Victoria Blues Society

VBS Scholarship winners take home best group performance at the Hornby Island Blues Camp

The Victoria Blues Society mentors aspiring blues artists through the John Fisher Memorial Legacy. The fund provides scholarships to the Hornby Island Blues Camp, a Maple Blues Award winning educational opportunity where the next generation of blues artists are mentored and trained by a collection of Canadian blues legends. This year, the three scholarship students, Bryden Amos, Brendan Lofting, Nico Carboni along with VBS members Charlie Fox and Gerry Donovan, won the Best Group prize for 2022.

Angel Forrest and D. Columbus with special guests Rhythm Train

Angel Forrest is one of Canada’s most celebrated blues vocalists. She has won numerous Maple Blues Awards in multiple categories including Recording of the Year and Songwriter of the Year and has won Best Female Vocalist 8 times. She has been a finalist in the International Blues Challenge, giving her international recognition. In 2021, she was a Juno Nominee for Blues Album of the year. Her most recent album Angels 11, Volume 11 will be available at the show. Angel’s musical and life partner D. Columbus has been active in the music industry for over 30 years. He is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist who is a seasoned guitar player, bassist, backing vocalist, singer, live sound engineer and music producer. He has been involved in fourteen studio albums, earning recognition from the Maple Blues Awards and more. He has recently been gaining recognition as an individual artist with his recently released solo album. Together, they are a force to be reckoned with.

Opening the show are special guests Rhythm Train which features Jack Lavin, Jan Randall and Ross Hall. Each of these musicians have incredible credentials and history in the Canadian music scene.

Don't miss a double header of Victoria blues talent. May 28th, Bill Johnson and the South Island Rhythm Kings at Hermann's Upstairs.

Bill Johnson

Bill Johnson has been playing blues for 40 years. A master guitarist, musician, and vocalist, Bill has developed his own brand of laid-back, soul-thumping blues. Whether on his own, or performing with his band, his unique style and beautiful tone reveal a rare passion for the blues. A Juno nomination in 2012, and four Maple Blues award nominations have earned him a place among Canada’s best blues artists.

South Island Rhythm Kings

At the nucleus of the South Island Rhythm Kings is the Father/Son team of Lazy Mike Mallon on vocals and harmonica, and Carson Mallon on guitar and vocals, along with Dan Dube on piano, Casey Ryder on bass guitar and Nick Dokter on the drums. The band delivers classic, traditional blues. And from these traditions, the South Island Rhythm Kings draw their inspiration. In a modern world or digital excess, this is a group of musicians who present a repertoire of old school, real deal blues music. You will not find any meaningless virtuousity, just the pure expression of blues being reared on the stretch of Highway 1 from Nanaimo to Victoria. This is the blues on Vancouver Island.

Check out the Blues Jam videos

Gerry Donovan has been kind enough to record most of the Blues Jams with the Deb Rhymer Band. Check them out on the Deb Rhymer Blues Jam channel.

Victoria Blues Society partners with the Rialto Hotel

The Victoria Blues Society is pleased to have a new partnership with the Hotel Rialto on Douglas Street. The hotel has kindly offered a discount on accommodations for the out of town artists we bring in for shows as well as out of town guests attending our shows. We greatly appreciate their support!