The White Rock Blues Society was founded by Jason Buie and Rod Dranfield in May 2007 to enhance the music scene in the lower mainland area.
Our directors are:
Rod Dranfield President
Jason Buie Artistic Director
Harpdog Brown Artistic Director
Marg Dranfield Sec/Tres
Gordie Brown Vice President
Mark Trevis Membership Committee Chairman
The White Rock Blues Society is a non -profit incorporated organization that has been formed with the following objectives:
1.) To perpetuate, promote, share and advance "Blues" and related music in our community and surrounding areas!
2.) To establish and promote White Rock as a regional epicenter for quality music and music venues!
3.) To present performances from a wide variety of local, regional, national and international artists!
4.) To nurture creative artistic activity by supporting emerging artists from our community and surrounding areas by providing outlets and opportunities for performance!
5.) To entertain, educate and inform our community of all ages young and old about "Blues" and related music!!!
White Rock Blues Society
Who We Are
As a backgrounder to who we are here is a short summary.
We are a relatively new society, receiving our charter as a non-profit society in May of 2007. We have been putting on shows every two months since. The venue we have used is a club the size of the Vancouver Yale Hotel called the Rhumba Room. It is attached to the Pacific Inn Hotel at 1160 King George Hwy about a mile from the USA/Canada boarder.
What we have done so far and our 2009 current plans: All events held at the Rhumba Room unless otherwise noted.
1. Introduction: Wednesday May 16th 2007 Back Porch Blues Band event, Camp Kwomais.
2. 1st event with Society Status July 13th 2007 at the Rhumba Room Good Dog Bad Dawg & Rich Koops and the Koop De Villes.
3. The Bill Johnson Blues Band, Sept 8th 2007 Crescent Legion, “A Blues Night Out”.
4. The Twisters, November 3rd, Rhumba Room Blues Bash II.
5. 1st Yuletide Blues Benefit Concert, Dec 9th 07 Rhumba Room 10 local blues bands played for the Peace Arch Community Services Food Bank.
6. Year-End Blues Bash, Dec 29th.
7. Phat Betty, aka Cat Wells, Feb 07.
8. Rob Lutes & Rob MacDonald February 29th 08.
9. Blue Voodoo, Ellie Johnson, April 19th.
10. Johnny Ferreira & The Swing Machine, Sept 6th 08
11. Jerry Doucette, Nov 8th 08.
12. 2nd Annual Yuletide Blues Benefit, Dec 7th 08, Rhumba Room, a long list of entertainers donated time for Food Bank.
13. Russell Jackson, Mud Bay Blues Band, Dec 27th.
14. Valentines’ Blues Divas, Kathi MacDonald, Joani Bye Feb 14th.
15. Wild T and the Spirit Feb 11.
16. Harpdog Brown, Hank Shreve, Brian McFadyen International Harmonica Showcase April 11th.
17. MonkeyJunk award winning three-piece blues band Friday May 22nd.
18. Lloyd Jones Struggle Blind Pig Recording Artists, Saturday June 20th
19. Julian Fauth, 2009 Juno Award Winner Best Blues Album, “Ramblin’ Son”. Sunday August 2nd
20. John Lee Sanders, Saturday September 5th.
21. Doc MacLean & Big Dave McLean, Wednesday November 4th
22. Harpdog Brown & Yukon Slim, Crescent Beach Legion Thurs Dec 10th
23. 3rd Annual Yuletide Blues Benefit Concert Sunday December 13th.
Last summer the White Rock Blues Society conducted a talent search consisting of three shows at a the Sandpiper Pub a local blues bar mid-week and the first and second place bands opened for us during two of our fall shows. The first place band received one day of recording time at a local studio.
I would also like to point out that since we have been active, many others in the community have been motivated to put on live blues events and a number of blues jam sessions have been established at local pubs throughout the week. White Rock and area is becoming a focal point for blues music in the lower mainland.