in the news...
03/11/10
|
|
in the news... |
03/11/10
|
|
News |
|||||||
| Recent news items from the front page | |||||||
 Photo Credit: Doug Willoughby |
Monkey Junk
Cleans Up at Maple Blues Awards...
January 19, 2010
- Monkey Junk, hailing from Ottawa, swept the voting
announced last night at the annual Maple Blues Awards gala
in Toronto taking Entertainer Of
The Year, Electric Act
Of The Year, Male Vocalist Of The Year For
full results, click
here |
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
 |
Blues Below
the Border!... The Washington
Blues Society (WAB) is centered out of Seattle and
their website is a great resource for all Blues fans to check
out before heading down to Seattle for a visit. They list what
is happening there and also have a good listing of local venues,
including the well-known blues haunt, Highway 99. |
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
| a Movie Review! |
It Might Get Loud!... Just released yesterday, December 22nd and only on DVD with Jimmy Page, Edge and Jack White... "It Might Get Loud" is a must see and hear for every guitar player and every guitar fan! Check out the official trailer from Sony http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sBLir8H2zM&NR=1 then get the DVD and be sure to view the 'extras' too... scenes that were cut from the movie. This
flic gets a 'Two Thumbs Up' by Doug Willoughby, in the key of
'It will get yer ya-yas out'. |
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
| In Memory... |
In
from John Fisher:
EDWARD TATOOSH SEPTEMBER 11.1935-DECEMBER 12,2009 TAT, EDWARD
TATOOSH, NEVER FAILED TO REMIND ME THAT HE WAS BORN IN THE SAME
YEAR AS ELVIS PRESLEY, AND HE HAD OUT-LIVED HIM. TAT WAS AN (AB)
ORIGINAL ROCK AND ROLLER. FROM THE CHANCERS IN PORT
ALBERNI IN 1958 TO THE LA MAD BAND IN VICTORIA IN THE 90'S, AND
BACK TO PORT ALBERNI WITH THE SLY DAWG BLUES BAND AT THE
BEGINNING OF THIS CENTURY, TAT SANG AND PLAYED HIS UNIQUE FUSION
OF SWING, ROCK AND BLUES. HE WAS PART OF VICTORIA'S ACTIVE BLUES
JAM SCENE IN THE 80'S AND THE 90'S WITH "JELLY JELLY",
"PACK MY SUITCASE", "BIG FAT WOMAN", AND
"RAT TAIL COMB". LOCALLY, TAT RECORDED THREE
CASSETTES: "PACK MY SUITCASE"(1993). "NO LETTER
TODAY" (1995),"SO TIRED OF BEING ALL ALONE"
(1998) AND TWO CD'S WITH THE SLY DAWGS: "PACK MY
SUITCASE" (2002) AND "I'LL NEVER BE FREE"(2007).
AT SOPRANOS ON JANUARY 12, 2008, WE CELEBRATED HIS FIFTIETH YEAR
ON STAGE. ON JANUARY 10, 2010 WE'LL REMEMBER HIM THERE. |
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
| Stony Plain's Newsletters |
Check out the latest
news from Stony Plain Records at: http://www.mymailout.com:80/MyMailout/View.aspx?id=174143&q=161367740&qz=41bc33 |
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
 Click to view Event Photo Gallery Poster Design by Susan Kerr www.equimotionpictures.com |
The David Gogo Band appeared at Element Nightclub on Sunday, October 25th for the CD Release Party launching "Different Views". Here's
an exclusive photo gallery from the gig by Susan Kerr.
|
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
| New VBS Board Member | August 25th, 2009 - We are pleased to announce that the VBS Board of Directors have voted unanimously to have Shirley Pucci, an ongoing VBS volunteer, join the Board today. | ||||||
|
|
|
||||||
 |
The World Has
Lost a Remarkable Innovator and Musician: Les Paul Passes Away
at 94
New York, NY...August 13, 2009...Les Paul, acclaimed guitar player, entertainer and inventor, passed away today from complications of severe pneumonia at White Plains Hospital in White Plains, New York, surrounded by family and loved ones. He had been receiving the best available treatment through this final battle and in keeping with his persona, he showed incredible strength, tenacity and courage. The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks for the thoughts and prayers from his dear friends and fans. Les Paul was 94. |
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
click above to view
gig gallery, |
Just Like Coming
Home... Jack Lavin's Blues All Stars show the way...
