THE WINTER BLUES
If you feel an itch to get up off the sofa this weekend it could be more than cabin fever. You might be hearing the strains of roots and blues music. Now two separate volunteer-run clubs have chosen Family Day weekend to host winter music festivals and bo
Uptown Folk Club (UFC) kicks off the weekend with their 10th annual Winterfest, gathering folk and country singers and songwriters from far away and from right here at home, Friday and Saturday.
“Because it’s our 10th year we wanted to do something special so we invited back a few of the most popular names from past years, like Skip Ewing from Nashville,” explains UFC’s Karen Grosse.
She and her husband, UFC president Steve Grosse, have been volunteers for 22 of the organization’s 23 years (UFC is now the longest running folk club in the city). Many members are musicians drawn to their monthly open stages but Winterfest features a long list of name talents.
Fans will find a range of established veterans like Nashville’s award-winning Ewing whose early hit Burn A Hole In My Heart established a long career as a notable recording artist and songwriter.
Rising young stars would start with CFMA winner Rebecca Lappa whose repertoire ranges from more distinct acoustic folk to upbeat electric sounds.
Add singer Alee (a.k.a. Alexandra Adamoski) to the list. Just back from Nashville herself, she was nominated for the CCMA Female Artist of the Year award in 2017 and judging by the sleek production sounds of her label debut Bad Habit she’s headed in more of a pop-country direction.
Winterfest’s Friday night starts with Uptown Folk’s house band followed by Caitlan (Quartette) Hanford, comic songwriter Roger James, and Skip Ewing, all between 6 and 11 p.m.
Saturday afternoon begins with two workshops for songwriters in the round from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
during which many of the performers will appear but just for one song at a time. After that separate sets feature Rebecca Lappa, Twisted Pickers and Alee from 3:30 p.m.to 5:30 p.m.
Saturday evening it’s The Family Myhre (Alfie and Byron), Wendell Ferguson, Valdy with Gary Fjellgaard and The Contenders, and a finale, one last tune from each of them, from 6:15 p.m.to 11 p.m.
Passes for Friday are $20, for Saturday $30, or for the whole festival $40 available in advance from Myhre’s Music or online from yeglive.ca. It all happens at Uptown Folk Club’s regular venue, the Norwood Legion (11150-82 street). It’s a licensed venue with food options but all ages are welcome and kids under 12 get in for half price.
Check uptownfolkclub.ca/winterfest for more details on the performers and specific set times.
WINTER BLUES FESTIVAL
The Edmonton Blues Society (EBS) takes over St. Basil’s Cultural Centre for its first ever Winter Blues Festival, happening Saturday and Sunday afternoons and evening.
Together since 2012, the EBS already enjoys a presence on the music scene for hosting the Memphis Bound Competition each fall for six years now. That’s the series for local blues talents who step up to represent Edmonton at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis every winter.
The competition has brought considerable attention to both new and veteran talents on the local blues scene so it’s not surprising that the society called on a few past participants to anchor this firstever Winter Blues Festival.
Saturday’s roster features Slim Duncan, Miss Rae and the Midnight Ramblers, Joe Nolan Band, Charlie Jacobson Band, and finishes with Dangerous Guise.
On Sunday you can see Colin McDonald, Rooster Davis & the Allstars, Great North Blues Band, Rod Jewell Band, and two-time Memphis Bound winners Boogie Patrol.
EBS president Paul Roberts explains that the first few sets will run to an hour each.
They’re going to have one or two ’tweeners like Kevin Cook taking over the set changes, and the later acts will expand to take on a couple of one-hour sets before the evening closes.
Edmonton’s record of successful festivals speaks for itself, but Roberts points out several other western Canada cities already have winter blues events: Calgary, Saskatoon, Regina and now Winnipeg. With a bit of seed money from the Edmonton Arts Council, the EBS is following suit.
Roberts is an experienced drummer himself with a deep enthusiasm for blues. He explains that it has been challenging enough just to mount this first festival, but he’s eyeing future possibilities.
“I’ve spoken with people from a few of those other cities about creating a synergy in the future where we could help each other to host some bigger acts from out of town.”
In the meantime he’s happy to host some of the city’s best and some notable rising stars. Slim Duncan and Colin McDonald bring their own hot trios to the fest, while singer Miss Rae makes a serious effort to re-create an authentic 1930s delta blues sound with her band The Ramblers.
Joe Nolan and Dylan Farrell were finalists in the latest Memphis Bound Competition.
Both Saturday and Sunday, doors at St. Basil’s Cultural Centre (10819 71 Ave.) open at 1 p.m. with music running from 2 p.m. until around 11 p.m. It’s licensed with food service too.
Individual day passes for Saturday Feb.17 or Sunday, Feb.18 are $30 for guests, $25 for EBS members. Weekend passes are $55 from the site. See details online at edmontonbluessociety.net.
BLUEBERRY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL
It might seem a little early but the Blueberry Bluegrass Festival wants to let you know they ’re booked and ready to get down with the tunes for year 33, happening Aug. 3-5 at Stony Plain’s Heritage Park.
Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder are set to headline the event with The Travelin’ McCourys, Pharis And Jason Romero, Jeff Scroggins and Colorado and The Po’ Ramblin’ Boys among others.
Over a dozen acts in all have been announced including a few local faves like singer Braden Gates and Calvin Vollrath who will host the Friday night dance.
Early bird tickets start at $40 for an evening or $120 for the weekend.
Check the details at the festival website blueberrybluegrass.com.