| This Years Line-up! |
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Once again, co-producers Carrol Deen and Cam Hayden have worked hard to bring the best that the blues world has to offer to Edmonton's Labatt Blues Festival. With Grammy winners, Blues Music Award winners, W.C. Handy winners, Maple Blues Award winners, legends, up and comers, and music that reflects the regional diversity of the music we all love, this years festival promises to be the "best ever"...We're here to help "fill the hole in your soul" for another year... Friday Performers
MonkeyJunk BandFriday August 20, 5:30PM
In the fall of 2008, MonkeyJunk was nominated for a Maple Blues Award for best new artist - a rare feat only having been in exsistence for 6 months and not having released a record yet . . . In February 2009, MonkeyJunk represented Ottawa, Canada at The International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN competing with 100 bands from around the world. After the smoke cleared on Beale St., MonkeyJunk had placed THIRD OVERALL! In April 2009, MonkeyJunk released their debut CD “Tiger In Your Tank”. The rest of the year saw the band tour from coast to coast in Canada. To finish out the year, MonkeyJunk appeared in Europe for the first time at the renowned Blues-Sur-Seine festival in Mantes-La-Jolie, France. 2010 started off with a bang at the Maple Blues Awards - Canada's National Blues Music Awards program. MonkeyJunk was nominated for 6 awards and won 5 of them including Entertainer of The Year and Electric Act of the Year. Tony D won for Guitar Player of the Year and Steve Marriner took the honours for Male Vocalist of the Year and Harmonica Player of the Year. At Canadian Music Week in Toronto in March 2010, MonkeyJunk won Best Blues Artist at the Canadian Independent Music Awards. Come get yourself some MonkeyJunk! Candye KaneFriday August 20, 6:55PM
Raised in a dysfunctional, blue-collar family Candye became a teenage mother, a pin up cover girl and a punk rock, hillbilly and blues-belting anarchist by the time she was just 21 years old. Ten cds, six record labels, millions of international road miles and countless awards later, Miss Kane has proven to be a true survivor as she scrambled her way to the top of the roots music heap, creating a world renowned reputation that has spanned two decades. A colourful mixture of the traditional and the eclectic, Kane cut her musical teeth in the early 80's onstage with Hollywood musicians and friends, Social Distortion, Dwight Yoakum, Dave Alvin, The Blasters, X, Fear and Los Lobos, to name just a few. While raising two sons, this role model for the disenfranchised, championed large sized women, fought for the equal rights of sex workers and the GLBT community and inspired music lovers everywhere who flock to see Candye and hear her musical messages of love, hope and empowerment. Kanes' live shows are the stuff of legend. She honors the bold blues women of the past with both feet firmly planted in the present. She belts - growls - shouts - croons and moans from a lifetime of suffering and overcoming obstacles. She uses music as therapy and often writes and chooses material with positive affirmations that leave the audience feeling healed and exhilarated. Hers is a show that is part humour and part revival meeting. She can deliver a barrelhouse-tongue-in-cheek blues tune or a gospel ballad like Jesus and Mohammed, encouraging audiences to leave behind religious intolerance. She'll slay the crowd with her balls out rendition of “Whole Lotta Love or glorify the virtues of zaftig women with “200 pounds of fun”. “Superhero” debuted at number nine on the Billboard Blues Charts. The cd continues to receive amazing reviews worldwide. It was produced by Kane and 27 year old guitar virtuoso, Laura Chavez who also plays in Candyes’ band. The rhythm section features her eldest son, Evan Caleb on drums and bass veteran, Michael Turturro. Jimmie VaughanFriday August 20, 8:30PM
