James Taylor - Fundraiser - December 4th,2005

SBS members,
Thought I would forward Barry's comments to other members, with his permission, as well as further comments on the evening:

Dear B.C., Bob, Jeff, Gord and all the other organizers for the benefit concert for the late James Taylor's widow Carla and daughter Rebecca.

Thank you for organizing such a fantastic evening of some of Saskatoons greatest blues and rockabilly musicians; what an amazing city. As Big Dave has said "it must be something in the water here".

Even with the small attendance, all the performances were top notch. It was great beginning the evening with the DVD clips of the Twisters performance at the Sask Blues festival. I think it grounded everyone as to why they were there; and how meaningful to give J.T's family a generous financial gift, especially at Christmas.

Thank you to all the performers.
B.C. Read
Josh Palmer with Tim Vaughn and Lloyd Tomczak
Paul Tobin
Wilma Groenen and Gary Smith
Hot Rod Hullabaloo (drummer Lou Fontaine, guitarist Monte Bergen, bass player Cam Ewart)
Ernie Kurz
Sherman Pearce, George Tennant, and Doug Scarrow (amazing backup)
and for those whose names I missed, we thank you also

The prizes that you gathered were great, and very generous. We're looking forward to having lunch with Ernie (the cook) Kurz.
Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Barry and Leah
Saskatoon

It's important to acknowledge that the event was B.C. Read's initiative. He was the person who organized the event, recruited the musicians, found the donations,etc. Some of us were pleased to help out. Gord MacAulay deserves special mention as he organized the video projection (from video he had taken during the last Blues Festival) and brought all the gear down for it.

It would be appropriate to mention, in addition to the bands mentioned above, others who helped:

Most importantly, the Saskatoon Jazz Society for freely opening up The Bassment for the event and providing the sound & lights,etc.

Our Saskatoon Blues Society provided a number of prizes as well as volunteers to help out.

B.C. had obtained prize donations from many others:
Beilly's
Buds on Broadway
Childrens' Festival
Doreen's Restaurant
HEL Music
King Custom Golf
Long and McQuade Music
Moon Lake Golf & Country Club
Mothers Music
SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival

People there on Sunday generously supported the benefit at the door and through buying tickets for the prizes.
A total of $769 was raised. We decided to split that between Carla and the Rebecca Taylor Trust fund.

I know that B.C appreciated the response to his efforts and would want to thank all who helped out.

Bob Reid, Secretary
Saskatoon Blues Society Inc
Box 21035 Saskatoon,SK S7H 5N9
web Site: www.saskatoonbluessociety.ca
info@saskatoonbluessociety.ca

AGM / Charlie A'Court - November 23, 2005

Combine a rich, rhythm & blues upbringing with soulful, adult-contemporary song writing and you have the foundation for one of Atlantic Canada’s brightest new stars. 2004 ECMA nominee, Charlie A’Court has emerged as an emotionally charged and soul touching performer, whose music reaches out to others, touching audiences at venues all over. Whether it’s his stirring solo performances, or his fiery full band concerts, A’Court takes the music down a direct path to the listeners’ heart and soul.

Charlie has toured extensively, including two tours throughout Germany, opening for Australian slide-guitar legend Dave Hole, and Sugar Blue (former harmonica play for the Rolling Stones)

Fueled by emotion and a desire for delivering powerful music, Charlie A’Court is undoubtedly one of Canada ’s new generation of fresh singer/songwriters, attracting the attention of fans everywhere with gutsy vocals and his colourful yet solid guitar playing.

From an October 28th 'postcard' on his website (www.charlieacourt.com):
Man this time of year just flies by for me everytime! I hope all is well with you A'Listers....
To everyone out west, guess who's coming back!!
In late November I will be touring to Saskatchewan and Alberta for a week with shows in Saskatoon, Wadena, Calgary, and Spruce Grove.
I can't wait for these shows, I always have a great time out West and meet some really cool people. So grab a friend and come see one of the shows!
Still working on the new album and it's really cooking. I've been working with Danny Greenspoon and been having an amazing time. Danny is wonderful to work with and he has really given a lot of himself to make this new album a reality! I'm hoping to have it ready for January 2006! The CD is titled Bring On The Storm.

It promises to be an interesting evening of music!

