End of Winter Blues 2009

Photos by Gord Horne

 

Bad Poetry Blues Band

This central Ontario-based, 4-member band is in the Chicago style of electric blues...with a touch of rock, R&B, and country added for spice. They often play in pubs and legions, wanting fun, uncomplicated entertainment. As well, they perform at local festivals, special events, and private parties. The Band has added two members to the act. Joining Mick Manning, vocals and harp and Peter Thorn, guitar; are new drummer Les Kota and returning bassist Glenn Girard. We look forward to watching the band
perform in future with this updated lineup.

Fade Kings

Formed in 1992, The Fade Kings bring a unique perspective to the Blues, Roots and R&B genre. Their early musical careers were heavily influenced by the dynamic era of the sixties and the explosion of creativity that marked this epic period. Building on these influences, these musicians have continued to evolve, constantly inspired by a vast range of musical styles. Currently based in Prince Edward County, Ontario’s new music, arts and wine mecca, The Fade Kings have appeared at various venues throughout the Toronto region and eastern Ontario.

Lenni Stewart Band

"Canadian performer Lenni Stewart’s expressive and distinctive vocal styling have made her a popular performer in the Quinte area and across Ontario. Her repertoire includes Folk-Blues, Trad. Jazz and Broadway classics, and she is currently involved theatre productions including Overture Productions’ upcoming concert Phantom of the Opera / Les Miserables, at the Empire Theatre. As a singer/songwriter, Lenni’s CD "Root Cellar Boogie" has maintained solid standing on internet radio and is selling copies locally and globally. This is Lenni’s second appearance at the Loyalist Blues Society’s "End of Winter Bluesfest" and this year she’ll be serving up an offering of early roots blues accompanied by Tom Dietzel on keys and John Devries on bass."

Loyal Blues Band

Some old dogs putting together some new tricks, improvisation is high on their list so you can expect some surprises during their performance. The Loyal Blues Band is comprised of Mark Bishop, Joe Callahan, Jody Dowdall, Dan Quellette, and Peter Snell. This is a group of musicians with extensive experience in rock and roll, blues, jazz and country. They have come together to play for this year’s festival and will be doing a number of original tunes sprinkled with favourite covers.

Mark Taylor

Mark Taylor is a dynamic singer/songwriter who is originally from Trenton Ontario. He currently resides in Toronto Ontario, where he spends much of his time in his home studio refining his blues/folk/rock fusion style.

Initially a drummer, Mark started playing music in 1993 and developed a sense of rhythm that shines through in his live performances. He moved to guitar in 1996 where he began to hone a musical style into something unlike anything that you will hear today. His live shows consists of 90% original material, in which Mark, plays all of the instruments (Guitar, Harmonica, Bass Drum, Hi-hat & Vocals) and pulls it off seamlessly.

A great story teller, Mark keeps all his lyrics relevant and poetic. His musical catalogue is now upward of 100 songs. All of which he takes great care in creating, recording and publishing.

North County Blues Revue

Brings together a seasoned group of artists from different musical backgrounds for the express purpose of celebrating the Blues (and the end of another long winter).
Peg Voigt and Karen Sweet provide a fine mix of vocals and acoustic guitars and are accompanied by Ken McColm on keys and harps, Grant Postma on guitar, Ed Fowler on mandolin, with Dan Hewitt on bass and Frank Eastabrooks on drums. A few new original and indie tunes and some acoustic twists on old blues standards. We've been having a grand time all winter and have come up with a unique blend of harmonies and instrumental fun.

The Stir

The Stir is a dynamic musical group that has been established for over 10 years. They have played all over Ontario performing at weddings, clubs, casinos, festivals, and dances. The Stir play a variety of music drawing from a broad spectrum of music including: Top 40, Classic Rock, R&B and Reggae. The group’s strength is in their use of harmony coupled with a powerful rhythm section. The instrumentation the band uses includes bass, guitar, keyboard, harmonica, congas and drums

Tim Campbell Band

A Quinte region favorite for more than two decades, Tim Campbell, captivating performers, alone or together the excitement never ends. Their amazing vocal range is second only to incredible guitar playing.  Classic songs take on a new life in the hands of these masterful talents. These boys are in a league all on their own! The energy, style and passion are unmatched!

Timeline

TimeLine's band members come from very diverse musical backgrounds, which includes blues, latin jazz, rock and big band swing, all of which has an influence on their live performances. With adaptations of songs such as Carol King’s It’s Too Late, the up-tempo rhythms of Santana’s Black Magic Woman and the powerfully smooth compositions of Fleetwood Mac, you can dance or just sit back and listen to the characteristic music that came out of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, together with some of today’s contemporary classics.

