Festival Round-up
Fathead will be busy this summer with festival appearances at Porquis Junction Blues Festival (July 12), Festival Internationale du Blues Tremblant (July 15), London Blues Festival (Jul 20), Beaches International Jazz Festival (July 24-26), Lafayette Tap Room (Buffalo) Bluesfest (Aug 8), Kitchener's Blues, Brews and BBQ (Aug 9), The Heart and Soul Music Fest ( Aug 9) and the Southside Shuffle (Sept 5).
Labatt Blue's Festival, July 4-6, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto. Toronto's long-standing blues rendezvous always brings a nice blend of new faces and familiar sounds and a great film programme (presented by the TBS). Watch for Corey Harris and his new unit the 5x5, Alan Gerber, Dawn Tyler Watson, Fruteland Jackson, Diana Braithwaite, Rita Chiarelli, David Essig, Wes Mackey, the Saturday Night Fish Fry, George Leach, Ricky Day & The Daredevils of Soul, Alfie Smith, Mark "Bird" Stafford, Michael Kaeshammer, a Rez Bluez 10th Anniversay bash, Juno winner Jack de Keyzer with an expanded all-star line-up and more. www.harbourfront.on.ca
Cisco Systems Bluesfest, July 4 _ 13, Ottawa. The tenth year of the Cisco Systems Bluesfest has a monster line up of Blues performers. This festival is so large it takes two weekends and 7 stages to cover all the great Blues! There are various ticket prices for this event, starting at $25.00 for a day pass (excluding July 8), July 8 Day passes are $30.00, full festival passports are $85.00 and single weekend passes are $55.00. There Gold Circle and Clubhouse passes are sold out. This is just a small list of some of the top notch blues acts confirmed this year for The Cisco Systems Bluesfest: Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals headline the main stage on Friday July 4th. Saturday features Dawn Tyler Watson, David Rotundo and the Blue Canadians, followed by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Sunday's line up includes Rick Holmstrom Band, Popa Chubby, Lonnie Brooks and Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers. The main stage also has Susan Tedeschi performing on July 11 followed by The Allman Brothers. Saturday July 12 stars Pinetop Perkins, Tommy Castro and Have Love Will Travel featuring Dan Ackroyd and Jim Belushi. Sunday Anthony Gomes will take the stage as will Rita Chiarelli, Peter Green Splinter Group and a special Blues in the Schools performance beginning at noon.
A few of the performers on the Acoustic stage are Rick Fines and Ray Bonneville on Friday July 4, Corey Harris and 5 x 5 headlines the evening on Saturday. Some of the key performances the following weekend will be Charlie A'Court and Harry Manx on Thursday, Sue Foley on Friday, Michael Pickett, Michael Jerome Brown and Tony D on Saturday July 13. The Southern stage has an astounding line up, with performances by Colin Linden on July 4, Mumbo Jumbo Voodoo Combo and Sonny Landreth on Saturday, July 5. Jack de Keyzer hits the stage on the following Thursday, followed by Charlie Musselwhite on Friday. For more detailed listings of performers and venue information, visit www.ottawa-bluesfest.ca
Thunder Bay Blues Festival July 4 _ 6, Thunder Bay. Thunder Bay hosts a wild Blues party this weekend with Reverb Rockers, Paul James, the legendary Johnnie Johnson and the Downchild Blues Band on Friday night. Canada's First Lady of Blues Harp _ Tracy K takes the stage on Saturday along with David Gogo, Detroit Blues Ledgends and Dickey Betts & Great Southern. Sunday features Glamour Puss, Big Walter Smith & Groove Merchants followed by the incredible Koko Taylor. This festival is held on the shores of beautiful Lake Superior at the Thunder Bay Marina. Daily passes for the Thunder Bay Blues Festival are $15.00 or $30.00 for a weekend pass. Children 5 and under are free. For more information on this festival click on www.tbayblues.ca
Toronto's Brown Bag Concert series this year includes Alex Pagman and her Alleycats on July 2 and Sue Foley on July 9. These lunchtime concerts at Nathan Phillips Square are from noon to 2:00 pm and are free.
Markham Rotary Ribfest, July 11-13, Markham Fairgrounds, will feature Mark "Bird" Stafford, The Tone Dogs, Michael Keys All-Star Band, The New Raw Blues Band, The Bebop Cowboys, Grant Lyle, Danny Marks and the Ribfest All-Star Band, and more. Free Parking and Free Admission. www.markhamribfest.com
Porquis Junction Blues Festival, July 12, Ontario's friendliest little blues festival, hidden away an hour outside Timmins. This year featuring Fathead, Jake Thomas and the Fundamentals, Maureen Brown, Chris Murphy, Hurtin' Blues Band, Sonny Fournier, Paul James, Sab and the Dylan Wickens Band
Toronto International Blues & BBQ Festival, July 11-12, The Roundhouse, Toronto This year it's a free festival featuring many great local blues artists on the grounds of the Steamwhistle brewery.
