Maple Blues Online

May flowers have finally sprung and the Festival Round-Up has begun! This month's issue will include a little more in-depth Festival information for those events in May and June, as well as previews for July with information that is available at the time of printing. With each successive MapleBlues issue, more information will be provided for the upcoming months and on thru August to October.

Raoul and The Big Time (Raoul pictured at right) take the stage at The Hard Rock Café in Toronto to celebrate the release of You My People as the house band of the Luminato Artist Lounge, a new late night venue at Luminato this year where the public, local and international artists will have the opportunity to enjoy live music till the wee hours. From June 5-12, they will be joined nightly by a different featured musical guest and a host of top players from around the world mixing genres, generations and grooves making it truly a "hub" of artistic energy during Toronto's coolest festival. Admission is $15 but members of TBS, TMA/AFofM and Actor's Equity are admitted free. In addition on June 8th at 8pm they will be performing live as part of Jay Ingram's innovative lecture Charles Darwin Exposed, an event not to be missed. (see the review of Raoul & The Big Time's new CD in John's Blues Picks)

The Downtown area will once again be host to Orangeville's most popular cultural event with the seventh annual Blues & Jazz Festival. An event that brings thousands of visitors to the area and promises to entertain all who attend. This festival continues to grow, adding new features each year.

The opening night gala will be held the evening of Thursday June 4 at the Best Western in Orangeville with music by Steve Strongman and special guests.

A new feature at the festival this year, is the DQ Blues Cruise on Friday evening. Broadway Avenue will be closed to traffic to display more than 250 classic cars with music from live bands playing on the street. Paul James Band, Danny Marks, Daddy Long Legs, Son Roberts Band and more.

There will be music in more than twenty-five hosting venues, in and around the Orangeville area, from Friday to Sunday, with entertainment provided by artists including; Tracy K, Treasa Levasseur, Fathead, Trouble & Strife w/Little G Weevil, Jerome Godboo, Shrimp Daddy & The Sharpshooters, Jack de Keyzer, Erin McCallum, The Bearcats, One Bald Tire.

Headlining the Main Stage on Saturday, June 6 - Blues & Soul recording artist, Charles Wilson. On the same day, Heather Katz, Blackburn, Trouble & Strife, Son Ache. Headlining on Sunday, June 7 - Monkey Junk Fathead, Kellylee Evans, Matt York also take the stage earlier in the day.

Throughout the weekend, at the TD Acoustic Tent, artists such as Little G Weevil, Michael Jerome Browne, Brian Blain, Sam Turton, Joe & Vicki Price, Tim Lothar will entertain.

On Saturday, music on the street brings us, Dylan Wickens & The 9's, The Bluesers and The Homeless Band and more

In between all the musical entertainment there are also workshops in the library and during the week of the festival Blues in Schools programs will be hosted by, Harrison Kennedy, Steve Strongman, Trevor Finlay, and Little G Weevil.

The Closing Party on Sunday, June 7 at TJ's Hanger on Broadway will feature Sab & The Family Band with special guest, Chuck Jackson. www.orangevillebluesandjazz.ca

The Maple Blues Revue (left) celebrate the TBS 24th Anniversary and the release of their debut recording, Live at Twisted Pines at The Old Mill on Monday, May 4. Dawn Tyler Watson (vocals), Chuck Jackson (vocals), John Mays (vocals), Gary Kendall (bass), Michael Fonfara (organ/piano), Teddy Leonard (guitar), Tom Bona (drums), Al Lerman (harmonica/tenor sax), Chris Whiteley (trumpet), Pat Carey (tenor sax), Chris Murphy (baritone sax) are all Maple Blues Award winners and nominees.

Legendary icon Randy Bachman headlines Luminato First Night, the Festival's free opening night concert. Watch for a surprise appearance by Duke Robillard.

The Guitar Festival features the slide guitar playing of Derek Trucks of The Derek Trucks Band. Hailed by Rolling Stone as perhaps the best guitarist of his generation, Derek heads a line-up that also includes Quebecois singer/songwriter, record producer and pedal steel artist Daniel Lanois, Louisiana's Sonny Landreth, joined by special guest Cindy Cashdollar from Austin, Texas; Jerry Douglas; Ontario's own Kevin Breit, with his ensemble FolkAlarm; the Campbell Brothers, exponents of the rare "sacred steel" style; Hawaiian kona specialist Don Rooke; and Debashish Bhattacharya, pioneer of Indian slide guitar.

The Travelling Blues is a free show at Metro Square on Juen 6th, showcasing the global diversity of blues music, with Canadian, American and African performers such as Taj Mahal, Harry Manx, Mamadou Diabate, and Madgascar Slim.