Jack Lavin and his 'Blues All Stars' with Jeff Simmons, Dave Lanz and James Rogers showed the way it's done with a great VBS sponsored gig at Sopranos on Sunday, August 9th. As commented after the last notes were played, "It's just like coming home." To view some great photos taken at the gig by intrepid VBS 'photog', Susan Kerr, click here |
||||||
|
|
|
||||||
| New Blues & Music Links |
New Blues &
Music Links have been added to the 'Sponsors & Friend's'
section at the bottom of this page. VBS is now part of the
Blues
Underground Network. In addition, we have added four links to
Live Victoria, Live Vancouver, Van Isle Music and the venerable
Royal City Music Project. Scroll down and click on the new
additions.
CBC Radio's popular Saturday Night Blues show with host Holger Petersen has also been added to our new links and they will have a direct link right back here to VBS. The show can be heard Saturday nights on CBC Radio One Network at 10pm. Check out the show and their website for much more. In addition, we now have a direct link to Stony Plain Records, a Canadian Independent label based in Edmonton Alberta... more on this to come soon. |
||||||
|
click above to view
gig gallery, |
Just Like Coming
Home... Jack Lavin's Blues All Stars show the way...
Jack Lavin and his 'Blues All Stars' with Jeff Simmons, Dave Lanz and James Rogers showed the way it's done with a great VBS sponsored gig at Sopranos on Sunday, August 9th. As commented after the last notes were played, "It's just like coming home." To view some great photos taken at the gig by intrepid VBS 'photog', Susan Kerr, click here |
||||||
 Poster credit: Doug Willoughby & Susan Kerr |
A Very Special Event with the Jack Lavin Blues All Stars is coming Sunday August 9th The Jack Lavin Blues All Stars with Jack Lavin, Jeff Simmons, James Rogers and David Lanz are going to be on the Sopranos stage on Sunday, August 9th from 4pm to 8pm. Tickets for the Jack Lavin Blues All Stars go on sale Wednesday, July 8th at Sopranos, Lyle's Place, Island Audio and through Big Charlie. Advance ticket prices are $15 for VBS members ($20 at the door) and $20 for non-members ($25 at the door). You don't want to miss this gig! For the full pre-event news and details, click here |
||||||
|
Monkey Junk Heats Up Sopranos It was a nice warm Sunday afternoon outside, but the temperatures inside were scorching the ceiling of Sopranos as the Ottawa based blues trio called Monkey Junk kicked into their first set of the VBS produced event. Kickin' into the first song VBS strutters clambered to the dance floor and the sweat began to drip... bodies 'knew' this was going to be a grand night! Monkey Junk is made up of three of seriously consummate musicians with the amazing Steve Marriner running hard with vocals, harp, guitar, baritone guitar, Hammond organ and organ bass, not to mention a stellar slide guitar; the incredible Tony D on guitar, slide guitar and vocals; and the excellent driving drum and percussion work by Matt Sobb. Together they sound like a five piece band, and the sound gets right down to your soles and it is impossible not to do some serious shuffling on the dance floor! |
||||||
|
The Victoria Blues Society board is pleased to announce that VBS is now an Affiliate Society of The Blues Foundation ( www.blues.org ). The Blues Foundation is based in Memphis Tennessee and exists to promote and preserve blues worldwide. This affiliation opens a huge resource for VBS and it's members and puts VBS on the global blues map. | ||||||
| AGM 2009 Minutes | The Minutes and Key Highlights from the VBS Annual General Meeting held on February 24th, 2009 are available by clicking here. | ||||||
|
15th Annual R&B Fest
Gives NEED a $1200 Boost The
15th Annual R&B Fest held February 28th at Hermann's Jazz Club in
support of Victoria's NEED Crisis and Information Line was once again a
resounding success and netted more than $1200 for NEED after this year's
sold out event. NEED Board Member Echo Kulpas was thankful for the funds
raised by Victoria's blues community.
