Bonnie Raitt (right) plays the Hummingbird Centre July 10.
Welcome to the 2006 edition of the most comprehensive listing of blues festivals and blues friendly events around. Whether it is the New Orleans themed Partigras at the Distillery, a great jazz festival with a ton of blues content, or a down-home rocking blues bash like the Orillia jazz and blues festival, there is something for everyone.
This summer is going to be jam packed with awesome music and amazing atmosphere at the different festivals in and around the GTA. Some of the most popular and well attended festivals are just outside of the GTA, such as the Southside Shuffle in Mississauga, the growing Oshawa Jazz and Blues Festival, it will be worthwhile for you and your family to take the trip.
There is also something for every budget as most of the festivals are free, or have free events alongside ticketed concerts. Tickets are generally well priced, with package deals and weekend passes available. In addition to the music we all hold so dear, there are a plethora of children's concerts, play areas for the kids, barbeques, artisans, and workshops! Rumour also has it that Mr. Lahey, Randy and J-Roc from the hit television series `Trailer Park Boys' will be on hand at Bluesfest International Windsor, and London.
Over the next few months, I will be telling you everything you need to know about the festival line up for the summer and early fall. If you have a festival and you want your listing here, please email me at smalltimesarah@rogers.com.
The Maple Blues Band
(left) emerged from the all-star backup band assembled by Gary Kendall for the annual Maple Blues Awards gala but is now a touring unit. The
Maple Blues Revue, featuring guest vocalists
Dawn Tyler Watson, John Mays and Chuck
Jackson will be performing at Harbourfront on
Sunday, June 23 as part of the Toronto Jazz Festival. Left to
right-Chris Murphy baritone & tenor sax,
Pat Carey tenor sax, Gary Kendall bass,
Tom Bona drums, Michael Fonfara keyboards,
Chris Whiteley trumpet, Teddy
Leonard guitar, Al Lerman harmonica & tenor sax.
Photo by Rick Zolkower
June
June 1-4 Orangeville Blues and Jazz
Festival, Orangeville Ontario
Raoul & The Big Time, Curley Bridges, Harrison Kennedy, Bill King, Chuck Jackson, Jane Bunnett, Paul James, Johnny Max Band, Mark "Bird" Stafford, Fathead, Brian Blain, Gary Kendall Band , Sab, Chris Whiteley, Kevin Breit & The Sisters Euclid, Swing Rosie, Danny Marks, Liberty Silver and
others. www.orangevillebluesandjazz.ca
June 9 - 17 Rochester International Jazz
Festival, Rochester New York
Etta James & The Roots Band, Kevin Breit & Folk Alarm 5, Susan Tedeschi. Rob McConnell Trio, Jane Bunnett & Spirits of Havana, Woody Allen and His New Orleans Jazz Band, James Brown and many more.
www.rochesterjazz.com
June 9-18 Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival, Barrie Ontario
Jimmy Bowskill Band, Carlos Del Junco, Michael Pickett and more TBA.
www.barriejazzbluesfest.com
June 9-11 Distillery Blues Festival, Distillery District, Toronto Ontario
Electro-Fi Records Showcase "Bangin' Those 88's" with Curley Bridges and Julian Fauth, Deborah Coleman, David Rotundo, Mississippi Hippies, Anderson / Sloski, Wickens-Knight, Johnny Max Band.
www.distilleryblues.com
June 10 Brian's "Not Just Blues"
Festival, Young's Point, Ontario
Paul James, Brian Blain, Kevin Carley Band.
k.carley@sympatico.ca
June 23-July 2 Toronto Jazz Festival, Toronto Ontario
Etta James, Paul James, Mel Brown & The Homewreckers, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Molly Johnson, Brian Blain, Maceo Parker, and two Harbourfront shows with The Neville Brothers and Roxanne Potvin, and The Maple Blues Revue featuring Chuck Jackson, Dawn
Tyler Watson, and John Mays. (TBS members will receive $5 off the ticket price at the door for these two Harbourfront shows). Danny Marks will be hosting an after-hours blues jam at the Pilot for the first three nights of the festival.
www.torontojazz.com
June 29-July 9 Festival International de Jazz de
Montreal, Montreal Quebec
Confirmed acts are BB King, Bonnie Raitt, Keb Mo', John Pizzarelli, David Clayton-Thomas, Susie Arioli, Molly Johnson, Daniel Lanois & Emmylou Harris.
www.montrealjazzfest.com
July
July 1 - Aug 26 Outdoor Concert series at City
Hall, Welland Ontario
Every Saturday beginning July 1. Swing Rosie, Diggin' Roots, Paul Reddick w/ Teddy Leonard, Dawn Tyler Watson w/ Paul Deslauriers, Ndidi Onukwulu w/ Madagascar Slim, Carlos Del Junco, All Star Tribute to Ray Charles and others.
