White Rock Blues Society: News

Press Release
15th Annual Mount Baker R&B Festival
July 30th-August 1st, 2010
Deming Log Show Fairgrounds
3295 Cedarville Rd
Bellingham, WA 98226

WORLD-CLASS lineup for the 2010 Mount Baker R&B Festival!

• Leon Russell…Legendary Icon of Rock n Roll…the “One & Only”!
• Commander Cody & the Lost Planet Airmen…the ”King of Boogie-Woogie Piano” and His Legendary Band!
• Shane Dwight…Amazing “Young Gun”…guitarist…songwriter
• Janiva Magness…Superstar of the Blues…”Best Entertainer” 2009
• Rick Estrin & the Nightcats…featuring “Kid” Anderson on guitar
• Cedric Burnside & Lightnin’ Malcolm…Grandson of Blues Great, R.L. Burnside and one of Mississippi’s young guitar virtuoso’s
• The Fat Tones…truly Superstars of NW R&B…uniquely “original”
• The Randy Oxford Band…Winners “Washington Blues Society, IBC challenge
• Junkyard Jane…Northwest Legends of “Swampabilly Blues”
• Also featuring…The Chris Eger Band, A Simple Machine and Chris con Carne

An All-Star Jam follows each evening show…’til 2am on Friday & Saturday…12 midnight on Sunday…..
Again, this year, we’ve scheduled a Sunday morning “Gospel” service hosted by Seattle’s Blues Minister, Rev. Deb Engelhardt…music by Trimmed and Burnin’

Quickly becoming a “must attend” event, the Mount Baker R&B Festival has, once again, risen to the occasion. With group of talent, second to none in the State. The buzz is already on. It’s our fifth year at the Deming Log Show Fairgrounds, a 180 acre “built to order” venue for a gathering of several thousand campers and RV’s…flush toilets, H&C running water…lots of great food & crafts vendors…two “signed guitar” raffles (all proceeds to Combat Veterans International and Bikers Fighting Cancer, donated by Hugo Helmer Music.
Limited to 2000 advance tickets!

Tickets secure online @ www.bakerblues.com or (360)383-0850
In Bellingham @ Avalon Music, 1330 Railroad Ave-(360)676-9573
In Burlington, Hugo Helmer Music,1025 Goldenrod Rd-(360)757-0270

The Scene
Fathead.
Canadian blues band Fathead will perform at the Rhumba Room at the Pacific Inn May 1 at 8 p.m. to celebrate the release of their latest album, Where’s The Blues Taking Me?
Contributed photo

Peace Arch News

* The Scene

Text

Published: April 20, 2010 12:00 PM
Updated: April 20, 2010 12:15 PM


Fathead

Tickets are available now for a show by Canada’s blues “all-star team,” Fathead, which comes to the Rhumba Room at the Pacific Inn, 1160 King George Blvd., May 1 at 8 p.m. in a CD release party show presented by the White Rock Blues Society.

Featuring John Mays (lead vocals), Al Lerman (harp, tenor sax, vocals), Teddy Leonard (guitar, vocals), Omar Tunnoch (bass, vocals) and Bucky Berger, drums, percussion, vocals), Fathead has just released a much-anticipated follow-up to the Juno award-winning Building Full Of Blues.

Where’s The Blues Taking Me? takes the band’s sound to a new level with the group’s most fully-realized recording to date, produced by B3 master Lance Anderson.

Stories woven into song by the band’s long-time tunesmiths Lerman and Tunnoch, soul-baring vocals, sterling musicianship and superior production values highlight Fathead’s constantly-evolving sound, which encompasses everything from straight-up blues, to R & B, ’50s-style rock ‘n’ roll, funk, gospel and even torch/cabaret-style soul and blues.

The Pacific Inn gig is a welcome stop-off during extensive touring in support of the current album, giving local audiences a chance to hear a stellar Canadian band in their own backyard.

For tickets ($20 advance, $25 at the door) and information, call 604-542-6515.

On February 16, 2010, Smithsonian Folkways released a 21-track compilation of Appalachian blues as part of its exceptional ‘Classics’ series. ‘Classic Appalachian Blues’ features a staggering spectrum of blues music performed by musicians from deep in the mountains as well as the foothills leading up to them. These musicians include Pink Anderson, Doc Watson, Roscoe Holcomb, Sticks McGee and others. Comprehensive and one of a kind, ‘Classic Appalachian Blues’ dispels the notion that Appalachian music is limited to country performed by white men and women, and that blues is unique to black musicians of Mississippi Delta region. ‘Classic Appalachian Blues’ is the 18th release in Smithsonian Folkways’ ‘Classics’ series, and the fourth volume of blues in the series overall.

With 40 pages of impressive liner and song notes by Barry Lee Pearson and an introduction by Folkways archivist Jeff Place, ‘Classic Appalachian Blues’ is a true musical journey through a cherished American landscape. The selections on ‘Classic Appalachian Blues’ are from recordings made by Folkways Records founder Moses Asch dating back to the 1940s as well as 10 amazing and previously unreleased recordings from the Smithsonian Folklife Festival from the 1970s and 1980s. The result is a strong example of the racially mixed repertoire and style of Appalachian blues performers.

The Appalachian blues tradition is far more integrated than Delta or Texas blues. Appalachian artists ranging from Howard Armstrong to Turner Foddrell make the point that, despite the existence of Jim Crow, they grew up playing with white children of various ethnicities whose parents came to work the mines or railroad camps. Excerpts from interviews with these artists are featured in the liner notes.