London Blues Festival, July 16_20. NEWS FLASH! The festival will move to a new location just north of the city to Bellamere Market and Winery, 1260 Gainsborough Rd. As far as we know the lineup hasn't changed. It includes George Thorogood, Buddy Guy, Dickey Betts, Buckwheat Zydeco, Koko Taylor, Omar and The Howlers and many more. The London Blues Festival is being held at John Labatt Center Outdoor Pavilion. Wednesday July 16, its Big Daddy G. & Robert Penn, and at 9:30 pm Koko Taylor. On Thursday July 17 you can see Paul Langille, Scott Holt, The London Blues Allstars, and Dickey Betts starting at 5:20 pm. Friday Paul James and Buddy Guy are the big names scheduled to perform. Saturday's party begins at 1:00 pm with artists such as Those Delta Rhythm Kings, Glamour Puss, Dawn Tyler Watson, Buckwheat Zydeco and more. On Sunday the London International Bluesfest ends on a high note with Toronto's own Fathead, followed by George Thorogood. Ticket prices range from $25.00 - $40.00 for day passes to $75.00 for a 5 day pass. www.thebluesfest.com/london has all the information you need for directions and purchasing tickets
Windsor Bluesfest July 17 _ 20, Windsor This exciting blues festival is being held downtown Windsor, on the banks of the Detroit River in the Riverfront Civic Terrace. There are some big names performing this year beginning on Thursday July 17 with The Motown Blues Legends featuring Alberta Adams, Thornetta Davis, Joe Weaver, and Detroit Rhythm Rockers. Rita Chiarelli hits the stage at 8:30 pm, followed by Koko Taylor. The doors open at 6:00 pm and tickets for Thursdays show are $10.00. Friday night has a great line up of the Blues with Southside Gino and The Notebenders, Scott Holt, Buckwheat Zydeco, and Dickey Betts & Great Southern. Tickets are $25.00. Saturday night will be rockin' with Buddy Guy headlining the evening, preceded by The Groove Hogs, Mudpuppy and Still At Large. These tickets are $25.00. There will be a kid's fest featuring entertainers, jumpers, food and fun for the whole family, starting at 10:00. The last day of this festival will prove to be fantastic with an all day bike show, a guitar clinic and great Blues music. Sunday's concert line up includes Those Delta Rhythm Kings, Glamour Puss, Dawn Tyler Watson and Omar & The Howlers. Tickets for this event are $10.00. A four day pass for the entire festival is $45.00. Tickets can be purchased online at www.thebluesfest.com/Windsor. Directions to the festival, artist information and tourist info can be accessed from the web page as well.
New York State Rhythm and Blues Festival July 18-20, Syracuse New York. Friday July 18 the Imperial Ballroom in the Hotel Syracuse Tab Benoit, Duke Robillard and Tommy Castro will be performing. The Persian terrace has Women n' Blues and later, Kelly Hunt. Saturday July 19 at the main stage in Clinton Square, The Downchild Blues Band will be performing at 7:30 pm followed by the Robben Ford Band at 9:30. Also in Clinton Square, Sunday July 20 The Blind Boys of Alabama will hit the main stage followed by the West Coast Harmonica Blow off featuring Mark Hummel, James Harman, and more will be sure to draw a crowd. The New York State Rhythm and Blues festival also has many free artist workshops throughout the weekend. Visit www.nysbluesfest.com for ticket information, performer listings, and accommodations.
As she prepares a new recording, Rita
Chiarelli (right) has a busy Festival schedule including Labatt Blue's Festival, Toronto (July 4), Thunder Bay Blues festival (July 5),
Ottawa Bluesfest (July 13), Windsor Bluesfest (July 17), Beaches International Jazz Festival (July 26) and Blues in the Park, Niagara Falls (Sept 6)
Beaches International Jazz Festival July 23-27. On Saturday, July 26 Blues on the main stage (Kew Gardens) with Rita Chiarelli &The Downchild Blues Band. The popular street fest has the following performers on site Blackboard Blues Band, Shakura S'Aida, Little Bobby and the Jumpstarts, Big Daddy G, David Rotundo and the Blue Canadians. If that's not enough, you can also catch Fathead, Jack De Keyzer, Mark Stafford and many more performers on Queen St. East throughout the weekend. This is a free event. Visit www.beachesjazz.com for more performer listings and information.
