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Sunday, March 17, 2024
Music Listings: March 18-21, 2024
#hblgigs #OntMusic #HamOnt #HamOntMusic
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From their website: Food4Kids provides packages of healthy food for kids aged 5-14 years with limited or no access to food each weekend.
The Hamilton Blues Lovers (HBL) want to showcase a deserving local charity every week. HBL is not affiliated with these charities nor does it fund raise for them.
Saturday, March 16, 2024
Happy St. Patrick's Day (Steel City Rovers, Stephen Fuller, Karen Reed)
Links: Steel City Rovers, More Steel City Rovers Stories, Video above courtesy of MerlinEaton
Links: Stephen Fuller, More Stephen Fuller Stories, Video above courtesy of Nicholas Jacobs
Links: Karen Reed, Video above courtesy of Karen Reed
More St. Patrick's Day Videos
Previous (Junkhouse's Russ Wilson Passes)
Friday, March 15, 2024
Junkhouse's Russel "Rusty" Wilson Was a Live Wire, Powerful! RIP
Rave On Russel Wilson
We look into the faces of wild things to try and see ourselves. We want to know what part of us might live in there behind the eyes.
Russel was a live wire, powerful, off his rocker, loving, conducting the spirits and hanging on by a thread. It’s impossible for me to even imagine knowing anyone like him again in this lifetime.
He was funny as Hell, unpredictable, incredibly talented, loud, sensitive and he could scare the shit out of ya if you weren’t paying attention.
I was lucky enough to the go deep into the trenches with him. We ran around globe together in our band taking on stages from Belgium to Brantford. We played in castles and in barrooms and hockey arenas living on a very long road and we had the best time of our lives.
Russel was guided by instincts not by sight and he ignited pure fire at high volume, came out swinging’ with a bass around his neck that he made look like a ukulele.
The lord never patted him on the head but he may have booted him in the ass a couple of times.
He was out of this world as long as we knew him and now he’s closer to us than he’s ever been.
Rick Prinsthal (Paperboys, Deacons. Rick & the Krickets, Rocket & the Renegades)
I'm so glad that Russ Wilson and I had a chance to hang out at the Junkhouse show in Hamilton last December. Russ and I first met nearly 40 years ago at a Florida Razors gig in a pub called 'Rebel's Roadhouse' on the mountain. Over the years, when I saw Russ perform live, either with Junkhouse or as solo performer, I was always amazed by his musical ability.
Every once in a while, Russ and I would see each other in the community. He always took an active interest in what I was doing and made me feel like he was in my corner. Russ had an affinity for the underdog and a genuinely caring heart. He was a good person.
R.I.P. Rusty keep on rockin', bro
Just gutted to learn that my cosmic soul brother, the singular Russ Rusty Wilson, thumping bass player of the beloved Canadian band Junkhouse, passed away this morning.
He was a funny, loyal, passionate giant of a man and we became fast and furious friends during the countless tours and festivals Barstool Prophets played with Junkhouse throughout the mid-90s.
A short testament to the heart in this man: in 1996, when Lori had freshly given birth to our #1 son, Liam, Russ drove from Hamilton, ON to Cornwall to personally deliver a gift. He showed up at the door of our apartment with gift in hand, chatted with me quickly (Lori was still in hospital) and offered congratulations and unsolicited but sage words of parental advice - “Don’t let the baby chew on electrical cords or get access to your credit card brother. Disaster in either case, guaranteed.”
He then hugged me, turned around and got in his car and drove back to Hamilton, as he was flying out to LA the next morning.
I’ve often described Russ as the sort of person who - if a friend needed a liver - would make sure you got a liver. It might not necessarily be HIS liver, but he’d make sure you got one in any case. 😆
A giant prince among mortal men. Taken too soon and profoundly missed. 💔
Hug your friends,
Graham
Previous (Canadian Music Moments at the Oscars)
Canadian Music Moments at the 2024 Oscars
There were a number of great Canadian musical moments at the televised Academy Awards on Sunday, March 10, 2024.
The only Canadian winner was The Last Repair Shop by Halifax's Ben Proudfoot, which won for Best Documentary Short Film). It follows four craftspeople who fix musical instruments for LA public school students at no cost.
Video above courtesy of Los Angeles Times
The late, legendary musician Robbie Robertson (from Six-Nations) was nominated for Best Music (Original Score) for his work on Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon but Ludwig Göransson took home the hardware for Oppenheimer.
Robbie was honoured at the In Memoriam section of the event while Andrea and Matteo Bocelli performed 'Con te partirò'
Links: Andrea Boccelli, Matteo Bocelli, Robbie Robertson, More Robbie Robertson Stories, Video above courtesy of ABC News, Click here to start at Robbie Robertson's part
The most interesting musical performance of the night went to London, Ontario's Ryan Gosling and his incredible music number I'm Just Ken backed from the movie Barbie (in which he co-starred). He was joined by Guns N Roses guitarist Slash and Wolfgang Van Halen.
Video above courtesy of Atlantic Records
Links: Oscars, More Oscars Stories
Previous (Big Dan Jeffares to go to International Blues Challenge in 2025) - - - Next (Junkhouse's Russ Wilson Passes)
Thursday, March 14, 2024
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Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Big Dan Jeffares to Represent the Grand River Blues Society at the 2025 International Blues Challenge
Cambridge's own Big Dan Jeffares and his incredible band will be heading to Memphis in 2025 to represent the Grand River Blues Society in the band category. WAY TO GO!
The competition was held at the Edelweiss Tavern in Kitchener on Saturday, March 9, 2024. Big Dan faced 6 other talented groups to earn this trip.
Here's one of the performances that helped him win:
Links: Big Dan Jeffares, More Big Dan Stories, Video above courtesy of Marion G
Here are more performances from the other amazing contestants:
Previous (Bagpipe Day Videos) - - - Next (Canadian Music Moments at the Oscars)
Sunday, March 10, 2024
Support Local Charities
Saturday, March 9, 2024
Happy International Bagpipe Day! Videos by the Trews
Previous (Women's Day Videos) - - - Next (Big Dan Jeffares to go to International Blues Challenge in 2025)
Thursday, March 7, 2024
Happy International Women's Day! (Gayle Ackroyd, Rachel Heart, Hailee Rose)
Links: Gayle Ackroyd, More Gayle Ackroyd Stories, Video above courtesy of #GayleAckroyd
Links: Rachel Heart, More Rachel Heart Stories, Video above courtesy of #RachelHeart