Appalachian blues comes in a variety of styles—vaudeville blues, piano blues and boogie, string-band dance blues, guitar and harmonica-based down-home blues, ragtime blues, East Coast rhythm and blues, and so-called white mountain blues. It is an uncommon genre with a common history. Itinerant musicians, both black and white, looking for work―all contributed to Appalachian blues, shared its sound and help transcend racial barriers. ‘Classic Appalachian Blues’ is a must-have addition to the Smithsonian’s ‘Classics’ series.

Classic Appalachian Blues from Smithsonian Folkways tracklist:

1. Sticks McGhee – My Baby’s Gone
2. Big Chief Ellis with Cephas and Wiggins – Louise Blues **
3. Doc Watson – Sitting on Top of the World
4. John Jackson – Railroad Bill
5. Bill Williams – Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down **
6. Pink Anderson – You Don’t Know My Mind
7. J. C. Burris – Blues around My Bed **
8. Rev. Gary Davis – Hesitation Blues
9. Brownie McGhee – Pawn Shop Blues
10. Archie Edwards – The Road is Rough and Rocky **
11. Martin, Bogan and Armstrong – Hoodoo Blues **
12. Lesley Riddle – Red River Blues **
13. Peg Leg Sam Jackson – Walking Cane **
14. Etta Baker – One Dime Blues
15. Roscoe Holcomb – Mississippi Heavy Water Blues
16. Josh White – Outskirts of Town
17. Baby Tate – See What You Done Done
18. Marvin and Turner Foddrell – I Got a Woman **
19. John Tinsley – Girl Dressed in Green **
20. E.C. Ball – Blues in the Morning **
21. Sticks McGhee – Wine Blues (Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee)

** Previously unreleased track

NOTE: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings retail distribution is through ADA (Alternative Distribution Alliance) at 800.239.3232. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings releases are available through record and book outlets. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, as well as the original Folkways, Cook, Dyer-Bennet, Monitor, Paredon, Collector and Fast Folk collections, are available via mail order at 1.888.FOLKWAYS or 800.410.9815 and via the Internet. Visit the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings website at www.folkways.si.edu and www.smithsonianglobalsound.org.

U.S. print media inquiries: Rob Krauser or Matt Hanks, Shore Fire Media, rkrauser@shorefire.com, mhanks@shorefire.com, or (PH) 718.522.7171

Radio & promotional inquiries: Mark Gustafson, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, gustafsonm@si.edu, or (PH) 202.633.6457

Online Marketing inquiries: David Horgan, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, horgand@si.edu, or (PH) 202.633.6458

Sales inquiries: Laura Dion, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, dionl@si.edu, or (PH) 202.558.7038 and (FAX) 813.354.4592

At the suggestion of one of our White Rock Blues Society members I went to
Steveston to meet Frankie Neilson the owner of The Beatmerchant located at
#160 12240 2nd Ave & Bayview. The store is a blues fan’s dream of a place.
Not since New Orleans have I seen a better collection of CDs, Books, DVD’s,
vinyl records and assorted music memorabilia. Unlike our local HMV they have
plenty of blues music items and are willing to put up our event posters.

Frankie has a wealth of knowledge about music and one of his services is to
track down items you can’t get anywhere. He has signed on as one of our
sponsors and will be helping us promote our shows.

With the weather getting better everyday I can’t think of a better way to
spend the afternoon visiting the Steveston pier and walking across the
street to meet Frankie at The Beatmerchant. Tell him a blues buff
recommended him.

http://www.beatmerchant.com

Greetings from the Smithsonian,

Smithsonian Folkways Recordings is pleased to announce an upcoming release, Classic Appalachian Blues, the18th edition of the Classics Series that delves into the varied and dynamic musical traditions of America. This new, currently release presents musicians hailing from throughout the Southern Appalachian region highlighting renowned blues performers as well as lesser known musicians from the Smithsonian Folkways and Smithsonian Folklife Festival collections. We discovered your website on The Blues Foundation affiliates listing and believe your society is one whose members would enjoy this new album.
Classic Appalachian Blues is a 21-track album compiled and annotated by GRAMMY-nominated Blues historian Barry Lee Pearson and Grammy winner and Smithsonian Archivist, Jeff Place. It includes recordings dating back to the 1940s as well as live performances from the Smithsonian Festival of American Folklife in the 1970s and 1980s. Pearson comments on the wide variety of Blues that make up this compilation by indicating that “referring to such a diverse body of songs as blues – whatever one’s criteria: subject matter, dance function or instrumental orientation – is itself characteristic of the Appalachian tradition.”


Smithsonian Folkways is the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution, the national museum of the United States. Our mission is the commitment to cultural diversity, education, increased understanding, and lively engagement with the world of sound. Please contact us if this is of interest to you. Thank you for your time, and we look forward to hearing from you.

Read more about this new release on the Smithsonian Folkways website: http://www.folkways.si.edu/albumdetails.aspx?itemid=3249
“Appalachia isn't widely regarded as a wellspring of African American music, much less a cradle of the blues. But with the release of "Classic Appalachian Blues," a 21-track set of studio and live recordings made over five decades, the people at Smithsonian Folkways make a strong case for why it should be.” Washington Post, Bill Friskics-Warren <http://projects.washingtonpost.com/staff/articles/bill+friskics-warren/>
Sincerely,

KC Commander

Marketing Department Intern

Commanderk@si.edu



CC: David Horgan
eMarketing Specialist
HorganD@si.edu

Tom Zillich
Surrey Now

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Tickets went on sale this week for the Fathead blues dance/show, Saturday, May 1 at the Rhumba Room at South Surrey's Pacific Inn Hotel. Fathead has done the roots/blues trip since the early 1990s, earning awards and thousands of fans along the way. Georgia-raised John Mays is the man at the mic; word is, he once had a stint with none other than funk master James Brown, so he's the real deal.
It's another gig staged by White Rock Blues Society, which marks its third anniversary that month. It was on May 16, 2007 when the society held its first concert; at the Camp Kwomais lodge on a Wednesday night, 50 people turned out to see the Back Porch Blues Band starring Harpdog Brown on harp and vocals, Jason Buie on guitar, Rodney Senft on drums and Jerry Burg on bass, with special guest vocalist Leanne Coleman. Since then, the society has staged 27 dances/shows in the area, at a variety of venues.