The Toronto Star Bluesfest July 23-27, Exhibition Place, Toronto. The first Toronto Star Bluesfest has a stellar line up of artists including Toronto's own Jack De Keyzer and fellow Canuck Colin James on Wednesday July 23. On Thursday the headline act is Sheryl Crow and Friday is George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic. The real Blues begins on Saturday with Joe Louis Walker & The Bosstalkers, Peter Green Splinter Group, and George Thorogood. To close out the show on Sunday July 27 The Blind Boys of Alabama will perform as well as Big Bill Morganfield, Tommy Castro and Robert Cray. There will be many more performers to see at The Toronto Star Bluesfest. www.torontobluesfest.com
The SouthCoast BluesFest, Aug 1-3 (formerly Mudcat Blues Festival), Dunville. Readers Cafe in Dunville is now recognized as a premier blues venue in Ontario with great community support and the festival that has grown around it provides a great setting for blues (and a great excuse to get out of the city). Lineup TBA www.readerscafe.com
Blues, Brews and BBQ, August 8 and 9, Kitchener More than 15 local and International acts are participating in this year's Blues, Brews and BBQ festival in Downtown Kitchener. The free events are being held on the Civic Square at Kitchener City Hall. There will be beer gardens and vendors with a wide selection of Barbeque, a children's area featuring the Microsoft X-Box truck and much more. Stellar acts such as Waterstreet Blues Band, Fathead and Mel Brown and the Homewreckers will appear on Friday night. Saturday the party starts early with Cheryl Lescomb, Jimmy Bowskill, and Little Bobby & the Jumpstarts. Pappy Johns Band, Shawn Kellerman, and Eddy `The Chief' Clearwater are also booked to perform. Stages nightclub has former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor and guest James Anthony. Tickets for this concert are $20.00 in advance and can be purchased at Encore Records (519) 744-1370. Visit www.bluesbrewsandbq.com for additional information.
Heart & Soul Music Festival August 9, Newmarket This free all day musical extravaganza is being held on Main Street South, downtown Newmarket. Some of the bands that will be on hand for this event are Fathead, Raoul and the Big Time, Dylan Wickens Band, Ron Corb and Urban Rhythm Collective. There will be an indoor concert with Downchild Blues Band at Trinity United Church. Tickets for this event are $25.00. Proceeds from the sales will benefit The Jennifer Ashleigh Foundation. Visit www.heavenlyideas.com/musicfest for more information on the street festival and the benefit concert for The Jennifer Ashleigh Foundation.
The Oshawa Jazz and Blues, Aug 11-17, Memorial Park, Oshawa. Jeff Healey's Jazz Wizards, Big Daddy G, Jack De Keyzer, Peter Mathers and Rendezvous and the Bourbon Street Buskers. More bands will be announced in the near future. The Saturday event will also feature a Cajun Cook-off and BBQ, Artisans and more. Most events are free www.eclipseconcerts.com
Limestone City Blues Festival, Aug 21-24, Kingston. Featured artists include Sugar Ray and the Bluetones featuring Monster Mike Welch, Rita Chiarelli, Saffire, The Twisters, Jack de Keyzer and local favourite Georgette Fry and the B-Side Blues Band. www.kingstonblues.com
Penatang Jazz & Blues Festival, Aug 30. Jack de Keyzer headlines this new festival. Check back here in the August issue for more info or visit www.fusionmanagement.com/penetangjazzandblues
Southside Shuffle, Sept 5-7, Port Credit. This year (its 5th) they feature a larger "Sreet Shuffle", two outdoor stages and southern cooking at "Bourbon Street in the Park". Over 100 international blues and jazz acts including David Wilcox, Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, Alberta Adams, Downchild Blues Band, Omar and the Howlers, Pete Special, Steve Payne. www.southsideshuffle.com
Blues in the Park September 5 _ 6, Niagara Falls ON Fireman's park in Niagara Falls Ontario will be smokin' with acts such as The Odyssey Blues Band featuring Suzanne Hyatt and Juno nominees Big Daddy G. featuring Tortoise Blue with special guest Dawn Tyler Watson on Friday, September 5. The Blues party continues on Saturday afternoon with Michael Pickett, Harmonica Dean and the Blues Lights, Steve Burnside and the Original Marquis, Rita Chiarelli and headliner Omar and the Howlers. Gate tickets for this festival are $10.00 for Friday, $15.00 for Saturday or $20.00 for a weekend pass. www.bluesinthepark.com has all the directions and accommodation information you need for a great Blues weekend in Niagara Falls!
- Sarah French