New Talent Search

TORONTO, May 14, 2002.. The Toronto Blues Society announces the finalists in the 7th annual Talent Search.
The top six blues acts have been chosen from entries received from all across Canada.

BLUES PARLOUR from Barrie, Ontario, a band whose sound encompasses jazzy blues, swinging shuffle, rockin' and countrified tunes, and barn burnin' blues.

PAPPY JOHNS BAND a group of talented Six Nations blues musicians from Fort Erie, Ontario, known for being the house band at Buffalo Tracks.

DEEP DISH DELUXE whose original songs feature Toronto bluesman Kieron Lafferty on vocals and harmonica.

THE BEBOP COWBOYS, a Toronto-based group that dishes out a unique brand of western swing that encompasses elements of blues, hot jazz and old-time fiddle music.

ODYSSEY BLUES BAND has a feel-good sound fronted by the powerful voice of Suzanne Hyatt highlighting the music of the women of the blues such as Etta James, Koko Taylor and Bonnie Raitt.

DAVID ROTUNDO & THE BLUE CANADIANS hailing from Toronto, blues harpist Rotundo "plays the blues the way the blues are supposed to be played" (Ronnie Hawkins).

Derek Andrews, the Toronto Blues Society's President said, "The jury was really impressed with the submissions this year, very diverse, and there were lots of new faces. The finalists represent some fine emerging talent. We hope this programme catapults the finalists to higher heights!"

Each of the finalists will perform one live set in the event finals, At The Silver Dollar, May 30 and 31. The winning act will receive $1,000 as winner of CBC Galaxie's Rising Stars Award, a NXNE festival showcase and a performance during the Labatt Blue's Festival at Harbourfront Centre, July 6 in Toronto, to be recorded for national broadcast on CBC Radio's Saturday Night Blues. All five finalists receive a cash prize of $300 each.

Bands and musicians qualified for entry if they have not made a nationally-distributed or major record label recording, and their music is considered blues-based. A screening panel reviewed three songs by each artist or band. The material submitted must have been recorded in the last two years, and original material was encouraged.

For information, email the TBS office at info@torontobluessociety.com or call 416-538-3885 or 1-866-871-9457. This event is supported by CBC Galaxie, the Continuous Music Network. (http//www.galaxie.ca/anglais/0/), the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council and the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.