Scott McCord & The Bonafide Truth |
Scott McCord brought his high-energy show to the Spring Shuffle and his dynamic and unique performance demanded an encore and the Shuffle committee is glad he’s back.
They scored a first place finish in the Toronto Blues Society 2008 Talent Search. “McCord delivers his songs with a soulful croon and a dynamic stage performance. Scott has spent years performing for festival audiences with his band Reuben Cherry. He now steps out on his own with soul and blues drenched pop. His debut album, "Blues For Sunshine" was released in 2008.”
Toronto Blues Society
They take the stage at Holy Rosary Hall on Friday at 7:30 p.m. |
JW Jones Blues Band |
Guitar World recently featured a CD called "Guitar Masters Vol. 2". It puts J.W. Jones alongside guitar stars B.B. King, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana and more.
Jones has recorded with Hubert Sumlin (77), a legendary blues guitarist who worked with Howlin' Wolf for over 20 years.
He’s also worked with Colin James and Anson Funderburg.
Jones has now been nominated for 10 prestigious national awards, and won Electric Artist of the Year in 2005.
"This is an amazing Blues Band," said Dan Akroyd.
Jones plays Friday at 10:30 at Holy Rosary Hall. |
Tracy K and the Dots |
Raised on the Manitoba prairies, Tracy K wrote her first song at the age of eight. Considered Canada's only female virtuoso harmonica player she has come a long way since then, winning awards for her skills as a singer, songwriter, harmonica player and performer. Since 2000, her name has been a main stage attraction, sharing stages and playbills with great legends and exciting newcomers. Tracy K has won numerous awards for her killer voice, virtuoso harmonica playing, powerful performing and accredited songwriting. She is known for rockin' the blues on the national festival and club circuit.
Tracy plays Saturday 7:15 at the Legion, downstairs. |
Erin McCallum |
A relatively new arrival on the scene, Erin McCallum and her band are getting lots of work around southern Ontario. The band is a trio behind the vocalist and harmonica player, with Trevor MacKenzie on guitars, Ronald Lombard on bass and Joe Pace on drums. Gregg Dechert adds keys to several songs. McCallum is also the songwriter and delivers with a powerful, direct voice. If you see Erin McCallum's name on a marquee near you, you should not hesitate to go in. By this evidence, you'll have a very good evening. John Valeyentin - CUIT FM.
Take John’s advice and see Erin at Holy Rosary Hall on Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. |
Bobby Dean Blackburn Trio |
Veteran bluesman Bobby Dean Blackburn has played with many legends in his time. He is the father of the Blackburn brothers and is descended from fugitive slaves that escaped to Canada in the 1850's.
Bobby Dean Blackburn first started his singing career in church. He was only 9 years old. After achieving success in Memphis he became a sought after musician. Some of the notables who passed by to play with Bobby were Jimmy Smith, Buddy Miles, Jimmy Mcgriff, David Clayton Thomas, Wm. Smitty Smith, from Motherlode, and Paul Butterfield, just to name a few. The trio opens the Shuffle Thursday
at Holy Rosary at 7 p.m. |
The Mighty Duck Blues Band |
| From St. Catharines Ontario they earned their name by attracting their friends, the best in blues, to drop by and jam at “The Duck.” The band is comprised of veteran musicians - Dave Curry guitar & vocals, Gary Kendall bass & vocals, Jim Casson drums, Canada Dave Torosian keyboards whom local blues fans recognize as having played with the best of the best. They appear Friday 7:30 at the Legion and Saturday 10 p.m. at the Summit Tavern. |
PLUS
THE NIAGARA PRO JAM
Hosted by Kathy G and the 2 Blue Horns
Saturday Afternoon at the Moose & Goose |
Free Gospel Blues Brunch & concert featuring: "The Bethlehem Blues Collective". Sunday October 25 @ 10:00 AM at Orchard Creek Fellowship, 2 Whyte Ave. South in Thorold (across from the Thorold Medical Clinic). Bring a non-perishable food item for the food bank. |
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THE 8TH ANNUAL
Canal Bank Shuffle
Downtown Thorold
OCTOBER 22, 23, and 24
FULL SCHEDULE HERE
LINE-UP INCLUDES: |
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The Legendary
ROOMFUL OF BLUES
Visit their website |
Probably the biggest name in blues to grace the stages of the first 8 Shuffles, Roomfull of Blues will appear at Holy Rosary Hall at 9:30 on Saturday night.
