28 February 2011

Ottawa Blues This Week - 28 February 2011

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SPECIAL EVENTS THIS WEEK

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JW-Jones

Rainbow, 76 Murray Street

Friday, March 4

Back from another whirlwind trip to Europe, JW has a few events in his calendar: he and the band will be performing, for the 3rd year in a row, at the Senators’ 65 Roses Gala for Cystic Fibrosis on February 21; on March 1, at the Senators/Bruins game; and from February 28 through March 11, he’ll be involved in the Blues in the Schools program.

JW & the band are squeezing in a few gigs too … on Friday, March 4, they’ll be at the Rainbow.

http://www.jw-jones.com

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Rock ‘n’ Roll Extravaganza

The Roper Show

Rainbow, 76 Murray Street

Saturday, March 5, 4:20-8 pm

A solo act for now, Jesse lays it down with style. Tonnes of stage presence and excellent guitar work push this act forward! Although this all-original artist desires to be rich and famous like the rest of us, he will play for food … no questions asked! He prefers his mom’s spaghetti, but if you have a recipe that you need an opinion on, Jesse is your man. There is only one dish he will not eat for free, and that is liver. You will pay for Jesse to play. Other than that, cook away, he's hungry all day!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/The-Roper-Show/142797315763718
http://www.reverbnation.com/#!/theropershow

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Wicked Grin

CD Release – “Down To The Corner”

With special guests Double Double

Rainbow, 76 Murray Street

Saturday, March 5 @ 9:30 pm

The big moment has arrived. Our new CD “Down To The Corner” is ready for releasing! We will be having a CD Release Party at The Rainbow Saturday March 5th. We’ll have special guests Double Double with us. The fun will start around 9:30. C’mon down for a night of fun, dancin’ and new CDs.

Also – we’ll be hosting the jam at the Rainbow on Sunday, February 27, 4-7 pm.

See ya’ll there,

Murray

http://wickedgrin.ca/

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LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEKEND

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Ball & Chain’s Annual Mardi Gras Party

Featuring Swamperella

Elmdale House Tavern, 1084 Wellington Street

Saturday, March 5 @ 9:30 pm; $10

http://www.ballandchain.ca/

http://www.swamperella.com/

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Terry Gillespie

Guesting with John Allaire
Quinn's Ale House, 1070 Bank Street

Saturday, March 5


http://www.terrygillespie.ca

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AREA HIGHLIGHTS THIS WEEK

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Cécile Doo-Kingué

La Basoche, 120, rue Principale (secteur d’Aylmer), Gatineau

Friday, March 4 @ 8 pm; tickets $25

Soul, Versatility and Passion compose the triumviral force behind Cécile Doo-Kingué’s sound. Born in New York City, first generation from Cameroon, Cécile Doo-Kingué has lived in France, USA and is now an adopted Montrealer. This meeting of cultures is reflected in the eclecticism of her music. She has rapidly become one of the city’s most renowned musicians. Her bewitching and incomparable fretwork, as well as her deep and suave voice are no longer secret to Montreal’s night-owls. Cécile has sizzled and dazzled with Montreal cult bands Dibondoko and Aliens, played or recorded with Corneille, Senaya, Tricia Foster, Montreal Jubilation Choir, Bernard Purdie, Ismael Isaac, Soul City, to name but a few, as well as opened for Manu Dibango and Youssou N’Dour. She has also done her share of mixing, including United Steel Workers of Montreal’s albums “Broken Trucks and Bottles” and Kerosene & Coal, producing (Dibondoko) and musical directing, including Passion Francophonie, the main show for the XIIe Sommet de la Francophonie. Since 2008, Cécile has hosted Chick Pickin Mondays, a night for female singer/songwriters.

http://www.cdkmusik.com

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LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS EVERY WEEK

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*** ON HIATUS UNTIL MARCH 8 ***

Southside Tuesdays with Steve Marriner

Irene’s Pub, 885 Bank Street

*** ON HIATUS UNTIL MARCH 8 ***

Join multi-talented multi-instrumentalist Steve Marriner for something different every week - blues/country/roots music of all kinds.
http://www.myspace.com/stevemarriner

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Irene’s Blues AllStars

Irene’s Pub, 885 Bank Street

Thursdays, 9 pm – 1 am

A bonafide grass roots event that has grown out of the very floorboards of Irene’s Pub and has become a real crowd pleaser for musicians and music lovers alike, this weekly Thursday night jam features Corky Kealey on drums with Vince Halfhide on bass and a host of great local players who rotate according to availability. Each week the cast is topped up with a guest host who steers the song selections in whatever way they're inspired and the jamming begins. It's a great concept and the proof is in its continuing popularity.

Special guests:

March 3 – Ric Denis

March 10 – Johnny Mac

March 17 – Dr. Dave

March 24 – Jarhead & Jerome

March 31 – Rod Williams & Murray Kinsley

http://bacton.smugmug.com/share/cFoCZfrollzaE

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Open Blues Jam

Rainbow Bistro, 76 Murray Street

Every Sunday, 4-7 pm; cover $3 (jammers free)

The jam is open to all ages. Jammers sign up on the jam sheet at the door & each jam session lasts for 3 songs. Drums & amps are provided, you only need to bring your instruments (but you can bring your amps if you want to).

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Sunday Blues, 6-9 pm, no cover

Atomic Rooster, 303 Bank Street (at MacLaren)

http://www.atomicrooster.ca

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Southwest Sundays

With The Dusty Drifters

Irene’s Pub, 885 Bank Street

Sundays, 9:30 pm – 1 am

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The Jam @ Kaffé 1870, Wakefield QC

Every Wednesday @ 9 pm, no cover

6 rotating hosts, each specializing in a different genre

http://kaffe1870.com/

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LOCAL HIGHLIGHTS ONCE A MONTH

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Blues Jam

Avant-Garde Bar & Restaurant, 135½ Besserer Street

First Wednesday of each month @ 8 pm

Hosted by River City Junction, this jam is open to guest performers, but is not an open jam’.

