From their site: Working to make a significant impact in the quality of life of Canada’s ill & injured CAF members, Veterans, First Responders, and their families.
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.
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Gerald "Gerry"McGhee, lead vocalist of hard rock, international superstars Brighton Rock. Gerald grew up in Hamilton and helped form the Niagara band and launched them to world renown. He died August 25, 2020.
Very sad to hear of the passing of Gerald McGhee. Far too young. I was fortunate to work with him live and in the studio with Brighton Rock. He was a great guy. My heart goes out to his family and bandmates. RIP. Gerry.
I remember first hearing his voice and as usual, going on and on way too much about it to my musical friends. My favorite memory of him was when my buddies took me to the Misty Moon to see them for my birthday and making so much noise from the upper level that the band was smiling at us and nodding to us the whole show.
Canadian rockers knew him as the singer for Brighton Rock. I got to work with him in business when his import/export business Isotope was just taking off from a small industrial unit in Mississauga. He and I cut a deal to distribute my Bullseye catalog overseas. It got us into Australia, Europe, and the Pacific Rim. He was always up front and walked me through the landmines with retail in other territories. He was also fair and paid on time and let me know if our product was sub-par for those markets. A true gentleman in a business full of snakes. My deepest condolences to his wife and daughters, his bandmates, and the many industry people he was loved by.
From their website: Good Shepherd services include a emergency food and clothing; daily hot meals; emergency shelters for men, youth, families, women and children; transitional housing and education for homeless and street-involved youth; hospice palliative care; community mental health programs; and supportive housing programs.
The Hamilton Blues Lovers (HBL) wants to showcase a deserving local charity every week. HBL is not affiliated with these charities nor does it fund raise for them.
You can shake off the COVID-19 Blues by listening to Downstream, the fabulous sophomore album from local supergroup, Cootes Paradise.
Cootes lays down some funky, bluesy soul that'll shake off your woes and get your body movin'. The band can boogie it up better than any other band out there and they have the skills to show them how it's done.
From their website: SACHA supports survivors of sexual assault while working to end violence in our community.
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.
The Moonshine Cafein Oakville is one of the many local venues that is bringing back live music. These shows are live streamed from inside the cafe to the patio.
Here are the next few incredible shows. Each show listed below is $10 and starts at 9 pm.
From Steve's Shedis a stunning debut album from Hamilton-born, Port Colbourne raised singer/songwriter Gravely James. This live-off-the-floor recording from Snareguy Records is a magnificent collection of acoustic, folky blues tunes (with a bit of soul).
Emotion courses through every note as the lyrics suck the listener into stories of relationship, insomnia, violence, mythology, and more. It's a wonderful example of raw, stripped down, ragged musical storytelling.
Though mostly a one-main affair, Niagara music vet Steve Goldberger lends a hand with upright bass, spoons and production. He also lent Gravely the titular shed to record in. Also Ji Sharp of Road Wavesplays lead guitar on Shoot'Em Down.
It is with sadness that we report on the passing of Canadian Blues/Jazz/Soul legend Salome Bey, know as 'Canada's first lady of the Blues' who died on Saturday, August 8, 2020.
Bey was born in Newark, New Jersey but moved to Toronto in 1964. She's appeared on TV/radio, performed in musicals, was nominated for a Grammy and received a Martin Luther King Jr. Award.
This is a bit heartbreaking - in a previous life as an entertainment PR person, I got to work with Salome Bey a number of times in the 80s and 90s. A very real talent, but more than that, a very warm person and a great positive influence for so many, including me. There won't be another like her.
It is so sad to hear of the passing of my greatest mentor in music, Salome Bey...I was 11 years old the first day I met her, I was so nervous at my audition for "Rainboworld" among 40 of Toronto's finest young singers, actors, dancers and musicians that included Grammy Winner, Deborah Cox. I sang my favourite song, "Amazing Grace" but I didn't do it well cause I was so shy...I was about to leave and she stopped me, and told me to come over to her. She asked me to just take a breath. Everything was calm and I sang again, this time I nailed it! Then she told me I got the part and that I had something special to share with the world
She then mentored me for 4 summers and beyond while I lived with her and her family in Toronto during rehearsals and performances of "Rainboworld". That light has been in my heart since then and so has my passion for music...I last seen Salome when I performed at her benefit at LuLu's Lounge a few years back and I hugged her and told her I loved her! She is reunited in heaven with her husband & the coolest guy I ever met, Howard! I am currently recording my new album "Rainboworld" dedicated to her and am so sad, she won't get to hear it! But I hope God pulls back the clouds while I record the song I wrote for her called, "Rainboworld"! Rainboworld to me meant everyone is loved...we are all special...we are all created equal...she helped me realize that at a young age and I thank you Salome! I love you and your family with all my heart!
The Giving Closet Thrift Shop is a new neighbourhood thrift store, whose profits will be reinvested into Crown Point and surrounding neighbourhoods.
We accept donations. If you would like to donate, please contact us through this page or by phone
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.
Corey Lueck of the Smoke Wagon Blues Band had this to say about the incredible musician:
I've always thought Jimmy Witherspoon was the quintessential war time blues singer. He had that great big band timeless shout blues style that could also get low down and soulful with the jazz cats. Hope he's belting it out for his 100th in that big ol' gig in the sky....
Jimmy recorded the song below with the late Kitchener Blues legend Mel Brown on guitar.
From a snarl to a roar, a purr and beyond, Kitchener songstress, Lynn Jackson can do it all. The talented lady shows us many sides on her latest incredible album, Lionheartfrom Busted Flat Records.
Here you'll find Lynn, the acoustic troubadour, the hard-edge punk princess, the jazzy chanteuse and many others all in one package. Her vocals leave a unique stamp on every track and beautifully played pianos, violins and more accentuate the songs.
From their website: Ladybird Animal Sanctuary is a unified voice for abandoned, abused and neglected animals in our community. Together, through a system of volunteers, foster homes, educators, animal lovers and exceptionally generous people, we aim to eliminate the unnecessary suffering of domestic animals in our local high-kill shelters. Ladybird rescues cats, dogs, small animals and even farm animals and we never shy away from rescuing senior animals, those with costly medical issues and the so-called ‘hard to adopt’. Through our success stories, we know that every life is worth saving and that a loving home is just around the corner for these deserving creatures.
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.