Fathead is coming to the Pacific Inn Hotel - Rhumba Room on Saturday May 1st.

Fathead may be the best blues and roots rock bands to come out of Canada
since Ronnie Hawkins hired the future-Band to become his backup group, The
Hawks, in the mid-1950s. An ultra-tight ensemble, Fathead brings together
the most respected musicians in the United States' northern neighbor to
create an energetic blend of funk, soul and rockin' blues. "Real Blues"
referred to the group's harp and guitar-dominated sound as "one of those
rare, much sought after, but seldom achieved, chemical/spiritual reactions
that happens when all the right ingredients come together: talent,
personality, humour, united vision and a little bit of hoodoo/voodoo". "The
Toronto Star" praised Fathead when it commented, "If the blues were a sports
league, Fathead would be the equivalent of an all-star team". Fathead's
self-titled debut album, released in 1995, was named one of the year's top
five album at the Westcoast Blues Awards. Two years later, the group
received a "Jazz Report" award as "Best blues group of the year". Fathead,
featuring Al Lerman (harp, saxophone, vocals), John Mays (lead vocals),
Teddy Leonard (guitar, vocals), Omar Tunnock (bass, vocals) and Ed White
(drums, vocals), has become a perennial presence at the Maple Blues awards.
In 1998, the band was nominated for six awards and received the award as
"Electric group of the year". In 1999, Fathead was nominated in eight
categories. Blues Weather, Fathead's second album, released by
Electrofi/Festival in March 1998, received a Juno award as "best blues album
of the year". Where's Your Head At? followed in 2000. ~ Craig Harris, All
Music Guide

The Keith Hallett show was a real “Blues Treat” on Saturday night at the Elks
Hall in White Rock. The show opened with David “Boxcar” Gates accompanied by Connie
Andersen on Harp playing some down home Delta Mississippi Blues.

Then Keith took the stage and quickly demonstrated why he’s held in such
high esteem in the Canadian Blues scene. This young man has an uncanny
talent for making his guitar blaze through song after song with great ease
and in many styles. In addition he has the voice and stage presents well
beyond his years.

To think that we nearly lost him last year In Quebec when he was
electrocuted on stage during a festival sound check. While holding on to his
guitar he reached out and grabbed the microphone. There was a short and a
strong current rushed through him as the muscles in his hand contracted
locking his grip to the mic. He was knocked to the ground and lost
consciousness and but for the fast work of someone on the stage to pull his
lead cord out of the amp and saved his life.

When he came to he was rushed to hospital where he was kept and watched
closely overnight. He was told that had he been older or had any heart
problems the shock he received and the duration he was exposed to it would
have killed him. It took him some time to get back to normal. But he was on
his game Saturday. One of his songs called going down was inspired by the
experience and you can feel it in the music and lyrics.

Check the song out with YouTube link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLXAzHZb-RI

Ted Gioia (pronounced “joy ya”) has written an amazingly interesting and
readable book about the origins of the blues, covering key song writers and
entertainers along with the people who promoted and recorded them. To date I
have yet to find a more enjoyable book on the subject. He covers the history
in fine detail but it reads like a novel. He also offers a list of 100 songs
that blues fans should hear to get a broad perspective of the blues talent
that has come out of the Mississippi delta. A pet project of mine over the
last couple of weeks was to create an iTunes play list on my iPod of these
songs. I found over 50 of the tunes in my cd collection and had to track
down the rest on line. What a journey! Ted’s book has allowed me to discover
dozens of musicians I never would have found otherwise. Each one with a
distinctive sound and tone with their guitar style and voice. In some cases,
instead of just buying the song or two on the list I bought the entire album
because the addition cost was not significant. Some of these old albums have
14 or more songs on them for $7.00. It goes without saying my blues
collection has grown in recent weeks.

One point I’d like to make, many of the songs I was hearing for the first
time from the original artist were songs that bands from the 60’s and 70’s
covered. Hearing the originals, along with learning about the lives of the
creators made the music come alive all over again. As if I was hearing them
for the first time again.

Ted has done us all a great favor. He has made something new out of
something old while reminding us of the origins of the music that has been
the sound track of our generation. No small feat.


Check out this You Tube link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydsMML3cerg
The blues grew out of the plantations and prisons, the swampy marshes and
fertile cotton fields of the Mississippi Delta. With original research and
keen insights, Ted Gioia, the author of a landmark study of West Coast jazz
and the critically acclaimed The History of Jazz brings to life the stirring
music of the Delta, evoking the legendary figures who shaped its sound and
ethos: Robert Johnson, Charley Patton, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker,
Howlin' Wolf, B. B. King, and others. Tracing the history of the Delta blues
from the field hollers and plantation music of the nineteenth century to the
exploits of modern-day musicians in the Delta tradition, Delta Blues tells
the full story of this timeless and unforgettable music. No cultural force
boasts such humble origins or such world-conquering reverberations. In this
evocative rags-to-riches tale, Gioia shows how the sounds of the Delta
altered the course of popular music in America and in the world beyond.