If you want to play, please contact River City Junction in advance to work out what instrument you play & what songs you would like to do.

Contact Jason jason@rivercityjunction.com

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BLUES ON THE RIDEAU 6th SEASON

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Blues On The Rideau at The Cove Inn, Westport Ontario, the popular once a month Dinner & Show Fundraiser Series featuring some of Canada's best Blues artists, is now in its 6th season. It’s another superb Line-Up of artists this year with multiple Juno, Maple Blues and American Blues Award nominees/winners. Proceeds from all Shows go to support different local charities. $27,000 has been raised over the past 5 years and the goal is to raise at least $5,000 more this season. If you love good food and great Blues in a small, friendly atmosphere and you haven’t been to a BOTR @ The Cove night before then you owe it to yourself to try one. You won’t be disappointed. If you’re a regular you already know how good these nights are!

2010/11 LINE-UP
All artists appear with their bands
Visit artists’ web sites and MySpace sites for more information, audio and video clips.

March 18 & 19 (*2 night stand) – MONKEYJUNK
Ottawa’s own and a very HOT band these days. Winners of the Blues Music Award for Best New Band Debut and 6 Maple Blues Awards in 2010, 3 more Maple Blues Awards in 2011! Swamp R&B, soul boogie & bedroom funk at its best. Fresh off a European Tour with a new CD about to be released.

www.monkeyjunkband.com www.myspace.com/monkeyjunkottawa
Proceeds to the Friends of Foley Mountain

April 15 – PAUL REDDICK
Canada’s poet of the Blues with his superb harmonica and voice returns to BOTR for a 3rd visit. A multiple Maple Blues Award winner with a great new album.
www.paulreddick.ca www.myspace.com/paulreddick1
Proceeds to Westport In Bloom

May 20 – TREASA LEVASSEUR
Back for a 2nd visit. The slim lady with the BIG voice. A 2010 Juno Award nominee & multiple Maple Blues Award nominee. Delicious Blues, soul, funk & R&B.
www.treasalevasseur.com www.myspace.com/treasalevasseur
Proceeds to the Rideau District Museum

June 10 – RAOUL & THE BIG TIME
Toronto actor and Blues man who blows harp like Little Walter reincarnated. A multiple Maple Blues Award winner. Rough ‘n ready swing Blues.
www.raoulandthebigtime.com www.myspace.com/raoulandthebigtime
Proceeds to Habitat For Humanity

NOTE:
* If there is enough advance ticket demand on single show weekends a Saturday night show may be added - so BOOK EARLY!
* All Shows are filmed by Ken Bowman with audio by Little Chicago Sound Company and one song is posted to YOU TUBE soon after the performance. Visit
www.choosetheblues.ca for examples from last year.
* Artists and dates subject to change. Visit
www.choosetheblues.ca or call The Cove closer to each show for updates.

The Cove Inn www.coveinn.com is located in the beautiful town of Westport, Ontario on Upper Rideau Lake - a 45 minute drive from Kingston, 1.5 hours from Ottawa, 4 from Toronto and 3.5 from Montreal. Well-priced accommodation is available at The Cove and nearby B&B’s so out-of-town blues fans can stay overnight and enjoy a great little getaway.

$55 (plus HST) for full course buffet dinner, show & dancing.
All Shows 7 to 11 pm
Advance Reservations required
CALL THE COVE (613) 273-3636 or 1-888-COVE-INN

Reserve your tickets early! Most Shows sell out weeks ahead. Even more important to book early if you need accommodation. There are a limited number of rooms available at The Cove and the B&B's in town and they fill up fast.

Blues On The Rideau is produced by Choose The Blues Productions, Kenmore Ontario in cooperation with The Cove Inn, Westport Ontario
Visit www.choosetheblues.ca for more information

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MUSIC FROM THE BIG HOUSE

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Ottawa Premiere of

Music From the Big House

Mayfair Theatre, 1074 Bank Street

Wednesday & Thursday, March 23-24 @ 9 pm

Mayfair Theatre members $6, non-members $10

4 bands, 1 woman, and 2 hours of the blues.

From acclaimed director Bruce McDonald, teaming with an Emmy- and Oscar-nominated documentary producer, comes a rare and exclusive musical journey. Rita Chiarelli, an award-winning recording artist, has decided to take a pilgrimage to the birthplace of the blues — Louisiana State Maximum Security Penitentiary aka Angola Prison. She never imagined that her love of the blues would lead her to play with inmates serving life sentences for murder, rape and armed robbery. In what was once the bloodiest prison in America, inmates relatives were invited to listen alongside other prisoners, to hear remarkable voices singing stories of hope and redemption.

Let yourself be swept away by one of Blues’ most soulful pilgrim daughters who is finding out if music really is an escape.

“Morally complex… there are no answers here, [but] there is plenty of emotion, atmosphere, and great music.” (Montreal Gazette)

http://www.musicfromthebighouse.com/

http://www.ritachiarelli.com

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SPECIAL EVENTS COMING SOON

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2nd Annual Mardi Gras Party

With Loco Zydeco

The Waterfront Bistro, 590 Liverpool Rd. S., Pickering ON

Thursday, March 10 @ 8:30 pm; tickets $20

Don’t miss the 2nd Annual Mardi Gras Party as Loco Zydeco perform their own high octane, energetic take on Louisiana’s most exciting musical export. In all of Canada, only a few bands perform this incredibly infectious music straight out of the steamy creole bayou. Loco Zydeco has earned a reputation for pumping up a crowd of any age, getting them moving in their seats or onto the dance floor and joining them on stage to try their hand at the rub board.

http://www.locozydeco.com

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Rocket Rached & the Fat City 8

CD Release Party “Seven Years of Thursdays”

Elmdale House Tavern, 1084 Wellington Street

Saturday, March 12 @ 9:30 pm; $10

Rocket Rached & the Fat City 8 rocked a packed house for two nights back in February 2010 with a few friends on board for the ride at the Elmdale House Tavern. It was a great couple of night with some magical moments. The CD is ready and set for release.

