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Festival Roundup
Here's your guide to upcoming (an in this online version, past) blues festivals or blues-friendly events within easy driving distance of Toronto, and some much further away, too. If you know of any other blues festivals, please send the info to editor@torontobluessociety.com. Compiled and collected by Andrea Cranfield.
May 18-21, 2007
Twisted Pines Music and Arts Festival, Penetanguishene-Midland
North Simcoe Sports & Recreation Centre, 527 Len Self Boulevard, Midland, Ont.
Weekend Pass $65, Day Pass $35, Weekend Youth Pass $30, Day Youth Pass $23. Advance Tickets Available @ 705-526-4770. TBS members save $20 on week-end pass when you purchase online at www.twistedpines.com (use the discount code "0407tbs") Downchild Blues Band, Madagascar Slim & Ndidi Onukwulu, Ken Whiteley's Gospel Review, "Colorblind" Brian & The New Blainettes, Anderson Sloski, Wayne Buttery and The Groove Project, Fathead, Ndidi Onukwulu, Porkbelly Futures, Digging Roots, Hey Stella!,
Treasa Lavasseur, and much, much more
twistedpinesmusic@gmail.com
May 19-21
Barrie Waterfront Festival, Barrie Ontario
Philosopher Kings, Groove Corporation, The Cobra Kings
www.barriewaterfront.ca
May 19 1pm Groove Corporation
May 20 (2pm) Son Roberts Band
May 20 4-6PM The Johnny Max Band
May 19-20
Blues Brews & Barbeque Festival
Blue Mountain Resort, Collingwood Ontario
Trouble & Strife play at 3:00 PM Sunday
May 26
Brampton Rotary Rib'n'Roll
Gage Park, Brampton
May 26 (2pm) The Johnny Max BandJune 22-July 2
TD Canada Trust Toronto Jazz Festival, Toronto Ontario www.torontojazz.com
Blues diva Mavis Staples appears on July 1 with the wonderful Rebirth Brass Band opening; The Derek Trucks Band plays on June 30 with opener Jackie Greene. Clubs and stages around town will feature David "Fathead" Newman, The Hogtown Syncopaters, and many local favourites including Mike McKenna, Tony Springer, Chuck Jackson, Donné Roberts with Julian Fauth and James Thomson, The Michael O'Grady Blues Band, Laura Hubert, Rita di Ghent and The Nationals. Of special interest to Toronto Blues Society members will be the finals of the TBS Talent Search finals on Thursday, June 28 at 3pm and performances at the Greektown Stage (Danforth & Logan) by Women's Blues Revue star Margaret Stowe and Colorblind Brian and the New Blainettes fronted by MapleBlues editor Brian Blain. In addition, there will be a special pre-festival kick-off concert at the Phoenix on June 20 with one of the hottest acts on the blues scene today, James Hunter.
July 5-15
Cisco Systems Ottawa Bluesfest, Ottawa Ontario
Van Morrison, George Clinton & The P-Funk All Stars, Moe, Steve Miller Band, George Thorogood & The Destroyers, The White Stripes, Sharon Jones & The Daptones, Xavier Rudd, Femi Kuti, Buddy Guy
and much much more
www.ottawa-bluesfest.ca
July 6 - 8
Porquis Blues Festival, Iroquois Falls Ontario
Ontario's longest consistent running blues fest (now in its 10th year) features Jack de Keyzer, Garrett Mason, Fathead, Sab and The Family Band, The Shaftmen, Hurtin Blues Band, Jen Plummer. Soul Doubt, Brian Blain, Little Lisa Gibson, Bob Wills and The Groove. Sunday morning "coming down" Jam hosted By Sab himself. www.iroquoisfalls.com/interest_items/annual_events/porquis_blues
July 6-8
Northern Lights Festival Boreal, Sudbury Ontario
www.nlfbsudbury.com
July 7-9
Mansion House Blues Festival, Sutton OntarioJuly 12-15
Bluesfest International Windsor, Windsor Ontario www.thebluesfest.ca
Los Lobos, Watermelon Slim, Robert Cray, Sonny Rhodes, Dave Mason, Steve Payne, Walter Trout
July 13-15
The Escarpment Blues Festival, Country Heritage Park, Milton, ON
www.escarpmentblues.ca
Here's an exciting new festival with a great line-up. Take the QEW west to the Highway 25 exit; go north to Hwy 5; turn left and travel about 1.5 km to Tremaine Road (three way intersection); turn right and travel about 15 km (past Derry Road and Steeles Avenue). The Park is on the left, below the 401.