That wasn't just a blues concert at the Centennial Auditorium Monday night. It was a lovefest, from the hop.
It worked both ways, too. An almost sold-out house leapt to its feet when B.B. King took the stage, and hardly stopped yelling, applauding -- and singing -- all night.
King gave it back in return, through an evening that was as much about telling stories and making connections as it was about the music.
The king of the blues opened the evening regally, thanking the audience graciously for coming out, and saying he was glad to be back "in your beautiful country." All bluebloods should be so humble.
It must be hard to be so, when you're possessed of a voice that most blues singers can only dream of, at any age. At 80, King's voice is big, gravelly, tuneful and beautiful, as he showed from the very first song, and throughout the night.
Backed by eight great bluesmen, he went through wonderful tunes like Nightlife by Willie Nelson, and When Love Comes to Town. On the latter, he convinced the audience to howl back the refrain. B.B. King doesn't need backup singers. With his charm, he can sweet-talk anyone into shouting along.
The guitar, too, still sings and whines and slides beneath those experienced fingers. Lucille (his guitar, named for a woman who was the reason for a barroom fight back in Arkansas during one of his gigs) was hauntingly plaintive at times, and tough as nails at others.
For a while, the brass left the stage, putting King together with another guitar, bass, drums and Hammond B3. He told stories, shared his views, bantered and teased, before launching into a great version of Key To The Highway. A particularly bluesy, instrumental Georgia On My Mind followed, before the anthem. That would be The Thrill Is Gone, undoubtedly King's most famous song -- and rightly so. It's hard to express what it's like to hear a legend perform his best, live, but this performance was awe-inspiring. The audience jumped up, as one, in yet another standing ovation.
At the end of the evening, King noted that while in Europe, his concerts were advertised as being part of his last tour -- no doubt due to his advancing years. But he asked the crowd if God allowed him, could he come back? Another deafening roar.
Then he told the audience, "there's not a night I go on stage, I don't do the best that I can," and excused himself for talking so much during the evening.
Well, some might have preferred fewer words, and more music. But hey, this is B.B. King. Is he still the king of the blues? Oh my, yes. And the king gets to do whatever he wants.
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2005

Blair Finlay shares a moment with BB on the bus.

Chris is so thrilled to meet BB, she kissed him on the cheek and he blushes.

Gord, BB King & Jeff after the show

Jamie & Bob man the SBS Display

Glen, BC & Jeff handing out brochures to all the evenings guests.

Display was well received.

Gord, Deborah J Cameron (BB's Canadian Producer) and Jeff

Gord and BB celebrate another great evening of Blues in Saskatoon

Tim Williams & Big Dave Mclean

Monday October 17, 2005

Grand Opening of the Off Broadway Blues Room

Come celebrate with us as we "christen" our new home for Acoustic Blues in Saskatoon. Located in the main showroom of the Off Broadway Arts Centre (formerly known as the Off Broadway Theatre). Our patrons will enjoy unresticted view of the stage while maintaining the up close and personal feel our shows have become known for.

Tim Williams…one of this country's finest acoustic blues revivalists…and Big Dave…A stalwart of the Canadian blues scene for over three decades…

“Fellow Travelers”, recording partners and two of the best in the business are here together as an acoustic duo at the Off Broadway Blues Room. Synergy, is best described as when the sum is greater than the parts. That is definitely what happens when these two perform together.

http://www.timwilliams.ca/

http://www.bigdave.ca/

Friday, September 16, 2005

JW Jones Blues Band

http://www.jw-jones.com/

New Venue - the Brass Monkey (conveniently Downtown)

Live at the Brass Monkey

JW pulls the old "switcheroo"

First night for our new cool light fixtures.

"One of this country's top blues guitar stars" writes the Globe and Mail about 24-year old JW-Jones. The Ottawa native broke through the local blues scene with the coveted 1999 Blues Guitar Riff-Off title, immediately setting his sights on the world at large with the release of his internationally acclaimed debut Defibrillatin' (2000 - NorthernBlues Music). This fresh band takes on a blues sound that has won accolades from critics and players alike.

The combination of their release Bogart's Bounce (with guests Kim Wilson and Gene Taylor) and a strong live show, catapulted the band to a new level in 2002.

JW-Jones has played all over the world (CANADA, USA, EUROPE, AUSTRALIA, BRAZIL, etc.) and has been invited to share the stage with some of the biggest names in blues today - The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Junior Watson, Little Charlie & The Nightcats, Rusty Zinn, Rick Holmstrom, Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers, Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets, plus the legendary Hubert Sumlin, and many more.

2004 welcomed their third release with NorthernBlues, My Kind Of Evil, produced by multi-Grammy nominee Kim Wilson (The Fabulous Thunderbirds), and features the silky-smooth vocals of Colin James on two smokin' tracks.

The album has 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 is creating has 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.

2005 Maple Blues - Electric Act

Celebrities in the audience, Freight Train Wayne

More Celebs, Dave Hicks and Sherman Pearce

Monday, April 18, 2005

Colin Linden and David Gogo SOLD OUT!!!

An Acoustic Night to Remember!

Back one year later due to popular demand, we are proud to present Colin Linden again at the BASSMENT. Joining the Juno award winning Colin Linden will be fellow award winner, David Gogo.

Last year we presented Colin Linden and what an unforgettable evening of blues and roots music he gave us! On April 18th, we have the opportunity to present him again, but this time in a double bill with David Gogo. This will be special treat to hear David in a solo acoustic setting. He recently won the Maple Blues Award for “Guitarist of the Year”. Two of Canada’s leading gutar players together in one evening’s concert.
A treat not to be missed!

Note: We are not providing a discounted ticket price for members as that has been problematic at our ticket outlets. But Saskatoon Blues Society members at the concert will each get a “SBS Members Bonus” Coupon ($2 value) to apply to refreshments or merchandise purchases that evening.

Full bios, pictures and history is available at their respective websites

www.colinlinden.com ----------- www.davidgogo.org

Tickets are $20.00 and they may be reserved online for pickup, paid for with PayPal or purchased in person at one of our fine retail outlets.

Saskatoon Blues Society members receive their members price benefit in the form of a $2.00 coupon good for food, beverages or merchandise at the BASSMENT concession upon presentation of their Memebrship card at the door..