Maple Blues Online - Loose Blues News

Raoul voted NOW’s best Blues artist: Raoul and The Big Time got a nod from NOW magazine where they were described as “a seriously credible homage to the classic school” with two shows at The Rex, Thursday, November 29th at 9:30pm and on Saturday, December 1st at 3:30pm. Meanwhile, Raoul kicks off a residency at Little Italy’s coolest resto/music venue Olivia’s at 53.

Canada’s First Lady of the Blues Harp wins at the OIMA: The award for “Best Blues” in the inaugural Ontario Independent Music Awards 2007 was given to Thunder Bay's Tracy K finalist in this year's TBS Talent Search. Contact: Blue Zircon Productions mojomama@mts.net.

Keeping the Blues Alive: Holger Petersen, who has hosted Saturday Night Blues on the CBC Radio network for 21 years, will receive the Keeping the Blues Alive Award for public radio. NorthernBlues, a Toronto-based label and a friendly rival to Petersen’s Stony Plain, will be honoured with the Keeping the Blues Alive award for record company. Founder Fred Litwin began the label in 2000. The third Canadian organization to earn a Keeping the Blues Alive Award is Edmonton’s Labatt Blues Festival. The festival’s co-producers are Cam Hayden and Carrol Deen. The Awards will be presented at ceremonies to be held February 2, 2008 in Memphis. For more info http://www.blues.org.

Canada Comes to Berklee: SIRIUS Canada will present “Canada Comes to Berklee,” a unique all-Canadian concert event on December 12 featuring The New Pornographers, k-os, and Bill King’s Saturday Nite Fish Fry.

Full Moon Blues: Karma Productions in affiliation with Great Lakes Blues Society have an exciting new concept destined to bring more great blues acts to the London area audience. The Full Moon shows offer a more casual alternative for Blues lovers- the dates are consistent and the price is low- Only $10.00 for society members- $15.00 for non-members. The kick-off performance was Saturday November 24th at The Lounge which is part of the Rumrunners/Music Hall complex in Downtown London. The show featured harp player Jerome Godboo. The next show is Dec. 23 with Jack de Keyzer Band. Info at brian@greatlakesbluessociety.com.

Thunder Bay Symphony Blues: Rita Chiarelli had the biggest band of her career last month when she did a concert with the The Thunder Bay Symphony. The performance was recorded through the good auspices of the CBC’s Mark Steinmetz and project producer Keith Horner. They recorded 11 original Chiarelli songs scored for the orchestra by Joe Phillips. The show will air on December 8th on Canada Live.

Blues in London: The Great Lakes Blues Society, in affiliation with Karma Productions is excited to announce an incredible blues show December 8, 2007. Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater, Lucky Peterson and appearing on their first “big show” gig for the blues society are The Soul Sistaz. This show will be held at the Music Hall, 185 Queens Avenue, with doors opening at 7 p.m. For more information on these shows, contact Greg Simpson at 519-432-5317 or at gregsimpson2001@rogers.com.

Blind Lemon Top Twenty: Voting for the Blind Lemon Top Twenty Canadian Blues Albums of 2007 will Start December 1st, 2007. Any Blues or Roots recording, released after December 1st, 2006, recorded and released by a Canadian Artist (Independent or otherwise) is eligible. Email your Pick for “Blues Album of the Year”, Plus 2 Honourable Mentions before Midnight, Eastern Time, Sunday, December 23, 2007. The Top Twenty will be Broadcast Live on the Web, on Monday, January 7th., 2008 @ 7:30 pm, Eastern Time. To listen, just visit www.chmr.ca The Blind Lemon Top Twenty Best of Canadian Blues... Please Vote for your Favourite Canadian Blues album, e-mail drcosmic@hotmail.com.

Canada’s Longest Running Radio Station Celebrates 80 Year Mark: CKUA Radio celebrates its 80th Birthday Wednesday, November 21. 80 Years ago today a national treasure was born when CKUA Radio hit the airwaves, broadcasting out of the University of Alberta in Edmonton. The broadcaster has gone on to become Canada’s longest running public radio station.

Hard Luck Candye: Touring Blues diva Candye Kane has had a horrendous streak of rotten luck lately with her tour van, including hitting a deer. This has resulted in missed shows lost income, and additional hotel expenses and mechanic bills she was ill prepared for. Still, nothing can stop the irrepressible songstress from bringing good cheer wherever she plays. For more info please visit www.candyekane.com.

Passings: Our condolences to the Southside Shuffle crew on the loss of one of their most valued directors, David de Eyre, who died suddenly last week.

Montreal bluesman Steve Rowe has passed along the sad news that his back-up vocalist and friend, Lorraine Baldwin, passed away on November 2nd, 2007. Lorraine worked with many Quebec stars as a back-up vocalist, as well as singing lead. She sang with Steve on his CDs, and was also his vocal coach. You can see clips of Lorraine’s last performance at the 2002 Festival International de Jazz de Montreal on the video page on Steve’s website http://steverowe.com/.

- Joel Blain, Brian Blain

Members, please send us your current email address to ensure that you receive all the latest blues news including information about very special deals for TBS members. Email to: info@torontobluessociety.com

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