Throughout his career, his musical ethos and personal style have had an impact on contemporary culture, from spearheading the current blues revival with The Fabulous Thunderbirds to his longtime, innate fashion sense of slicked-back hair and sharp vintage threads to becoming a premier designer of classic custom cars. But for Jimmie Vaughan, none of it is part of a crusade or a career plan. It's just his natural way of living his life and pursuing the interests that have captivated Vaughan since his youth. Vaughan's musical abilities were obvious from an early age. Growing up near Dallas, he was weaned on classic Top 40 radio, vintage blues, early rock'n'roll, the deepest rhythm and blues and coolest jazz of the day. "I never got over that stuff, and I never will. That's the kind of music I like," he explains. When he was sidelined by a football injury at the age of 13, a family friend gave Vaughan a guitar to occupy him during his recuperation. From the moment Jimmie's fingers touched the fretboard, it was obvious that he was a natural talent. "It was like he played it all his life," his mother Martha Vaughan later noted. He also began tutoring his younger brother Stevie, who would cite Jimmie as his biggest inspiration and influence throughout his own career. At age 15, Vaughan started his first band, The Swinging Pendulums, and was soon playing the rough and tumble Dallas nightclub scene many nights a week. By the time he hit 16, Jimmie joined The Chessman, who became the area's top musical attraction, eventually opening concerts in Dallas for Jimi Hendrix. After hearing Muddy Waters and Freddie King play in Dallas, Vaughan began to delve deep into the blues, melding his many influences into a style that was clean, economical and highly articulate, concentrating on rhythmic accents and lead work that relies on the power of his less is more approach. SaturdayTom Rigney and FlambeauSaturday August 21, 2:30PM
Flambeau specializes in fiery Cajun and zydeco two-steps, low-down blues, funky New Orleans grooves, and heartbreakingly beautiful ballads and waltzes. Most of the repertoire is composed by Rigney, but they also mix in a few classics from the Cajun/zydeco/New Orleans songbook. Rigney’s charismatic stage presence and high-energy delivery draw the audience into his performances and make them feel that they are an integral part of the music and the show. Since being voted Best Cajun/Zydeco Band of 2004 by the West Coast Blues Hall of Fame, Tom Rigney and Flambeau have been tearing things up at festivals, dances, and concerts all over the continent. Their debut CD, Red Boots and Rice, was released on the Parhelion label in early 2000, following up Rigney’s critically acclaimed 1998 solo album, Chasing the Devil. In June of 2002, Tom released Metamorphosis. Happy to be Here, was released in July, 2003, and has sent happy listeners into serious dance frenzy and in October 2004, Tom released “A Blue Thing”, a great new disc of blues violin. In 2007, the band’s DVD Video “Live at the Throckmorton Theatre” was released, followed by a new blues and country blues disc titled “Back Porch Blues”. The TwistersSaturday August 21, 4PM The Twisters are Canada’s premier jump/blues band. Period
The Twisters were nominated for a Juno in 2003, and winner of Best Blues Album of the Year for the Canadian Independent Music Awards. There new Cd "Come Out Swingin'" was nominated for "Blues Album Of The Year" at The Western Canadian Music Awards in 2009 and was nominated for 5 Maple Blues awards as well, including Best Recording of the year, Song Writer Of The Year, Electric Act Of The Year, Bass Player Of The Year and Harmonica Player Of The Year. “This is what modern Blues is all about. Tight arrangements, great vocal harmonies, and spot on yet understated instrumental performances. All with a firm foothold into the roots and tradition of the Blues. Their latest disc, “Come Out Swingin” is packed with all original tunes that bring freshness and spontaneity to the sometimes over worked playbook of the Blues. A fantastic musical statement." Barrelhouse Blues E news, Boston. Henry Gray and the CatsSaturday August 21, 5:30PM
Not only is Henry hailed for his contribution to post WW II Chicago blues, he is also recognized as one of the key contributors to Louisiana’s unique ‘Swamp Blues’ sound. Henry and other Louisiana ‘Swamp Blues’ artists recorded many sessions for J.D. Miller at his studio in Crowley, LA on the legendary Excello label. Henry’s significant role in the Chicago and Louisiana blues scenes is unique. Sneaking around the ‘jukes’ as young boy, Henry soon discovered that his talent on the piano could put him in the spotlight. Around the age of 14, with his father in tow, Henry began his 70-year career as a blues musician in the joints adjoining the Louisiana cotton fields. Henry’s reputation as a ‘Lucky Man’ began in WWII when a combat mission proved to be near fatal to him and one of his comrades. During his recovery, the Army noticed Henry’s talent on the piano, and he was regularly selected to entertain the troops with his south Louisiana blues and jitterbug music. After the war, Henry’s talent as an entertainer pointed the way to Chicago. He soon developed a reputation in the clubs on the south side that brought him to Big Maceo, the most eminent blue pianist in that era of the formation of the ‘Chicago Blues.’ Henry’s elements of southern gospel and boogie-woogie mixed well with Maceo’s powerful driving blues. He eventually became Big Maceo’s chief disciple. Maceo spoke of Henry as his ‘son.’ When Maceo lost use of his left hand from a stroke, Henry would play dates on the same piano stool with him as ‘Maceo’s left hand. From those early days in south side blues clubs, Henry emerged as one of the original architects of the Chicago blues piano. He matured as an artist during his twelve years of playing piano with the legendary Howlin’ Wolf. After a dozen years of touring and recording with one of the hottest blues bands in the country, Henry returned home to Louisiana in 1968. He worked in his family’s fish store in Alson, LA and later as a roofer for the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board. Henry had not given up his music, by any means. He played two or three times a week in the clubs around Baton Rouge. Henry’s activity kept him in the local public eye enough to catch the attention of the New Orleans and Jazz Heritage Festival. Since that time, Henry has played every N.O. Jazz Fest. Henry Gray and the Cats have just released a new recording “Times are Gettin’ Hard” to critical acclaim and Gray himself continues to be a force on the piano, a living legend, and a deep connection to the history of the blues. Super Chikan and the Fighting CocksSaturday August 21, 7PM
James Louis Johnson was born in Darling, Mississippi on February 16, 1951. He spent his childhood moving from town to town in the Mississippi Delta and working on his family's farms. He was very fond of the chickens on the farm, and before he was old enough to work in the fields, he would walk around talking to them. This led his friends to give him the nickname "Chikan Boy". At an early age, Johnson got his first rudimentary musical instrument, a "diddley bow", which was simply a piece of wood with a piece of baling wire stretched from end to end. As he grew up, he came up with new ways to improve and vary the sounds he could make with it, and finally, in 1964, at the age of thirteen, he bought his first guitar, an acoustic model that had only two strings, from a Salvation Army store in Clarksdale. As an adult, “Super Chikan” began driving a truck for a living. During the long stretches on the road, he began composing his own songs. When he showed some of the songs to his friends, they convinced him to go a studio and record them. He then started playing with some renowned local musicians, but he decided he would rather perform on his own than try to conform his style to that of his band-mates. He did so, and in 1997 “Super Chikan” released his debut album, “Blues Come Home to Roost”. He’s since released 5 more critically acclaimed discs. In the Clarksdale area, "Super Chikan" is probably best-known for performing regularly at Morgan Freeman's Ground Zero blues club, and for being Freeman's favourite blues performer. “Super Chikan” was recently nominated for four Blues Music Awards by the Blues Foundation including BB King Entertainer of the Year, Song of the Year for "Fred's Dollar Store", Traditional Blues Album for Chikadelic, and Traditional Blues Male Artist. He was nominated for the Best New Artist Blues Music Award in 1998, and has received five Living Blues Critics Awards. In 2004, “Super Chikan” received the Mississippi Governorʼs Award for Excellence in the Arts. Rod Piazza and the Mighty FlyersSaturday August 21, 8:30PM
