Performer of the Week: Mike Offord

Mike Offord plays a mean guitar, can beat the drums, and possess an incredible soulful voice. These talents have been used to good effect by bands such as Sapphire City, The Fixtures, Pico Mason, Kid Zydeco, Werx, and The Ruin's.

While he rocked a little harder with Sapphire City, Mike's equally adept at playing New Orleans style blues on his amazing solo efforts. He can even get down and funky when necessary.

You can also join Mike in celebrating the New Year when he performs at the Fat Boy's year end party on December 31, 2009.

Sites: MySpace, YouTube, Sapphire City

Halloween Fun in Hamilton 2009

Rick and the Krickets (Rick Prinsthal, vocals, guitar and Billy Berman, bass) were joined by Teenage Head's Jack Pedler on drums and Dan Jeffries on guitar at the Royal Canadian Legion Halloween Dance





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Troy Harmer (guitar, vocals), Greg Brisco (keyboards), John MacDonald (bass), and Michael Scott (drums) rocked the Cat N Fiddle





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Chris Chambers (Guitar, vocals), Bruce McCarthy (drums) and Nick Czarnogorski (bass) dressed up as characters from the Big Lewbowski and played the Whistling Walrus.





Links: Chris Chambers - More Chris Chambers Stories

Local Musicians Up for Maple Blues Awards

Local performers Jack DeKeyzer, Harrison Kennedy, and Steve Strongman have been nominated for the 13th Annual Maple Blues Awards. The event will take place January 18, 2010 at Koerner Hall, Toronto.

Voting opens Friday, October 30th at noon (DST) and is open to Sunday, December 13th at noon (EDT). Blues fans cast their votes online, at www.mapleblues.ca.

Congratulations and good luck!

Here are the nominees:

Entertainer Of The Year
Downchild
Jack DeKeyzer
Little Miss Higgins
Monkey Junk
Shakura S’Aida

Electric Act Of The Year
David Gogo
Garrett Mason
Jack DeKeyzer
Monkey Junk
The Twisters

Acoustic Act Of The Year
Big Dave McLean
Braithwaite & Whiteley
Harrison Kennedy
Harry Manx
Julian Fauth

Male Vocalist Of The Year
Harrison Kennedy
Jim Byrnes
John Mays (Fathead, Maple Blues Revue)
Paul Reddick
Steve Marriner (Monkey Junk)

Female Vocalist Of The Year
Jolene “Little Miss” Higgins
Roxanne Potvin
Shakura S'Aida
Suzie Vinnick
Treasa Levasseur

New Artist/Group Of The Year
Blackburn
Blues Delight
Clio & The Blues Highway
Ross Neilsen
Scott McCord & The Bonafide Truth

BB King International Artist Of The Year
John Mayall
Maria Muldaur
Taj Mahal
Tommy Castro
Watermelon Slim

Recording Of The Year
Twisters: Come Out Swingin' (NorthernBlues)
Harrison Kennedy: One Dog Barkin' (Electro-Fi)
Jeff Healey: Songs From The Road (Stony Plain)
Paul Reddick: SugarBird (NorthernBlues)
Monkey Junk: Tiger In Your Tank (Beefy)

Blues With A Feeling Award (Lifetime Achievement Award)
Alec Fraser
Chris Whiteley
Danny Brooks
Ellen McIlwaine
Joe Murphy
Ken Whiteley
Michael Fonfara
Paul James
Terry Wilkins
Tom Lavin

Guitarist Of The Year
Garrett Mason
Jack DeKeyzer
Steve Dawson (Jim Byrnes)
Steve Strongman
Tony D (Monkey Junk)

Harmonica Player Of The Year
Carlos Del Junco
David Hoerl (The Twisters)
David Rotundo
Jerome Godboo
Steve Marriner (Monkey Junk)

Piano/Keyboard Player Of The Year
Bill Stevenson (Easley Stevenson Arsenault)
Julian Fauth
Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne
Lance Anderson
Michael Fonfara (Downchild, Maple Blues Revue)

Horn Player Of The Year
Al Lerman (Fathead, Maple Blues Revue)
Chris Murphy (Maple Blues Revue)
Chris Whiteley (Maple Blues Revue)
Johnny Ferreira
Pat Carey (Downchild, Maple Blues Revue)

Drummer Of The Year
Al Cross
Bucky Berger (Fathead)
Chris Nordquist
Geoff Arsenault (Easley Stevenson Arsenault)
Tom Bona (Raoul & The Big Time, Maple Blues Revue)

Bassist Of The Year
Alan Duffy (Jack DeKeyzer)
Alec Fraser (Broken Joe, Jeff Healey)
Gary Kendall (Downchild, Maple Blues Revue, Gary Kendall Band)
Keith Picot (The Twisters)
Tom Easley (Easley Stevenson Arsenault)

Songwriter Of The Year
Brandon Isaak (The Twisters)
Chris Whiteley & Diana Braithwaite
Harrison Kennedy
Paul Reddick
Treasa Levasse

Performer of the Week: Rhythm and Bones

For the week of Halloween, we decided to showcase a rock band with a spooky name: Rhythm and Bones.

