Recording Studio AND Muddy Waters in Concerts Studio Theatre
5:00 TBS Talent Search Brigantine Room
5:00 Workshop: Mohan Vena with Harry Manx Lakeside Terrace
6:00 Paul James Ann Tindal Stage
7:00 Harry Manx Ann Tindal Stage
7:00 Reely The Blues Film Series: John Lee Hooker & Friends: Rare Performances (1984 - 1992)
7:00 Workshop: Blues Guitar from Mali to Mississippi with Boubacar Traore and Super ChiKan Lakeside Terrace
8:00 Bobby Dean Blackburn Norigen Stage
8:30 Henry Gray & The Cats Norigen Stage
10:00 Super ChiKan & The Fightin' Cocks Norigen Stage
11:00 Raoul & the Big Time with Big Dave McLean Brigantine Room
11:00 Russell Jackson Lakeside Terrace
Sunday afternoon, the blues continues with a 1:00pm Workshop called Talkin' the Blues Interview with Henry Gray at the Lakeside Terrace followed by performances by some pretty amazing guitar players, the internationally renowned Boubacar Traore (see lead story) and rare appearance by Montreal powerhouse Dawn Tyler Watson with JUNO-nominee Big Daddy G:
1:30 Harry Manx Ann Tindal Stage
2:00 Colin Linden Norigen Stage
2:30 The Livin' Blues Band Lakeside Terrace
3:30 Boubacar Traore Norigen Stage
4:00 Big Daddy G with Dawn Tyler Watson Lakeside Terrace
That's the 2001 Labatt's Blues & BBQ. As usual, a programme that brings some new voices and recognizes many of our leading Canadian artists. Too bad most people pass up the films, because that is always one of the hidden treasures of the Labatt's Blues & BBQ. And the food ain't bad, either.
Other festivals in our area that will be presenting blues this summer:
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Three of the artists featured at the Silver Dollar Room as part of the JVC Jazz festival: (l to r) Danny Brooks and the Rocking Revelators (June 16), Carlos del Junco (June 22) and Coco Montoya (June 15) |
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Leading up to the Labatt's Blues & BBQ Festival, the JVC Jazz Festival (June 15-23) and Downtown Jazz (June 22-July 1) will be presenting blues in local clubs (notably the Silver Dollar) but no big-name mainstage blues stars this year. The Silver Dollar line-up for the JVC Fest is as follows: June 15th-Coco Montoya, June 16th-Danny Brooks and the Rockin Revelators (gospel show), June 22nd-Carlos Del Junco, June 23rd-Greg Piccolo and Heavy Juice. www.festivalproductions.net
The Dollar then changes hats and presents three Downtown Jazz performances, Thursday June 28 - Chris Lord Ideal, Friday June 29th - Colorblind Brian and the New Blainettes, and Saturday, June 30th - Jack de Keyzer. Downtown Jazz also presents several blues shows in other clubs, including the very popular Harmonica Knights series organized by Mark "Bird" Stafford at Chicago's. www.torontojazz.com
The North by Northeast (NXNE) festival on June 7-8-9 is more of a mainstream music event but is always reaching out for more blues and blues-friendly showcases. This year, the Silver Dollar is the premiere venue for blues but clubs throughout town will feature Delta 88, Doyle Bramhall, George Leach, El Chupacapra (Calgary), JW Jones, Blue Room, Paul Reddick & Sidemen, New Meanies, Brian Blain and Paul Reddick. For info call 416-863-6963 or www.nxne.com
On Thursday June 14, 2001 you can take a drive to Barrie for the Barrie Jazz & Blues Festival. It kicks off at 55 SPECIAL in Cedar Pointe Park with Bill King's Saturday Night Fish Fry. The Festival Gala begins at 8:00pm and tickets are only $15.00. Call 722-6633 for reservations. Carlos del Junco (with Kevin Breit) play the Harry Munro Memorial Concert on the evening of Saturday June 16, 2001. Notable new recordings are being released by Carlos del Junco, Barrie's Power Plant recording session by Sisters Euclid featuring Kevin Breit, Barrie's own-grown Blues Parlour, and Oakville's Mike Branton.
June 8 through June 10 is the Mudcat Blues Festival in Dunnville, Ontario. Acts such as Mel Brown, Carson Downey, Maureen Brown, Fathead, Michael Pickett, and many more will be appearing. Passes for the three day festival are $20 plus GST, and $15 for Blues Society members. For more info call 1-800-668-6295 ext 250. email: mudcatblues@hotmail.com.