From his first recordings as a leader in 1967 fronting The Dirty Blues Band, through his multiple W.C. Handy Award winning current band The Mighty Flyers, to his countless appearances both live and on record with legendary blues figures, Piazza has set a standard for harmonica virtuosity that has established him as one of the most influential living blues harp players. He's consistently surrounded himself with players who bring out the best he has to offer, and epitomize the very best in blues: fresh, swinging, tasteful, exciting and creative. The core of his band has been together for over three decades, and developed the kind of musical telepathy that simply cannot exist without years of experience on the bandstand and in the studio. The Mighty Flyers are a well-oiled machine, with Piazza in the driver's seat. Born in 1947, Piazza's infatuation with blues began at a time when many of the masters were still in their prime years, and in the mid 1960s when the first blues revival was picking up steam, he was in the thick of it. By the 1970s, he'd already released five albums, and was one of the leading lights of the West Coast Blues scene. In the early '70s he joined forces with Otis Spann disciple Honey Alexander (now his wife) on piano, and when they formed the Mighty Flyers over three decades ago, his career really hit its stride. Since then Piazza and the Mighty Flyers have won or been nominated for just about every award that can be bestowed upon a blues band, played literally thousands of gigs around the world, recorded over a dozen highly acclaimed releases, and along the way virtually created a new style of blues - a combination of low-down Chicago grit, suave West Coast swing and jazz, and the rhythmic drive of the best early R&B and rock & roll. Quite simply, Rod Piazza and The Mighty Flyers are one of the best, most experienced, and most distinctive bands in blues today. SundayBob BrozmanSunday August 22, 2:30PM
Bob's familiarity with diverse world music cultures produces a novel blending of rhythmic and timbral influences, unparalleled in today's musical environment. His fingerwork has been described in world press as uniquely staggering, yet full of humor. Bob has a collection of hand-tricks that make audiences look for electronic effects that in fact don't exist: his show is the clean product of acoustic genius. Bob's disarming talent for humor and rapport invariably adds spice to his already well-seasoned repertoire of music. He casually shares historical facts with his audiences, and charms them with his ability to integrate local languages into his show. Undoubtedly, however, Bob's preferred language is music - which he speaks fluently, around the world. His most recent projects have rendered him a true player in the world music scene. Since 2000, Bob has completed 15 full-length recordings, both solo and with reknown artists from around the world. Most recently, POST-INDUSTRIAL BLUES (Ruf Records) and LUMIÈRE(World Music Network) have proven Bob's virtuosity in both the blues and world music genres. Bob's 2005 solo release BLUES REFLEX was nominated for The Blues Foundation's 2007 Blues Music Awards, in the category of "Acoustic Album of the Year." Bob was born in New York in 1954 and has been involved in music since early childhood. A guitarist since age 6, Bob discovered National guitars at age 13. In their unique sound, the young Bob found his musical calling. He studied music and ethnomusicology at Washington University with an emphasis on the earliest roots of Delta blues. Since his first solo album in 1981, Bob's repertoire of recordings has grown by over 30 titles to include 14 solo projects and at least a dozen collaborations with international friends. Bob has also produced albums for Ledward Kaapana and the Asylum Street Spankers and he continues to generate educational and concert videos. Bob maintains a nearly superhuman tour schedule throughout the year, every year. Live performance tours are a vital part Bob's activity, in addition to his collaborations. He tours constantly throughout North America, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa. As Bob says, "There's so much music out there…I guess I'll get some sleep in the next life!" James Harman and Steve KozakSunday August 22, 4PM
He may live in California today but his music clearly reflects those southern roots, and he has staked his claim as an original, legitimate blues artist and musician, having released 20 CD’s, 4 EP’s and 9 singles since the mid-60’s. He’s received no less than 8 W.C. Handy/Blues Music Award nominations and is a member of the Alabama music hall of fame. It’s “Strictly the Blues” he has said, and you can bank on that! Steve Kozaks’ West Coast Blues Revue will be working with James for this performance. Steve was born in Vancouver in 1956 and since the mid eighties has been a mainstay on the Vancouver scene as a guitarist, band leader, singer, songwriter, and tireless cheerleader and promoter of Blues and Roots music. Backed by some of Vancouver’s top musicians, Steve has built a reputation as one of the premier Blues acts in western Canada. He began playing guitar and singing at age sixteen and took to the Blues like a duck to water. His passion for the Blues flourished after meeting and hanging out for a few memorable nights with the legendary Muddy Waters in May of 1977. Muddy encouraged Steve and set him straight on a few things. After that Steve was ‘on a mission’-- his musical future as a Bluesman was sealed. Boogie Woogie Blowout with Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88's, Honey Piazza and Caroline DahlSunday August 22, 5:30PM
