Crowbar returns for King Biscuit Boy tribute
The 15th annual Blues With A Feeling tribute to King Biscuit Boy will feature a rare reunion of iconic Canadian band Crowbar.
The benefit concert, which honours the memory of legendary Hamilton blues harmonica player Richard Newell (a.k.a. King Biscuit Boy), takes place Saturday, June 3 in the Bay City Music Hall, 50 Leander Dr., on Hamilton’s waterfront.
Other acts scheduled to perform include Danny Marks, host of the Bluz-FM radio show on 91.1 Jazz FM, Ron Copple of the Chessmen, Six Nations blues singer Josh Miller and the Kent Hartley Playboys, featuring Sonny Del Rio, Neil Nickafor, Danny Lockwood and Mike Eastman.
Crowbar, best known for the 1971 hit “Oh What a Feeling” will feature original members bassist Roly Greenway, guitarist John Gibbard and drummer Sonny. They will be joined by Ray Harrison and John Dickie of the Cameo Blues Bands, plus Terry Branagh and Glen Higgins.
The members of Crowbar were close friends with Newell, backing him on two solo albums, “Official Music” and “Gooduns.”
The Blues With A Feeling concerts have been held annually since 2003, the year Newell died at the age of 58.
The shows have helped raise money for a scholarship fund in Newell’s name.
So far, the fund has handed out almost $30,000 in bursaries awarded to music students at Mohawk College.
The June 3 concert starts at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7:30. Tickets are $25, available now at Dr. Disc, Chedoke Flowers, Picks and Sticks, Looney Tunes (Burlington) and Stardust Records.
The popular Blues Cruise returns this year as part of the Blues With a Feeling weekend.
The three-hour sunset cruise aboard the Harbour Queen takes place Sunday, June 4, at 6 p.m. and will feature music by Hamilton blues mainstays Trickbag. Dinner will be provided by Luigi’s Catering.
Tickets for the Blues Cruise are $60, including meal, and are available in advance only at Chedoke Flowers, 945 Garth St.