Maple Blues Online - Loose Blues News

The Campbell Brothers were largely responsible for bringing the ecstatic sounds of "sacred steel" out of the churches of the Southeastern United States to the music community at large. And who better to host their Toronto appearance than Ken Whiteley, a man who can "testify" with the best of them. It's all part of Ken's Sunday Gospel Series at Hugh's Room, Sunday, March 5 at 2pm (doors open at noon for lunch)

Award Season: The Maple Blues Awards are over but it's only the beginning of the award season. Congratulations to the Nominees for Blues Album of the Year: Harrison Kennedy - Voice + Story; Julian Fauth - Songs of Vice and Sorrow Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne - Let It Loose; Paul Reddick - Villanelle; The Perpetrators - The Gas and the Clutch and a special nod to Harry Manx whose album Mantras For Madmen was nominated in the Roots and Traditional Album of the Year - Solo category. Blues Grammy Winners just announced were B.B. King & Friends, `80' for Best Traditional Blues Album and Delbert McClinton, `Cost of Living' for Best Contemporary Blues Album.

Early birds, better worms: Toronto's Silver Dollar Room has advanced it's show times, with 9:00 or 9:30pm starts, and concluding by 1am. As well, "The Buck" now offers a new menu, including dinner/show specials, in addition to the usual strong line-up of national and international blues acts. For more info: www.silverdollarroom.com, or 416-763-9139.

WBR Hits the Road: The Women's Blues Revue band will be playing two concerts in Golden Horseshoe soft-seat venues this month, featuring vocalists Rita Chiarelli, Serena Ryder, and Suzie Vinnick. This is a rare opportunity for Niagara and Halton area blues fans to enjoy this unique programme that is usually reserved for its annual appearance at Massey Hall in November. "The logistics of putting these shows together is a challenge", says musical director and keyboardist Lily Sazz, "because each participant has a very active music career of their own. We're always excited and happy to perform together at these events, though. WBR shows are special nights for both the musicians and the audiences." The rest of the WBR band lineup is Margaret Stowe, guitar; Suzie Vinnick, bass; Michelle Josef, drums; Sarah McElcheran, trumpet; and Colleen Allen, sax. The shows are Wednesday, March 8, 7:30 pm, at the Sean O'Sullivan Theatre, Brock University, St. Catharines, and Saturday, March 11, 8 pm, at The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts. Visit www.torontobluessociety.com/wbr/ for ticket purchase info.

Jericho Beach Music: Vancouver based imprint associated with Festival Distribution has signed Barrie based Anishnabe couple ShoShona Kish and Raven Kanatatka also known as DiggingRoots as well as young BC expat Ndidi Onukwulu. DiggingRoots invited George Leach and Ndidi (with Madagascar Slim) to support their Gladstone Hotel Ballroom launch in late January while "No I Never", Ndidi's debut recording, will enjoy a Hugh's Room event with DiggingRoots doing an opening set, on March 9.

Ndidi Onukwulu (left) performed at Toronto's Massey Hall in the Women's Blues Revue, and was a finalist in the Toronto Blues Society Talent Search. She played a private showcase at the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals conference in Guelph, and so impressed a representative of Jericho Beach/Festival Distribution that she eventually landed a record deal with them. Now the album, No I Never is set for release March 9 at Hugh's Room with Digging Roots opening. On March 2, she plays the TBS Canadian Music Week showcase along with The Perpetrators and Wickens-Knight at Healey's (9pm start).

BluesLINK for YouthLINK: Organizer Roger Smith advises that this benefit event at the Silver Dollar Room last month raised well over $4,000 for this worthy cause, and that shaving himself bald raised at least $2,500 of that total! He thanks volunteer performers Gary Kendall, FATHEAD, Brian Blain, Mr. Rick and the Biscuits, Mark Bird Stafford, and the Jukes, and supporters Electro-Fi, NorthernBlues, and the Dollar. Donations can still be made: contact Roger at 416.461.5032.

Bluesaganza: The 6th Annual installment will be held March 18th at the CAW Local 199 Hall at 124 Bunting Road in St. Catharines. This year's show will feature Chuck Jackson, Pat Carey, Michael Fonfara, John Mays, Al Lerman, Teddy Leonard, Jerome Godboo, Garth Vogan, Jim Casson, and Dave Curry, hosted by Bill "Mojo Willie" Rymer. Proceeds go to the Autism Society of Ontario, Niagara Chapter. Doors at 8 pm, show at 9 pm. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door, and are available at all First Ontario Credit Unions, as well as through Trillium Industrial Safety Inc. located at 526 Queenston St., St. Catharines, 905.641.5446, or through the CAW Union Hall 905.682.7616.

Rappin' the Blues: Clarence Reid is to the foul-mouthed Blowfly what Clark Kent is to Superman. Reid is a well-known, 67-year-old Miami R&B artist and producer who penned hit songs for Betty Wright, KC and the Sunshine Band, and Sam & Dave. Blowfly is Reid's polar opposite, a snickering parody artist who wears a bizarre-looking costume and sends up mainstream songs to his funk groove. But, while a lot of rappers have taken credit for infusing hip hop with colourful adjectives, one name is constantly mentioned as the spark that ignited the profane flame...See for yourself Wednesday, March 29 (9pm) at the Lula Lounge

Anthony Gomes (left) makes his way back to Toronto for a return engagement (by popular demand) at the Silver Dollar Room, March 11.

Tribute to Ray Charles: The Grand River Blues Society is once again hosting it's annual fundraiser at Galt Little Theatre in Cambridge, on March 11th. This year's tribute concert will honour the Great Ray Charles, with featured performers George Olliver, Liberty Silver, Danny Brooks, John Mays, Jesse OBrien, John Lee, Johnny Max, Douglas Watson, Lance Anderson, and more. There is a door prize of a new Washburn Eric Sardinas Electric Resonator Guitar, compliments of MacAulays Music in Cambridge. For more information about the event, visit www.grandriverblues.org.

BRAVO! for Rez Bluez TV: Television producing partners Elaine Bomberry and Aaron Goldmanare thrilled to announce that Rez Bluez TV, a 13-part performance television series, is now broadcast nation-wide on BRAVO! TV, Tuesdays at 7:30 pm EST. While BRAVO! is broadcasting a half-hour version of the show, with music only, the full hour show with both music and comedy is re-broadcasting weekly on the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), Saturdays at 10 pm EST, with repeats on Sunday at 3:30 am and 4 pm.

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