born in Brooklyn in 1951, Mitch Woods began playing classical piano at eleven, but his real initiation into blues and boogie piano had already been assured at age eight. "My mom would hire this superintendent of the building, a black man, Mr. Brown, to take me to school and we stopped off at his cousin's house, where somebody was playing boogie-woogie piano. It really hit me." Woods was putting together bands in Greenwich Village by his mid-teens. By the time he entered the University of Buffalo, Woods was sitting in at local clubs and discovering records by boogie-woogie pioneers Meade Lux Lewis, Albert Ammons, and Pete Johnson. Woods came to San Francisco in 1970, and for the next five years performed as Mitch Woods and His Red Hot Mama (with singer Gracie Glassman). One night Oakland guitarist Hi Tide Harris heard Woods opening for Charlie Musselwhite and was reminded of the sound and theatrics of early R&B pioneer Louis Jordan. Indeed, Jordan has always been a primary influence on Woods. "I actually did see Louie Jordan in Oakland. He was the bridge between swing and rock and roll. He would do a five or six piece band, get a lot of power out of that." That kind of power was to become rallying cry for Mitch's next project, Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88s, which started in 1980 and quickly rose to the top of the Northern California club circuit. Their first album, Steady Date (Blind Pig Records) got hot reviews in 1984 and led to appearances at two San Francisco Blues Festivals, openings for the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Blasters, The Neville Brothers, and James Brown. By 1987, Woods was doing a six-country Europe tour highlighted by a rousing performance at the Belgium Rhythm and Blues Festival. For the Boogie Woogie Blowout Mitch and his Rocket 88’s will be joined by Honey Piazza and Caroline Dahl. Each pianist will get a chance to shine, with all 3 hitting the stage for a 3 piano finale.
After leaving home in 1968, Honey headed to Southern California. It was there that she met and married a boy. It was an ill-fated relationship but two wonderful things came out of it. He introduced her to the world of blues and playing in a band. It was in Redway, CA in 1970 that Robert suggested that Honey join in with the band who was rehearsing in their living room. There just happened to be an old upright piano included in the house they had rented. Hesitantly, she attempted, with just classical training, to play along with the band. To go from reading music to improvising was incomprehensible to her at first. She joined in the rehearsals half-heartedly until one night she heard the magical sounds of a piano player coming out of the record player. The album was called Fleetwood Mac in Chicago and the piano player was Otis Spann. This would be the turning point that would shape the course of her life from here on out. Her heart lit up with the sounds of his piano and, with a big smile, she simply said, "I want to play JUST like that." After a quick visit to a Berkeley record store, and 12 albums by Otis Spann under her arm, she began a daily practicing regimen that still is hard to imagine. The practicing would go on for 10 hours a day for the next two years. In early 1973, Rod Piazza was playing at the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium with his Bacon Fat Band, including Pee Wee Crayton, on a show with Big Joe Turner and John Lee Hooker. Honey found out where Rod was playing the next weekend and that was when Honey met Rod. She said that she loved Otis Spann's playing more than anything in the world and was practising with his records every day. Rod told her that all his band was missing was a piano player that played like Otis Spann. After three months of rehearsal, Honey joined the band in 1973. Rod and Honey have been together and in love ever since. In 2008, Honey won the Blues Music Award as "Piano Player of the Year".
