Stupendous Solo Album From Kitchener's Mike Elliott

Artist: Mike Elliott (Kitchener)

Recording: Let You Go

Label: Busted Flat Records

Mini-Review: 

Kitchener Bluesman Mike Elliott steps from out of the shadow of Daddy Long Legs and Elliott & the Audio Kings to craft his own stupendous solo offering. A musical  gumbo of rockabilly, fuzzy garage rock and blues, Let You Go grabs you and takes you on a compelling trip.

Available on: Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Physical media on Busted Flat

Personnel:

• Mike Elliott - Guitar, Vocals
• Jimmy Bowskill - Bass Guitar, Lap Steel Guitar, Percussion, Background Vocals, Engineering
• Ian McKeown - Drums on 5 tracks
• Steve O’Connor - Wurlitzer on Change Your Mind
• Steve Marriner - Drums, Bass Guitar, Harmonica, Piano, Tremolo Guitar, Percussion, Background Vocals, Engineering, Mixing, Producer

Stream the album below

Links: Mike Elliott, More Mike Elliott Stories, Album above courtesy of Bandcamp, More Releases

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Glenn Marais to Represent the Grand River Blues Society in the International Blues Challenge

Newmarket's Glenn Marais is going to Memphis to represent the Grand River Blues Society, He won the Road to Memphis Competition (Solo/Duo category) on Sunday, June 9, 2024 at the Brantford Polish Hall. His group, the Mojo Train went to Memphis last year to compete in the Band contest.

Links: Glenn Marais More Glenn Marais Stories, Video above courtesy of Bruce Hall

There was some fierce competition. Below are videos of the performances from that event.

Danny Boy Phelan

Madison Galloway

McKenna Moonah Blues Duo

Frank Cosentino

The Two Timers

Tim Bastmeyer

Links: International Blues Challenge, More IBC Stories

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Glenn Marais and the Mojo Train to Represent the GRBS at the 2024 International Blues Challenge

Glenn Marais and the Mojo Train won the honour of representing the Grand River Blues Society in the Memphis Blues Challenge. Click picture for more photos from the contest.

Stonewalls Restaurant in Hamilton was shaking like crazy on Sunday, April 30! That's 'cause the Grand River Blues Society held their International Blues Challenge band competition. 7 explosive bands vied  for the right top represent the GRBS at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in January 2024.

After a fierce musical fight, New Market's Glenn Marais and the Mojo Train earned the top spot. They'll be showing Memphis and the whole world what talent this area has to offer.

The competition for the solo/duo slot will be annonuced shortly.

CONGRATS GUYS! 

Video above courtesy of Hamilton Blues Lovers

Below is the winner announcement and their acceptance speech.

Links: Glenn Marais and the Mojo Train, Video above courtesy of Hamilton Blues Lovers

Here are more performances from the other amazing contestants:

• Bad Omen Band
• Josh Rithie Band
• The Groove Robbers
• Tha Madison Galloway Band
• The Jacks
• waterstreet blues band

Click here for pictures from this amazing event

Links: International Blues Challenge, More IBC Stories

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New Offering from Kitchener's Elliott and the Audio Kings Will Get You Boogieing

Make sure you have your Fitbits and step counters on when you put on So Much to Do, the latest offering from Kitchener's Elliott and the Audio Kings. Once the music starts, you'll be getting a lot of steps in when you boogie and slide to these excellent tunes.

Released on Busted Flat Records, this album will get you moving right away with it's infectious beats and swingin' sound. Elliott and the Audio Kings are masters of the groove and have enough cool rhythms here for three albums. 

You can download the album from the Busted Flat Bandcamp site or purchase a CD at their impressive live shows or at Encore Records in Kitchener.

Stream the full album here

Links: Elliott and the Audio Kings, More Elliott and the Audio Kings Stories, More Releases

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GOOD LUCK! Local Maple Blues Award Nominees! VOTE! Deadline is Dec 1

Local musicians are a big part of 2019's Maple Blue Award nominee list.