Friday: Danny Marks, SAB and The Family Band with Chuck Jackson, David Wilcox, Dave Mason
Saturday: Doc MacLean, Walter Trout, Carlos del Junco, Brown, Watermelon Slim & The Workers, Colin James.
Sunday: Mighty Inspirations, James Anthony, Alberta Adams & RJ's Rhythm Rockers, Sonny Rhodes & The Blues Disciples, Ten Years After, Jeff Healey
July 13-15
Bluesfest International London, London Ontario www.thebluesfest.ca
Los Lobos, Garrett Mason, Robert Cray, Sonny Rhodes, Dave Mason, Steve Payne, Chris Chown, more
July 13-15
Markham Ribfest & Music Festival, Markham Ontario
Gord Bamford, Kim Mitchell, Jack de Keyzer, JW-Jones Blues Band, Mark Bird Stafford, The Tone Dogs, Steelback 2-4, The Mississippi Hippies, Danny Marks, Chuck Jackson & The All Stars, Donna Lynn Kay
www.markhamribfest.com
July 15
The Savannah Festival of Rhythm, Brampton OntarioJuly 16-18
Heritage River Music Festival, Burk's Falls Ontario
www.mmage.com/almaguinmusicfestival/performers.htm
July 20-22
Partigras, Toronto Ontario
Elmer Ferrer Band, Groove Corporation, RJ's Rhythm Rockers, Dr. Draw, Mississippi Hippies, Deanna Bogart, Rick Fines & Suzie Vinnick, Tom Wilson, Mojo Grande, Toronto All-Star big Band. www.torontopartigras.com
July 20-22
Home County Folk Festival, London Ontario
A blues-friendly (free) folk festival with Blackie and The Rodeo Kings, Andrea Koziol, Treasa Levasseur, Mitch Lewis, Manitoba Hal, Jowi Taylor and the Six String Nation Guitar and blues legend Jackie Washington www.homecounty.ca
July 20-22
Burlington Jazz and Blues Festival, Burlington Ontario
Jack de Keyzer, Danny Marks, Kevin Breit, Tony Monaco, www.burlingtonjazzbluesfestival.com
July 20-29
Beaches International Jazz Festival, Toronto Ontario
Always a great blues band on the main stage and great local blues bands on the street. This year, it's Carl Weathersby, Sugar Ray & The BlueTones, Darrell Nulisch, David Rotundo, Groove Corporation, Johnny Rawls, Lil' Dave Thompson, Danny Brooks & The Memphis Brothers, Shakura S'Aida, Treasa Levasseur, Shawn Kellerman, Julian Fauth, John Findlay, Erin McCallum & Roadtrip, Johnny Max, Gary Kendall Band, Hot Tamales, Full Count Blues Band and many more www.beachesjazz.com
July 28
The Second Annual West Coast Blues Festival, Goderich Ontario
Mel Brown, Eddie Shaw and the Wolf Gang, the Paul James Band, Suzie Vinnick, Alex Tintelli Band www.westcoastblues.ca
August 6-11
Oshawa Jazz and Blues Festival, Oshawa Ontario
www.oshawajazzandbluesfestival.com
August 10-12
Kitchener Blues Festival, Kitchener Ontario
www.kitchenerbluesfestival.com
August 10-12
Festival of Beer, Toronto Ontario
www.beerfestival.ca
August 16-19
Prince Edward County Jazz Festival, Picton Ontario
www.pec.on.ca/jazzfest/07/index.php
August 18 - 19 2007
Niagara Jazz and Blues Festival
Henley Island, Port Dalhousie, St. Catharines
www.niagarajazzbluesfest.comAugust 19
Reds Whites And Blues Festival, Sparta Ontario
Jack de Keyzer Band, Curly Bridges, Maria Auregema Band, Da Blooze Brothers Show
www.quaiduvin.com
August 23-26
Limestone City Blues Festival, Kingston Ontario
Suzie McNeil, The Bobby Rush Soul Blues Revue, David Gogo, Coco Montoya, Janiva Magness, Garrett Mason, Ila Vann Band, Garrett Mason, David Gogo, Tony D, Sol Blues Revue, The Geoff Hinch Trio, The Lonnie Aarssen Blues Band, Jack de Keyzer
www.kingstonblues.com
August 24-26
Wasaga Beach Bluesfest, Wasaga Beach Ontario
Erin McCallum & Roadtrip, Suzie McNeil, more
www.wasagabeachfest.com
September 1