www.niagarabluesandjazz.com
July 7-9 Markham Ribfest & Music
Festival, Markham Ontario
JW-Jones Blues Band, Mark Bird Stafford, The Mississippi Hippies, Danny Marks, Jack de Keyzer, Chuck Jackson & The Allstars. Kim Mitchell,
www.markhamribfest.com
July 7 - 9 Porquis Blues Festival, Porquis Junction Ontario
Carlos del Junco, Garrett Mason, The Detroit Women, Hurtin' Blues Band & Maureen Brown, Sab, Sunday Morning Coming Down Jam (Featuring Sab and Friends)
http://www.iroquoisfalls.com/interest_items/annual_events/porquis_blues/
July 7-9 Thunder Bay Blues Festival, Thunder Bay Ontario
Lil' Ed & the Blues Imperials, Tinsley Ellis, Big Walter Smith & the Groove Merchants, Detroit Women, David Clayton-Thomas, Robin Trower, Pat Travers, and more.
www.tbayblues.ca
July 7-16 Cisco Systems Ottawa Bluesfest, Ottawa Ontario
Walter Trout; Sherman Robertson, Keb' Mo'; Bonnie Raitt; (and that's just the first Saturday on one of four stages) Etta James; Chris Smither; John Lee Hooker Jr.; Kentucky Headhunters (also on the Main Stage) Solomon Burke as well as Dickey Betts & Great Southern. New this year is the "Blues 'til Dusk Stage"
stage featuring: Power Hour; Otis Taylor; Thornetta Davis; The Texas Horns; Malted Milk; Wayne Baker Brooks; Mem Shannon; Slick; Eddie Turner; Chris Duarte Group; L'il Malcolm; Terrance Simien; Blues Berry Jam; Curley Bridges/Mel Brown; Julian Fauth; Finis Tasby; Roxanne Genest; Elvin Bishop; Ronnie
Baker Brooks; Chicago Blues Reunion, among others.
www.ottawa-bluesfest.ca
July 13-16 Bluesfest International
Windsor, Windsor Ontario
Little Feat, Danny Brooks, The Yardbirds, Shawn Kellerman, Tinsley Ellis and others.
www.thebluesfest.com
July 14-16 Bluesfest International
London, London Ontario
Little Feat, Danny Brooks, The Yardbirds, Shawn Kellerman, Tinsley Ellis and others.
www.thebluesfest.com
July 15 The Savannah Festival of Rhythm, Chingacousy
Park, Brampton, Ontario
Mississippi Hippies, John Finley & The Checkmates, Loco Zydeco, George Oliver, Mae Cromwell
Janiva Magness (right) took home the prestigious "Blues Music Award" (formerly known as the Handy's) for Contemporary Blues Female Artist of this year. Her current release, Do I Move You? was produced by Canadian Colin Linden and released on Toronto-based NorthernBlues Music. She'll be making her Toronto debut at the Beaches International Jazz Festival, July 29 on the Main Stage at Kew Gardens.
July 21-23 PartiGras, Distillery District, Toronto Ontario
Fathead, David Rotundo, Dr. Draw, Finis Tasby, Shakura S'Aida, Neil Chapman, Angela Scappatura, Rusty Zinn, Treasa Levasseur, Amanda Martinez, Swing Rosie, Ray Charles Tribute (featuring Lance Anderson, John Mays, Shakura S'Aida , Bill King Al Lerman, Michael Sloski), Toronto All Star Big Band
and more. www.torontopartigras.com
July 21-23 Home County Folk Festival, London Ontario
Jackie Washington, Ken & Chris Whiteley, Brian Blain, Swamperella, The Marigolds, Lori Cullen, Roxanne Potvin, Harry Manx will be closing the Saturday Night concert.
www.homecounty.ca
July 21-23 Burlington Jazz and Blues Festival, Burlington Ontario
July 21-30 Beaches International Jazz Festival, Toronto Ontario
Darrell Nulisch, Lou Pride; Janiva Magness, Jake Langley, Real Divas, Paul James, Margaret Stowe, David Rotundo, Blue Room, Gary Kendall Band, Paul James Band, Mike McKenna, Trouble and Strife, Johnny Max, The Royal Crowns, and more.
www.beachesjazz.com
August
August 2 -10 Maximum Blues International, Carleton-Saint-Omer, QC www.maximumblues.net
August 7-13 Oshawa Jazz and Blues
Festival, Oshawa Ontario
Downchild Blues Band, Colin Linden, Carlos del Junco, Jack de Keyzer, David Rotundo, Aaron Griggs, Johnny Max, and The Bottle Devils, Jazz Divas Showcase (featuring Heather Bambrick and special guests Liberty Silver, June Garber, Melissa Stylianou, and Eliana Cuevos) and more
TBA www.oshawajazzandbluesfestival.com
August 10 -13 FestiBlues International, Montreal Quebec
Robert Charlebois, Bob Walsh, a big band tribute to BB King, Tony D, and others.
