Diverse genre sure to soothe your soul
There’s a big difference between feeling blue this time of year and feeling the blues. The Saskatoon Blues Society is using one to fix the other. From Feb. 27 to March 5, the city celebrates the most diverse genre of music ever. Here are three things about it.
1 Headliners. Ross Neilsen with Paul Reddick (March 2, The Bassment). Neilson has clocked 1,500 concerts and a million kilometres on the road, covering the country 18 times. Suzie Vinnick (March 3, The Bassment). Her acoustic album Me ‘n’ Mabel was particularly successful, charting for seven weeks on B.B. King’s Bluesville. Suzie also performs March 4 at TCU Place. Jack de Keyzer (March 3, TCU Place) is described as an “incendiary live performer, soulful vocalist and world-class songwriter” who averages 80 shows a year. He’s played on everybody’s album, from Blue Rodeo to Etta James. Sue Foley (March 4, TCU Place with Suzie Vinnick) holds the record for most Maple Blues wins at 17. She began her career at 16 and by 21 was living in Austin, Tex.
2 Lounge Series. Live music infuses clubs and restaurants all week. A sample: Kelly Read (Feb. 23 at Finn’s Irish Pub), Mykul Gambull (Feb. 23 The Woods Ale House), and busy BC Read (Feb. 27 and 28 at the Delta Bessborough and March 2 at The Woods Alehouse). Other venues include Bon Temps, Bell ‘n’ Whistle.
3 Blues Camp. Maybe if they had this when you were young, you’d be a great harp player by now. From Feb. 21 to 24 a group of students from 12 to 17 will be taking classes in vocals and all the blues instruments leading up to two public performances on Feb. 25 and March 4 at Buds. Saskatoon-born blues-rock guitarist Jordan Welbourne is camp director.
MORE INFORMATION ON ALL THESE EVENTS IS AVAILABLE AT WWW.SASKATOONBLUESSOCIETY.CA