Keith Hallet - Elks Hall - Saturday March 13th

Nineteen year-old blues guitar player, Keith Hallett of Fredericton, New
Brunswick, has been turning heads for a few years now. He has something to
say through his music and the audience feels it instantly. Keith has been
playing guitar since the age of 13, got into the blues at 15 and has enjoyed
studying and playing it ever since. In a very short period of time, Keith
has been able to play many festivals and special events such as the Mont
Tremblant Blues Festival, the Dutch Mason Blues Festival and Fredericton's
prestigious Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival. He has had the opportunity to
open for such groups as Grady, Paul Rishell & Annie Raines, Watermelon Slim
and the Workers, and has shared the stage with names such as Matt Andersen,
Ross Neilsen, Morgan Davis, John Cambelljohn, Thom Swift and The Lee Boys.

http://www.myspace.com/keithhallett
Last year, Keith's hard work paid off in the form of the 2007 CBC Galaxie
Rising Star Award, presented to him during the annual Harvest Jazz and Blues
Festival. Keith Hallett's future is a bright one. Loaded with a ton of
talent and audiences falling in love with his infective style on a daily
basis, he is sure to be around for a long time to entertain us.

Some say he is a cross between Albert Collins/Johnny Winter/ Duane Allman.
Come and hear for yourself.

THE YALE AND SHORE 104.3 FM PRSENT:
VANCOUVER BLUES FESTIVAL 2010
The Yale Hotel welcomes the world during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. During this time of celebration, The Yale Hotel endeavours to bring you a sample of the finest talent that British Columbia has to offer. Vancouver, a melting pot of cultural diversity, is a hub for nurturing and producing internationally recognized musicians and entertainers. In the spirit of the Games, The Yale Hotel in partnership with Shore 104.3 FM proudly presents Vancouver Blues Festival 2010 from February 5-28. This musical exhibition of more than 75 stellar acts will showcase the finest talent over a period of 24 consecutive days. Vancouver Blues Festival 2010 will feature award-winning icons such as Jim Byrnes, David Gogo, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne and local favourites such as Powder Blues, Billy Dixon’s Soul Train Express, Shaun Verreault and more! We invite you to join us at our legendary establishment for an unforgettable night of live blues, R&B, soul, funk, and jazz! Enjoy!

DID YOU KNOW
The history of the legendary Yale Hotel dates back to the mid 1880’s, where it originally served as a Canadian Pacific Railway bunkhouse during Vancouver’s early development. In 1886, a raging fire destroyed many of the structures in Vancouver’s central area, leaving The Yale Hotel untouched by its blazing flames. Following this devastation, The Yale Hotel became a gathering place for members of the community. Refurbished in 1889, The Yale Hotel was renamed The Colonial, which became known for its wild nightlife activity. In 1911, The Yale Hotel reverted back to its original name and in the early 1980’s became the focal point for live blues in Western Canada showcasing legends such as B.B. King, John Lee Hooker and Buddy Guy.

February Extended Hours of Operation:
Monday-Sunday 12pm-3am
*Please note that schedule is subject to change without notice

Our next big Dance & Show is coming up fast,
The 3rd Annual Valentines Blues Night Out starring
The beautiful and talented -
Cat Wells. AKA Phat Betty (phat = Slang term for something that is excellent or attractive.)

This lady can sing, check out her website below.

Saturday February 13th at the Pacific Inn Hotel on King George Hwy
Ticket $20 in advance $25 at the door.
Doors Open at 8:00 PM, Show at 8:30 PM

Tickets available at Tapestry Music
Pacific Inn Hotel – Ask for Ingrid
Reservations call 604 542 6515

The last two Valentine shows sold out so I recommend you get your
tickets/reservations early. Tickets go on sale Wednesday February 3rd but
you can call for reservation now.

Check out Cat Wells’ music.
http://www.phatbetty.com/
Bring your dancing shoes and get ready to play on the floor with your
favorite significant other better known as your lover.

White Rock Blues Society & Harley Productions
Present
The Twisters Blues Send Off Party
The Yale Hotel Monday Jan 11th

The Twisters will be representing Vancouver and the Province of BC at this year’s International Blues Challenge (IBC) being held in Memphis TN from January 20th to 23rd 2010. They are the first blues band being sponsored by the White Rock Blues Society to compete in this prestigious musical showcase of blues talent from around the world. The Blues Foundation located in Memphis is conducting its 26th annual International Blues Challenge with 125 acts from 40 states and 14 countries. http://www.blues.org
Blues musicians from around the world will be competing for cash, prizes, and industry recognition. The Blues Foundation will present the 26th International Blues Challenge January 20-23, 2010 in Memphis, TN. The world's largest gathering of Blues acts represents an international search by The Blues Foundation and its Affiliated Organizations for the Blues Band and Solo/Duo Blues Act ready to take their act to the international stage. In 2009, 100 bands and 60 solo/duo acts entered, filling the clubs up and down Beale Street for the semi-finals on Thursday and Friday and the finals at the Orpheum Theater on Saturday.

In addition The Twisters have received 5 nominations for Maple Blues Awards scheduled in Toronto on Monday January 18th 2010.
http://www.torontobluessociety.com/pressreleases/09_mba.htm
The Twisters are
David “Hurricane” Hoerl - vocals & harp
Brandon “Yukon Slim” Isaak - guitar & vocals
Keith Picot - bass
Chip Hart - drums

The show will be held at Yale Hotel, 1300 Granville Street, Vancouver BC on Monday Jan 11th for two good reasons. The first is for local fans to give them a good send off before they head out to attend the Maple Blues Awards and the IBC and the other to generate funds needed to support their travel costs.

