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Jimmy Burns/Festival Feast

Chicago bluesman Jimmy Burns and his band are the headliners at the first annual Distillery Blues festival on June 11. Burns' mellow, vocal-inflected guitar style and rich, warm voice is infused with over 50 years of roots music from the raw country blues of his birthplace in the Mississippi Delta to Chicago electro-blues and the smooth stylings of Gospel and the vocal groups of the fifties.

Over the phone Jimmy Burns admits, "I just do what I do." What Burns does best is offer some of the finest, warmest, mellowest shots of Chicago blues filtered through nearly 50 years of blending the rawness of the Delta country with the electric arc of Chicago, and smoothing it all over with equal parts of gospel and even doo wop. Burns will be the headliner at the first annual Distillery Blues Festival on June 11th, and he guarantees a fine show of material from his three recent albums along with old standards that cover the full range of the blues idiom done " according to my own unique arrangements."

Burns was born near Dublin, Mississippi in 1943, one of five brothers and four sisters. "As a child I was influenced by the local musicians I heard in the Delta and what was on the juke box," he says. "I heard people like Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Lightning Hopkins and John Lee Hooker. They are the ones I listened to mostly."

"My father Albert was a multi-instrumentalist on piano, harmonica and guitar, and my brother (bluesman Eddie Burns) also played guitar. My mother sang in church, so you could say we did have a musical family. My mother borrowed a guitar and I learned to play on that."

Brother Eddie went north to Detroit and has carved out his own career as a hard driving exponent of country blues. Jimmy moved to Chicago in 1955 and hooked up with a 6-man gospel-singing group to hone his vocal chops. "Gospel groups were real big then, but you really didn't make much money singing on Sundays so at 16, I broke away from that to go into R'n'B.

Burns performed with groups such as the Medallionaires and put out a number of singles for which he never received any payment. Soon family responsibilities intruded and his performing career was relegated to part time status.

By the 1990s, Jimmy Burns was again playing regularly at West and North side clubs such as the Smokedaddy where Bob Koester of Delmark Records discovered his "melodic, vocal-inflected contemporary guitar style" in 1995 and got him to record the CD Leaving Here Walking (1996) _followed by Night Time Again and Back to the Delta (2004). These records demonstrate Jimmy's warm and melodious voice and tasteful guitar work.

Jimmy is currently working on a new CD for release by the end of this year _ "but there's no hurry," he adds. Jimmy Burns has been in the business too long to get worked up by the pressures of the industry. Everything comes in its own time.

Burns has played Toronto several times (the latest being February 2004 at the Horseshoe), but this is the first time he's been here to headline a festival and he is looking forward to it. "I'm bringing up my whole band -- the Jimmy Burns Band -- featuring Anthony Palover on guitar, Greg Haar on drums and Ron Lasken on bass, and I'm looking forward to getting up there and putting on a good show."

-- Günter Ott

Read on for more details on the Distillery Blues Festival and other blues festivals coming up in the area compiled by Sarah French. Send info and updates to smalltimesarah@rogers.com

Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival
June 2-5, 2005
Downtown Orangeville

The third annual Orangeville Blues and Jazz festival has expanded to 20 venues with non-stop music all day Saturday and Sunday. This free event promises to be filled with exciting music from performers such as Danny Marks, Fathead, Gary Kendall, Anderson/Sloski, Kevin Breit & The Sisters Euclid, Paul James, , Harrison Kennedy, Danny Marks and the Bluz.fm Band, Shawn Kellerman, Alan Gerber, The Tulips All Female Blues Band with Maureen Brown, Chris Whiteley, Gary Kendall Band Pappy Johns Band, Brian Blain, JW Jones and more. There will be a Sunday Gospel Show with the amazing 35-member Toronto Mass Choir, a beer garden and many wonderful craft booths and food vendors. See www.orangevillebluesandjazz.ca for full schedules and directions.

