VBS Blues Calendar – July 17, 2019
Vancouver Island Blues Bash 2019
Celebrate summer’s end on a high note by grooving to live blues, R&B, and more at the 26th annual Vancouver Island Blues Bash at the Outdoor Stage at Ship Point (in Victoria’s Inner Harbour, 900 block of Wharf St) and at Hermann’s Upstairs (751 View St, above Hermann’s Jazz Club) this Labour Day Weekend! Read on below for more information on this year’s headliners and to find out where to buy tickets!
MIKE FARRIS & THE FORTUNATE FEW
Saturday, August 31 – 7:30pm ~ $32 (tax incl.)
Ship Point Outdoor Stage in the Inner Harbour, 900 Block Wharf St.
“There aren’t many current male singers who use their voices to soar, float and deliver material with the spiritual commitment of Mike Farris.” – Hal Horowitz, American Songwriter Magazine From Nashville, Tennessee, Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Mike Farris blends blues, gospel and Stax-style soul. A musical renaissance man, Farris toured as lead singer for rock band Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies and, for a time, fronted blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Double Trouble. After his 2015 Grammy win, “Best Roots Gospel Album” for Shine For All The People, Farris maintains a distinct blues-rock, soul-tinged flavour with his 2018 record Silver & Stone. Farris won the prestigious Americana Music Award for “Best New Emerging Artist”, a Dove Award for “Best Traditional Gospel Album of the Year”, and was featured with Lauryn Hill, Chaka Khan, Cissy Houston, and Ronald Isley at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 16th Annual American Masters concert honoring Aretha Franklin. Mike Farris and the Fortunate Few played Victoria in September 2018 and now return to rock the Blues Bash outdoor stage.
KEVIN BURT & BIG MEDICINE
Sunday, September 1 – 7:30pm ~ $32 (tax incl.)
Ship Point Outdoor Stage in the Inner Harbour, 900 Block Wharf St.
“Burt is a serious songwriter who knows how to craft music to fit his personality, and no one delivers this brand of music better than he does…this guy is a real winner.”– Living Blues
For more than 25 years, the harmonica wizard from Coralville, Iowa, Kevin “B.F.” Burt, has been electrifying audiences throughout the Midwest. His soul-inspired stage presence and ability to build an audience rapport consistently gets him likened to artists such as Bill Withers, Aaron Neville, and B.B. King. This self-taught master of vocals, harmonica, and guitar provides smooth, blues-rich vocals to an audience that always cheers for more. Burt was named one of the top 25 unsigned blues bands in the world by the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, which he won for “Best Solo/Duo,” “Solo/Duo Guitar,” and “Harmonica” in 2018. His 2018 album Heartland And Soul was nominated for a 2019 Blues Music Award for “Best Emerging Artist Album.” Don’t miss the Victoria debut of this rising star, whose sheer feel for the blues guarantees to captivate crowds from all walks of life.
LINDSAY BEAVER plus Blue Moon Marquee
Saturday, August 31 – 10:00pm ~ $18 (tax incl.)
Hermann’s Upstairs, 751 View St.
Former co-leader of the 24th St. Wailers blues-rocking, soul-singing stand-up drummer Lindsay Beaver ascends to staggering heights with her first CD under her own name, Tough As Love, with the prestigious blues record label, Alligator Records. This 2018 album was nominated for the 2019 Blues Music Award “Best Emerging Artist Album.” Beaver has exceeded the expectations of the blues world by melding both striking originals with impeccably selected covers. Though drawing inspiration from Amy Winehouse to Little Richard to The Ramones, from Billie Holiday to Nick Curran, her style is solely limited by her boundless confidence and originality. She last played Victoria in October 2018. Opening for this blues-infused evening is the Blue Moon Marquee duo.
Ticket Outlets
Victoria Jazz Society (250-388-4423 or 977 Alston St) No service charges
Royal & McPherson Box Office (Online at rmts.bc.ca or 250-386-6121) The only ticket outlet with online ticket sales
SAVE BIG with a Ticket Combo
Purchase a Ticket Combo for only $49 on the Ship Point ticketed evening performances!
Includes one ticket to Mike Farris & The Fortunate Few and one ticket to Kevin Burt & Big Medicine.