Tore Down

Four guys who all love the blues, get together at a jam session. Things go well, and they decide that something has to be done.. Tore Down is a Belleville based band that performs a wide variety of blues, with the odd classic rock tune, and originals thrown into the mix. They all love what they do! And it shows, as they will keep you either tapping your feet, or out of your seat. Featuring Rick Cooke – Harp, Lead Vocals; Shawn Dore – Guitar, Lead Vocals; Sandy Sweet – Bass, Lead Vocals, Chris Georgiou – Drums, Backing Vocals

Evening Showcase, starts 8:00 pm

Tim Vaughn is a multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. His soulful voice and immaculate guitar, bass and keyboard work have been resonating through clubs across Western Canada for the greater part of a decade; energizing and inspiring fans. With shear musicianship and interactive performance, Vaughn leaves audiences wanting more. Tight funky backbeats and round growling bass grooves drive the performances. From four on the floor dance grooves to sultry ballads there is something for every type of dancer to enjoy.

Tim’s youthful energy and sense of professionalism have members of the music community calling him a “Renaissance Man”, far beyond his years. His style is derived from his individuality and experience in a range of genres including Funk, Soul/R&B, Blues, Nu-Jazz, Rock and Reggae. He names Prince, Stevie Wonder, BB King, Al Green and Shuggie Otis as key influences.

Performing professionally since the age of 13, Tim Vaughn has established himself as a respected and sought after performer. He has shared the stage with some of North America’s premier artists including Los Lobos, Wide Mouth Mason, Sekoya, Moses Mayes, , Big Dave McLean, Jack Semple, Downchild Blues Band, Swing Soniq’, The Pocket Dwellers and Sweatshop Union. He has also been a driving force behind such bands as Instant Vintage, Stepchyle, Trigger & Shake, Mobadass, and Natural Mystic. He recently co-produced a soon-to-be released album for Canadian Idol Top 10 finalist Josh Palmer and shared a bill with Jacksoul and Divine Brown at the 2006 Sasktel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival.

Tim Vaughn is hard at work preparing to record his debut solo album featuring twelve of his original songs

“Tim has a natural ability to perform! A fantastic songwriter and gifted performer! He proves himself every time.”- Saskatoon Blues Society, March 2006

“Local guitar fiend Tim Vaughn was a formidable opener. He’s carving out a sweet sound for himself, somewhere in the nu-soul arena, with some R&B and funkified rock in there too” The Star-Phoenix, Review of 2006, Sasktel Jazz Fest performance on Divine Brown/Jacksoul bill.

JW Jones "One of this country's top blues guitar stars" writes the Globe and Mail .

JW-Jones has played throughout the world (CANADA, USA, EUROPE, AUSTRALIA, BRAZIL) and has been invited to share the stage with some of the biggest names in blues today (to play with, not open for), The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Junior Watson, Little Charlie & The Nightcats, Rusty Zinn, Rick Holmstrom, Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers, Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets, The Mannish Boys, the legendary Hubert Sumlin, and many more.

Whether recording/touring with Jeff Asselin, and Martin Régimbald, or adding the heavy grooves of Jesse Whiteley on organ, the musicians with Jones always add a powerful energy to the stage.

During a special appearance with the band, Hollywood celebrity and fan, Dan Aykroyd (Elwood Blues) said "this is an amazing blues band, and I've played with the best!"

Their third album, My Kind Of Evil (2004), was produced by multi-Grammy nominee Kim Wilson (The Fabulous Thunderbirds), and features Canadian guest star Colin James on two smokin' tracks.

Adding a fourth CD to their collection, Kissing in 29 Days (2006), featured the legendary Ray Charles sax player, David "Fathead" Newman.

Their discs have garnered radio-play worldwide, including heavy rotation on some commercial radio stations, and features on shows such as the internationally syndicated House of Blues Radio Hour. The buzz this band has created over the last few years earned them a national award for Electric Act of the Year at Toronto's Maple Blues Awards and rave reviews throughout the globe. With their heavy schedule, this ranks the band as one of the hardest touring blues acts in the country.

2008 will welcome the bands fifth release with NorthernBlues Music, Bluelisted, featuring the two most influential blues guitarists on the west coast; Little Charlie Baty, and Junior Watson, playing together on the same tracks for the first time in a combined 70 year career. This first time collaboration has been called "a recording of historic importance". It also features arguably the best rhythm section in blues, Richard Innes on drums and Larry Taylor on bass.

JW-Jones and his blues band are ready to take on any challenge, and with their unique sound, they are going to set the world on fire one country at a time!

Bill Durst's

SWAMP ROCK REVIVAL BLUES

I find myself looking back over my life. Maybe it's because I'm getting a little older.

I composed melodies at five, arranged songs at seven, however seven also saw great pain and sorrow. My dad was trying to kill my mom and I had to hope he was too drunk to find the bullets for the gun. Bittersweet memories.