Hamilton is well-represented with Jack de Keyzer up for 2 awards (Guitarist of the Year, Producer of the Year.  Jack's bandmate Richard Thornton is nominated for Horn Player of the Year. Other Hammertown nominees include Harrison Kennedy (Male Vocalist of the Year), Jesse O'Brien (Keyboardist of the Year) and Cootes Paradise (New Artists of the Year).



Links: Jack de Keyzer, More Jack de Keyzer Stories, More Richard Thornton Stories, Video above courtesy of Stellablu477



Links: Cootes Paradise, More Cootes Paradise Stories, Video above courtesy of Cootes Paradise

Also of note is Colin James' latest album, Miles to Go. It features Hamiltonians Jesse O'Brien (keys, writing), Steve Pelletier (bass) and Tom Wilson aka Lee Harvey Osmond (writing). Also, it's released by Waterdown's True North Records). That disc is up for Recording of the Year. Colin is also tied with Sue Foley for most nominations (6).



Links: Colin James, More Colin James Stories, Steve Pelletier, More Steve Peletier Stories, Jesse O'Brien, Lee Harvey Osmond, More Lee Harvey Osmond Stories, More Jesse O'Brien Stories, Video above courtesy of Colin James - Topic

Down Niagara way, Gary Kendall, the bassist for Downchild and St. Catherines' Mighty Duck Blues Band was nominated for Bassist of the Year.



Links: The Mighty Duck Blues Band, More MDBB Stories, Video above courtesy of jimcasson

Two members of Waterloo's Soulstack, singer Jon Knight and drummer Tom Bona, were nominated as well. Another Waterloo group Elliott and the Audio Kings is in the running in the New Artist of the Year category.

Hopefully, a number of them will bring home the awards at the ceremony on February 4, 2019 at Koerner Hall in Toronto. You can help by VOTING ONLINE! Deadline is December 1, 2018 at 11:59pm.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Male Vocalist

• Harrison Kennedy
• Jon Knight (Soulstack)
• Colin James
• Matt Andersen
• Rob Lutes

New Artist

• Cootes Paradise
• Elliott and the Audio Kings
• Dan Doiron
• Deb Rhymer
• Emily Burgess

Guitarist

• Jack de Keyzer
• Colin James
• Jack Semple
• Steve Hill
• Sue Foley

Recording/Producer

• Jack de Keyzer: Checkmate (Producer: Jack de Keyzer)
• Colin James: Miles to Go (Producers: Colin James, Dave Meszaros) released by Waterdown's True North Records)
• Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar: Run to Me (Producer: Darcy Yates)
• Sue Foley: The Ice Queen (Producer: Mike Flanigan)
• Sugar Brown: It’s A Blues World (Producer: Sugar Brown)

Bassist

• Gary Kendall (Downchild, Mighty Duck Blues Band
• Keith Picot (Brandon Isaak)
• Laura Greenberg (JW-Jones)
• Leigh-Anne Stanton (Wicked Grin)
• Russell Jackson (Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne)

Horn Player

• Richard Thornton (Jack de Keyzer Band)
• Chris Whiteley
• Jon Wong
• Mat “Moose” Mousseau (Ben Racine Band)
• Shirley Jackson

Piano/Keyboard

• Jesse O'Brien 
• David Vest
• Jenie Thai
• Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne
• Michael Kaeshammer

Drummer

• Tom Bona (Soulstack)
• Gary Craig (Colin Linden, Steve Dawson)
• Lindsay Beaver
• Matt Sobb (MonkeyJunk)
• Sam Harrisson (Paul DesLauriers Band)

Female Vocalist

• Angel Forrest
• Crystal Shawanda
• Dawn Tyler Watson
• Samantha Martin
• Sue Foley

Entertainer

• Colin James
• Dawn Tyler Watson
• MonkeyJunk
• Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar
• Sue Foley