Their music is anything but scary though. The band's setlist includes hits from Clapton, the Stones, Stevie Ray, Van Morrison and even modern tunes by the Hip, Stone Temple Pilots, and many more. There's something for all tastes: rock, blues, and soul.

Hailing from the Hamilton/Burlington area, the foursome have been gigging for a while now.

Kevin MacLean with Craig and Colin Lapsley - Pheasant Plucker (Oct 25, 2009)

Left to Right: Colin Lapsley, Craig Lapsley, Kevin MacLean













More Colin Lapsley stories

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View Magazine Readers' Choice Awards

Congratulation to all the Gold and Silver winners in the View Magazine Reader's Choice Awards.

Click here for the full list.

Below are the music-related highlights.

Gold / Silver

Band
Dean Lickyer / Lee Harvey Osmond

Female Artist
Ginger St James / Lori Yates

Male Artist
Tom Wilson / Tomi Swick

Recording Producer
Bob Doidge (Grant Ave) / Glenn Marshall (Vibewrangler)

Cover Band
Practically Hip / Freedom Train

Band Name
Rackula / Lee Harvey Osmond

Misc. Gold Winners:

• Corktown - Jazz & Blues
• Rebel's Rock - Jam Hall
• Ginger St James - Sexiest Hamiltonian
• Lou Molinaro - Radio Personality & Show Promoter
• Festival of Friends - Festival & Free Event
• Dean Lickyer - Make it Big
• Volume Water: Band Website & Album Artwork

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Previous (New Kim Lister CD) - - -  Next (Kevin MacLean/Colin Lapsley@Pheasant Plucker)

New Kim Lister CD: Can You Imagine?

Hamilton singer/songwriter Kim Lister's new CD, Can You Imagine? is filled with catchy songs, incredible vocals, and a lot of variety.

From the country sounds of Be My Baby Tonight, the blues boogie of Trouble, to the tender rhythms of Orphan and Same Old Me, this disc has a lot to offer. Pop, jazz, folk, country, rock and more keep the album fresh and unique.

Kim is backed up by Michael Birthelmer, who plays guitar on most tracka and co-produces the CD. Trickbag's Paul Panchezak (drums) and Michael Hickey (bass) also lend a hand on many tunes. Other guests include Ed Roth (organ), Frank Koren (guitar), Jesse O'Brien (keyboards), Joe Clark (mandolin), Alfie Smith (guitar), and others.

Below are a few videos from Kim's CD release party at This Ain't Hollywood on October 22, 2009. Click here if you can't see them.







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Previous (Blues News Bites)  - - -  Next (View Mag's Readers' Choice Awards)

Blues News Bites (Jackie Washington, Podcasts, Videos)

Local

• Jackie Washington story in Fall 2009 Hamilton Magazine
• Kim Lister Interview in View magazine
• Andre Bisson on Murphy's Saloon podcast (starts at 20:19) 
• Harrison Kennedy concert available for streaming 

National

• New Leonard Cohen live DVD/CD

International

• House of Blues podcasts: Eric Clapton, Steve Miller discusses Montery Pop, Shemika Copeland, Joe Bonamassa
• 9 DVD set of Rock Hall of Fame performances available
• Dickie Peterson of Blue Cheer passes

Videos

• Chris and Christa at Artword Artbar
  
  

• Ronnie and the Rockets at Oakwood
  
  

Performer of the Week: Yitka Karlik

Born in the Czech Republic, Yitka Karlik has been playing in groups since the age of 16 and joined a professional band in Prague at 18. She immigrated to Canada in 1991.

Later, her adopted country got a taste of Yitka's musical talents. Her CD, Contradiction was nominated for a 2007 Hamilton Music Award (Folk/Traditional).

Yitka's enchanting work contains both modern folk/pop sensibilities and an old-world style sound. Her accent also adds to the exotic flavour.

You'll be able to hear her unique talents soon as she'll be visiting the Pearl Company on Nov. 13, 2009. Her CD is available at Dr. Disc, Cheapies, Crash Landing, Looney Tunes, and can be purchased online on CDBaby

Links: MySpace, YouTube

Chris Chambers - Beaver and Bulldog (Oct 16, 2009)

Links: Chris Chambers - More Chris Chambers Stories