Even though Roomful of Blues’ lineup has changed over the years, the band has always been one of the tightest, most joyful blues ensembles in the world. Currently an eight-piece unit led by guitarist Chris Vachon, the band has never sounded fresher or stronger. In 2007, singer Dave Howard took over the vocal duties, bringing his gritty and soulful vocals and adding another bright new dimension to the jazzy, jump-blues musical roots. Their winning combination of jump, swing, blues, R&B and soul remains their calling card, as does their ability to fill the dance floor. |
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Blackburn |
An amazing performance at the Spring Shuffle earned Blackburn a return invitation to the fall edition.
These guys are extremely talented as individual musicians but come together beautifully as a tight and thrilling band.
It is with much energy and originality that they take to the stage, devoting themselves to each song and every show. With true sorrow and then also great joy to clear the mind,
Blackburn comes to life on the set, engaging it's audiences with pure feeling. Whether playing unique and standard renditions of the classics of soul music or settling into the original material that built the band, the Blackburns command love and respect all across their home town, Toronto, Canada.
Southside Shuffle |
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JP Soars & The Red Hots
Winners of the 2009 International Blues Challenge in Memphis |
WSNB |
| WSNB is rock solid blues, sometimes heavy rock and roll. Shuffle-goers couldn’t seem to get enough of WSNB (We Sing Nasty Blues) over the last two years so we brought them back to Canada from the deep sunny south for two appearances. They will appear on Friday 8:30 p.m. at the Legion upstairs and then again on Saturday at Holy Rosary Hall af 5 p.m. All four of these seasoned musicians have been road dogs for years - playing anything from smoked - filled bars to huge outdoor festivals. Collectively, they have shared the stage with some of the best bands and musicians around: Blues greats B.B. King, Buddy Guy, ZZ Top, Tab Benoit, Carl Weathersby, Shemekia Copeland, Walter Trout, Gatemouth Brown, The Kinsey Report, and The Allman Brothers Band just to name a few. WSNB was a finalist at the 2007 International Blues Challenge held in Memphis, TN. |
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Most blues guitarists haven't played in a handful of metal bands and aren't influenced by jazz icons like Django Reinhardt and Wes Montgomery. Which explains why South Florida based JP Soars doesn't sound like any other guitar slinger.
JP was born in California and moved to Florida in 1985. "I love Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan, but I don't try to play like them. I listen to the guys they listened to, like Albert King, Johnny Guitar Watson, T-Bone Walker, Muddy Waters and Guitar Slim. I'm also very into Django Reinhardt and Wes Montgomery as well as horn players like Louie Jordan.
JP Soars and The Red Hots won the 2009 International Blues Challenge, their second effort in Memphis, and came away as the best among the best in the world class competition. JP was also awarded the Albert King Blues Guitar award confirming the fact that this young kid from Arkansas, who may not have started out as a blues player, has surely found his place in the blues world.
JP Soars performs twice at this year’s Shuffle - On Friday 7 p.m. at Club Capri and again on Saturday at 6:30 at Holy Rosary Hall. |
Shakura S'Aida
2nd place the 2008 International Blues Challenge in Memphis |
The amazing Shakura placed second at the International Memphis Bound competition last year competing against the very best blues bands from around the world.
She has performed as a backing vocalist for Rita MacNeil and Patti Labelle, as well as the legendary Ruth Brown. She has performed at the Apollo Theatre in New York.
Shakura has been described as an energetic singer with considerable theatrical flair and a supple voice that's capable of soaring.
Veteran bluesman Bill King said "S'Aida is a great blues singer whose vocal strengths include range, clarity and tone of voice, and she is a first-rate entertainer"
She has been nominated twice by the Toronto Blues Society as the Maple Blues "Female Vocalist of the Year."
Shakura will appear as the headliner on Thursday evening at Holy Rosary Hall for a 9:30 start. |
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David Rotundo
David was last year’s winner of the Maple Blues harmonica player of the year.
After multiple performances at past Shuffle’s David’s appearance last year was nothing less than astounding - he just keeps getting better.
Last year marked his first appearance with Jerome Godboo and everyone agreed it was one of the best performances presented during any of the first 7 Shuffles.
Shuffle fans will be glad the two will once again appear together Friday October 23 at Club Capri 8:30. And David will then present a solo performance on Saturday at Club Belvedere with a 7:30 start. |
Gerome Godboo |
Last year he and David Rotundo appeared together and blew the crowd away with one of the best performances to ever grace the Shuffle stages.
He has always turned in tremendous and crowd-pleasing shows at the Shuffle and this year promises to be extra special.
