Bye-Bye David Barnard: Carlos del Junco
(left) received his Jazz Report Award for best instrumentalist at a recent
ceremony from TBS vice-president and founding board member, David
Barnard. David will be relocating to Vancouver this summer and as a result
will be stepping down from the TBS Board of Directors and his weekly CKLN radio
show, Blue Soul. David has been a pillar of strength in the Toronto
blues community and will be missed. As a TBS board member David has spearheaded
many projects including outreach to culturally diverse communities, membership
and programming of events. We won't be surprised if we start hearing from the
Vancouver Blues Society soon! Farewell David. (Photo by Paul J. Hoeffler)
Membership Survey Prize Winners: Thanks to all those who filled out our
1996 membership survey -- the response rate was terrific! Your data will help
us to plan for upcoming events, the newsletter and special projects. In future
issues we'll let you know what events, clubs, radio shows, etc., are making top
grades with TBS members. In the meantime, the following folks should watch
their mail boxes for a bluesy thank you prize! Jeff Doran, Grace Moores, John
Day, Al Cluett, Judy Kohn, Mike Millar, Ian Burkkholder, James Henderson, Mark
Stafford, Chuck Ticker, Ian Angus, Shirley Gibson, J. Vella, Gord Young, Jim
Whaley, D. Craig, J.V. Hill, Sallie Thayer, D. Creighton, K. Bowen, Erika
Schmidt
Juno Committee Changes: David Barnard and Gary Kendall have
stepped down as co-chairs of the Blues/ Gospel Advisory Committee of the Juno
Awards. Those positions will be assumed by Tiki Mercury-Clark and
John Valenteyn. David and Gary will continue their roles as advisors on
the committee.
New Blues Host: Ian Angus takes over the Wednesday Night blues
spot on CKLN from David Barnard beginning July 31. The new show will be called
"Let The Good Times Roll"
New Brunch: Ruby Beets Bar & Grill at 11 St. Clair Ave. W.,
Toronto, introduces their Sunday Brunch and Blues. Playing from 1:00 until 4:00
pm are Chris Whitely with son Dan, Maureen Brown and Victor
Bateman. Come and enjoy some traditional blues and great food on the
rooftop patio.
Mariposa `96 is fast approaching. On June 6 this folk festival hits cottage
country in Annie Williams Park, Bracebridge, Ont. Some blues acts participating
are Papa John King, Long John Baldry, Jackson Delta and Michael E.
Dent
Le Festival de Blues de Drummondville, one of 16 blues festivals in
Quebec this summer, will be held July 25-28th, and August 1-4th in
Drummondville, Quebec. Featured artists include Lonnie Shields, Billy Boy
Arnold, Stephen Barry Band, Little Anthony, Willie Kent, Smokin' Joe Kubek, and
Big Jack Johnson. Visit their website for more info:
http://www.login.net/festival/blues.
The New York State Blues Festival is held at various venues in Syracuse, N.Y.
July 19-21. Some attractions are the Duke Robillard Band, Carey
Bell, Guitar Shorty, Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets and
Chubby Carrier. For more information call the Syracuse Visitor's Bureau
at 1-800-234-4SYR.
Duluth, Minnesota is hosting the Bayfront Blues Festival August 9-11 at
Bayfront Park. Highlights will include Irma Thomas, Luther
Allison, Roomful of Blues and John Mayall and the
Bluesbreakers. For more information contact (715) 394-6831.
TBS members, Andrew Kempa and Jennifer Goy are now booking bands into The Ivy
Bridge Restaurant & Pub in Brampton. This is a good sounding intimate room
with reasonably priced pub fare and English and Irish beer on tap.
Luther Allison swept the W.C. Handy Blues Awards handed out in Memphis
on May 2. Allison won 5 awards including Blues Entertainer of the Year and
Contemporary Blues Album of the Year for Blue Streak. Other winners
include; John Hammond, Acoustic Blues Artist of the Year; Charlie
Musselwhite, Blues Instrumentalist - Harmonica; Jimmy Johnson,
Comeback Blues Album for I'm A Jockey; Joe Louis Walker & the
Bosstalkers, Band of the Year; Koko Taylor, Contemporary Blues -
Female Artist, Coco Montoya, Best New Blues Artist. For the complete
list of winners you can contact The Blues Foundation at (901) 527-2583 or
blues@memphisonline.com.