Peter's Picnic Series in Innisfil has graduated from a back-yard house concert to Centennial Park, where Sue Foley has kicked off the outdoor series on May 27. The next concert is Downchild Blues Band on Canada Day July 1st. More to be announced. 10th Sideroad at 7th Line. To get there go east on Innisfil Beach Road cut off Hwy 400 North. For more info contact Michael Webb at 705-431-1693. email: swanek@csolve.net
Bluesfest International takes place in two locations, London and Windsor. The London lineup for Friday, July 13 is The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Jeff Healey and Johnnie Johnson & Al Hill & Love Butlers. Saturday, July 14 , it's Double Trouble, Powder Blues Band, Scott Holt, Long John Baldry, Sonny Rhodes, Greg Serrato and the Doctones. Sunday, July 15 you can hear Levon Helm & the Barnburners, Rita Chiarelli, Big Dave Mclean, Jonathan Russell, Big Daddy G and enjoy a Gospel Brunch with the Holmes Brothers.
In Windsor, the same week-end they will feature a special evening called "Ladies of the Blues" Thursday, July 12 with Johnny Johnson with Al Hill & Love Butlers, Rita Chiarelli and Kelley Hunt. On Friday, July 13: Double Trouble, Powder Blues, Scott Holt, Big Dave Mclean. On Saturday, July 14: Fabulous Thunderbirds, Jeff Healey, Levon Helm & Barnburners. Sunday, July 15 features Sonny Rhodes, Big Daddy G, Mudpuppy and others. Week-end Passports available. More info on both London and Windsor is available from www.thebluesfest.com.
Heading north in June, check out the New Liskeard Summerfest, June 30, with Jeff Healey, Downchild Blues Band and SAB. This event is produced by the northland's biggest blues booster, SAB, who presents his regular (now 4th Annual) Porquis Junction Blues Festival, Porquis Junction, July 7th with Rita Chiarelli, Dave Rotundo & The Blue Canadians, JW Jones Blues Band, Hurtin' Blues Band, SAB and The Playcats. Contact SAB 705-752-4212
The following weekend, July 14 (2 - 2 am) it's the1st Annual North Country Blues Festival at Pembroke Memorial Centre, Main St. 613-635-7707 (Hot Line) Pembroke, Ontario. Featured artists are Jack de Keyzer, Fathead, Rita Chiarelli, Paul James, SAB, The Rockerfellas, Farmer Blues, Lotta Blues.
Then on Aug 24 25 26, at The Reef, Callander, Ontario you can take in the 2nd Annual Callender Blues Fest with a house band led by Michael Fonfara. Friday's features are Jack de Keyzer, Jake Thomas, SAB and Michael Fonfara with Dave Rotundo & Blue Canadians, the Hurtin' Blues Band. On Saturday it's Bear Claw, JW Jones, Paul James, Hurtin' Blues and SAB. On Sunday: Bear Claw, JW Jones, and SAB with the house band. For more info, contact SAB or the Reef: 705-752-5221
Sandra Hall, Carson Downey Band, and others will appear at Blues in the Park on Mountain Road, at Dorchester - Niagara Falls Sept 14-15, 2001 www.bluesinthepark.com (905) 357-6429.
The New York State Rhythm & Blues Festival takes place in Syracuse July 20-22 with Susan Tedeschi, Shemikia Copeland, Junior Watson, Downchild and the 2nd Annual Harmonica Blowoff. www.nysbluesfest.com
The Ottawa Bluesfest (July 6-8, and July12-15) and the Montreal Jazz Festival (June 28-July 8) are probably the two largest events with line-ups too extensive to list here, but Ottawa blues lovers will enjoy George Thorogood, Jonny Lang, James Brown, Blues Traveller, Wilson Pickett and much, much more. www.ottawa-bluesfest.ca. In Montreal, the blues contingent includes local hero Steve Hill, Cesaria Evora: Morna Blues, John Hammond's "Wicked Grin.", George Thorogood, and Molly Johnson and more to be announced on the Blues Stage later this month. www.montrealjazzfest.com.
Not to be too Toronto-centric, but we started this piece with the Labatt's Blues & BBQ Festival and we end it with what should be called the Beaches Blues and Jazz Festival - but it's still called the Beaches International Jazz Festival, and it still features two days of mainstage concerts at Kew Gardens (a venue they have fought hard to maintain) and three days of "Streetfest". Picture walking down a very crowded Queen street East with a band set up at every corner. Black Board Blues Band, Michael Kaeshammer, Big Daddy G, Raoul and the Big Time, Fathead, Michael Pickett, Grant Lyle, Blue Room, Paul James are some of the blues artists on the street but the main attractions (for blues fans) will be Big Joe and the Dynaflows, (Sunday) Tab Benoit (Saturday) Susie Arioli Swing Band (Sunday), Joey DeFrancesco (Sunday) and Bill King's Saturday Nite Fish Fry (Sunday).
- Brian Blain
Toronto Blues Society Copyright _ 2001