|
||||||
| 2009 |
New Board of Directors
Elected
The Annual General Meeting of the Victoria Blues Society held on Tuesday February 24th at the Goose and Trestle Pub at the Howard Johnson Hotel on Gorge Road was very well attended and packed the room for the fairly brief meeting that included the election of three new faces to the VBS Board of Directors. The 2009 Victoria Blues Society Board is:
The meeting was followed by a brilliant solo performance by Bill Johnson, and the evening continued with many staying for the regular Tuesday night blues jam hosted by the Push. |
||||||
Photo Credit: Susan Kerr |
Colin Linden: Simply Amazing!!! Saturday, January 31st, 2009: There was no mistaking that those who attended the Victoria Blues Society's presentation of Colin Linden at Sopranos on Thursday January 29th were in the presence of a true guitar master. While the word 'master' is sometimes overused or misinterpreted, in Colin's case it is truly an understatement. Apart from being a most personable and approachable man, Colin is so truly intimate with the guitar that his first set held the enthusiastic audience in their seats, knowing that it was going to get even better in the second set. |
||||||
|
VBS Presents 7 time
Juno recipient Colin Linden Live at Sopranos
The Victoria Blues Society proudly announces a very special event with 7 time Juno recipient and Grammy nominated Colin Linden for the CD release of his latest offering "From the Water" at Sopranos on Thursday January 29th at 7:30pm. Tickets for this special event go on sale Saturday January 17th at Sopranos, the Saturday afternoon Jam at Sopranos and at Lyles Place on Yates. Price is $20 for VBS members and $25 for non-members. More info on Colin on his web links at www.colinlinden.com and http://profile.myspace.com/colinlinden |
||||||
|
VBS
Welcomes Superior Cafe as a Sponsor
The Victoria Blues Society is proud to welcome The Superior Cafe as a sponsor of VBS. The popular eclectic Victoria destination located in the James Bay district is renown for it's amazing menu of expertly prepared and presented epicurean delights, as well as it's ambience that includes a variety of first class art that the visitor can view (and buy) while enjoying the first class fare. The Superior Cafe, located at Superior and Kingston ( 109 Superior Street ) next to Fisherman's Wharf, also presents a variety of top level blues and jazz artists, including Victoria's Bill Johnson, adds more reason as to why patrons return and recommend it to friends. Visit The
Superior Cafe's website at www.thesuperior.ca
to find out more and reserve a table. |
||||||
   Photo Credit: Susan Kerr, Equimotion Pictures |
Tina Jones Band stokes it up for VBS's 'Volunteer Appreciation' gig... After enjoying two years of steady growth, Victoria Blues Society celebrated a 'Volunteer Appreciation' on Sunday November 16th at Sopranos with the amazing and incredibly energetic Tina Jones Band, hailing from Gabriola Island and Nanaimo, to keep things kickin' along fast and funky. Two years in existence and now with 217 members (as of Nov. 16), VBS has had an amazing and steady growth and that is due a great deal to the people who volunteer their time at events to make them work. Tina Jones was thrilled to be a part of this special event and commented afterwards, "Wow! You folks sure can party! I know I'm not just speaking for myself when I say we had a spectacular time playing at the Volunteer Appreciation night. The crowd was so appreciative and responsive, not to mention great dancers! We'd love to come back any time. Thanks so much for having us. Best of luck with the Blues Society, I'm telling all my Victoria friends to join!" The Tina Jones Band's website is www.tinajonesmusic.com
|
||||||
 |
Superior Cafe
Sponsors the Blues... Victoria Blues Society sponsor and keen supporter of the blues, Superior Cafe, is pleased to announce blue legend Sandy Bone as part of the Bill Johnson Winter Blues Series - Dec. 2nd through 7th. The schedule includes Dave Harris on December 2nd, Gerry Barnum on December 4th, Sandy Bone on December 5th (Sandy is a maple leaf blues drummer for 8 years straight and former member of the Twisters) and Bill Johnson on December 7th. Sandy Bone is also appearing at Swans on December 6th with Bill Johnson, Andy Graffiti and Double-D. Reservations ARE a MUST, book today to enjoy some fine blues and the Superior's incredible cuisine. Call 250-380-9515 to reserve or visit their website at www.thesuperior.ca |
||||||
 
|
VBS
Presents Tina Jones Band at Sopranos
