Loose Blues News

Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards Nominees 2004: The 6th annual Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards will celebrate the achievements of Canada's premiere musical artists from the Canadian Aboriginal communities. Among the 42 artists nominated in 19 different categories are such blues-friendly talent as Murray Porter (Six Nations, ON) for Best Male Artist, The WolfPack (Six Nations, ON) for Best Group or Duo, and Elaine Bomberry (Six Nations, ON) for Best Aboriginal Music Radio Program (producer, The Aboriginal Music Experience). For Best Blues Album, the nominees are Billy Joe Green for "Muskrat Blues and Rock & Roll", and The WolfPack for "Blind Man River", and the Pappy Johns Band with Murray Porter for "Full Circle", which is also nominated in the prestige category of Best Album of the Year. Hosted by Lorne Cardinal (Corner Gas) and Sheri Maracle, and produced by Lorraine Segato, this year's Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards gala ceremony will take place at the John Bassett Theatre in the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front Street West, on Friday, November 26 at 8 pm. Tickets are available through TicketMaster at 416-872-1111, and are $35 in advance, or $40 at the door. The gala Awards show launches the 11th annual Canadian Aboriginal Festival and Pow Wow, taking place at Skydome in Toronto, November 26 to 28, 2004. For information, call 519-751-0040, e-mail info@canab.com, or visit the Canadian Aboriginal Music Award and Festival website at www.canab.com.

"Lightning in a Bottle", a film by Antoine Fuqua: "On February 7th 2003, renowned artists across multiple music genres and generations commandeered the stage at New York City's Radio City Music Hall to pay tribute to their common heritage and passion - the blues. Shared with thousands of fans in attendance, legendary performers from roots, rock, jazz and rap joined forces for a once-in-a-lifetime "Salute To The Blues" benefit concert whose proceeds went to musical education. Executive produced by Martin Scorsese, produced by Alex Gibney, and directed by Antoine Fuqua, "Lightning in a Bottle" captures the night's magic and weaves a history of the blues through the juxtaposition of performances, backstage interviews, rehearsals and archival clips of some of the greatest names in American music, from blues royalty like Buddy Guy, and B.B. King, to their musical heirs ranging from John Fogerty and Bonnie Raitt to Mos Def and India. Arie. "Lightning in a Bottle" follows the story of the week leading up to the concert - including rehearsals and back-stage footage - and the concert itself: a night where the mix of competition and generosity among the more than fifty illustrious artists pushed all of their performances to dizzying heights. The Blues is endowed with a remarkable ability to connect with universal feelings of desire, love, loss and bitter disappointment. In the journeys of these artists in this concert, you see the music for what it truly is: a road map to the human soul". The film opens on Friday November 19th in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal. To view the trailer, visit www.sonyclassics.com/lightninginabottle/trailer-open.html.

TaLkin' bLuEs: From Canadian independent filmmaker Mako Funasaka, in association with Bravo!, comes the second season of TaLkin' bLuEs. This original 13-part series explores the eccentric and exclusive world of "the blues", and prides itself on being in a state of constant evolution, like blues music itself. The second season of TaLkin' bLuEs airs every Tuesday at 7:30pm ET, beginning November 2. "I feel fortunate for the chance to present my series on Bravo!, especially because blues music is virtually ignored by mainstream radio and television," says Montréal-born Funasaka. "Music has always been very important in my life. To be able to share my passion for the blues through the words and music of those who play it is very special to me. Whether it's featuring young Canadian blues artists like Julian Fauth, David Rotundo and Boobie Browne, or working with the legends like Mel Brown, Charlie Musselwhite and Hubert Sumlin - all of whom have helped to define this genre of music - the goal of TaLkin' bLuEs is to provide a glimpse into the blues and document the passion behind it." TaLkin' bLuEs examines the current blues scene as experienced by the musicians most passionate about the genre. Each episode features one or more artists, a topic of discussion with a collection of answers from notable blues musicians, and performance footage. The first episode on November 2 spotlights Mississippi-born, multiple-Grammy-nominee Charlie Musselwhite, who talks about his early years in the blues. November 9 - Another Shade Of Blues: Features Doug Wamble, Chuck Jackson and the Southside Shuffle Blues Festival. November 16 - Harvest: Features Mighty Sam McClain, the Fredericton Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, and Bobby "Blue" Bland. November 23 - Brown(e)'s With A Feeling: Features Mel Brown and Darren "Boobie" Browne. November 30 - Acoustic Blues: Features Odetta, video director John Crockford and a Harry Manx video. December 7 - Another Man Gone Down: Features Carlos del Junco, Lonnie Shields and the Notodden Blues Festival. December 14 - Hubert and Darrell: Features Hubert Sumlin and Darrell Nulisch. December 28 - Tommy Castro: Features Tommy Castro. January 4 - Texas Blues: Features Kent "Omar" Dykes and Jon Moeller. January 11 - Duo: Features Paul Rishell, Annie Raines, and a video with Julian Fauth and David Rotundo. January 18 - Henry Butler: Features New Orleans pianist Henry Butler. January 25 - One Day In Chicago And Then Some: Features photographer James Fraher, the Chicago Hopefest Benefit and music by Mem Shannon. February 1 - Downhome Sophisticate: Features Corey Harris. Bravo!, a division of CHUM Television, is Canada's NewStyleArtsChannel dedicated to entertaining, stimulating and enlightening viewers who have a taste for a more complex television (www.bravo.ca). A proud supporter of the Canadian independent production community, Bravo! funds approximately 100 hours of independently produced documentaries and performing arts specials a year. TaLkin' bLuEs on the internet: www.talkinblues.com"