Chicago Blues Festival
Grant Park, Chicago
June 9-12, 2005

The world's largest free admission Blues festival turns twenty-two this year, and celebrates the centennials of Jimmy Walker, Meade Lux Lewis, and Big Maceo. This year also pays tribute to the British Blues invasion, and Savoy Brown's 40th Anniversary. David "HoneyBoy" Edwards will open the festival Thursday, June 9 on the Petrillo Bandshell and Robert Jr. Lockwood will play at the Gibson Guitar Crossroads on June 10. First-timers John Mayall and Eddie Kirkland will appear as well as blues icons Mavis Staples, Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy. The four-day festival offers the best in national, international and local Blues entertainment on six stages with more than 70 performers, preceded by a month of Blues activities (Blues season) throughout Chicago. www.cityofchicago.org/specialevents

Distillery Blues Festival
Distillery District, Toronto
June 10-12, 2005

The first annual Distillery Blues Festival, the only genuine Blues Festival presentation in Metro Toronto in 2005, features 5 stages of entertainment over 3 days. The Toronto Blues Society Talent Search finals and the winner's showcase are part

of the festival as well as 30 other blues bands. The Main Stage has performances from Wickens-Knight, Roxanne Potvin and Juno winner, Jack de Keyzer on June 10. June 11 things get underway at noon with Neil Chapman, followed by Georgette Fry, Paul Reddick & The Sidemen, Fathead, and Jimmy Burns. Sunday's line-up has David Rotundo at noon, Bill King's Saturday Nite Fish Fry, and Chico Banks to finish off the afternoon. There are 4 other stages at the Distillery Blues Festival, featuring the best of Toronto Blues talent including Gary Kendall Band, Raoul & The Big Time, Chris Whiteley, Brian Blain, The Chain Gang with Julian Fauth & Wayne Charles and many more. www.distilleryblues.com.

TD Canada Trust Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival
June 24th-July 3rd, 2005
Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto

With plenty of Blues content to look forward to, this massive Jazz festival will take over Downtown Toronto with over 1500 performers in 30 + venues. The big blues show is Dr. John with Carlos del Junco on closing night July 3rd and midnight shows in the marquee tent with Jimmy Bowskill (June 25, Main Stage), and Rita Chiarelli (July 2, Main stage).Some familiar blues names playing in the clubs are Laura Hubert, Fathead, Pat Carey, Alberta Adams and Mark "Bird" Stafford. For the first time the after hours (1-4am) jams will take place outside the host hotel at the Rex and Sage and for two of those nights (June 26 and 27 at the Rex), Brian Blain will be hosting an acoustic blues jam. For lovers of the B3 organ, Doug Riley holds court at the Orbit Room from June 28 to July 2 and the Mod Club presents two world-class organists, Tony Monaco (June 25, 7:30pm) and Dr. Lonnie Smith (June 26, 9:00pm). www.torontojazz.com

Blues For Peace
June 25
Mel Lastman Square, Toronto

This one day festival will feature some of Toronto's finest Blues musicians, getting together for a great cause. Established in Israel to honor the roots of blues music and promote peace, a simultaneous Blues for Peace festival will be held in Tel Aviv. In Toronto, there will be performances from Brian Gladstone Band with Tony Quarrington, The Tulips with Maureen Brown, Danny Marks, Wild T and the Spirit (Tony Springer Band), and the Juno award winning Jack de Keyzer band. This free, family friendly event starts at 2 PM. Visit www.abetterworld.ca for schedules, and more information about the organization behind Blues for Peace.

Cisco Systems Ottawa Bluesfest
July 8-17, 2005
Festival Plaza, Ottawa

Canada's largest blues festival is back with a stellar line-up once again. Lots of non-blues attractions but look at some of

the blues names: John Primer, Magic Slim, Ruthie Foster, Carl Weathersby, Harlem Gospel Choir, Omar & The Howlers, W.C. Clark, Walter Trout, ZZ Top, Johnny Winter, David Lindley, Campbell Brothers, Dr. John, The Neville Brothers, Kenny Neal & Billy Branch, John Mayall, Kelly Joe Phelps, Sonny Landreth, Harry Manx and much, much more. www.ottawa-bluesfest.ca.

Porquis Blues Festival
July 8-10,2005
Porquis Junction

Now expanding to a full week-end, Porquis is Canada's longest continuously running bluesfest. Confirmed acts so far include David Rotundo & Enrico Crivalero, Roxanne Potvin, Julian Fauth, Shane Scott & Blues Approved, Kevin Carley, Hurting Blues Band, The Fundamentals, The Playcats and of course, Sab himself. For more info Call 705-232-4500 or visit http://www.iroquoisfalls.com/interest_items/annual_events /porquis_blues/

PartiGras
July 15th - 17th, 2005
The Distillery Historic District, Toronto

The 3rd annual Partis Gras festival, sister to the Beaches Jazz Festival, features 5 stages of entertainment, street performers and all that Jazz. With its carnival feel, Partis Gras will have something for everyone. The blues highlight is the Tad Robinson Blues Band featuring Alex Schultz closing out the Sunday afternoon show. Visit www.torontopartigras.com for up coming announcements on this fantastic festival.