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith Band with Special Guest Bob MargolinShow: Sunday August 22, 7PM
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith was born in Helena, AR in 1936. At the age of 17 he ventured to Chicago where he heard Muddy Waters for the first time. Willie was hooked on the blues and the attraction to the music persuaded him to stay in Chicago. In 1954 Willie, playing harmonica, formed a trio with drummer Clifton James. The trio built a following in Chicago and gigged around the area for a few years. During this same time, Willie played harp with several other artists including Bo Diddley, Arthur "Big Boy" Spires and Johnny Shines. In 1957 Willie joined Little Hudson's Red Devil Trio and switched to playing drums. After gigs or between sets, Willie started sitting in on drums with Muddy Waters' band. Muddy liked what he heard, and invited Willie to play drums on a 1959 recording session. Willie began to fill in for Muddy's drummer Francis Clay, and continued to play recording sessions with Muddy. In 1961, Willie replaced Clay in Muddy's band and played with Muddy till mid-1964. During this period, as he solidified his Chicago sound, Willie recorded with James Cotton, Jo Jo Williams and Muddy Waters on a tribute to blues vocalist Big Bill Broonzy. The '60s were lean times for the blues and for a few years (mid-'64-'68) Willie packed up his drum kit and found himself doing odd jobs including working in a restaurant and driving a cab around Chicago. One night in 1968 Willie decided to go out and listen to Muddy. Rediscovering his desire to play, he asked to sit in with the band. The next day Muddy asked Willie to rejoin his band. Willie played in Muddy's band till 1980 and appears on all of Muddy's Grammy-winning albums. After performing with Muddy Waters, Smith established his own niche within the tradition of the Delta Blues Sound by co-founding the Legendary Blues Band with Pinetop Perkins, Louis Myers, Calvin Jones, and Jerry Portnoy. The group was nominated for several Grammy Awards, recorded four critically acclaimed albums on the Ichiban label, backed up Buddy Guy, Howlin' Wolf and Junior Wells, toured with Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton. They played behind Muddy for the soundtrack of the movie The Last Waltz and appeared in the movie The Blues Brothers where they played street musicians backing John Lee Hooker. Willie "Big Eyes" Smith traditional shuffle style has been regarded as the heart and soul of the Chicago blues sound, with Willie laying the beat behind many of the blues classics. But these days fans are just as likely to find Willie "Big Eyes" Smith holding on to a harmonica, his first instrument. Turns out, this award-winning blues drummer is also an accomplished harmonica master and dynamic vocalist. Willie Smith reaches deep and delivers a virtual lesson on what the blues really are all about...there's something extraordinary here.
He can be seen with Muddy Waters and The Band in The Last Waltz, the classic music documentary. Since the ‘90s, he has also recorded albums for the Powerhouse, Alligator, and Blind Pig labels. He writes a regular column for Blues Revue magazine and contributes to BluesWax.com online magazine. Bob also has played on, produced or consulted on, and written liner notes for four reissues of Muddy Waters’ albums on the Sony/Legacy label. He appears on the Muddy Waters Classic Concerts DVD, playing in 1977 with Muddy and writing liner notes for the DVD. In today’s Blues music scene, Bob Margolin is carrying on the tradition with a full schedule of festivals, concerts, and club appearances.
Curtis Salgado Big BandSunday August 22, 8:30PM
Clean Getaway, produced by Marlon McClain & Tony Braunagel, is a seamless mix of blues, soul and rock 'n' roll all held together by the organic grooves of world class musicians and Curtis' superlative singing. He has a gift of digging into the essence of a song without histrionics or gratuitous displays of vocal chops--though he certainly has more than enough of those. Curtis Salgado's musical journey began with his birth in Everett, Washington, in 1954. His family moved to Eugene, Oregon when he was one and he grew up there listening to jazz, and to his father, an aspiring singer of classical music. His ambitions coalesced when, at age 12, he saw Count Basie's band perform in Eugene. Curtis became a part of the burgeoning Northwest blues scene starting in 1972 with a band called Three-Fingered Jack. Eventually he hooked up with up-and-coming guitarist/vocalist Robert Cray, and recorded the album "Who's Been Talking." In six years with Robert, the higher level of visibility enabled Salgado to sit in with the likes of Muddy Waters, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Albert Collins and Bonnie Raitt. Aside from being a tremendous vocalist, Curtis is one of the finest blues harmonica players in the country. In 1979, when John Belushi was in Eugene filming Animal House, he caught Curtis' act and liked what he heard and saw. Curtis took the actor under his wing and schooled him on blues and R & B history, which Belushi soaked up like a sponge, and used a good portion of Curtis' show as the basis for the Blues Brothers act he and Dan Akroyd put together. The first Blues Brothers album was dedicated to Curtis. He left the Cray band before it broke through nationally and from 1984 - 1986 he fronted Boston's Grammy- Winning Roomful Of Blues before returning to Portland where he formed The Stilettos, who toured nationally with such acts as Steve Miller and The Doobie Brothers. He even did a stint as lead vocalist with Santana in the 1990's. After three critically-acclaimed solo albums for Shanachie, Clean Getaway may be the breakthrough that Curtis has been working toward. But the experiences of the past two years have given Curtis a new perspective. "I'm playing music with the most incredible people," he says, " people are supporting me and a record company is supporting me....even in these tough times in the business. So I've got nothing to complain about. To me, I've won the lottery, I've won all the Grammys. I don't need stardom to feel validated. Of course, I'd like to sell a lot of records, as much for the company as for me, but on a personal level, I don't care. I'm alive! People are throwing so much love at me it's embarrassing. It makes me humble. So I'm just trying to stick to my guns, perfect my craft and make great music!" |
Legendary delta bluesman Son House spoke about a passion for his music and was quoted as saying "I'm talkin’ 'bout the blues. . . I ain't talkin' 'bout no monkey junk!" MonkeyJunk 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 almost 60 years of combined experience playing the blues.