Tickets are now on sale for the 2009 Luminato Festival. The Festival Brochure has hit the streets and the fully interactive website is now launched. Some events are free and others ticketed. Discounted group sales and special hotel and theatre packages are also available for many ticketed performances - call 416.368.4849 to book your party of 15 or more, or for additional information. www.luminato.com

This is the second year at the new site - Woodbine Park. Featuring some new and familiar faces while maintaining the valued tradition of presenting exceptional talent; all free to the public. The Bandshell hosts the Larry Garner Blues Band, Reba Russell Band, Lurrie Bell, David Rotundo, Jack de Keyzer, Steve Strongman, Braithwaite & Whiteley, Scott McCord & The Bonafide Truth and Treasa Levasseur, Enter the "Don’t Loose the Blues" contest for only a toonie and be eligible to win one of the many prizes, from CD's to a roundtrip flight to Chicago, or a Cobalt Blue "Dead on 67" reissue of a Danelectro Hornet Guitar. Check the website for details. www.waterfrontblues.ca

Little G Weevil (left) from Budapest Hungary was the "buzz band" at last year's Orangeville Blues & Jazz fest and he's back for an appearances at the opening gala on June 4 and on the mainstage June 6. Leading up to the festival, he'll be doing some dates with Larry Kurtz at the Hayloft Studio in Orangeville (May 29), the Liquid Lounge in Brantford (May 30 matinee), Winchester Arms in Orangeville (May 30 evening) and on Sunday, May 31 guesting with Jerome Godboo at the Sky Lounge matinee.

This is the second year for this festival's outdoor Main Stage area. Friday, June 12th Rita Chiarelli takes the stage at The Opera House for a 7pm performance. Beginning at 9pm that same evening on the Main Stage, Women in Blues w/Suzie Vinnick, Treasa Levasseur and Donna Grantis, headliner is Tracy K. Saturday, Jack de Keyzer, Anderson Sloski w/special guest John Finley and Juno Award Winner Fathead. Sunday, Blues Jam w/The Steve Henry Band, headliner that evening is Monkey Junk. There is also entertainment throughout the weekend at ten participating venues (free admission at venues). www.orilliaspringblues.com

It’s a 30th Anniversary Celebration for this festival with opening and headlining bands to be announced. www.soundofmusic.on.ca

Toronto Jazz Festival has several blues and blues-friendly headliners along with lots of blues from the usual suspects in clubs across town including a couple of new venues. Watch for Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings plus Blackburn - June 26 at Nathan Phillips Square; Buckwheat Zydeco plus Michael Beausoleil- June 28 at Nathan Phillips Square; Kool & The Gang plus Harrison Kennedy - June 29 at Nathan Phillips Square; Susan Tedeschi with Alex Pangman opening - July 3 at the Opera House and Mose Allison at the Fleck Theatre at Harbourfront Centre on Tuesday, June 30. Other blues artists featured are: Fraser Melvin Blues Band, Julian Fauth, Havana Blues Trio, Brokenjoe, Soul Stack, Scott McCord & The Bonafide Truth. www.tojazz.com

Thunder Bay's Tracy K (right) wowed the crowd at the Blues Summit with her engaging stage presence and a killer band and this summer she makes her way back to Southern Ontario with festival appearances at the Orangeville Blues and Jazz Festival (June 4 - 7) and the Orillia Spring Blues Festival (June 12-14).

This year's line-up includes: Blue Rodeo, Buckwheat Zydeco, Cedric Burnside & Lightnin' Malcolm, Colin Linden, Daddy Mack Blues Band, Divine Brown, Homemade Jamz Blues Band, Hubert Sumlin, Jackson Browne, Joe Cocker, JW Jones Band w/Little Charlie Baty, Monkey Junk, Rick Fines, Roomful of Blues, Steve Marriner, and so many more! www.ottawabluesfest.ca

Alex Carter & The Tonedogs, Jack de Keyzer, Chuck Jackson, Danny Marks. More to be announced. www.markhamribfest.com

Artists such as, Teddy Richards, David Gogo, Los Lonely Boys, Alex Tintinalli Band, The Funk Brothers, Howling Diablois w/The Pazman, Steve Earle, Root Doctor, Johnny Winter, Sab w/David Rotundo & Robin Hawkins, Devon Allman & Honeytribe. www.thebluesfest.com

Rita Chiarelli, Julian Fauth, Jake and The Fundamentals, Elmer Ferrer, Erin McCallum, The Barrelhouse Blues Band, Wabi Delta Blues Band and more. www.porquis.ca

Larry McCray, The Funk Brothers, Devon Allman & Honeytribe, Howling Diablois, David Gogo, Alex Tintinalli Band, The Dylan Tree, Steve Earle, Dawn Tyler Watson & Paul Deslauriers, Sab w/David Rotundo & Robin Hawkins, Mick Taylor. www.thebluesfest.com

Julian Fauth, Chuck Jackson, Donne Roberts, George Olliver, The Cobra Kings, Lorraine Davies & The Too Drunk to Fish Band. www.mississaugarotaryribfest.com

Two names that have been leaked so far are Boogie Woogie piano/sax player and 2008 Blues Music award-winner Deanna Bogart and West Coast blues guitar maestro Junior Watson. www.beachesjazz.com

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