Coal Flats Blues Festival, Port Burwell Ontario
www.coalflatsblues.com
September 1-2
Burlington Ribfest, Burlington
www.canadaslargestribfest.com
Groove Corporation and more
September 7-9
Southside Shuffle, Mississauga Ontario
Buddy Guy, Downchild Blues Band, Detroit Women, Lighthouse, Powder Blues Band
www.southsideshuffle.com
September 8-10
Blues in the Park, Niagara Falls Ontario
www.bluesinthepark.com
October 19-21
Canal Bank Shuffle, Thorold Ontario
www.canalbankshuffle.com
November 4
Blues on the East Side Festival, Kitchener Ontario
www.bluesontheeastside.com
July 6-8
Thunder Bay Blues Festival, Marina Park downtown Thunder Bay
Friday: Janiva Magness, Colin Linden, Chris Duarte, Downchild Blues Band
Saturday: Slap Johnson and the Trowelers, Carruthers Brothers, Roxanne Potvin, Michael Kaeshammer, Little Charlie and the Nightcats, Debbie Davies Band, Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers, Colin James
Sunday: Doctor Buck and the Blues Bangers, Bourbon Haze, Big Walter Smith and the Groove Merchants, Smokin Joe Kubec/B'nois King, Kyle Riabko, Sue Foley, David Gogo, Jeff Healey Blues Band www.tbayblues.ca
July 6-15
Festival International du Blues de Tremblant, Mont-Tremblant, Quebec
Adam Karch, Andree Dupre, Angel Forrest, Bharath and the Catfish, Blueper, Blues Approved, Blue Berry Jam, Bob Walsh, Carl Tremblay, Chris Duarte, Colin James, Colin Perry and the Blind, Downchild Blues Band, Elliott and the Untouchables, Jeff Healey Blues Band, John Lee Hooker Jr., Trevor Finlay
www.tremblant.ca/blues/index.htm
July 21-22
New York State Blues Fest, Syracuse New York
Sean Carney, Blues Guitar Women, Alexis P. Suter, Tommy Castro, Walter Trout, Mighty Lester, James Hunter, Buddy Guy
www.nysbluesfest.com
August 1-5
Maximum Blues International, Carleton-Saint-Omer, Quebec
www.maximumblues.net
August 9-12
FestiBlues International, Montreal Quebec
www.festiblues.com
August 9-12
Great Woods Music Festival, Great Woods Park, Beausejour Manitoba, Canada
www.greatwoodspark.com
August 9-12
Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Suzie Vinnick and Rick Fines, Old Man Luedecke, Willie Dunn, Faith Nolan
www.folkharbour.com
August 11
The Cowpie Blues Festival, Caledonia Michigan, US
C.J. Chenier & The Red Hot Louisana Band, Motorcity Josh, The Detroit Women with The Motorcity Express, The Joanna Connor Band, Blue Lunch, The Jimmie Stagger Band, Those Delta Rhythm Kings
www.cowpiebluesfestival.com
August 24 -26
Donnacona Blues Festival, Donnacona, Quebec
www.myspace.com/donnaconaaurythmedublues
September 11-16
Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, Fredericton New Brunswick
www.harvestjazzandblues.com
20 stages in 4 city blocks over 6 days in historic downtown Fredericton with Government Mule, Warren Haynes, Dr. John, Shemekia Copeland, The Lee Boys, Watermelon Slim & Workers, The Detroit Women, Lil Bryan & the Zydeco Traveller, Rev Robert Jones (also our Blues in the Schools lead), Hot Toddy, Molly
Johnson, DJ Champion, Cimarron, God Made Me Funky, Matt Mays and El Torpedo, John Campelljohn, Ndidi Onukwulu, Mark "Bird" Stafford, Rowdy Blues from Nfld., David Myles, Matchstick Mike and the Chain Smokin' Alter Boys, Matt Anderson, Jenn Grant, plus A Harvest Dutch Mason Tribute with Matt Minglewood, Garret Mason, Theresa Malenfant, the debut of Thom Swift from Hot Toddy's solo project, the 2007 Harvest Galaxie Rising Star Keith Hallet from Fredericton and another 30 acts from across the Maritimes.