"Superhero” is the name of Candyes' original song and the title of her latest CD. It is also an apt description of the jump blues singer and songwriter from East Los Angeles who has earned this moniker the hard way. Nominated for three 2010 Blues Music Awards as BB King Entertainer of the Year, Best Contemporary Blues CD and Best Contemporary Blues Female and beating down pancreatic cancer in the last two years, Kane is one tough cookie.
Jimmie Vaughan is far more than just one of the greatest and most respected guitarists in the world of popular music. As Guitar Player Magazine notes, "He is a virtual deity--a living legend." After all, Vaughan provides a vital link between contemporary music and its proud heritage, as well as being a longtime avatar of retro cool.
Tom Rigney, the fiery, electrifying violinist/composer, joins forces with some of the finest musicians on the San Francisco roots music scene to form Tom Rigney and Flambeau, a band that will tear the roof off of anyplace that has one and raise the spirits of everyone around. Rigney, after fifteen years at the helm of The Sundogs, has stepped out into the spotlight with a vengeance. Flambeau showcases his passionate, virtuoso fiddling, his commanding stage presence, his range, depth, and originality as a composer, and of course, those notorious red boots. His band mates are veterans of the great bands of Charles Brown, Queen Ida, Roy Rogers, and Clifton Chenier. Together they generate enough heat and energy to ignite a dance floor or lift an audience to its feet. The band features long time Charles Brown collaborator Danny Caron on guitar, Caroline Dahl on keys and accordion and the rhythm section of drummer Ian Hoffmann and bassist Steve Parks.
David "Hurricane" Hoerl (vocals and harmonica), was raised in San Francisco and tutored on harp by none other than Rick Estrin of Little Charlie and the Nightcats, and David Burgin. In 1982 David came to Canada and became a landed immigrant in 1986. Since then, he has recorded with many on the West Coast blues scene. Brandon Isaac (vocals and guitar), moved from his home town of Whitehorse to Vancouver in 1999 and immediatley joined The Twisters. He has since appeared on 11 recordings including those of Kenny Wayne. Drummer Matt Pease has been playing for over 20 years and credits his expertise at jump and blues to his early influences, Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich. Keith Picot, bass, has been on the Canadian blues scene for over a decade, winning legions of fans with his hard hitting, stand up bass work.
Henry Gray may well be Louisiana’s oldest active legendary master Blues pianist. At 85, with a career that spans over six decades, Henry continues to deliver his rollicking, two-fisted boogie-woogies and passionate blues to people throughout the world. David Kunian, an honoured documentarian in New Orleans, wrote the following about Mr. Gray:
James "Super Chikan" Johnson is a blues musician, artist and guitar maker based in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He is the nephew of fellow blues musician Big Jack Johnson.
Don't make the mistake of thinking of Rod Piazza as one of the "young turks" of the blues, or part of the "new generation" of blues greats. At this point in his career, Piazza has been recording longer than his mentor George "Harmonica" Smith did, or Sonny Boy Williamson (either of them!), or Big Walter Horton. He's been making records for more years than Little Walter was alive. Piazza is a tried-and-true, dyed-in-the-wool blues veteran with credentials that are second to none. 
Redefining musical diversity worldwide, Bob Brozman is a remarkably prolific artist whose wit, energy, and musical technique combine powerfully to create an unforgettable live performance. A master of slide, fingerstyle, and percussive guitar, Bob's exhilarating show spans the global and musical spectrum, and keeps audiences enthralled, begging for more of his endearing, infectious energy.