Over the years, almost all of Ottawa’s blues luminaries have played with Fat City … Tony D, Trevor Finlay, Sue Foley and Steve Marriner, as well as players from Canada’s blues community, David Gogo and the late Jeff Healey to name a few. International stars on that list include Otis Grand and members of Roomful of Blues.

Rocket Rached & the Fat City 8 have played across the country and played the Ottawa Bluesfest for 8 years straight, as well as other festivals. They have also opened for Duke Robillard, Junior Wells, Roomful of Blues and the highlight was opening for Ray Charles.

The ‘rocket man’ Jed Rached is a passionate bluesman, a founder of the Ottawa Blues Society, as well as one of 2 hosts of “The Midweek Blues”, a weekly blues radio show on CHUO 89.1 fm for 21 years. His devotion to the music and its players is well known; many local musicians have benefited from his help and guidance.

The time has come to capture the high energy show! We want to invite everyone down to be part of this CD release party.

http://www.fatcity8.ca/

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Roxilla AND Al Wood & the Woodsmen AND the Roosterman

Leslie Hall, Kemptville ON

Saturday, March 12

From George Buys:

Roxilla is a rockin’ Kemptville area band.

Al Wood & the Woodsmen play harmonica-led traditionally-based blues and roots music.

The Roosterman band are six guys: three from Halifax, three from Kemptville (includuing George Buys on guitar); they play Dutch Mason style blues.

This event is a birthday benefit for the Kinsmen who do a lot of good stuff around Kemptville.

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Three Times Lucky

“Mojo Offa Muddy” CD Release Party

Elmdale House Tavern, 1084 Wellington Street

Friday, March 18 @ 9:30 pm; $6

Originally formed in early 2009, with a common appreciation of music, decades of friendship and live music experience, and a commitment to making uncompromised musical statements, Three Times Lucky always bring their top game to any live music venue, studio or festival stage near you.

Our Mission Statement: Write, record and perform live, our own home-grown brand of Canadian Blues/Roots music, that we hope will entertain people, and resonate with their own lives and individual experiences. We also hope to relay our own heartfelt and sometimes humourous observations on current and past socio-political issues of Pan-Canadian and Trans-Global concern. Or maybe just have a good time playing our music. In short, Three Times Lucky just might be that Rootsy/Folk Rockn'/Blues Alternative Band you've been looking for all your life.

Opener Rock Snake

http://www.myspace.com/3timeslucky

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Rita Chiarelli

Black Sheep Inn, Wakefield C

Friday, March 18

“These past few years, I took long and lonely journeys to Mississippi and Louisiana... the songs you will hear are the bluesy swampy rootsy experiences I had... they are real and they are from the heart”
www.ritachiarelli.com

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David Gogo’s Birthday Weekend Celebration

Rainbow, 76 Murray Street

Friday & Saturday, March 18-19

Although still relatively young in "blues years", David Gogo has accomplished much in his career. So far he has three Juno nominations, was named Musician of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards, was twice named Guitarist of the Year at the Maple Blues Awards, and has been bestowed with the CBC Saturday Night Blues, Great Canadian Blues Award for a lifetime contribution to the blues in Canada.

http://www.davidgogo.org

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“He Said – She Said”

Peter Karp & Sue Foley

National Arts Centre Studio

Saturday, March 19 @ 8 pm; tickets $30

"He Said - She Said" is the new inspired show featuring a collaboration of original songs by Peter Karp and Sue Foley. The project is based around a correspondence the two shared through letters that were written over a year period. These letters started as a casual exchange between two committed performers sharing their common bond of the loneliness of the road, the pain of separation from family and home and above all, the drive to make music. But as time went on the letters they shared became more poignant, more revealing. Those letters became their songs.

The result is "He Said - She Said." The show features songs of two artists in development, sharing artistic purpose and spiritual kinship in a meeting of hearts and minds. Whether they're performing as an acoustic duo or with their electric band the music encompasses elements of folk, jazz, flamenco, and blues resulting in a show that is moving, literate, romantic, rocking and exciting.

http://www.myspace.com/thehesaidshesaidproject

http://www.nac-cna.ca/en/whatson/event.cfm?ID=6532

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Morningstar Productions presents

Rita Chiarelli

Octave Theatre, Kingston ON

Saturday, March 19

MUSIC FROM THE BIG HOUSE...the amazing documentary chronicling her visit to the Louisiana maximum security prison in Angola...will be debuting in Toronto just two days later on March 21. This show promises to be unforgettable.

http://www.musicfromthebighouse.com/

Rita is going to be thoroughly stoked and the Octave is going to be one cosy little room full of rock & blues thunderbolts.

www.ritachiarelli.com

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Terry Gillespie

The Granary Beizli, 3270 County Road 10, Vankleek Hill

Tuesday, March 22; $10

With Jody Golick, Peter Measroch, Stephen Barry and Gordon Adamson, Jody Golick and Terry’s Annual Birthday Party.

http://www.terrygillespie.ca

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Terry Gillespie & Lynne Hanson Birthday Party

Giving it back at The Blacksheep!

Blacksheep Inn, Wakefield QC

Friday, March 25 @ 8:30 pm; $12

Terry's birthday is March 30th, and Lynne's is March 17th, so they decided to join forces on a double bill at the Blacksheep Inn each with a full band to celebrate. As part of the birthday celebrations Terry will be giving away copies of Faux 45 - A Heaven's Radio Social Club Hit Single, and there will be a free draw inbetween sets for CDs. Terry and Lynne have each had a great year and this is a chance to give something back to their audience and friends.

