Do you have a professional blues band? Want it listed on our Member Bands page? We will add your band to this list if at least one regular member lives in Greater Victoria and one of you is a current VBS member. Email the editor and include a link to your band’s web site or Facebook page, a jpg photo, a brief description of the band and a mp3 if you want people to hear you.
AUNTIE KATE & THE UNCLES OF FUNK
Auntie Kate hits the stage like a barely controlled force of nature, rocking and kicking out a powerful blues routine honed in the clubs of Western Canada. Auntie Kate and the Uncles of Funk stir up a mess of blues, seasoned with good old R&B and delivered on a plateful of soul and funk. On the Web: www.auntiekate.ca
ALEXANDER’S BLUESTIME BAND
Delivers a moving mix of blues, classic and original blues that gets people dancing and leaves them feeling great. Charismatic frontman Frank Alexander engages audiences with his powerful and soul-drenched vocals backed by a five-star line-up of musicians…guitar, bass/upright bass, drums, harp and horn section on request. Phone: 250-715-1893, Email: alexandersbluestimeband@gmail.com Web:http://www.alexandersbluestimeband.com
BILL JOHNSON BLUES BAND
An excellent four-piece west coast blues band, Juno-nominated guitarist/vocalist Bill Johnson is equally good solo on National steel. Band lineup: John R Hunter (drums), George Fenn (bass) and Darcy Philips (keyboards). A Maple Blues Award and Juno nominee with several CDs. Tel: (250) 652-5470 On the Web:www.billjohnsonblues.com
Listen to Bill Johnson
BLUE CITY DRIVE
Great arrangements of classic blues, roots and rock n’ roll. Available for clubs, private functions and anywhere people want to dance and let loose!! Blue City Drive consists of four seasoned and passionate musicians who love performing…..they always bring their best to every room and stage they play and there is only one goal in mind….everyone has a great time partying to great music!! Glenn Taylor – (guit, voc.), Barry Eaglestone – (guit, voc.), Don Restall – (drums, voc.), Ryan Wilson – (bass, voc.) CONTACT: Phone: 250-727-6225 or 250-382-9815 Web: www.facebook.com/bluecitydrive/
CURL
CURL, from Victoria, BC, consists of Helen Davies (vocals, guitar), Susan Johnson (bass), Dee Cooper (keyboards) along with regular featured guitarist Jazz Fouladianpour and drummer Andy Okell. CURL’s 2017 CD, Under the Table Wine features collaborations with Juno nominee Bill Johnson as well as saxophonist Gene Hardy. CURL has been featured at Victoria’s Blues Bash, the Nanaimo Summer Blues Festival and on Victoria television station, CHEK TV. Tel: (250) 595-5647 | On the Web: ww.curlgirls.ca
Listen to CURL:
DEB RHYMER BAND
Deb has been featured at the Victoria Jazz Society’s annual Blues Bash, and, in 2011 at the Mt. Ranier Blues Bash. The Deb Rhymer Band hosts the Sunday Blues Service, a weekly blues jam at the Hideaway in the Tally Ho Hotel on Douglas. Their CD is aired on CBC’s Saturday Night Blues. Tel: (250) 592-5764 On the Web: www.debrhymerband.com
Listen to Deb Rhymer:
DOCTOR BONES BLUES PROJECT
Playing Blues Fusion: Blues music infused with gospel, rock and a bit of funk. Dr.Bones plays bars, fairs, festivals, markets, charity events, prisons and social service agency events for Victoria’s marginalized and working poor. John Bones (harp, vox) Alan Bisson (guitar, vox), Tony Reynolds (bass, vox), Tony Rodrigues (keyboard, vox), Jack Funk (drums), Gail Bones (vocals). CALL 250- 652-4002 OR www.reverbnation.com/drbonesbluesproject
ELMORES BAR AND GRILL
Named after Elmore James, and like him, ELMORE’S is pure blues; a place to lose yourself in the shuffle fronted by by Johnny Shuffles’ seducing slide guitar and the killer expressive Sax player Morgan Onda. The solid rhythm section is a tight team with SP Wadsworth on bass and Charles Gates on drums. Elmore’s is Victoria’s longest playing blues band. On the Web: Email & www.elmoresbarandgrill.com
THE KINGMIXERS
…specialize in blues, but can cover a wide range of styles. The band plays regularly in Victoria and features Gary Preston (keys, harp, vocals) Dennis Shade (guitar), Ron Lukawitski (bass), and Anita Bonkowski (drums).