Gogo Not Gone: If you missed David Gogo's CD release parties, you have another chance to catch him, opening for Little Feat, on November 8 at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto, and November 9 at the Capital Music Hall in Ottawa.

Electro-Fi New Releases: "Bluesin' It" from Willie "Big Eyes" Smith and the Juke Joint Rockers, "Blowin' My Horn", the first Live CD from harp ace Mark Hummel (recorded live), and Chris Whiteley "It's The Natural Thing To Do" (R&B legend Curley Bridges is a special guest). For additional info visit www.electrofi.com or www.festival.bc.ca.

Good News: The lease on C'est What's music room expired at the end of August and after a protracted rent dispute with the landlord, the space was vacated. This left the Front Street pub restaurant at a crossroads. C'est What President George Milbrandt vowed at the closing night party, "We are not going to let anyone's short sightedness get in the way of our commitment to all good things local". Three weeks later, C'est What is announcing that it will be making room for a music venue in one of its newly renovated rooms. The sixteenth year of Saturday afternoon matinees with The Hot Five Jazzmakers are already underway and a full calendar of C'est What's notoriously eclectic performances is expected to start by mid November.

Bad News: Dawg House Blues - Ricky Lahey reports "It is with deep regret that I must announce that The Big Dawg's Saturday Blues Matinee has been cancelled. Thanks to all of the great musicians who signed on to a new adventure which unfortunately just did not work out. The Blooze Hounds will continue to deliver the gospel of the blues at Your Neighbourhood Pizza in the Falls from 9-1 every Saturday..."

And more Bad News: Lisa's Cafe on Carlaw Ave has been presenting blues and jazz over the past four years but owner Lisa Shamai has decided to shut it down and concentrate on her catering business. "It was great in so many ways! I met wonderful people, made lots of new friends. I was honoured to have amazing musicians perform at least a couple of times each week. I had the pleasure of having my walls filled with different artist's work every month. I presented different concepts, like `martini & manicure night' and dinner & a movie night'. I tried so many ways of making ends meet at Lisa's Café, but in the end, nothing worked! But it sure was fun! So, we said a final good-bye to Lisa's Café".

A Reeeally Big Shooow: Wednesday Nov 17 at 8.30 pm, at Readers in Dunnville, it's an opportunity to experience multiple W.C. Handy Award winner for Blues Guitarist of the Year, multiple Maple Blues Award winner for International Artist of The Year, and Stony Plain Recording Artist Duke Robillard and his band in an intimate and musically attentive atmosphere with a seating capacity of only 65. Visit www.readerscafe.com.

Bruce Palmer, 1946-2004: The bassist and co-founder of Buffalo Springfield died of a heart attack at age 58. The native of Liverpool, Nova Scotia, died October 1 in Belleville, Ontario. Palmer played in Canadian bands with Rick James and future members of Steppenwolf before he and fellow Canadians Neil Young and Dewey Martin hooked up with Stephen Stills and Richie Furay to form Springfield in 1966. Although the group recorded only three albums and had one Top 40 hit (For What It's Worth), Springfield influenced such groups as The Eagles and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.