Terry Gillespie – Righeous Blues seeded with a hint of R&B!

Lynne Hanson – Porch music with a little Texas Red Dirt

www.theblacksheepinn.com

www.terrygillespie.ca

www.lynnehanson.com

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Guitar Workshop with Rick Fines

Wintergreen, 9780 Canoe Lake Road, South Frontenac ON

Friday – Sunday, March 25-27

Celebrate spring on the early side with a weekend of guitar with Rick Fines. The workshop will begin with a scrumptious gourmet dinner at the lodge on Friday evening. Later in the evening, you will enjoy the first informal session of music making.

On Saturday and Sunday, there will be a series of workshops on various styles of acoustic blues guitar playing. Workshops will help you develop your skills in rhythm, soloing, slide and fingerstyle blues. Bring an audio recorder if you like, to capture the parts you’ll want to work on later (no video recording please). Each student will receive Rick’s “Fingerstyle Blues” DVD with 75 minutes of instruction on Delta style guitar.

When you’re not working on your guitar playing, you will be able to enjoy the many trails on our hundreds of acres of land, or relax in our wood-fired sauna.

Saturday evening will feature a public concert by Rick Fines (free to workshop participants) – see info below. Late night jamming after the concert is a strong possibility!

After another morning of guitar playing and instruction, lunch will be served. The workshop will close after lunch on Sunday.

http://www.rickfines.com/

Tuition: $195 (20% discount on tuition if you come with a friend - $310 for two). HST extra.

Accommodation and meals for the duration of the workshop: $220 (bunks p.p.), $260 (shared rooms or cabins, p.p.), $300 (double bed, single occupancy), $395 (double bed, shared). Facilities and meals only (for registrants staying off-site): $150. HST extra.

http://www.wintergreenstudios.com

Dinner & Concert with Rick Fines

Wintergreen, 9780 Canoe Lake Road, South Frontenac ON

Saturday, March 26; dinner @ 6 pm, concert @ 7:30 pm; tickets $30

Reserve by email (info@wintergreenstudios.com) or by phone (613 273 8745)

Rick Fines is one of Canada’s leading blues, roots music, and slide guitarists, and he returns to Wintergreen for a second year, offering both a guitar workshop and a concert for the public. Recipient of Songwriter of the Year along with Suzie Vinnick, Rick’s work with Jackson Delta brought nominations from both the Juno and the Handy awards. He has played for legendary blues piano player Pinetop Perkins, songstress Colleen Peterson, and folk icon Penny Lang, among others. He tours from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic, from BC to NYC. Rick is also a gifted instructor. For the past quarter century, he has worked both with young students and adults – as an instructor at Sir Sanford Fleming College and at Trent University, as a featured artist in the Blues in the Schools program, as a youth mentor in the Winnipeg Folk Festival, and as a private instructor in Peterborough, Kerrville Texas, and on Hornby Island.

http://www.rickfines.com/

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Joe Bonamassa

Ottawa Civic Centre

Friday, April 1; $63.70-$86.30 + sc

Some tickets still available for this special deal … buy 3 tickets and get 1 free - Enter code: JB4PACK into Special Offers Box.

Touring in support of his soon-to-be-released album “Dust Bowl”, his 11th full-length solo release and 9th studio album, Joe Bonamassa will be playing the Ottawa Civic Centre, one night only.

A child prodigy, Bonamassa opened shows at age 12 for blues legend B.B. King, who said after first seeing him play, “This kid's potential is unbelievable…He's one of a kind.” His recording career began in the early ’90s with Bloodline, a rock-blues group also featuring Robby Krieger’s son Waylon and Miles Davis’ son Erin. His solo debut was in 2000 with the Tom Dowd-produced “A New Day Yesterday”.

Bonamassa tours constantly and averages 200 shows every year, almost always playing to sold-out crowds and ever-larger houses, and with each gig, he comes more into his own as a virtuoso and a vocalist. As he heads back to the road in support of his new album, he remains infinitely passionate about playing live, connecting with his audiences and making new fans along the way.

www.jbonamassa.com

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Jack de Keyzer

Rainbow, 76 Murray Street

Saturday, April 2

Blues, jazz, funky R&B and swing are all part of the palette that colour Jack de Keyzer’s musical portraits. The much acclaimed guitarist, singer and songwriter has worked with artists as varied as King Biscuit Boy, Etta James, Blue Rodeo, Robert Gordon, Otis Rush and the Bop Cats. His guitar playing has been featured on hundreds of recordings; as a song writer he has been covered by Prairie Oyster on their hit album ‘Everyone Knows’ ; and as a singer he once sang a duet with kd lang. (Alright... it was a Budweiser commercial...) He performs internationally over 150 shows per year, and is a multiple Maple Blues Award nominee & winner and two-time Juno winner.

www.jackdekeyzer.com

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Fundraiser for the Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre & Kidney Cancer Canada

Koyman Art Gallery, 1171 St. Laurent

Saturday, April 16, 7-11 pm; cash donation at the door

A fundraiser is being hosted in honour of JP (Jean-Pierre) Bélisle on Saturday, April 16th 2011 from 7-11 pm at Koyman Art Gallery, at 1171 St. Laurent Blvd. This will be a heart-warming event to raise funds to be equally divided between The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre and Kidney Cancer Canada. JP has recently been treated with the Cyber Knife machine acquired by the Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre in 2010 (a minimally non-invasive treatment for brain tumours). Drs. Shawn Malone and Christina Canil will be in attendance to speak on the Cyber Knife and Kidney Cancer. We promise to have a wonderful night with live music including Blues, Rock, Pop and Country, a light lunch, silent auction and a 50/50 draw.

If you wish to donate an item, a service or a monetary donation or if you have any questions please call Bonnie at 613-321-1548 (bmacdonald561@gmail.com) or Roxanne at 613-834-1561.