Electric Act

• Colin James
• JW-Jones
• MonkeyJunk
• Paul DesLauriers Band
• Sue Foley

Acoustic Act

• Big Dave McLean
• Earle and Coffin
• Michael Jerome Browne
• Rob Lutes
• Tim Williams

Songwriter

• Colin James
• David Vest
• Ken Kawashima (Sugar Brown)
• Samantha Martin / Curtis Chaffey
• Sue Foley

Blues with A Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement Award)

• Alec Fraser
• Brent Parkin
• Danny Brooks
• Ellen McIlwaine
• Joe Murphy
• Ken Whiteley
• Michael Fonfara
• Michael Jerome Browne
• Tom Lavin

Harmonica Player

• Carlos del Junco
• Guy Bélanger
• Harpdog Brown
• Roly Platt (Matt Minglewood)
• Steve Marriner (MonkeyJunk)

B.B. King International Artist

• Buddy Guy
• Ghost Town Blues Band
• Mavis Staples
• Rick Estrin and the Nightcats
• Shemekia Copeland

Blast from the Past: Last Years's Winners

Links: Maple Blues Awards, More Maple Blues Awards Stories

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GOOD LUCK! Local 2019 International Blues Challenge Reps Chosen

Three talented area musicians will be competing in the 2019 International Blues Challenge in Memphis on January 22-26, 2019.

Representing the Grand River Blues Society are Hamilton's Steve Strongman (solo category) and Elliott and the Audio Kings from Waterloo.



Links: Steve Strongman, More Steve Strongman Stories, Video above courtesy of Southern Souls



Links: Elliott and the Audio Kings, More Audio Kings Stories, Video above courtesy of Elliott and the Audio Kings

The Toronto Blues Society has also chosen Hamilton's own Jack de Keyzer to represent them in the contest.



Links: Jack de Keyzer, More Jack de Keyzer Stories, More Bob Dylan Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Jack de Keyzer

CONGRATS AND GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Blast from the Past: Last Year's Winners

Links: International Blues Challenge , More IBC Stories

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News Roundup (James Blonde, Elliott and the Audio Kings, Morgan Davis, More)

Music Related Cartoons

More Musical Toons

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News

Local

• CHCH TV Video: James Blonde
  
  
  Links: James Blonde, More James Blonde Stories, More CHCH Videos, Video above courtesy of CHCH 
  
  
• Bman’s Blues Report on Elliott and the Audio Kings
• New Book from Bassist Jason Raso
• Cashbox Canada Story on Sammy Duke (scroll down)
• New Wayne Krawchuk Album· 
• Aretha Franklin Passes + Local Covers and Reaction 

Canada

• Talkin’ Blues Podcast w Morgan Davis 

Passings

• Eddie Willis (Funk Brothers)

World

• Jimmy Rowles 100^thBirthday

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Adventure of Trebleclef, the Music-Loving Monkey

Trebleclef did a lot of festival hopping recently

He went to the Dundas Cactus Festival on Friday and Sunday

Click to see more pictures from the festival: Friday, Sunday

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Treble also visited the Waterdown ArtsFest on Saturday and Sunday.

Click to see more pictures from the festival: Saturday, Sunday

MORE NEWS ROUNDUPS

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Waterloo's Elliott and the Audio Kings Pack Their Debut With Pulse-Racing Boogie!

Mike Elliott of Daddy Long Legs is back and fronting his amazing, brand new group, Elliott and the Audio Kings.  Their self titled debut album (released through Busted Flat Records) sees this Waterloo  band exploring all kinds of roots sounds with the amps turned way up.

There's enough boogie packed in here for three albums.  It'll get your pulse racing and your body shakin'.  This is a recording to put on and just let yourself go!

So if you need a boost of energy, pick up the CD at their explosive live shows.  It can also be picked up at the Busted Flat online shop or via Bandcamp.



Stream the album below



Links: Elliott and the Audio Kings, Video above courtesy of Elliott and the Audio Kings

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