On Sunday November 16, Victoria Blues Society will present the Tina Jones Band at another popular VBS Sunday blues gig. The nationally popular Jones hails from the Nanaimo region of the Island and when asked if she was interested, Jones quickly said, "We'd LOVE to come to Victoria and play for the Blues Society! We are a five-piece band, guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and me, I sing and play horns. Sometimes we add a sax player which might just happen for your gig!" The event will run from 4pm to 8pm, and is FREE to VBS members, $10 for non-members. Ticket sale locations to be announced shortly. The Tina Jones
Band's website is www.tinajonesmusic.com |
||||||
|
Big
Dave McLean Kicks it Up at Sopranos
The Victoria Blues Society presentation of Big Dave McLean with backup by the Jordan Dunning Band at Sopranos held on Sunday August 3rd was yet another hot Sunday bash that was well attended by VBS members and those who needed to shake it out. Comments of 'amazing', 'brilliant', and many 'wows' were uttered by many as the dance floor was jammed by groovin' attendees. Stay tuned for the next VBS Sunday gig event, with details to be announced in September. |
||||||
Photo credit: Susan Kerr |
JW
Jones Band Smokes the house at Sopranos
If it wasn't for the myriad of sweating bodies, Sopranos could well have burned to the ground on this year's Mother's Day, as the amazing JW Jones Band carved out white hot licks from start to finish of the showcase Victoria Blues Society event held May 11th. From start to finish, the small dance floor at Sopranos was jam packed.... VBS' founder and chair, Deb Rhymer said, "I never saw so many individuals on the floor dancing, partner or not.. just shaking it, me included. A magic day indeed" The recipient's of 'Electric Act of the Year' at the Maple Blues Awards immediately demonstrated why they received the prestigious award. The VBS gig was part of the band's CD release tour for their latest offering "Bluelisted" and by all accounts was a resounding success. The four hour gig was opened by Victoria's own, Bill Johnson, heating up the audience with his well known acoustic blues renderings. |
||||||
 Poster credit: Faye Lake |
JW
Jones Blues Band at Sopranos, also appearing... Bill Johnson
Once again, Victoria Blues Society is proud to present a special Sunday blues event. This event features the JW Jones Blues Band, winner of the Electric Act of the Year at the Maple Blues Awards. Also appearing at the event is Victoria favourite, Bill Johnson, whose guitar is well know to local blues ears. Tickets on sale
now, click here for
details and locations to get yours NOW!
|
||||||
|
2008
Hornby Island Blues Odyssey Announced
Victoria Blues Society's friends in blues, the Hornby Island Blues Society is presenting two dates and locations for the 2008 edition of Blues Odyssey. The first date is May 10th in Duncan at the Cowichan Theatre and date two is at the Tidemark Theatre in Campbell River. Click on their event poster for more details and/or visit the Hornby Island Blues Society's website at http://www.hornby-blues.bc.ca/
|
||||||
 John Fisher & Sharon Wadsworth Photo credit: Susan Kerr |
14th
Annual R&B Fest's Energy and Talent makes for an
'Astounding' success, and contributes over $1500 to NEED Crisis
and Information Line
The Annual R&B Fest held at Hermann's in downtown Victoria, also known as the "Office Picnic", was launched fourteen years ago by John Fisher and Sharon Wadsworth and this year found Victoria Blues Society working in conjunction with them. The annual event is important to the Victoria blues community as it gives the ability to do some good in supporting the Victoria NEED Crisis and Information Line that is now in it's 36th year, and it is the perfect chance for Victoria's musicians to get reacquainted. |
||||||
 |
In Memory
The Victoria Blues Society would like to express our sincere condolences to Jeff Healey's family on the passing of such a brilliant man who embraced his family to the fullest and who shared his astounding love, knowledge and skill in music and life with countless others. He will be missed in the flesh, but his music and love of life will live on and inspire us all. Jeff passed away March 2, 2008. To express your sentiments, please visit www.jeffhealey.com Photo use is by permission of JeffHealey.com, Richard Flohil publicist. |
||||||
|
Back
Issue 'Vibe' Newsletters now online
Back issues of
the popular Victoria Blues Society newsletter, 'Vibe', are now
online on the 'News' page. Missed an issue? or not a VBS member
yet?.... then check them out. VBS members receive the current
issue of Vibe as part of the benefits of membership in VBS.
Thanks go to our intrepid Vibe editor Steve McDougall (Publisher, Editor, Scribe and
really cool blues harp player) for all his hard work. |
||||||
|
|||||||
* Victoria Blues Society logo(s) are by Susan Kerr. Equimotion
Pictures
© Copyright 2007-2010 Victoria Blues Society, All Rights Reserved