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Johnny Max

Irene’s, 885 Bank Street

Friday, April 29

FINALLY … everyone in Ottawa gets a chance to enjoy a Johnny Max Band show!

Johnny is a soulful singer whose respect and passion for all types of music is evident. He is also a brilliant entertainer who has audiences thoroughly enjoying each show. Johnny Max has built up a solid reputation as one of those guys who gives 110% and is one of the most action-packed and satisfying entertainers around. Johnny takes to performing like a fish to water, a perpetual motion machine, galvanizing his spicy blend of Stax/Volt, Atlantic, Funk, and Blues into frenzied heights, often propelling himself into the audience’s eager arms.

To listen to Johnny Max tell it, and to watch Johnny Max present it, you understand very quickly that there’s more to creating great music than simply performing a first-rate piece of music well. It’s much more all encompassing than that.

Max’s take includes engaging the audience, making his show accessible. He wants to more than simply feed off the audience, he looks to make them part of the experience. And he does so with his good natured wit.

Using humour to get your point across is always risky because there’s a fine line between entertaining and being the comic. To his credit Johnny Max knows how to tread that line because the music always comes first.

Max’s music doesn’t always follow conventional Blues lines. Rather than be confined to the traditional 12 bar influenced forms, this veteran of the musical wars favours substance rather than convention.

While his first three releases firmly established Max in the Blues idiom, it was on his fourth, the Juno nominated “A Lesson I’ve Learned” that Johnny added to his Blues sensibilities, and found his groove. And that groove had more to do with Southern Soul than straight up Blues. Of note, check the title track whose chorus might have been lifted from the Dan Penn songbook.

Max’s new disc “It’s A Long Road” picks up where “Lesson” left off – with a wallop! Partnering with a brand new band, Johnny lays down a dozen tracks with a heavy dosage of Gumbo R&B, nods to Rock’em Sock’em Soul, and hints of all-out Boogie work-outs and Tom Waits styled tonalities. Along the way, Johnny relates his most deeply personal stories to date.

You would think that all of the above would be enough to keep anyone busy but Max also finds time to host a radio show: “Sunday Morning Soul” on The HAZE FM, www.thehazefm.ca, Canada’s only commercial web radio station Sunday mornings at 11AM and Wednesdays at 10PM, and co-program the CNE Bandshell BluesFest, (with Rico Ferrara), among other ventures.

It’s all in days work for Max. And he and his fans wouldn’t have it any other way.

http://www.johnnymaxband.com

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PRAIRIE SCENE

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From April 26 to May 8, Canada’s National Arts Centre will present Prairie Scene, the fifth in a series of national Scene festivals celebrating and showcasing our country’s finest established and emerging artists.

Prairie Scene will invite more than 500 Saskatchewan and Manitoba artists to take over the nation’s capital. Musicians, actors, choreographers, visual and media artists, filmmakers, writers and master chefs will be bringing their unique talents to audiences in concert halls, theatres, galleries, bars, clubs, museums and restaurants throughout the region – a virtual Prairie invasion!

Prairie Scene will also offer a chance for 70 national and international presenters to discover the best of Prairie culture, creating new performance opportunities for Prairie artists across the country and around the world.

Prairie Scene will present a vast living portrait of the region – combining rural and urban, traditional and contemporary, shaking stereotypes and celebrating new voices. Don’t miss it!

http://www.prairiescene.ca/en/

Prairie Scene bluesy offerings include:

Colin James Acoustic Duo

NAC Theatre, 53 Elgin Street
Wednesday, April 27, 7:30 pm
; tickets $39.00

Get up close and personal with Colin James as he brings his acoustic duo show to Prairie Scene. In a career spanning two decades, Colin (who was mentored by the legendary Stevie Ray Vaughan) has flourished into a multi-platinum artist many times over. His self-titled album debuted worldwide in 1989, garnering him two hit singles (‘Voodoo Thing’ and ‘Five Long Years’) as well as the first of many JUNO Awards. The emergence of The Little Big Band in the early 90s saw Colin’s career soar to new heights, and he remains one of the country’s most revered musicians.

2009 saw him release his 12th CD, “Rooftops and Satellites”, featuring rock radio hit ‘Man’s Gotta Be a Stone’. His greatest hits, “Take it From the Top”, released on March 15 with EMI, features bonus tracks recorded with legendary producer Bob Rock, bringing Colin full circle back to his original label. Today he captivates audiences everywhere with his seductive vocals and lush guitar playing in an exceptionally intimate acoustic duo with guest guitarist Chris Caddell.

Saskatchewan songstress sisters Jen and Megan Lane with noted guitarist John Antoniuk (aka Smokekiller) open the show.

http://www.colinjames.com/

http://www.meganlane.com/

http://www.jenlane.com/


Prairie Scene Women's Blues Night

With Suzie Vinnick, Little Miss Higgins, Romi Mayes & Megan Lane
Library & Archives Canada Auditorium, 395 Wellington

Friday, May 6

These four powerhouse prairie singer-songstresses can outplay and outsing just about anyone, and that’s just what they’re going to do at Prairie Scene. Saskatchewan’s Suzie Vinnick is a four-time Canadian Maple Blues Awards winner as vocalist of the year, with a voice described as “spun gold”. Little Miss Higgins is a Western Canadian Music Award (WCMA) winner for Outstanding Blues Recording, with a down-home raw talent that makes you sit up and pay attention.

2009 WCMA Songwriter of the Year, Manitoba’s Romi Mayes is a whisky-drinking straight shooter whose heart-on-your-sleeve lyrics and serious badass guitar playing have made her a favourite in venues from coast to coast; and Megan Lane’s distinctive voice and intense stage presence bridge the gap between blues, jazz, rock, and soul with a fierce passion.

http://www.suzievinnick.com/

http://www.littlemisshiggins.com/

http://www.romimayes.com/

http://www.meganlane.com/

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OTTAWA BLUESFEST NEWS

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She’s the One

. . . and she'll launch her career at the Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest!

Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest organizers today announced a call for submissions for their She's the One Emerging Female Artist Competition. The competition is a cross-Canada talent search for the best in emerging Canadian female music talent. With the help of EZ Rock 99.7, Bluesfest is looking for promising female Canadian singers/songwriters or bands with female lead-members of any age.

The competition will include two categories: One is 'Solo', which means a female lead singer who also plays an instrument, and the second is 'Band'; two or more people in an act or group, with a female lead singer (or lead performer, if it's an instrumental band).

Ottawa Bluesfest organizers will gather submissions, with three finalists selected from each category. These six finalists will have a 20-minute slot to perform at the Cisco Ottawa Bluesfest for a professional jury, on Saturday July 16, 2011. One winner will be chosen from each category. Judging will be based upon various criteria, including performance, stage presence/showmanship, originality, musicality, audience reaction, and the ever-important ‘It’ factor.

Up for grabs are cash prizes: Band Category winner will receive $5,000; Solo Category winner will receive $2,000. There’s also the bragging rights and exposure that go along with performing at one of North America’s pre-eminent music festivals.

Criteria for the competition and applications can be found at ottawabluesfest.ca. Deadline for submissions is midnight, March 28, 2011.

http://2011.ottawabluesfest.ca/shestheoneinfo

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'Street Lights'

Great Canadian Theatre Company (GCTC), 300–1227 Wellington West

Sunday, April 10, 11 am - 10 pm

Doors @ 11 am, play @ 2 pm, Acoustic Waves concert @ 8 pm

A day-long event called ‘Street Lights’ will include the showing and selling of art-work done by YSB youth. 'Street Food' will also be available.

This event is being held to promote a play called The Middle Place, which runs at the GCTC from March 29 - April 17, and to raise funds for the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa’s housing program for homeless youth (a program which helps youth permanently move off the streets and into safe and stable housing, go back to school, find a job, and feel hope for a brighter future).

Created from interviews conducted at a youth shelter, The Middle Place brings to the stage the extraordinary voices of 16 homeless teens, three tired caseworkers and one well-intentioned outsider. Lauded by critics, this piece of documentary theatre explores the lives of society's forgotten youth.

A talk back session after the play will be held, with youth who have experienced homelessness.

The day will culminate with an Acoustic Waves concert, presented by the Ottawa Folk Festival and featuring Tara Holloway and her band:

http://www.taraholloway.com/

Tickets for the Tara Holloway concert go on sale Saturday, February 26 and will be available for $15 in advance at the GCTC box office and for $18 at the door (if still available).

Tickets for the event in its entirety are available by contacting the YSB Charitable Foundation at ysbfoundation@ysb.on.ca or 613-729-0577x1206)

http://www.ottawafolk.org/?concerts

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BLUES IN KINGSTON

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Michael Pickett

The Standeasy - RCHA Club, 193 Ontario Street, Kingston ON

Saturday, March 12

Limited number of tickets available; call 613 384-8168 to reserve

Pickett's unique fusion of sensibilities, driven by his thumping delta guitar rhythms, muscular harmonica and gravel and chains voice is, at once, traditional and relevant. Never content to merely be a musical archivist, Pickett effectively deconstructs and reconstructs those seminal blues, born on the delta, to serve his own singular purpose; writing songs that are authentic both in substance and performance.

After 30 years, Michael Pickett is at a place in his career which he arrived at honestly. An acknowledged harmonica virtuoso, Pickett has led, and performed with, roots/blues bands clearly recognized for their significant contribution to a venerable musical art-form. But that was never enough for Michael. He has a voice. A voice that, without the adornment of a band, ought to be heard. Raw. Honest. And dripping with sly insights. Accompanied only by his guitar, rack harmonica and sensual expression, Michael Pickett is a performer who has stripped away the frills, to arrive at a place that belongs entirely to him.

http://www.michaelpickett.com/

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KBS Monthly Jam

Mojo Shooter with Special Guest

RCHA Club, 193 Ontario Street, Kingston ON

Third Saturday of the month

Always one of the best nights of entertainment Kingston has to offer – come early as seating is limited.

Sponsored by the Kingston Arts Council and the City of Kingston

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Georgette Fry

Brandees, 178 Ontario Street, Kingston ON

Every Thursday night at 8:30 pm (new start time)

The Ones

Monte’s in the Prince George Hotel, 200 Ontario Street, Kingston ON

Every Thursday night @ 9 pm

Sam Hopkins and Spencer Evans

Upstairs @ the Brew Pub

Every Second Sunday 2-4 PM

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For more, please contact Kingston Blues Society

www.kingstonbluessociety.ca

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BLUES ON THE RADIO

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101.9 DAWG-FM, CIDG, is ON THE AIR! Blues 24/7

Live streaming on the website at http://www.dawgfm.com/

Sundays: 8 pm

Ottawa Blues Society DAWG’ON BLUES

Each week OBS hosts keep you up to date on what’s happening on the Ottawa area blues scene, play some great blues from local bands and showcase regional and Canadian talent.

This week, March 6 – Mardis Gras

Next week, March 13 – new music from Three Times Lucky, Wicked Grin & Rocket Rached & the Fat City 8

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Sundays: 6-8 pm

INSIDE THE BLUES with James Doran

Inside The Blues features music and interesting backgrounder information on today’s top Blues artists with a strong focus on Canadian talent mixed in with some great Blues classics. Hour Two features an in-depth interview and music from a different artist or blues industry VIP every week. All Shows are archived on www.insidetheblues.ca after broadcast and can be listened to there at any time.