Free Afternoon Performance Series
Saturday, August 31:
Mark Crissinger • Blue Moon Marquee Band • Mystery Train w. Wayne Berezan • Bill Johnson Blues Band
Sunday, September 1:
Checo & The Sweet Soul Choir • Kelly Fawcett & The Maladies • Little Marty & The Juke Joint • David Vest
Monday, September 2:
Blue Dog Ramble • The Kingpins • Brett Smith-Daniels • Soul Shakers
Registration for this fall’s Okanagan Blues Camp is now open. www.okanaganblues.com
VBS Up Coming Shows
VBS will be taking a break for the summer. Our plans for the fall is as follows.
Sat Oct 5 – Blues Extravaganza & Silent Auction – TBA
Sat Nov 16 – Rick Estrin / David Vest
Sat Dec 7 – VBS Christmas Party – TBA
Sunday Blues Service Jam – @ V-Lounge in the Red Lion. 3:00-7:30 pm
Sunday Blues Jam – Queens Hotel, Nanaimo 4-8 pm. Host bands.
2019
Thurs – July 18
Soul Shakers – Government House Music on the Lawn 6 pm
Fri – July 19
Hip Shake – Cup of Joe – 5-7
Sat – July 20
Rhymer and Wells – Cameron Band Shell Beacon Hill Park 130 pm
R&B Kingpins – Butchart Gardens
Thur – July 25
Mark Comerford – Ross Bay Pub 6-9
Fri – July 26
Hip Shake – Cup of Joe – 5-7
Sat July 27
Bill Johnson – Peninsula Country Market
Thur Aug 1
Gary Preston – Ross Bay
Thur Aug 8
Hip Shake – Ross Bay
Fri – Aug 9
Deb Rhymer – Cameron Band Shell Beacon Hill Park 130 pm
Soul Shakers – Esquimalt Lagoon – Beach Food Fridays 5 – 7
Sat – Aug 10
Soul Shakers – Victoria Dragon Boat Festival Ship Point 4 – 6
Soul Shakers – Bart’s 9 pm
McKinley Wolf – The Loft
Sun – Aug 11
Soul Shakers – Cadboro Bay Festival – Gyro Beach 1:45 pm
Wed Aug 14
R&B Kingpins – Brentwood Music in the Park
Thur Aug 15
Victor Wells – Ross Bay
Sat – Aug 17
Rhymer and Wells – Boondocks 6-9 pm
South Island Rhythm Kings – The Loft
Thur Aug 22
Black & Gogol – Ross Bay
Thur 22 – Sun Aug 26
Summertime Blues Fest – Nanaimo
Sat Aug 24
Soul Shakers – Cameron Bandshell – Beacon Hill Park – 1:30 – 3:30
Fri – Aug 30
Soul Shakers – Breakwater Barge – Ogden Point 6 pm
Sat Aug 31 – Sept 2
Victoria Blues Bash – Ship Point
Fri Sept 6 – 8
Esquimalt Rib Fest – Bullen Park
Sun Sept 8
Soul Shakers – Metchosin Days 1:45
Sat Oct 5
VBS Blues Extravaganza & Silent Auction – TBA
Fri – Oct 18
Downchild Blues Band 50th Anniversary Tour – McPherson
Fri – Nov 1
R&B Kingpins – Oak Bay Rec
Sat Nov 16
Rick Estrin / David Vest
Sat Dec 7
VBS Christmas Party – TBA
LAST CALL
LINKS
NANAIMO BLUES SOCIETY & FESTIVAL
The Blues Calendar newsletter is published and emailed on or about the 1st and 15th of the month. The online version is up-to-dated within 24 hours of news receipt.
If you would like to receive this calendar by email, please send your request to our Web Editor: victoriabluessociety@gmail.com A membership is not required.
BLUES ARTISTS and PROMOTERS
1) To get a Victoria area blues event on our website’s Blues Calendar, send an email with your exact text and/or poster to our Web Editor: victoriabluessociety@gmail.com
2) To get a Victoria area blues event on our Facebook page, send a message via Facebook Messenger with your exact text and/or poster.
We’ll endeavor to post your event to the Blues Calendar and Facebook within 24 hours. We also reserve the right of refusal.