Admission $10.00; Doors open at 7:00PM show starts 7:30 PM.
For additional information call WRBS at 604 542 6515 or
Luke Harley at 778 887-6756

Jason Buie Europe Tour Update


Hi Folks, first 10 shows of the tour went great. We have played some really cool venues. Great vibe here....so much music, culture and art. I am feeling very fortunate. We have a great road manager Ralf Neauman.... we travel in a 2009 Mercedes Van, a step up from the tour in May. On our off days we stay at a really nice house in Hamburg. This is such a great city! We saw Eric Sardinas at "The Downtown Blues Club" he is an amazing slide guitar player. We got to hang after the show....great bunch of guys from Orange County, California (http://www.ericsardinas.com). I also checked out The Beatlemania Exhibit here. 5 floors of authentic artifacts and memorbilia. Unfortunatley could not take pics. It was very inspiring. I learned back in the day (early 60´s) Hamburg was The Beatles second home. This Tuesday night we have off and are going to see Chick Corea at The Fabrik!!

Tonight we play Hamburg. We had Sunday off but spent 9 hrs rippin`up the autobahn. We have 14 more shows to go on this tour. I have met some great people and made some good connections over here. I was doing an radio interview the other night and the D.J had heard of The White Rock Blues Society. We have also followed The Twisters in some clubs, they made a great impression over here. Have lots more interesting stories to share but gotta get ready for the gig!!

Also want to add what a pleasure it is working with Guenther Kapelle (Bass Player, Wild T and The Spirit) on bass again. He is one of the funniest and smartest guys I`ve worked with! We will keep ya posted!! Thank-You for your e-mails and support!!

Regards,
Jason Buie

Join Jasons E-mail list at....
http://www.jasonbuieband.com <http://www.jasonbuieband.com/>

Here is the latest WRBS Newsletter in PDF form.

Newsletter Oct. 27th

Our Next Show

Wednesday November 4th at the Crescent Beach Legion
$15 @ the door, Members $10

MacLean and McLean Announce 100+ Shows

Biggest Blues Tour Starts


Doc MacLean and Big Dave McLean are pleased to report that their National
Steel “Century” Blues Tour has grown to a record breaking, 100+ back to back shows spanning 9 provinces and 2 territories. Riding high on the roots
revival, the veteran bluesmen will launch the tour at Hugh's Room, 2261
Dundas St. W., Toronto, on Wednesday, September 9th.


The most comprehensive Canadian blues-roots tour ever mounted, the Century is setting new benchmarks for independent artists. “I think it’s the biggest tour anybody has done in this country,” says Doc MacLean, who claims to run the whole enterprise out of a virtual office consisting of “a laptop, a cell phone and a guitar case.”


Operating without arts funding, the Tour is absorbing the costs of bringing
the blues to remote rural locations and the far north. “It’s something Big
Dave and I feel very strongly about,” explains Doc, “a national tour should
be national— not just a string of big cities on a highway.” Building on the
“blues coming to your town!” theme, MacLean and McLean have partnered with music retailer and educator Long and McQuade to offer complimentary, blues guitar workshops and masterclasses at locations across Canada.


To commemorate the Tour, MacLean and McLean have released a special, live
CD, “Big Road Blues.” The limited pressing, recorded and produced by
Catherine McLelland for CBC’s “Canada Live,” will only be available at
Century Blues Tour shows.


MacLean and McLean thrilled sold out halls from Halifax to Vancouver Island
on their original Big Road Blues Tour. Back by popular demand, don’t miss
this opportunity to hear them interact again, up close and personal in this
epic, all acoustic songs and stories presentation. Loaded with new songs and
old favourites, the Century Tour promises to be a classic, "must see" event.

Big Dave McLean is a Juno winning, Stony Plain recording artist:
http://www.stonyplainrecords.com <http://www.stonyplainrecords.com/> based in Winnipeg. His new acoustic release “Got ‘em from the bottom” is the 2009 WCMA "Blues Recording of the Year," and was Juno nominated "Blues Album of the Year." Big Dave was Maple Blues Nominated "Acoustic Artist of the Year" for the second year in a row, and this time was also nominated for
"Entertainer of the Year." Last year he won the "Lifetime Achievement
Award." It's gonna be a Big year for Big Dave as the album and regional
nominations keep rolling in. See why he's being called the next "Prime
Minister of the Blues."

Doc MacLean was recognized as "Acoustic Blues Master" at last year's Black
American Music Awards. He's got a bunch of new songs you won't want to miss. "An audio version of the movie, Sin City," said Blues Revue. "The Master of Darkness." His coast to coast fanbase will make the Century Tour a great
success and a wild adventure. Doc now hangs his hats in Toronto.

BC based Blues Band; The Twisters will be competing in the 26th edition of
the prestigious International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee

The White Rock Blues Society is proud to appoint and support The Twisters,
who will be competing in the 26th edition of The Blues Foundation’s
prestigious International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. The
competition will be held from January 20 to 23, 2010. http:// www.blues.org
The Twisters is a four-man blues band with a tragic past. A semi-truck
struck the vehicles transporting the band to Prince George, critically
injuring drummer Matt Pease and killing bass player James Taylor. No one
would have blamed the band for calling it quits, and they did consider it.
In the end, they decided to forge ahead. The band consists of David
“Hurricane” Hoerl – Vocals, harp; Brandon “Yukon Slim” Isaak – Vocals,
guitar; Keith Picot –bass, and Chip Heart – drums. This is the first time
that the White Rock Blues Society has sponsored a band to attend the IBC.

The White Rock Blues Society Society is dedicated to promoting blues/roots
music in the White Rock/South Surrey area and this initiative will bring a
broader BC dimension to our efforts to promote this genre of music and the
people who play it. This year the Society featured Hank Shreve from the Ty Curtis
band and MonkeyJunk two bands that came in second and third in this years
Challenge held in February. In 2010 the IBC will be held from January 20th
to the 23rd. Stay tuned for more information. A bulletin will be e-mailed as
More details become available.

