Mac Attack
Dr. John and his 911 Band play the Toronto Star Stage in Nathan Phillips Square to kick off the mainstage series of the Toronto Downtown Jazz festival on Friday, June 21. Tickets from www.ticketmaster.ca
When Mac Rebennack, aka Dr John, digs in to his New Orleans groove on the opening night of Toronto Downtown Jazz, it marks the traditional kick-off for a non-stop festival frenzy in Toronto. Throughout Ontario and beyond, the festival season has already begun for the lucky few that are making plans for a trip to the New Orleans or Chicago festivals in May, but for those of us who are homebound, there will still be a lot of fine blues in the general vicinity of Toronto. This is what we have so far. We will keep you informed in forthcoming issues of MapleBlues. Check the links at www.torontobluessociety.com and you can also check out many of the folk festivals in Ontario at www.icomm.ca/ocff. Some folk festivals offer a taste of blues as do many of the jazz and community festivals taking place all summer.
June 10-16: The Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival features Wild T. Tony Springer, Grant Lyle and the Brotherhood, Ken Hamm, Carlos del Junco with Kevin Breit, the Basement Blues Band and more. Contact info: www.barriejazzbluesfest.com
Saturday June 15, 2002: The new Orangeville Blues Fest, featuring Willie "Big Eyes" Smith and his Blues Allstars, featuring legendary Chicago bass player, Bob Stroger, still going strong at 70, with guitarist Jack De Keyzer, Downchild Blues Band's piano man Michael Fonfara, and special guest opening act, Orangeville's hometown blues favourites, Trouble & Strife. The fest occurs at the Orangeville Townhall Opera House, 87 Broadway, Orangeville, Ontario. Doors 7:00 P.M, Tickets $20.00 from the Box Office 519-942-3423. This will be the first ever all blues show in this magnificent restored Opera House, a non-smoking building with a 270 soft seat theatre with outstanding acoustics and excellent sight lines.
June 21-30: The Toronto Downtown Jazz festival resumes their long standing tradition of opening with a blues show and this year it's Dr. John and His 911 Band. There will be lots of blues content in local clubs and the notable presence of Margie Evans for 3 nights at Dewey's Lounge. Local blues bands will be featured in many participating venues: Fathead, Carlos del Junco, Dylan Wickens, Jack de Keyzer, Brian Blain, Paul James and many others in 40 venues across town. www.torontojazz.com
July 5-7: Harbourfront hosts Toronto's Labatt Blues Festival and features the wonderful Odetta on Saturday afternoon, July 6. Later that day, see BC-based Harry Manx, who combines lap-slide guitar with the Mohan Veena (a 20-string member of the guitar family). Finish off the night with multi-award nominated act, Paul Reddick + The Sidemen. The festival also features Fathead, Jack de Keyzer, Michael Pickett, Dawn Tyler Blues Project, Curley Bridges, Georgette Fry, Slowpoke, Beau Kavanagh & The Broken Hearted and Jordan Cook www.harbourfront.on.ca or phone (416) 973-3000
July 5-7: First Annual Thunder Bay Blues Festival at Marina Park. Acts include Colin James, Jeff Healey's Jazz Wizards, Powder Blues Band, Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater, Big Walter Smith and the Groove Merchants, Lamont Cranston Blues Band and Rita Chiarelli. Contact info: www.tbayblues.ca. Email info@tbayblues.ca or phone (807) 344-2589.
July 6: The Porquis Blues Festival will be back again this year on July 6 in Porquis Junction, Ontario. This rustic event is always a favourite with performers and gets great support from a small community that loves to party. www.surf.to/porquisblues
July 5-14: Cisco Systems Ottawa Bluesfest is Canada's biggest Blues and Gospel festival with a five-stage, 10-day event. Here's a preview: Friday and Saturday, July 5 and 6 feature Omar & The Howlers, Blind Boys of Alabama, and Blue Rodeo. On Saturday some performers are Colin Linden , David Jacobs-Strain , Harry Manx and Pinetop Perkins. Sunday July 7 will be Long John Baldry, Mississippi Heat, Sue Foley, Holmes Brothers, Steve Earle and JJ Cale. Friday, July 12, features the JW Jones Blues Band, Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, The Mighty Popo, The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Saturday, July 13, The Mud Boys, Fathead, Bill `The Sauce Boss' Wharton, Joe Louis Walker, Otis Rush, Lucinda Williams. Many more performers are making their way to Ottawa including Suzie Vinnick, Dawn Tyler Watson Band, Morgan Davis, Clarence `Gatemouth' Brown, Ann Rabson, Lucky Peterson, Bryan Lee, Jimmie Vaughn, Alberta Adams, Tony D and Colin James. www.ottawa-bluesfest.ca Ticket Info: www.ticketmaster.ca Telephone: (613) 755-1111 or (613) 247-1188
July 11 - 14: The joint Windsor and London Bluesfest International will be bringing in Blues Traveller, Eddy Clearwater, Mick Taylor (former Rolling Stone), Eric Burdon & the New Animals, Colin James, Garth Hudson & the Crowmatix (Garth revisits the Band), Best of the West Triple Header featuring 3 Juno award winners, Amos Garrett, Johnny V, and Big Dave McLean, Jeff Healey's Jazz Wizards, Powder Blues Band, Rita Chiarelli, Chef Chris & his Nairobi Trio, Robert Jones, Jordan Cook, Rick Steves Band and more. www.thebluesfest.com
July 18-21: The 14th Annual Beaches International Jazz Festival in Toronto is back at Kew Gardens (despite attempts to move them out of their beloved bandshell) as well as all along Queen Street. With the excellent blues content they've been bringing in over the last couple of years they're going to have to start calling this one a "Jazz and Blues" festival. This year, watch for mainstage performances by Rusty Zinn, Big Joe & The Dynaflows, Bill King's Saturday Nite Fish Fry, Alex Pangman & Her Alleycats. On the street you will find Jack de Keyzer, Fathead, Big Daddy G, Raoul & The Bigtime, Matthew Dusk Band and many more. Contact: www.beachesjazz.com
July 19-21: 11th Annual New York State Rhythm `n' Blues Festival, Syracuse NY. Performers include Otis Rush, Jimmy Vaughan with LouAnn Barton, Robert Lockwood Junior, Lucky & James Peterson, Sonny Landreth, Sista Monica, Larry Garner w/Christian Dozzler, Curtis Salgado, Bernard Allison, Little Toby Walker, The Tarbox Ramblers, Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers, Jimmy Cavallo and lots more! Contact info: www.nysbluesfest.com
Sunday August 4: Rockin' Blues Music Festival, Lobie's Park, Walkerton, Ontario - This full day of music and fun in the park will feature live music from the 60s to the present, and a musician's reunion. http://stevebriggs.superb.net/saugeen
Sept 6-7: Southside Shuffle, Port Credit. For the first time they will be closing off Lakeshore and more than 20 bands will be playing on the street with a total of 70 acts performing including Jeff Healey's Jazz Wizards, Downchild, Magic Slim, and Jack de Keyzer. www.southsideshuffle.com
Sept 6-7: Niagara Falls Blues In The Park. Lineup on Friday Sept 6 includes Steve Burnside with the Original Marquis, Odyssey Blues Band with Suzanne Hyatt, Fathead, Nightshift Blues Band, LMT Connection, Big Daddy G with Tortoise Blue, Kelley Hunt and much more. www.bluesinthepark.com
Watch for the continuation of our festival round-up in the next issue of MapleBlues.