James Harman was born in Anniston Alabama in 1946, where he was born to musical parents and took up piano at age 4 and sang in the church choir. His father’s Hohner harmonicas were kept in the piano bench and he would pick them up and play them after his piano lessons. He found the blues early in life, both on black radio and the street corner: “Radio” Johnson a local blind street singer who played slide guitar with a knife was an early influence and collaborator. His professional career started in 1962 when he moved to Florida. There he met like minded blues hounds who invited him to black nightclubs to see Little Milton, Otis Redding, Solomon Burke, Slim Harpo, Bobby Bland and many others. He began hanging out and sitting in and became known as “that boy who sings like a man.”
Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88s have been the torchbearers of a great American blues musical heritage, not for two years but two decades. Taking their inspiration from the great jump n' boogie outfits of the late 40s and early 50s, they breathe fresh life into the music that gave birth to rock n' roll. Woods styled his group after the jumpin' n' jivin', shoutin' n' honkin', pumpin' n' poundin' bands of Louis Jordan, Wynonie Harris, Joe and Jimmy Liggins, Amos Milburn, and Roy Milton. Adding a healthy dose of New Orleans rhythm and blues, piledrivin' piano, and some of his own contemporary playful lyrics, Woods and His Rocket 88s forge their own brand of music they call "rock-a-boogie."
Honey Piazza was born on April 24, 1951. Honey started her piano lessons at age 4, while the family was living in England. These classical lessons continued throughout her teens until she left home at age 17. Her family had eventually moved back to the United States in 1957 and never left.
Caroline Dahl is a self-taught master of the indigenous American piano styles of Boogie Woogie, Blues, Rock 'n'Roll and Country Swing. She's originally from Louisville, Kentucky, where she played with Metropolitan Blues All Stars (June Apple records, Taxim Records) San Francisco has been her home for the past 30 years, where she plays solo around the Bay area and with Tom Rigney and Flambeau. Caroline's 2 Cd's have received praise from reviewers around the world. She's shared top billing with other Boogie Woogie players at the International Boogie Festival in Lugano Switzerland; The Festival de Blues in Barcelona; The Boogie Festival in Vierres Du Buisson (Paris); The Brussels Boogie Woogie Summit in Belgium; the Motor City Blues and Boogie Festival in Detroit; the Queen City Blues Festival in Cincinatti, and Les Nuits Jazz and Boogie Piano Festival in Paris. Caroline is also an award winning fabric artist whose work has been published and exhibited internationally in galleries and museums.
We have reunited two mainstays of the legendary Muddy Waters band of the 1970’s for a special performance at this year’s Edmonton’s Labatt Blues Festival. Willie Smith and Bob Margolin both played with The Master through the 1970’s and get together to channel his spirit for us Sunday August 22.
Bob Margolin is a Blues guitar player and vocalist, as well as a recording artist who tours worldwide both leading his own band and The Bob Margolin All-Star Blues Jam. He won a Blues Music Award as ”Guitarist of the Year” in 2008 and a W.C. Handy Award in 2005 when he won that year. Bob played guitar in Muddy Waters’ Band from 1973-’80.
Curtis Salgado has a lot to celebrate. Two years ago he was diagnosed with liver cancer and told he had eight months to live, unless he got a liver transplant which would generate medical bills upwards of half a million dollars. With no health insurance and few funds, the man who is one of America's finest blues/soul singers needed a little help from his friends. When your friends and admirers include the likes of Steve Miller, Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt and Taj Mahal, you've got a fighting chance. Numerous benefits were held in multiple cities including a benefit concert featuring Miller, Cray, Taj Mahal, The Phantom Blues Band, Everclear and Little Charlie & The Nightcats. Through the generosity of Curtis's friends, fellow musicians, the Legendary Blues Cruise and thousands of fans who supported Curtis by attending benefits and auctions or by making private donations, upwards of half a million dollars were raised and Curtis got his transplant, though there were a few twists and turns in the road before that happened. A little less than two years after his initial diagnosis, Curtis was able to record Clean Getaway, an album whose title has an obvious double meaning.