Sunday, March 17, 2024

Music Listings: March 18-21, 2024

Monday, March 18


12-1pm: Vocal Meditation with Jane Lewis @ Harcourt Church (Guelph) (Weekly until Mar 25) PWYC




Tuesday, March 19





6-8pm: Ben Somer & Rory Lavelle @ Casbah Lounge (Hamilton) pass the hat


6pm: Open Mic @ Falls Road on Victoria (Kitchener) (Weekly)

6:30pm: Irish Night (Open Stage) @ Corktown Pub (Hamilton) (Weekly)

7-10pm: Open Mic with Brennagh Burns @ Lukaya Cafe (Hamilton) (Weekly)



7pm: Juneyt @ Easy Pour (Cambridge) (Weekly)


7:30-11:30pm: Open Mic @ Sip Club (Guelph) (Weekly)

8-11pm: Brisco's Blues Revue @ Casbah Lounge (Hamilton) PWYC

8-11pm: Open Jam with the Boom Babiez @ Ale House (Hamilton) (Weekly)


8-11pm: Mike Saracino @ Spyce Lounge (Niagara Falls) 

8-11:30pm: Open Mic @ Bobby O'Brien's (Guelph) (Weekly)


Wednesday, March 20


---- Before 7:30pm ----






6-9pm: James Anthony @ Piazza Bistro (Oakville) (Weekly)


7-11pm: Martin Verrall Players @ Casbah Lounge (Hamilton) PWYC

7-11pm: Dundas Music Club @ Oddfellows Hall (Dundas) (3rd Wed)


7-9pm: Pat Gallardi @ Doc Magilligan's (Niagara Falls)


7-10pm: Open Mic @ The Bullring (Guelph) (Weekly)

7-10pm: Open Mic @ DeBar (Guelph) (Weekly)

---- After 7:30pm ----

7:30-8:30pm: Open Mic with Dano @ Iron Horse Restobar (Hamilton) (Weekly)

7:45pm: Jazz Night (Open Stage) @ Corktown Pub (Hamilton) (Weekly)

8pm: CONOR GAINS @ Moonshine Cafe (Oakville) $?

8-11pm: Nathan Warriner @ Spyce Lounge (Niagara Falls) 

8-10pm: Big Sugar @ Sanderson Centre (Brantford) $42+

8-12pm: Open Jam with Kevin Douglas @Frankie's (Brantford) (Weekly)

9pm: Open Mic @ The Dickens (Burlington) (Weekly)

9:30-1am: Trick Vilbar @ Jimmy Jazz (Guelph)

10pm-2am: Open Stage @ NV (Guelph) (Weekly)

Thursday, March 21

#hblgigs #OntMusic #HamOnt #HamOntMusic

---- Before 7:00pm ----






1pm: Vocal Meditation with Jane Lewis on Zoom (Online) PWYC/$10-15 suggested


4-7pm: Dan Serre @ Spyce Lounge (Niagara Falls) 



6pm: John Rogers @ Slye Fox (Burlington)

6-9pm: Open Mic @ Crystal Chandelier (Crystal Beach) (Weekly)

6-9pm: Lucas Stagg @ Aging Oak (Cambridge) (Weekly)

6-9pm:  Jessie T @ Strykerz Kitchen & Bar (Kitchener)




---- 7:00pm - 7:29pm ----

7-9:30pm: Dean & Tweeds @ Casbah Lounge (Hamilton) 



7pm: Brian Dunn @ Southcote 53 (Ancaster)


7-10pm: Josh Coulter @ Judge & Jester (Grimsby) (Weekly)

7-10pm: Abe Bergsma @ Teddy's (Grimsby)


7-10pm: The Thomas Nelson Band @ Regency Athletic Resort (Niagara Falls) (Weekly)

7-9pm: Paul Giglotti @ Doc Magilligan's (Niagara Falls)


7pm: Dan Walsh @ Paris Beer Co (Brant) 



7-10pm: Open Stage -Mic Up @ Silvercreek's (Guelph) (Weekly)

---- After 7:30pm ----



7:30-10:30pm: Daryl Gray @ Irish Harp (Niagara-on-the-Lake) 






8-11pm: Open Mic Night + Jam @ Temple Bar (Oakville) (Weekly)


8-11pm: Matt Taylor Duo @ Spyce Lounge (Niagara Falls) 





9-11pm: Open Mic with Anthony Vaughn @ King George (Hamilton) (Weekly)

10pm: Pick a Piper/dispatch @ Vertagogo (Hamilton) No Cover


Support Local Charities


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.



Friday, March 15, 2024

Junkhouse's Russel "Rusty" Wilson Was a Live Wire, Powerful! RIP


It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Junkhouse bassist and solo artist Russel "Rusty" Wilson. The Hamilton musician dies on Wednesday, March 13, 2024. Our condolences to his family, friends and fans.

Russ shot to international stardom in the mid-90's after Junkhouse signed a record deal with Sony Music Canada. The band broke up after a number of incredible albums but reunited years ago and was still performing. Russ also had a successful solo career. He also performed with Paul O'Toole, Barry Mac, Ray Lyell and many others.

Media Links:

Social Media Reaction

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

Graham Greer

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

Below is the report from CHCH TV.




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 BocelliRobbie RobertsonMore 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 JeffaresMore Big Dan StoriesVideo above courtesy of Marion G

Here are more performances from the other amazing contestants:

The solo contest for the Grand River Blues Society will be held soon.

Sunday, March 10, 2024

Support Local Charities




N2N's mission is to alleviate and prevent poverty by supporting neighbours at risk.

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.