Vocalist, harmonica virtuoso and front man extraordinaire, Jerome has shared stages with the best, including Prince, James Cotton, The Tragically Hip, Levon Helm, Jose Feliciano, Jeff Healey, Ronnie Hawkins, Billy Ray Cyrus and many more.
Fans will be glad to know they will appear together againFriday October 23 at Club Capri at 8:30. And then Jerome will perform a second show on Saturday at the Legion 8:30. |
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Monkey Junk
3rd place at the 09 International Blues Challenge in Memphis |
Monkey Junk is a band that draws heavily on the legends of the blues and translates that influence into a contemporary blend of swamp R&B, soul boogie and bedroom funk. This triple threat trio comprised of Steve Marriner, Tony D and Matt Sobb draws on over 56 years of combined experience playing blues live and in studio . . . and it shows. In the fall of 2008, MonkeyJunk was nominated for a Maple Blues Award for best new artis In February 2009, MonkeyJunk represented Ottawa, Canada at The International Blues Challenge held in Memphis, TN competing amongst 100 bands from nine different countries. After the smoke cleared on Beale St., MonkeyJunk had placed third overall!
They play Friday at 8:45 at the Holy Rosary Hall. |
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Fathead |
Fathead has gained the attention of blues fans and peers around the world.
They’ve also gained the attention of Shuffle fans who have made them one of the favourites. They return this year to the intimate and quintessential blues den, the Summit Tavern on Friday evening at 10 p.m.
"The joy, love and appreciation in the music here is infectious. These Canadians deliver the goods”.
- Blues Review magazine (U.S.)
"Fathead plays like a band at the top of their game and you owe it to yourself to lend 'em an ear."
- Blueprint magazine (Britain)
"Fathead is one of the best bands I've heard in a long while! The new disc (First Class Riff-Raff) is outstanding. I just love it."
- Levon Helm |
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Jack de Keyzer
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A mainstay at the Canal Bank Shuffle Jack is back for his 8th straight year. Jack won his second Juno last year to maintain his perennial stature among the very best in Canadian Blues.
Known across Canada as one of our premier performers, he has the live show, the CD’s and the Junos and Maple Blues Awards to prove he belongs in the upper echelon of the Canadian music scene. Constant demand has kept Jack in the Shuffle every year - the only performer who can make that claim.
He takes the stage at Holy Rosary hall at 8 p.m. on Saturday before the legendary Roomful of Blues. |
 Harper |
The Shuffle was very fortunate that Australian bluesman Harper was touring the northern US this October making him available to appear in Thorold. "An amalgamation of blues, rock, funk, soul and world music, "Harper" creates a heady mix of roots, jam music through his creative use of the harp, and didgeridoo. Borrowing from western and world music, this musical visionary develops a highly original take on the roots genre.
There's a menace in Harper's music, an edge of danger that, if it isn't physical, certainly lives in the psyche.. The addition of the didgeridoo to the traditional blues band lineup might sound odd, but on listening, it sounds as natural as rain on a spring day. Blend it with the growling guitars, Harper's harp and his lyrics and you've got a depth of feeling and thought that is unusual in today's music.”
Michael Scott Cain, Rambles Magazine, USA. |
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Krista Blondin
(Janis Joplin tribute) |
Keith Hallett |
Nineteen year-old blues guitar player, Keith Hallett of Fredericton, New
Brunswick, has been turning heads for a few years now. He won the 2007 CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award. 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 appears at the Canal Bank Shuffle on Saturday afternoon, 3 p.m. at Holy Rosary Hall. |
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Krista Blondin returns in her spectacular tribute to Janis Joplin on Saturday afternoon for a 2:15 start at Club Belvedere. Staying in character, this is more than a music performance; it is an outstanding show.
Shuffle fans demanded her return and for good reason. Krista not only sings Janis's music, she emulates her whole persona as though she were in concert. From her wardrobe, stage moves, southern accent, inspirational messages topped by her humorous and sometimes heartbreaking between-song banter, the audience learns about one of the most influential and world-changing women in rock & blues music.
"Few are as polished and dynamic as this young performer. Her musical range is astounding, and her abilities as an entertainer will wow any crowd."
Victor J. Deschenes, O.M.C.
President & CEO, Expedite Plus She has worked with: Ronnie Hawkins, The Casino Brothers, Jeff Healey, Dave Murphy
Chuck Jackson, and the Downchild Blues Band. |
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In association with the Canal Bank Shuffle
BROCK UNIVERSITY PRESENTS
ROBERT CRAY
OCTOBER 21 (SOLD OUT!)
Visit their site for Details |
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