Check out the Blues Foundation web site. http://www.blues.org/#ref=index

Check out the opening number of John Lee Sanders at the following link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWlRsGkQPA8

Summertime blues for this society
 
Tom Zillich
Surrey Now

Friday, September 04, 2009

CREDIT:
Ex-White Rocker John Lee Sanders returns for a gig Saturday night (Sept. 5) with Muddy Fraser at South Surrey's Rhumba Room, a show presented by White Rock Blues Society.

These are the dog days of summer for White Rock Blues Society, which has stumbled a bit with its latest big gig.

Saturday's double bill features John Lee Sanders and Muddy Fraser at the society's home-base bar, the Rhumba Room at Pacific Inn Hotel, on King George Highway in South Surrey, but tickets haven't exactly sold by the handful.

"It is crucial for us to draw music fans to this one for the society to stay afloat," the society's Rod Dranfield told the Now in an email. "If we want to keep bringing fine blues talent to our neighbourhood, we need (to) rally the music lovers among us."

Booking concerts has been a learning experience for members of the society since its inception in 2007, Dranfield said later, in an interview. Just 75 tickets were sold when Portland sextet Lloyd Jones Struggle was booked for a gig in June, while an Aug. 2 date featuring best-blues Juno Award winner Julian Fauth profited a couple hundred bucks for the society.

"Normally, by now we'd have sold about 30 or 40 tickets, but we haven't," Dranfield said this week, a few days prior to the Sanders-Fraser set. "There's been so much going on this summer, and maybe when we booked this six months ago, we weren't thinking. Maybe it's too close to a long summer with a lot of free shows, and people might be a little burned out.... We're learning by experience that you have to have a model that works financially."

However, Dranfield remains optimistic about the Sanders-Fraser gig: "Both of these guys are amazing musicians, so it should be a great show."

For those not in the know, Sanders pulls his brand of jazz, blues and gospel music from roots in Louisiana. Over the years, he's played with the likes of John Lee Hooker, Dr. John and Chuck Berry. Another big name with whom he's gigged is Jimmy Page, when the Led Zep guitarist took the stage with old buddy Long John Baldrey (with Sanders in the band) at Vancouver's 86th Street Music Hall, in the late-'80s/early-'90s. "I'm not sure exactly when it was, but Jimmy was in town recording with David Coverdale (of Whitesnake fame)," Sanders told the Now. "When he got up there, it was a huge crush of people -- like one of the Beatles had shown up or something."

Sanders, who now resides in Kelowna and is fresh from festival dates in Europe, lived in White Rock a couple years back. Saturday's concert will be his first here since recording his double live CD, Live at Rock Beach (the Johnston Road studio), in 2006, and will feature cuts from his latest disc, the Western Canada Music Award-nominated Bucket Full of Blues. For video and audio samples of his infectious music, click on the "media" link at johnleesanders.com.

Looking ahead, the society brings touring bluesmen Doc MacLean and Big Dave McLean to the Legion hall at Crescent Beach on Nov. 4, followed on Dec. 6 by its annual Yuletide Blues concert for the PACS food bank. Another November show, this one by The Twisters, is on hold due to the band's tour plans in Europe.

SPOOKY BLUES WINS AT WEST BEACH

Meanwhile, the finals for The White Rock Blues Talent Search were held Aug. 23 at West Beach Bar & Grill. "Over the three weeks, it was amazing to see how much up and coming talent we have out here," reports event organizer Jason Buie. First place went to The Spooky Blues Band, featuring Mike Fabro on guitar and vocals. In second was the very cool Mary's Gunns, with 16-year-old singer Jade Tjorhom (who did an amazing job on some Etta James songs, Buie notes). The Spooky Blues Band will be given their prize (recording time at Turtle Studios) on Saturday night at the John Lee Sanders/Muddy Fraser gig at the Rhumba Room.

CULT SINGER GETS LOST IN ABBY

Anyone know the way to Abbotsford?

That's what Ian Astbury, lead singer of The Cult, was asking Friday night, when the Brit band had a gig at the Ag-Rec Building there. With opening band Living Things done for the night at around 9 p.m., fans who'd paid nearly $50 for a ticket were left waiting (some rather drunk and impatient) for an hour and half before The Cult hit the stage, at 10:30. Astbury, who was staying in Vancouver and had rented a car to drive to Abby, got lost on the way, concert promoter Rob Warwick reports.

"He actually stopped for directions and someone sent him to the new arena there (in Abbotsford) instead of the Ag-Rec Building," Warwick, a White Rocker, told the Now. "I was on the phone with him for, like, half an hour, just telling him how to get to the venue. He doesn't take directions very well."

It was the first time Warwick had worked with the band. "It was an experience -- we'll just leave it at that," he said.

Once on stage, The Cult played its entire Love album and hits from Electric and Sonic Temple.