This week, March 6 – Interview guest – MonkeyJunk

Next week, March 13 – Interview guest – John Campbelljohn

www.insidetheblues.ca

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On CKCU-FM 93.1

The Mighty 93.1

www.ckcufm.com

Community Radio serving the Ottawa Carleton Region

Sundays: 9-11 pm

Black and Blues

with John Tackaberry

The show features a heavy dose of electric blues and rhythm and blues, with the occasional selection of sixties soul. The first hour is dedicated to artist profiles and reviews of recordings on particular labels. In the second hour there is a blues calendar, a rundown of events in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, and interviews with “new and reissued blues and rhythm and blues tracks on wax”, alternating with “live blues and R&B for a Sunday night” in the last half hour of the show. On the last Sunday of every month, the show goes “down in the delta” for a selection of acoustic blues tracks in the final half hour of the program.

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Wednesdays: 9-11 pm

In A Mellow Tone

with Ron Sweetman

Jazz from every era & every style – from 1917 to 2010. Each program features an artist, group, instrument, event, city or record label. Check out Ron’s website www.inamellowtone.com for info on upcoming shows and playlists (current show is posted several days in advance and past shows are archived). Ron is always happy to hear from listeners at ronsweetman@kalixo.com

This week, March 2 – Listen Before You Buy: The cream of the crop of recent jazz releases, with the

Aeroplane Trio, Lina Allemano, Carsten Dahl, Bob Gluck, Michael Jefry Stevens, Gordon Lee, Jeff Palmer, Peter Paulsen, Joey Sellers, Subtle Lip Can, Bruno Tocanne, Undivided, and Wayne Wallace.

Next week, March 9 – Sax Appeal: Saxophonists Dmitry Baevsky, Jane Ira Bloom, Alex Dean, Jake Fryer, Peter Macdonough, Mike Murley, Bud Shank, Wil Swindler, Paul Van Kemenade and Chris Woodbury.

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Alternate Sunday overnights (Monday morning) from 2-7 am

Rockin' the Blues From Canada

with Diane Wells

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On CBC Radio Two 103.3 FM

Saturdays: 6-8 pm

On CBC Radio One 91.5 FM

Saturdays: 9-11 pm

Saturday Night Blues

www.cbc.ca/snb

Host Holger Petersen has been a broadcaster, record producer, album collector, and serious blues fan for over 30 years. His collection of blues records numbers in the thousands. On Saturday Night Blues each week you’ll hear a mix of classic blues from the ‘Petersen Vaults’, concerts, interviews, artist features, new releases, plus anything that boogies, jumps, or swings, plus your requests from the Bluesline.

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On CJHR 98.7 Valley Heritage Radio

Thursdays, 8-10 pm

Got The Blues

Pat Watters has been hosting this blues only radio show for the last 2+ years. It can be heard throughout the Ottawa Valley and now streaming on the internet at valleyheritageradio.ca so Ottawa folks can now listen!

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CHECK OUT INDIECAN RADIO

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IndieCan Radio is your source for the best Canadian Music you've never heard (and maybe some you have). IndieCan Radio once again covered Canada's Maple Blues awards and interspersed coverage through three episodes over satellite and terrestrial radio which can now be accessed through their website. (A couple links are exclusive access here, as they've just aired 216 on XM this week, the link will be accessible to all next Tuesday)

Kick-off intro: http://www.indiecan.com/213IndieCanRadio.m3u features Julian Fauth and Monkey Junk

Part one of the award coverage:
http://www.indiecan.com/215IndieCanRadio.m3u has some back story, Matt Andersen audio drop, CATL, David Rotundo Band, Julian Fauth Interview and track, and Ginger St. James

Part two (bulk of coverage):
http://www.indiecan.com/216IndieCanRadio.m3u features Layla Zoe, Dylan Wickens and The Grand Naturals, Raoul and the Big Time, interview with Raoul Bhaneja, Mike Shrimp Daddy Reid, Dawn Tyler Watson and Paul Deslauriers, David Rotundo Band, Ross Neilsen and the Sufferin Bastards, and Anthony Gomes, with more commentary from the host Joe Chisholm.

You can read producer and host - Joe Chisholm's review here:
http://www.indiecan.com/reviews.htm#2011mba
and check out the photos of the evening here:
http://www.indiecan.com/14th%20Annual%20Maple%20Blues%20Awards/album/ind\ex.html

And while there's great music from other Canadian independent artists, for those of you who may be a little ADD to listen through to the "non blues" material, you can access the cue sheets to skip through here: http://www.indiecan.com/downloads.htm

IndieCan Radio is broadcast on: The Verge - Channel 87 on XM Satellite Canada; CKMS FM, 100.3 in Kitchener/Waterloo; CKLU FM, 96.7 in Sudbury; CILU FM, 102.7 in Thunder Bay; Durham College's Riot Radio; KICK FM, 92.9 in Winnipeg; CVUE FM 105.9 on the Sunshine Coast of BC; CJMP FM 90.1 in Powell River, BC; CFBX FM, 92.5 in Kamloops, BC; ErrorFM.com and 400,000 listeners in over 126 countries access podcasts that are permanently archived on www.indiecan.com http://www.indiecan.com

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CBC RADIO CONCERTS ON DEMAND

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Some bluesy selections from this week's Canada Live broadcasts at 7 pm nationwide on CBC Radio Two...

Friday, March 4
concert 2: Jenny Whiteley
, recorded at the Black Sheep Inn in Wakefield, Quebec
Jenny Whiteley, double Juno winner, singer, songwriter, and player celebrates her fourth CD Forgive or Forget with a crack band featuring none other than Amy Millan along with Jenny's brother Dan, Christine Bougie, and Joe Phillips. This concert features Jenny and her band in a matinee performance before a packed house at The Black Sheep Inn. These afternoon shows tend to be real family affairs with moms and dads, babies and grandparents happily soaking up the afternoon sun coming in from the big windows and the music flowing down from the stage. If you listen closely you'll hear babies cryin' and dogs barkin'; a perfect backdrop to Jenny's bare and honest performance.

