Canal Bank Shuffle Blues Festival: 17 Years Of Blues Music
By DAVID DeROCCO
Bob Liddycoat has got the blues. And he’s never been happier!
As the man in charge of promotions and media for the 17th Annual CANAL BANK SHUFFLE BLUES FESTIVAL, Liddycoat is in the final stages of planning for what has grown into one of the best blues music festivals not just in Niagara, but in all of Southern Ontario.
“There is always something there for everyone,” says Liddycoat, who along with Artistic Director and Head of Operations Tim Sinnett has worked tirelessly to help turn Thorold into a mecca for blues each Octorer. “Saying you don’t like the blues is like saying you don’t like rock. There are so many styles. Some people like to stick to the known – Jack de Keyzer, David Gogo, LMT and other fairly local bands. Others like to see the ones who rarely appear in this area, like headliner Tas Cru, Reverend Raven, Eden Brent. I think that Vanessa Collier is going to be awesome. And Jerome Godboo has assembled a superstar line-up with him, plus Shawn Kellerman (Lucky Peterson Band), Eric Schenkman (Spin Doctors) and Alan Cross (Big Sugar).”
Despite being considered a niche music style, blues music continues to attract broad audiences in Niagara, with multiple clubs running successful weekly blues programs. Liddycoat says the Canal Bank Shuffle has also helped to educate local audiences on the often transformative power of blues music.
“The performers often say that blues is accessible to the public and contains personal meaning for listeners,” said Liddycoat, whose days leading up to the festival are spent developing tickets, posters, programs, billboards, websites and coordinating interviews. “It has an emotional component that other genres don't have. The fact that it is the foundation for rock and other forms of music means that people will always be discovering the roots of whatever they're into and that often leads back to the blues.”
The continued growth of the festival and its ability to attract sponsors like Pen Centre have proven that blues can be a significant draw, and Liddycoat says the Canal Bank Shuffle is attracting audiences beyond Niagara’s borders.
“We do very well outside of this area. We have a great reputation in Memphis and Florida where we draw acts. We also have a great relationship with Kitchener Blues Fest, Ottawa and Mont Tremblant. Blues fans know us so in areas where it's popular, we are well known and regarded. 75% come from out of the region - US, London, Toronto etc.”
With the line-up set and tickets selling well, what does success look like to Liddycoat this year?
“We have more venues this year than in recent years. I want to see them all full. We are working so hard to market Niagara as a music tourism destination, we want that to grow. Partnerships with the Niagara Music Awards, Thorold Tourism, Blues on the Battlefield and others have made this a year-long labour of love.”
Here’s the line-up for this year’s festival. Tickets are $25 in advance for the Festival. The Red Dirt Revelators fundraiser held on Sunday is $15
THURS OCT. 11 |
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7:00-8:15 p.m. |
HOLY ROSARY HALL |
MAX HILLIER BAND |
8:35-9:50 p.m. |
HOLY ROSARY HALL |
EDEN BRENT |
10:00-11:25 p.m. |
HOLY ROSARY HALL |
THE SPEAR SHAKERS feat KELLY RICHEY AND SHERRI McGEE |
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FRI OCT. 12 |
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7:00-8:15 p.m. |
HOLY ROSARY HALL |
CHLOE WATKINSON |
7:15-8:15 p.m. |
CLUB CAPRI |
RED DIRT REVELATORS |
7:00-10:00 p.m. |
KARMA KAMELEON |
MAX HILLIER TRIO |
7:00-11:00 p.m. |
DONNELLY’S PUB |
DAVE CONSTANTINO BAND |
8:00-9:15 p.m. |
CANADIAN CORPS |
JOHNNY MAX |
8:00 p.m.-12:00 a.m. |
SUMMIT TAVERN |
BILLY THE KID & THE REGULATORS |
8:30-9:45 p.m. |
MOOSE & GOOSE |
JEROME GODBOO |
8:35-9:50 p.m. |
HOLY ROSARY HALL |
TAS CRU & THE TORTURED SOULS |
8:40-9:55 p.m. |
CLUB CAPRI |
SPENCER MACKENZIE |
9:45-11:00 p.m. |
CANADIANS CORPS |
FUZZY JEFFRIES & THE KINGS OF MEMPHIS |
10:00 p.m. – 2 a.m. |
LEGION BR. 17 |
BRANT PARKER & THE ALL STAR JAM |
10:15-11:30 p.m. |
MOOSE & GOOSE |
DAVID GOGO Electric |
10:20-11:35 p.m. |
CLUB CAPRI |
TOMMY Z |
10:20-11:35 p.m. |
HOLY ROSARY HALL |
BLACKBURN BROTHERS |
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SAT. Oct. 13 |
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1:00-4:00 p.m. |
BISCOTTI CAFÉ |
HARRISON KENNEDY |
2:00-3:15 p.m. |
HOLY ROSARY HALL |
FUZZY JEFFRIES & THE KINGS OF MEMPHIS |
2:00-4:30 p.m. |
SUMMIT TAVERN |
DAVID GOGO acoustic |
2:00-5:00 p.m. |
MOOSE & GOOSE |
KRISTA BLONDIN Big Band Tribute to Janis Joplin |
2:00-6:00 p.m. |
DONNELLY’S PUB |
BRANT PARKER BAND – All original Brant |
3:35 – 4:40 p.m. |
HOLY ROSARY HALL |
VANESSA COLLIER |
5:00-6:15 p.m. |
HOLY ROSARY HALL |
MISSISSIPPI HEAT |
6:35-7:50 p.m. |
HOLY ROSARY HALL |
DAVID GOGO electric |
7:00-10:00 p.m. |
KARMA KAMELEON |
ALFIE SMITH WITH NICOLE CHRISTIAN |
7:00-11:00 p.m. |
DONNELLY’S PUB |
PAPPY JOHNS BAND |
8:00-9:15 p.m. |
MOOSE & GOOSE |
RED DIRT REVELATORS |
8:00-12:00 p.m. |
CANADIAN CORPS |
LMT CONNECTION |
8:10-9:25 p.m. |
HOLY ROSARY HALL |
JACK de KEYZER |
9:00 p.m. – 1 a.m. |
SUMMIT TAVERN |
BILLY THE KID & THE REGULATORS |
9:40-10:55 p.m. |
HOLY ROSARY HALL |
REVEREND RAVEN & The Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys |
9:45-11:00 p.m. |
MOOSE & GOOSE |
MILLER & THE OTHER SINNERS |
10:00 p.m. – 2 a.m. |
LEGION BR. 17 |
BRANT PARKER & THE ALL STAR JAM |
SUNDAY Oct. 14 |
DONNELLY’S PUB |
Fundraiser for Red Dirt Revelators. Tickets for this Sunday event are $15 or two for $25.00 |
SPECIAL PARTY |
Let’s get them back on the road again! |
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