On the Web: www.garypreston.ca
HARRIS GILMORE & THE MOJOS
With Harris Gilmore fronting and the amazing Al Sabourin on guitar, the Mojos kick out blues, originals and covers. They genre-bend, sometimes breaking into Latin beats or reagge in the middle of a blues tune. Harris has opened shows for Downchild Blues Band and Robben Ford, among others. On the Web: www.harrisgilmoreandthemojos.com
LAZY MIKE & THE ROCKIN’ RECLINERS
These guys play harp-driven rockin’ blues from ‘Chicago to the WestCoast’ … and all points in between – plus a whole mess of blues originals! Port Alberni-based Lazy Mike and the Rockin’ Reclinersare will make you dance! On the Web: FACEBOOK or lazymikeandtherockinrecliners.com
McKiNLeY Wolf
Live vintage blues tribute to the masters – Freddie King, Howlin’ Wolf, Jimmy Reed, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Albert King…if you love the blues McKiNLeY WoLf will stir your heart and if you love to dance they will stir your feet! Lineup: Ian Walls (bass, vocals), Ed Bauer (drums, backup vocals), Dallas Harlen (guitar,backup vocals). On: FACEBOOK
PRESTON & BONKOWSKI
Preston & Bonkowski are a swingin’ little duo featuring Gary Preston on piano, vocals and harmonica and the lovely and talented Anita Bonkowski on upright bass and percussion. The music is always bluesy, with a touch of jazz and Latin. A full sound and … great for smaller venues. On the Web: www.garypreston.ca
PRESTON McCOOL
Blues and awesome music by Paul Butterfield , Delbert McClinton, Robert Cray and more. Scot Sutherland(guitar/vocals), Del Kunitz (vocals/harp), Mark Grimshaw (vocals) Bob Miron (bass), Neil O’Neil (sax/vocals) and Ken Preston (drums). Ken is in the Royal City MP’s Hall of Fame. Tel: Ken 250-361-9914 On the Web: prestonmccool.com
Harris, Hunter & Fenn
Listen to the new CD “2017 Bluesville” by Harris, Hunter & Fenn. Fourteen original blues tunes from three seasoned West Coast pros and many well known guests: Bill Johnson, David Vest, Gary Preston, Wynn Gogol, Gene Hardy and Capital City Horns.
2017 Bluesville http://cdbaby.com/cd/harrishunterfenn
Renovation Blues Band
Renovation Blues Band is an ongoing project dedicated to presenting high-energy live blues music with conviction. An exciting live act, RBB brings together various upbeat blues styles to get you moving to the groove. Their music swings, funks, and shuffles its way into your soul and won’t let go. Don’t miss this great local band tear up the stage… come and let your soul be renovated! New CD release in 2017: “Swingin’ Hammers”. Email: info@renovationbluesband.com web: http://renovationbluesband.com/
SOUL SHAKERS
This five-piece rhythm and blues band features Joyce “The Voice” Allensen, Henning Kanstrup (bass), Sean McCool (guitar), Matt Vause (drums) and Alexander Ferguson(keys). This hard-driving band always has the crowd on their feet dancing. They feature powerhouse vocals and harmonies. Email: hkanstrup@shaw.ca | On the Web: www.soulshakers.ca
SYZYGY BLUE
Playing material ranging from Ray Charles to ZZ Top, Syzygy Blue is guaranteed to fill the dance floor! This band creates music suitable for any venue. Contact Steve Lalonde 250-686-2434 | Glyn Davies 250-478-0638. FACEBOOK
The ENDINGS
A locally formed blues band focused on post-war Chicago electric blues and rock & roll. Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, Little Walter, Taj Mahal and Otis Rush are who these guys listen to; it’s a rocking blues experience guaranteed to make you wanna get out of your seat. Facebook. Youtube. Contact: davidbosma@googlemail.com