Canada Live podcast, released on Fridays
Friday, March 4 on the Canada Live podcast
Luke Doucet and the White Falcon
, recorded at the West End Cultural Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Luke Doucet has been around, in the most positive way that is. He was born in Halifax and grew up in Winnipeg where he cut his musical teeth. If you ask him what he thinks of the music scene in the prairie metropolis, he'll tell you it's Canada's Austin, Texas: a place full of great musicians and songwriters who care about and feed off each other. At the age of 19, Luke headed west and became Sarah McLachlan's guitarist. Since leaving her band, he has established himself as a superb musician and songwriter with an international reputation. His songs combine all of the reasons why people are drawn to music: catchy melodies, provocative lyrics and enough chops to scare the veterans. This concert was recorded at the West End Cultural Centre in Winnipeg, a place Luke has spent a great deal of time performing in. Joining him for this show were keyboard and guitar player Gregory MacDonald of Sloan, bassist Darcy Yates from Fred Eaglesmith and Flash Lightnin' plus drummer Taylor Knox of the Golden Dogs. Luke's old musical friend Winnipeg guitarist Jay Nowicki also joined him on stage for a song.

Lots of blues available in the concerts on demand section of the CBC Website …

http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/cod/

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WEEKLY EVENTS ON THE SMALL SCREEN

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ALWAYS check local listings to confirm.

On BRAVO – http://www.bravo.ca

Monday, February 28 @ 8:30 pm

Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll (1987)
Oscar-nominated director Taylor Hackford helms this musical documentary celebrating Chuck Berry's 60th birthday at a concert at the Fox Theatre in Berry's hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. Features interviews with Berry, Bo Diddley, Roy Orbison, Keith Richards and Eric Clapton.

Monday, March 14 @ 10 pm

Long John Baldry: In the Shadow of the Blues (2006)
The life and legacy of guitarist and singer Long John Baldry is examined in this one-hour documentary. Baldry played a key role in the growth of the British rhythm and blues movement, and led bands in the mid-1960s that featured Rod Stewart and Elton John, both of whom are interviewed in the documentary. In the ’80s, Baldry emigrated to Canada, living first in Toronto and then in Vancouver, where he died in 2005.

IN MARCH: Yonge Street: Toronto Rock & Roll Stories

This series of three one-hour shows debuts the week of the Junos in celebration of their 40th anniversary. Directed by Bruce McDonald, this series is a love letter to Toronto and to the birth of Canada's music scene.

Monday, March 21 @ 10 pm – Part 1: (1955-1960) (repeated Monday March 27 @ 6 am)

Travel back to sleepy and dull Toronto in the 1950s, where they rolled up the sidewalks after dark. There was no rock ‘n’ roll music until that fateful night when Ronnie Hawkins & Levin Helm pulled up in their car from Arkansas, popped the trunk and let that Rock ‘n’ Roll out.

Features interviews with Robbie Robertson, Ronnie Hawkins, Cathy Young, Grant Smith, Stan Endersby and many more key people in the music scene.

Tuesday, March 22 @ 10 pm – Part 2: (1960-1965) (repeated Monday March 27 @ 7 am)

In the early 1960s, the Toronto music scene spread out to Yorkville, where folk music began to thrive. But Yonge Street was still the home of the more raucous, wild Rock & Roll bands like Levon and the Hawks.

Features interviews with Ian Tyson, Sylvia Fricker, Gordon Lightfoot, John Finley, Kay Taylor, Shawne Jackson and many more key people in the music scene.

Wednesday, March 23 @ 10 pm – Part 3: (1965-1970) (repeated Monday March 27 @ 8am)

In the mid-‘60s, Yorkville had become the mecca for folk music but, when Dylan went electric, everything changed. Rock & Roll and psychedelic music began to share the clubs with the folk music coffeehouses.

Features interviews with Skip Prokop, John Kay, Ritchie Yorke, John Brower, Jan Haust, George Olliver, David Clayton-Thomas, Daniel Lanois and many more key people in the music scene.

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LOCALS LOOK AHEAD

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Friday, March 11

Al Wood & Mean Dog Howl @ the Rainbow

Barrelhouse @ Tucson’s

Saturday, March 12

Rocket Rached & the Fat City 8 CD release @ the Elmdale House

Jesse Greene Band @ Irene’s

Sunday, March 13

Maria Hawkins hosts the Sunday afternoon Blues Jam @ the Rainbow, 4-7:30 pm

Friday, March 18

Three Times Lucky CD release @ the Elmdale House

Sweet & the Back Beat @ Tucson’s

Saturday, March 19

King Rattler (Double Bill with Iz & the 3 Alley Cats) @ the Elmdale House Tavern

Sunday, March 20

Al Wood hosts the Sunday afternoon Blues Jam @ the Rainbow, 4-7:30 pm

Friday, March 25

The Priorities @ Tucson’s

Sunday, March 27

River City Junction hosts the Sunday afternoon Blues Jam @ the Rainbow, 4-7:30 pm

Wednesday, March 30

Al Tambay @ the Elmdale House Tavern

Friday, April 1

Drew Nelson Band @ Irene’s

Sunday, April 3

Maria Hawkins hosts the Sunday afternoon Blues Jam @ the Rainbow, 4-7:30 pm

Friday, April 8

Sherri Harding & the Heat @ Irene’s

Sunday, April 10

Dr Dave hosts the Sunday afternoon Blues Jam @ the Rainbow, 4-7:30 pm

Sunday, April 17

Al Wood hosts the Sunday afternoon Blues Jam @ the Rainbow, 4-7:30 pm

Wednesday, April 20

Bluestone @ the Rainbow

Sunday, April 24

River City Junction hosts the Sunday afternoon Blues Jam @ the Rainbow, 4-7:30 pm

Saturday, April 30

Tony D Band @ the Rainbow

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