Bluesfest International Windsor
July 14-17
Riverfront Festival Plaza, Windsor ON

Running strong for 11 years, Bluesfest International Windsor, held Downtown, on the banks of the Detroit River, this festival promises to be filled with killer Blues, BBQ and enjoyment. This year confirmed acts include Anthony Gomes, Edgar Winter, and Johnny Winter on Thursday night. Friday evening will feature Mike Branton, Phil Guy, Lucky Peterson and Dr. John. Saturday, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers headline the night. Sunday closes the festival with performances from Chris Chown, Kyle Riabko, and The Tea Party among others. There will also be a Battle of the Men in Blues, on Friday at 6:00pm in Dieppe Park. Billed as Canada vs. U.S.A - Tug Across the River. Tickets for this event are $15.00 for Thursday, and $25.00 each for Saturday and Sunday, or you can get a weekend pass for $45.00. Go to www.thebluesfest.com/Windsor for directions, schedule, and general information.

Bluesfest International London
July 15 _17
Downtown London, ON

Putting on simultaneous festivals, in 2 cities, with the same artists and format seems like a very task for the organizers of Bluesfest International. With another festival, this time in London, Ontario, a monstrous weekend of Blues is in store for Southern Ontario. The Friday line-up at Bluesfest International London will have performances from Larry McCray, Roy Young w/special guest James Anthony, and John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers. Saturday features Chris Chown, followed by Lucky Peterson, Phil Guy, and Dr. John. Sunday the fest closes with Detroit Women, Anthony Gomes, Jeff Healey and Edgar Winter. Single day

passes are $20.00 each and a weekend pass is $40.00. Click www.thebluesfest.com/london for times, location and ticket information.

Beaches International Jazz Festival
July 21-24, 2005
Kew Gardens and Queen Street East, Toronto

With a main stage at Kew Gardens and Toronto's original and longest streetfest, the Beaches Jazz Festival caters to all fans of Jazz and Blues with an eclectic line-up of performers. Two big blues attractions will be featured on the Main Stage, Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers and Curtis Salgado. Of course the Streetfest will have a blues band at every intersection.

Visit www.beachesjazz.com for announcements and details.

Roadhouse Roots Country & Bluegrass Festival
July 23-24
Roadhouse Bar and Grill

Niagara's newest festival presents some great music including blues-friendly artists like James Anthony', Mr. Rick and The Biscuits, Danny Brooks, The Bebop Cowboys and a tribute to Ray Charles featuring Shakura S'Aida and John Mays with Al Lerman and Anderson/Sloski. Concert Tickets will go on sale soon at the nominal price of $15.00 per day or $25.00 for the weekend!

Smiths Falls Blues Festival
July 30 _ 31
Smiths Falls, ON

Being that this is the inaugural year for this festival, a stellar roster of Blues performers are confirmed, and will be sure to knock the socks off the good people of Smiths Falls. Featuring some of the best in Canadian Blues, the line-up includes Roxanne Potvin, Suzie Vinnick, Julian Fauth, Jack de Keyzer, Rick Fines Trio, Bebop Cowboys, Paul James, Curley Bridges w/ Chris Whitley Band, Paul Reddick, Mel Brown & The Homewreckers w/ Miss Angel, and Downchild Blues Band. Pretty impressive talent booked for this fest.

Visit www.smithsfallsbluesfestival.ca for updates, schedules, and other information.

Blues @ Blue
July 29-August 1
Blue Mountain, ON

The Blue Mountain resort area will host incredible Blues talent in the Village at Blue Mountain and within several local restaurants and bars! Friday July 29th 6:00pm-9:00pm in the Village Plaza, 9:00pm-1:00am in select restaurants and bars. Saturday July 30th 1:00pm-5:00pm, 6:00pm-9:00pm in the Village Plaza, 9:00pm-1:00am in select restaurants and bars. Sunday July 31st 1:00pm-5:00pm, 6:00pm-9:00pm in the Village Plaza, 9:00pm-1:00am in select restaurants and bars and Monday August 1st 1:00pm-5:00pm in the Village Plaza. Another event at Blue mountain is the Blues, Brews and BBQ's on July 2. Live Blues entertainment, beer tasting, BBQ competition, concerts, performers, a BBQ sauce competition and a BBQ cooking school with samples and giveaways. www.bluemountain.ca

- Sarah French

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