First song at ten, first internationally recognized band, Thundermug, at seventeen, first number one hit at twenty.

It wasn't that I didn't have success ... it was that my personal life was spinning out of control and now, like my father, I was an alcoholic. I was alone. Then the magic happened ... I quit drinking and my inner journey began. I learned to love myself.

In 2003, I began writing again with Joe DeAngelis, original lead singer of Thundermug. Out of this dedicated partnership has come what I consider to be our best work.
It has been a long hard journey but now I realize that life is precious and the best is yet to come.

• By the age of 13, Bill had written over 50 songs
• At the age of 15, Bill was playing large concerts with local bands in London, Ontario, Canada, opening for the likes of Ted Nugent and Peter And Gordon.
  Between 1972 and 1978, Bill's band, Thundermug, released 3 vinyl albums (LPs) and no fewer than 9 singles.
• Thundermug toured across Canada with April Wine (86 Concerts), The Stampeders (70 Concerts), Rush (12 Concerts), Slade, Sly And The Family Stone, Savoy Brown etc.. Bill and Thundermug opened for Areosmith on their first Canadian gig at Massey Hall in Toronto
• Thundermug disbanded in 1978 with two unreleased albums worth of demos!
  Bill set to focus on his song writing and in 1983 he emerged with an album entitled "Call Billy" and a deal with then CBS, now Sony Publishing. During this time Bill appeared in a movie which has been shown many times on Canadian TV called "Freeloading".
• In 1985 Bill joined "Tres Hombres" Canada's biggest bar band, touring Canada, the U.S.A. and Europe.
• In 1987 Bill quite drinking alcohol (he's "just coasting, thank you",so he says) and began his creative comeback and in 1989 produced a charming little album called "Father Earth".
• In the early 1990s Bill teamed up with former Thundermug bassist Jim Corbett and by 1994 they had made the classic cd "Who's Running My World?" under the name Thundermug. This cd received 42 solid weeks of charted airplay on Canadian radio stations from coast to coast. Bill and Thundermug became the first Independent band to ever get into the Top 20 with the single Who's Running My World? going to #18 on the national radio charts!
• Thundermug produced one more cd in 1997, "Bang the Love Drum" and one last single in 1999 called The Funky President.
• In 2000 and 2001 Bill toured in Europe
• In 2002-03 Bill played in a revamped Thundermug doing shows with Bad Company, the Beach Boys and George Thorogood.
• In 2003 Bill joined creative forces with his friend and former bandmate, Joe DeAngelis to co-write a never ending amount of tunes, this they have done and continue to do.
• In 2004 Bill started a little blues/roots/fuzzy/psychedelic band - Bill Durst Band.
• In 2005 he released the "Wharncliffe Sessions" cd.
• In 2006-8 Bill has played blues festivals across central eastern Canada including Windsor, London and Montreal to great acclaim. He's being rediscovered!

Now, at the end of 2008, after playing recent shows to standing ovations, Bill is proud to announce the immanent arrival of a brand new cd in 2009. He's been working on this cd for a year and a half and will glad when you have it in your hot little hands. It's a goody! "The best songs Joe and I have ever written, the best guitar tones, the sweetest grooves and lots of magic" says Bill.

 

 

End of Winter Blues '08 Line-up

Lee Oskar Harmonica's

25th Anniversary Tour

Lee Oskar

There is no one in the popular music world quite like Lee Oskar. His unique role as a founding member and former lead harmonica player for the pioneer funk/jazz group, WAR, won him international renown for over two and a half decades (1969-1993). Oskar's signature harp solos helped to define the WAR sound from the band's beginning in 1969, adding dashes of color to their R&B/Jazz/Rock and Latin influences. Oskar's position with WAR was a prominent one from their early days, audiences have marvelled at his improvisational wizardry, not to mention his animated stage presence.

WAR started out supporting Eric Burdon, their very first recorded effort contained the popular tune Spill The Wine, unleashing the genre-busting sound of WAR for the first time. Not far down the road the group set out on their own to compose and perform huge hits like, All Day Music, City Country City, Me and Baby Brother, Low Rider, Why Can’t We Be Friends, The Cisco Kid, Slipping into Darkness, The World is a Ghetto, and many others.

Today, the musical legacy of WAR continues as Lee and original members Howard Scott (guitar/vocal) BB Dickerson (bass/vocal) and Harold Brown (drums/vocal) continue to perform and collaborate as “The Lowrider Band.”

Lee’s own compositions began to get more attention when his first solo album won Billboards Best Instrumental Album of the year in 1976. This was followed by several other releases, most notably, Before the Rain and My Road, Our Road. His compositions and recordings have always been noted for their great melodies, and unique (some would say unparalleled) harmonica performances.