www.festiblues.com
August 11-13 Smiths Falls Blues Festival, Smiths Fall Ontario CANCELLED
August 11-13 Blues, Brews & BBQs, Kitchener, Ontario
TBA www.bluesbrewsandbbqs.ca
August 24-27 Limestone City Blues
Festival, Kingston Ontario
www.kingstonblues.com
August 25-27 Wasaga Beach Bluesfest, Wasaga Beach Ontario
Jack de Keyzer, Curley Bridges, Diana Braithwaite, Groove Corporation, David Rotundo., Dr. Draw.
www.wasagabeachfest.com
September
Sept 2 Coal Flats Blues Festival, Port Burwell Ontario www.coalflatsblues.com
Sept 8-9 Blues In The Park, Niagara Falls Ontario
Garrett Mason, Roxanne Potvin, Roomful of Blues.
www.bluesinthepark.com
Sept 8-10 Southside Shuffle, Mississauga Ontario
David Clayton-Thomas, Roomful of Blues, Jeff Healey's Jazz Wizards, Downchild Blues Band, Wickens-Knight, Detroit Women with Motor City Express and the legendary street shuffle TBA.
www.southsideshuffle.com
Sept 12-17 Harvest Jazz and Blues
Festival, Fredericton New Brunswick
Rick Fines, Suzie Vinnick, Morgan Davis, Grady, Delbert McClinton, Hot Toddy, Ann Rabson, North Mississippi All-stars, Roomful of Blues, Sista Monica, Harrison Kennedy, God Made me Funky, Gordie Johnson and Kelly Hoppe, JP Leblanc, Pocket Dwellers and much more.
www.harvestjazzandblues.com
Oct 19 - 21 Canal Bank Shuffle, Thorold Ontario
TBA www.canalbankshuffle.com
Other Notable Festivals outside the GTA
As if we were not going to be busy enough with all the fabulous festivals closer to home, here are more notable festivals to consider attending.
June 1-3 Budweiser Blues Festival, Jackson County Airport, Jackson Michigan
John Lee Hooker, Jr., Johnny Reed and the Houserockers, The Alligators, Mojo Phoenix and more.
www.slippeddiscproductions.com
June 8-11 Chicago Blues Festival, Grant Park, Chicago Illinois
Saffire: the Uppity Blues Women, Bettye LaVette, Super Chikan, Henry Butler, Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne, Honey Boy Edwards, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Homesick James, Henry Townsend, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Bobby Blue Bland and many more.
www.cityofchicago.org/specialevents
July 6-8 Kalamazoo Blues Festival, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Tab Benoit, Kenny Neal, and others. www.kvba.org
July 7-8 Briggs Farm Blues Festival, Nescopeck, Pennsylvania
www.briggsfarm.com
July 14-22 Atlantic Jazz Festival Halifax, Nova Scotia
www.jazzeast.com
July 15 Bucks County Blues Society R & B
Picnic, Morrisville, Pennsylvania
www.bucksbluessociety.com
July 21-23 New York State Blues Fest, Syracuse New York www.nysbluesfest.com
July 28 -29 Cincy Blues Fest, Cincinnati Ohio
Deborah Coleman, Bobby Rush, James Harman & Kid Ramos, Joe Weaver w/ RJ's Rhythm Rockers TBA
http://cincyblues.org
Aug Nanaimo Blues Festival, Nanimo British Columbia
*Every Saturday and Sunday afternoon throughout the month of August*
Michael Pickett, The Twisters, David Gogo, Jimmy Bowskill and more TBA
www.nanaimobluesfestival.com
August 12 Cowpie Blues Festival, Alaska, Michigan
Tinsley Ellis, The Chicago Rhythm and Blues Kings, The Detroit Women with The Motorcity Express, Motorcity Josh and more.
www.cowpiebluesfestival.com
August 18-20, Salmon Arm Roots and Blues
Festival Salmon Arm, British Columbia
Corey Harris and the 5 X 5 Band, Richie Havens, Cephas and Wiggins, Downchild Blues Band, Rick Fines and Suzie Vinnick, Jimmy Boskill, Doug Cox and Sam Hurrie, Ken Whitely, Gospel Hummingbirds, Holmes Brothers and more.
www.rootsandblues.ca
October 20 & 21 Motor City Blues & Boogie Woogie
Festival Royal Oak, Michigan
The Detroit Rhythm and Blues Review with Alberta Adams, Thornetta Davis backed by RJ's Rhythm Rockers, Howling Diablos and others.
www.amrf.net
- Sarah French