On Oct. 10, Warwick looks forward to a less stressful night at the Ag-Rec Building when radio station Country 107's inaugural Barn Dance and BBQ finds Aaron Pritchette, Gord Bamford, Adam Gregory and One More Girl in the house. The night before, Warwick is also looking to fill seats at the Cascades Casino's Summit Theatre in Langley when "uncensored hypnotist" Asad hits the stage there.

tzillich@thenownewspaper.com

© Surrey Now 2009

Lloyd Jones plays the Rhumba Room June 20.
Published: June 11, 2009 12:00 PM
Updated: June 11, 2009 12:03 PM
When singer and blues guitarist Lloyd Jones was leading Brown Sugar, most popular blues band in Portland, Ore. in the early `70s, he had the opportunity to work with many of the touring blues greats.
One of them, S.P. Leary – who had worked with Muddy Waters and was playing drums with Big Walter Horton at the time – leaned over to Jones as he was about to leave town and confided in the younger musician.
“Man,” he said, “I’m getting old. You gotta keep it alive. It’s a struggle sometimes, but if you love it, you keep on struggling.”
Leary’s words have been adopted as a mantra by the versatile Jones, who bills his current band The Lloyd Jones Struggle.
The band will make its Semiahmoo Peninsula debut June 20, 8 p.m. at the Rhumba Room (Pacific Inn), 1160 King George Hwy., featuring sidemen Mike Klobas (drums), Willie Barber (bass), Glen Holstrom (keys), Robbie Jordon (tenor and baritone sax) and Terry Townson (trumpet).
Jones, who describes his music as “storytelling with a Memphis groove,” was born in Seattle to a musical family which moved to Portland soon afterward. He grew up hearing his father’s Dixieland jazz records and being taught to play drums by his older brother, also a musician, who took his sibling to band rehearsals and started him playing gigs at the tender age of 13. Before he graduated high school, he had seen, and been mesmerized, by such artists as James Brown, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.
After starting Brown Sugar, Jones was privileged to work with such musicians as Charlie Musselwhite, George ‘Harmonica’ Smith, the Johnny Otis Show and Big Mama Thornton.
“That’s how we learned, and that’s really when I first picked up the guitar,” he recalled.
“A lot of times these people would stay at our homes and teach us music and history. Some of them have passed, now, so I cherish those memories.”
Over the years, Jones also played with such legendary figures as Albert Collins, Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, Dr. John, John Hammond, Etta James and Junior Wells; and even his earlier idols Guy and King. In the `80s he joined former Cray singer and harp-player Curtis Salgado in a band named In Yo’ Face.
Tickets ($25 in advance, $30 at the door) are available from 604-542-6515, Tapestry Music, North Bluff Music and the Pacific Inn.

For Immediate Release
6-13-09

BLUES FESTIVAL GUIDE MAGAZINE IS NOW ALSO DIGITAL!

(Reno, NV) RBA Publishing Inc. announced that their annual national blues
magazine is now also digital. For the first time since 2001, blues music
fans around the world can read the entire magazine online with a simple
click.

Features of the digital edition include the ability to go directly to a
specific page number using the table of contents, or clicking through to an
advertiser's website, and even using the search field to find a specific
festival. The entire magazine or just a specific page can be emailed to a
friend or printed out.

Lots of fun bells and whistles make the digital magazine a welcome addition
to the media products of RBA Publishing Inc. which also include a
top-ranking blues website, www.BluesFestivalGuide.com <http://www.BluesFestivalGuide.com> , a free weekly electronic newsletter
called The Blues Festival e-Guide which delivers blues music and news to
fan’s inboxes each Friday, and the 100 page print edition of the Blues
Festival Guide magazine which is an annual, free publication.

Distribution of the print edition is primarily done through blues societies
and blues festivals throughout the U.S. and Canada.

The 2009 issue marks the 7th year. This year, as always, it is packed full
with blues history, lifestyle, art, human-interest features, and of course,
festivals. The northern hemisphere boasts hundreds of blues festivals with
legendary artists such as BB King, Bonnie Raitt, and Buddy Guy, as well as
budding and regional artists. Much of this information can be found within
the pages of this popular, annual publication. The editorial is provided by
top blues aficionados including Ben Manilla, Michele Lundeen, Luther Brown,
Joseph A. Rosen and many others. The entire magazine is available in the
digital version.


“This digital format helps us distribute more copies of the magazine without
using natural resources,” says marketing director Nancy Edwards. “We
currently can’t meet the demand for print magazines as paper and shipping
become more expensive so the digital edition is the perfect solution to
augment the 100,000 copies of the print magazine. The number of blues music
fans continues to grow as music lovers young and old gravitate towards the
authentic sound and spirit of American roots music. “

Viewers can find the link on the homepage at www.bluesfestivalguide.com or
can contact RBA Publishing at 775-337-8626.

JAMMIN’ 4 JAY CHARITABLE SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER – JUNE 2009

The Jammin' 4 Jay Charitable Society strives to educate young drivers and generate awareness amongst them in promoting safe driving practices by sharing the story and celebrating the life of Jay Drew.

We educate and promote safe driving habits amongst teen drivers primarily through high school and youth group presentations.

We are excited to announce our new web site has recently been launched:

www.jammin4jay.com
New email address:

info@jammin4jay.com

In preparation for our annual fundraiser, we are looking for volunteers on
Saturday, June 13th. If you need volunteer hours or just want to get out
of the city for a day, please come out and join us. There will be a BBQ
dinner at the end of the day, so please let us know ahead of time by RSVP to
info@jammin4jay.com

Thank you to all those who came out this past weekend to help out. It was
greatly appreciated.

JAMMIN’ 4 JAY MUSIC EVENT

SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2009

Gates open at 12:00 p.m. with Open Mic 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Tickets: available through the Surrey Arts Centre box office.
www.arts.surrey.ca Telephone: 604-501-5566 or at the Gate.

We would like to thank Harpdog Brown for his help in putting our line-up
this year. We have had great feed back that it is an awesome line-up.

Very sad to hear about the passing of Koko.....I've seen her perform on many
different occasions....and met her several times over the years. I’m friends
with her son Charles who lives in Saskatoon of all places....when I use to
circuit "Buds on Broadway" there he would always come out and hang....sit in
and play drums. She was a very nice lady and very encouraging!!