This tour celebrates the 25th year anniversary of Lee Oskar Harmonica Created in 1983 offers harmonicas in a variety of tunings, along with replacement reed plates, tool kits, instruction books, and other related products. Lee Oskar Harmonicas have become a household name with sales that are well-established and growing at a phenomenal rate worldwide.

Enrico Crivellaro

Born in Padova, Italy, Enrico Crivellaro has been able to prove that passion and talent can transcend political and cultural borders, becoming a well-respected, upcoming figure in the international blues scene.

 

A scholarship, helped him become a student of the masters of blues guitar--Ronnie Earl, Duke Robillard, Kenny Neal. Earl and Robillard, convinced Enrico to take the big step and relocate to Boston. There he soon met Muddy Waters’ legendary guitarist, Luther “Guitar Jr.” Johnson, with whom he played in several occasions. He also teamed up with a young local harmonica player, Jason Ricci, who had lived in the Deep South and had been a member of Junior Kimbrough and his Soul Blues Boys.

Enrico decided to move to the milder climate of Los Angeles, often sharing the bill with the greatest names in the business--John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, Mose Allison, Anson Funderburgh, Bill Wyman, Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, John Mayall. He also plays regularly with a myriad of top-notch artists, such as singer and bass player Finis Tasby, , guitarists Junior Watson, Kid Ramos, Johnny Turner, and with Los Angeles’ legendary bluesman J.J. “Bad Boy” Jones.

In Los Angeles, Enrico’s mature knowledge of 1940’s jazz guitar styles was recognized by the swing-rock band Royal Crown Revue, renowned for being featured in the movie “The Mask.” The band took him to Australia for a tour that included a performance at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics Games, and the participation at the Livid Festival in Brisbane, in front of 80,000 spectators and along with Lou Reed, The Cure, Green Day, No Doubt and several other rock bands.

Although Enrico doesn’t consider himself a true jazz-bebop player, it is obvious that his refined rhythm playing combine the sophistication of jazz with the funkiness of blues--such as pianists guitarists T-Bone Walker and George Benson.

No matter what kind of music he is playing--could it be gospel or fusion--Enrico Crivellaro likes to be in the context, yet without forgetting that the roots are in the blues

 

Michael Pickett

Pickett embraces the Blues with style, substance and musical integrity. In the 70s, 80s, and 90s he established himself as a musically ground-breaking, electrifying singer/songwriter/harmonica player, leading seminal bands Whiskey Howl, and Wooden Teeth.

He was all about establishing a groove and seeing where it would take him... and the band. Instead of being in the spotlight, as most harmonica work is presented, Pickett often layered his into the background. As a result, his arrangements were unique and highlighted the genius in his songwriting.

His long anticipated and eagerly awaited debut CD, Blues Money. This all original recording was nominated for a JUNO and received the Jazz Report and Real Blues awards for ‘Blues Album of the Year’. Michael was also presented with the coveted Maple Blues ‘Blues With A Feeling Award’ in recognition of his passion and lifetime commitment to the Blues. 2000 saw the release of his second CD Conversation With The Blues which earned him another JUNO nomination and won the Canadian Indie Music Award for ‘Blues Album of the Year’.

The beginning of the millennium saw Pickett immersed himself in the guitar and was soon practicing up to 14 hours a day. With focus and diligence, this musical transition transformed him into a formidable guitarist. Pickett has evolved into an eclectic and captivating storyteller through Delta Blues, Country, Folk, and Americana, revealing a profound understanding of where this music comes from and why it stands the test of time.

David Rotundo

Toronto blues harpist David Rotundo bought his first harmonica after seeing James Cotton perform at the El Mocambo: "He blew one note on the harmonica that hypnotized me and I've been playing the blues ever since."

David has a greater perception of the blues and a heightened knowledge of the history of the music. today, he spends hours listening to the greats: Sonny boy Williamson, T-Bone Walker, Little Walter, George "Harmonica" Smith, William Clarke and countless others. And so it is that David has strived to develop his own language of the blues.

In 1997, David started a band called the Blue Canadians (with Peter Schmidt, Shane Scott, Julian Fauth and Doc Maclean) and began playing the Toronto circuit. In 2000, David was asked to join the legendary Jack de Keyzer Band. Rotundo has played with Ronnie Hawkins, and with ex-Muddy Waters' drummer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith.

David recorded his debut album, "Blowin' For Broke", with his Blue Canadians. The album features twelve original songs written by David and produced by bassist and engineer Shane Scott. This album was nominated "Blues Album of 2001" by the Canadian Independent Artist Association and was winner of the Maple Blues Awards "Best New Artist of The Year 2002"

Awards & nominations include the co awarded prestigious CBC/GALAXIE RISING STAR award and multiple Maple Blues Hamonica Player of Year nominations. When you see the Rotundo live, you are instantly struck by the fact that David lives for what he does.