Summer Concert Series
Wintergreen Sugar Shack Blues Haliburton, Ontario 705 286-3202
June 9 Faith Nolan
June 23 Mr. Rick
July 7 The Lyin' McKenzie Kings
July 21 Brian Blain and Zoe Chilco
August 4 Gayle Ackroyd
August 18 Michael Pickett
June 30-August 25Outdoor Concert Series at City Hall, Welland
www.niagarabluesandjazz.comNovember-June 2007
Blues on the Rideau Concert Series, Perth Ontario
www.bluesontherideau.ca
May 3-12
Thousand Islands Jazz festival, Brockville Ontario
Geoff Young Duo, Dukes of Dixieland, A Gala Evening of Canadian Jazz, Louise Thibault Trio, Chris Robinson Trio, Fortin, Leveille, Nasturica, Donato Quartete, Brasswerks & Nepean All-City Jazz Band, John Pizzarealli Quartet, Don Thompson Quartet
www.brockvilleconcert.ca/jazzmain.htm
May 30-June 3
Art of Jazz Celebration, Toronto Ontario
Kenny Wheeler, Jane Bunnett and the Spirits of Havana, Kevin Mahogany, Veronica Tennant, Jimmy Slyde, Muna Mingole, Felix "Pupa" Insua, Dave Holland, Bob Brookmeyer, Lee Konitz, Joe La Barbera, Don Thompson, Norma Winstone, Brian Katz, Artie Roth, Chris McKhool, Fruteland Jackson, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, Howard Johnson and the AOJ Orchestra, Ricky Franco's "P' Crew, Jon Hendricks
www.artofjazz.org
July 28-August 5
Gloucester International Rhythm & Blues Festival, Gloucester United Kingdom
Andy Fairweather, Blues Brothers Reloaded, Steve Browning, Sons of the Delta. Will Killeen, The Worried Men, Innes Sibun, SUpervampers, Jimmy Carl Black Band
www.gloucesterblues.co.uk
August 3-5
Blue Skies Festival, Clarendon Ontario
August 3-4
Cincy Blues Fest, Cincinnati Ohio, US
http://cincyblues.org
August 4-5
Sky High Blues Festival, Rock Creek British Columbia
David Gogo, The Twisters, Ten Second Tom, Gerald Charlie & The Black Owl Blues Band, Rippin' Rattlers, The Salmon Armenians
www.skyhighbluesfestival.com
July 27-29
Hillside Festival, Guelph Ontario
www.hillside.on.ca
August 11
Maple Ridge Jazz & Blues Festival, Maple Ridge British Columbia
www.jazzblues.ca
August 13
Burnaby Blues & Roots Festival, Burnaby British Columbia
www.burnabybluesfestival.com
August 17-26
Summertime Blues, Nanaimo British Columbia
www.nanaimobluesfestival.com
August 17-19
Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival, Salmon Arm British Columbia
www.rootsandblues.ca
August 24-26
Edmonton's Labatt Blues Festival, Edmonton Alberta
Los Lobos, Elvin Bishop
www.bluesinternationalltd.com
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