We remember Roger Mayne: The lead guitarist and co-founder of the Ugly Ducklings, a leading blues-rock group of the '60s scene in Toronto - and engineer of their reunion in '79 (a reunion that continued right up to the present) has also passed on. Dave Bingham, the band's vocalist and other co-founder, indicates that the Ducks emerged from the Folk Music Club at Cedarbrae Collegiate in Scarborough. Roger turned up with some Bo Diddley 45s, overcoming the strenuous objections of the teacher - as can be imagined - by forcefully and correctly pointing out that Bo's music is real American folk music.

Now literally "Sweet Baby": Australian blues musician James Meston (who toured in Canada in 2003) and his wife, Karina, had a baby boy on September 24, Jonah Grundy Meston (8 pounds, 14 ounces).

Recuperating: Andrew Galloway sends this update on Electro-Fi artist Mel Brown. "Mel has suffered with respiratory problems for the last few years and shortly after arriving at the Silver Dollar room for his birthday bash gig on Oct.16th he became ill and was taken to Mount Sinai hospital with breathing difficulties. I was able to visit him several times and of course Miss Angel never left his side. As the week went on he improved steadily and last night he was transferred to St. Mary's Hospital in Kitchener where he will continue to recuperate. Many thanks to all who came out to see Mel at the Dollar and many thanks to Mel's band The Homewreckers (John Lee, Al , Jim Boudreau) who along with two real gentlemen, Shawn Kellerman and Sherman Lee Dillon from Jackson, Mississippi, stepped in and put on a great show. Right now all our thoughts are on wishing Mel a speedy recovery."

Downchild, one of Canada's longest running bands, marks its 35th anniversary with a guest-laden new CD - its first in seven years - and a major tour of western and central Canadian cities.

The tour - with guitar star David Gogo on the double bill on most of the dates - starts with a show in Vancouver on October 8, and ends in Ottawa two months later.

"Come On In," Downchild's new release - due the first week in October - is the band's 14th album, and is distributed by Festival Distribution. It features performances from just a few of the friends the band has made over the years, including American blues harmonica pioneer James Cotton, the Fabulous Thunderbirds' keyboard ace Gene Taylor, guitarists Jeff Healey and Powder Blues Band founder Tom Lavin, and powerhouse drummer Pentti Glan. Finally, David Gogo rocks out loud and clear on two of the 13 tracks.

The Downchild story began in 1969 in Toronto's gritty Grossman's Tavern, with Donnie "Mr. Downchild" Walsh and his late brother, Richard "The Hock" Walsh. The brothers created a rough-and-tumble band that instantly found an audience.

Downchild created one of the first DIY independent recording projects (an album titled "Bootleg") a year later, went on to have a major smash hit with their version of Big Joe Turner's classic "Flip Flop & Fly", and undertook endless cross-Canada tours while turning out hit albums. One of these albums, "Straight Up," later helped inspire a friend, Dan Ackroyd, to create 'The Blues Brothers' and a multi-million selling album, "Briefcase Full of Blues" based on the two brothers and their band from Toronto.

Over the years, Downchild - despite the deaths of some its key people, including pianist Jane Vasey, and singers Hock Walsh, Tony Flaim and John Witmer -persevered. Members came and went over the years, but in the last decade the band has been virtually unchanged.

Downchild's distinctive blues-based rock and roll sound has always remained the same, as has the band's attitude: This is music for dancing, for laughing, for thinking and for partying.

Says Donnie Walsh: "Way back, we called one of our albums 'Good Times Guaranteed,' and that's still true. We've always been about doing shows that give our audiences dynamic, high-energy music. Sure, it's taken seven years to get a new album together, and part of that is that we're always out on the road, either in the U.S. or in Canada.

"But everyone knows that if you want to have a really good time, you always got to have the right reason. The new songs and the new record - just like the others over the years - are right in the Downchild tradition.

"This is exactly the right time to start writing a new chapter in the band's history."

TBS MERCH AVAILABLE ONLINE

As a result of the blues festivals that didn't happen,
we have lots of brand new TBS T-shirts sitting around the office.

To make it easier for you to own a new TBS T-Shirt or other merchandise, we have added secure transactions on our website to allow you to buy merchandise over the Internet.
Visit our merch page.

You may also take advantage of our Secure On-line Processing to renew your membership with a VISA card at our join up page.