Talk later,
Jason Buie

Can't Let Go - Koko Taylor; Live at the Woodlands (1993)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj2RnzstMp0

You can now purchase White Rock Blues Society advance show tickets on line
using Clubzone, the company that has been printing our tickets for us. This will allow easy access to tickets for our blues supporters from across town.
Tickets for the upcoming Saturday night June 20th Lloyd Jones Struggle
Dance/Show can be purchased by going to www.clubzone.com/whiterockblues.
There is an approximate $2.00 service charge put you can’t beat the convenience and you are insured of getting your tickets. Clubzone creates and sends us a list of ticket holders after 4:00 PM on the day of the show. You just show up with
ID and you’re in.

Lloyd Jones is a consummate guitarist/singer/songwriter/arranger/performer/
bandleader. One of the most original artists on the modern day blues scene,
Jones is, in the words of Blues Revue, "certainly worthy of greater
recognition." The release of his first recording for Blind Pig Records, Love
Gotcha, should bring him the national and international acclamation he
deserves.

Jones was born in Seattle into a musical family, which moved to Portland
soon afterward. "I remember music was everywhere in our house growing up. My
dad was playing Dixieland jazz records and trying to teach me to play
trumpet when I was only five years old. My older brother played drums and
showed me how. Then he took me to his band rehearsals and had me playing
gigs when I was just 13. He took me to see James Brown in '64. You've got to
imagine James in '64 - ouch! Then B.B. King, Buddy Guy, even Sonny Terry and
Brownie McGhee - all this before I was out of high school. I was underage
and totally mesmerized"

Jones got deep into the blues and was the leader of Portland's most popular
blues bands, Brown Sugar, in the early 70's. "We got to work with touring
musicians in those days, like Charlie Musselwhite, George "Harmonica" Smith,
the Johnny Otis show, Big Mama Thornton and Big Walter Horton. That's how we
learned, and that's really when I first picked up the guitar. A lot of times
these people would stay at our homes and teach us music and history. Some of
them have passed now, so I cherish those memories. S.P. Leary, who was in
Muddy Waters band and was playing drums with Big Walter at the time, leaned
over to me as he was leaving town and said, "Man, I'm getting old. You gotta
keep it alive. It's a struggle sometimes, but if you love it, you keep on
struggling."'

Through the years Jones would continue to hone his craft by performing with
the likes of Albert Collins, Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, Taj Mahal, B.B.
King, Dr. John, John Hammond, Etta James, Junior Wells and Buddy Guy, and
many more music legends.

In the 80's Jones joined forces with ex-Robert Cray singer/harp player
Curtis Salgado in a band called In Yo' Face. "That was one fun band! Seemed
like we all had the same record collection. Curtis really pushed me as a
guitar player, and when he left in '85 to join Roomful of Blues I knew it
was time to play my music." Jones knew what he wanted to say and how he
wanted to say it. The Lloyd Jones Struggle started in 1985 as a vehicle for
his songwriting. "I love a good story. Most of the traditional blues stayed
with a shuffle or slow blues. Being a drummer I keep hearing the rhythm of
the words all broke down funky and swamp-afied; nice and relaxed but kind of
turned inside out."

Jones made two recordings in the late 80's for Criminal Records: The Lloyd
Jones Struggle (1987) and Small Potatoes (1989). They won over a dozen local
music awards, as well as acclaim from national music publications such as
Down Beat and Guitar Player, which in turn led to some extensive touring for
the band on the Miller Beer Sponsorship Program. In 1993 Jones released his
third album, Lloyd `Have Mercy' Jones - Live! on the Burnside Records label.

In 1995 Lloyd Jones recorded a highly acclaimed album for the Audio Quest
label, entitled Trouble Monkey. Blues Revue named it, "not only one of the
best albums of 1995, it is one of the best albums of the 1990's," while
Robert Cray called it "the best damn record I've heard in a long time!"
Vintage Guitar Magazine said, "Jones offers vocals that would make Sam and
Dave smile and guitar work Steve Cropper would be proud of" and referred to
his affecting vocals as "gritty as a dirt road and smooth as melting
butter." Lloyd's songwriting was starting to be noticed as well, with Joe
Louis Walker and Gatemouth Brown covering two of his compositions.

Jones and his band have become a mainstay on the West Coast circuit, and
have brought their tasteful, crowd-pleasing brand of music from New Orleans
to Canada to the Caribbean, where Delbert McClinton witnessed a performance
and remarked, "When I heard Lloyd Jones live for the first time in January
1999, it was like exhaling after holding my breath for fifteen years." It
was such a typically memorable set at the Santa Cruz Blues Festival that led
to Jones' signing by Blind Pig Records.

Jones describes his soulful and intelligent fusion of funk, blues, and R&B
as "storytelling with a Memphis groove." His latest CD, Love Gotcha,
presents Lloyd's writing at its trenchant best. His songs have the quality
that makes them sound as if they have been around as blues standards for
years or they seem to have fallen out of some time warp from the golden days
of R&B. His approach to the guitar is both economical and rhythmically
sophisticated, with a style that can be as delicate as it is devastating.
And Jones' accomplished guitar and vocal work are complemented throughout
the recording by some of the funkiest horn-rhythm-organ arrangements around.

Blues lovers everywhere are about to discover what Lloyd Jones' fans already
know - one taste of his beguiling music and you're captivated. Lloyd's
gotcha! Source Web site; http://www.lloydjonesmusic.com/more.html
Blind Pig Records
A division of Whole Hog, Inc.
PO. Box 2344, San Francisco, CA 94126
©1999 Blind Pig Records All Rights Reserved
www.blindpigrecords.com Send for our free catalog of other fine releases.