Festival Round-up
"Pete Special is an originator and professor of the fat, funkified, urban R&B sound that influenced and now spills out from the best
regional bar bands in America's great northern music cities" says
Dan Aykroyd. Pete is the former leader of and co-founder of Chicago's
Big Twist & the Mellow Fellows. Pete's latest project is a stripped down, raw, rich approach set to burn new ground in the contemporary blues scene.
Pete Special performs with England's Steve
Payne and our own Michael Pickett Friday, September 5 at 10 pm at the Southside Shuffle
Porch Stage, and Saturday, September 6, 3:30 pm at The Rex Hotel, also Sunday September 7 from 4:30 - 8:30 at the Distillery District Patio
and Thursday, September 11 at Chicago's.
The SouthCoast BluesFest, Aug 1- 3 (formerly Mudcat Blues Festival), Dunnville
Reader's Cafe in Dunnville 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). This year's festival features a stellar line up of Blues performers appearing in 4 venues throughout Dunnville, Readers Café, Grand Island BBQ, SandBar and Lalor Estate Inn. Some of the performers confirmed are Georgette Fry & the B-Side Blues Band, David Rotundo and the Blue Canadians, Cameo Blues Band, Mr. Rick and the Biscuits, Jack de Keyzer, George Leach and many more. Visit www.readerscafe.com for schedule, ticket information and directions to lovely downtown Dunnville.
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.
Toronto's Festival of Beer, August 8 - 10, Fort York
The 8th annual Festival of Beer at Toronto's historic Fort York has a fantastic Blues line up, along with over 150 vendors from breweries across Canada.
The main stage line up features a variety of musicians throughout the weekend. Saving the best for last, there will be great Blues on Sunday afternoon, featuring
The Backstabbers, The Toronto Blues
Allstars with Jerome Godboo and Greg
Godovitz, followed by George Leach. www.thebeerstore.ca/festivals/toronto-music has all your schedule and vendor 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. www.heavenlyideas.com/musicfest.
Oshawa Jazz & Blues Festival, August 11 - 16, Oshawa
The Oshawa Jazz & Blues Festival promises close to a full week of Jazz and Blues related events. Monday there is an interactive lecture at the Oshawa Public Library, with Jazz master
Rob McConnell. Admission is free. Wednesday evening watch the Oscar winning film
Chicago under the stars, downtown Oshawa.
Friday night in Memorial Park, the Susie
Arioli Swing Band will perform hot swing hits from the 30'sand 40's. Admission is free for this event. The big night for the Blues is on Saturday as
Jeff Healey and the Jazz Wizards hit the stage in Memorial Park, folled by
Big Daddy G and 2003 Juno Award winner Jack de
Keyzer, and Latin-Flamenco guitarist Peter Mathers
and his band Rendezvous. This event is free. Check the website at www.eclipseconcerts.com/jazzandblues/home.
Eaglewood Folk Festival August 22 - 24, Eaglewood Resort, Pefferlaw
The Eaglewood Folk Festival this year will prove to be one of the biggest Folk and Blues related Festivals in Ontario. Some of the performers who are scheduled to appear are
Harry Manx, Mose Scarlett, Jackie
Washington, and Ken Whiteley, Alfie
Smith and Norm Hacking. Early Bird tickets are only $35.00 and at the gate weekend passes are $55.00. Individual tickets are $15.00 for Friday
and for Saturday or Sunday $30.00 Children under 12 free.
The Eaglewood Resort is located in Pefferlaw, Ontario just 75 km North of Toronto. For driving directions and accommodations visit
www.eaglewoodfolk.com. A detailed performer schedule will also be
available soon from the web site.
Limestone City Blues Festival August 21 - 24, Kingston
This year, the Limestone City Blues Festival has a great line up and location for a weekend of Blues! There is a Club Series presented by Sleeman's featuring artist such
as Little Bobby & the Jumpstarts, The Nightshift Blues Band, Georgette Fry & the B-Side Blues Band,
Maple Blues New Talent Search
Finalists The Odyssey Blues Band, Jack de Keyzer,
and Morgan Davis. There are a ton of clubs participating in the festival as well as concerts in the
Market Square. Friday features Omar & the Howlers,
and Saturday's headliner is Sugar Ray & the Bluetones
featuring `Monster' Mike Welch. Tickets are only $7.00 and include entry to all festival clubs, Confederation Park and Concerts. For venue locations, performer schedule and directions to The Limestone City Blues Festival,
visit www.kingstonblues.com. Or call Kingston Tourism at1-888-855-4555.
Southside Shuffle September 5 - 7 2003, Port Credit
The Southside Shuffle this year promises the biggest and best to date! The huge street shuffle will be a party with lots of food and great Blues. There will also be Blues in the clubs nearby in charming Port
Credit, and in Memorial Park. The Carlsberg Main Stage line up features
Downchild Blues Band, Fathead and Alex Pangman
on Friday night. Saturday Mark `Bird' Stafford
hosts Harmonica Knights feat Donny Walsh
and David "Hurricane" Hoerl, Sue Foley, Jimmy Bowskill
and Kenny `Blues Boss' Wayne, followed by Canadian legend _
David Wilcox. Sunday, don't miss the
Southside Super Jam, featuring The Maple Blues
Band and guests Jeff Healey, Donnie "Mr Downchild" Walsh, Chuck
Jackson, and Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne.
This show is presented by the Toronto Blues Society.
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!
Harvestfest 2003, September 10 - 14 Fredericton, NB
This years headline acts include Colin James, Lil' Ed and the Blues Imperials, Toronto's own David Rotundo and the Blue Canadians, Corey Harris, Deborah Coleman, exported Canadian Anthony Gomes and many more. The event is held over 5 blocks and 2 dozen venues in charming downtown Fredericton. Tickets range from $25.00 for a day pass to $125.00 for a weekend pass. There are free concerts at this event as well. Visit www.harvestjazzandblues.com for ticket info, schedule and tourist information.
- Sarah French