Local Vibe

Once again the Kitchener Blues Festival is going to be taking over several stages and other venues to make for an unforgettable experience. This is yet another FREE festival for the local residents, with lots of people coming from all over the place to enjoy one of the finest Blues lineups offered anywhere. Starting on August 5, 2009 and stretching out over 5 days there will be many opportunities to search out the artists you wish to catch, and with multiple stages in play you are going to have to plan ahead to make sure you are in the right place at the right time.

This event kicks off on Wednesday night, August 5th, with the 8th annual Fundraising Gala taking place at the Walper Terrace Hotel with the following agenda:
6 pm Hors d’oeuvres and Cocktails with Julian Fauth on the Grand Piano
7:15 pm Dinner is served
9:00 pm Live entertainment and dancing with a performance by Daddy Long Legs
Surprises included. Formal Attire Please.
Tickets for this event are available at the Walper.

Thursday is the official opening night of the festival and will be taking place under the Downtown Business Tent at the corner of King and Frederick Streets. The gates will open at 6PM and the action gets started at 7:30 with Matt Anderson followed by the Mel Brown Award Presentation at 8:30 and wraps up with the Steve Strongman Band at 9:00. Admission is FREE to this event, so come on down and enjoy some top class Blues entertainment and lets help get this years festival opened up in fine form.

Friday has the festival heading into high gear with 3 stages running for your enjoyment. You can catch the following acts which are taking place all day long.

Tent Stage @ King & Frederick St.
12:00 PM Morgan Davis
1:30 PM Alex Tintinalli Band
3:00 PM Tarbox Ramblers
4:30 PM Lee Rocker
6:30 PM JW Jones
7:30 PM Swing Dance Demonstration
8:00 PM Elliott Brood

Waterloo Region Record Matt Osborne Stage @ the Kitchener Market
12:00 PM Julian Fauth
1:20 PM Soulstack
2:40 PM Elliott Brood
4:00 PM Grand River Blues Camp

Main Stage @ Kitchener City Hall
6:00 PM Shawn Kellerman Band
7:30 PM Michelle Malone
9:15 PM Rhinoceros (reunion)

Workshop Stage @ The Boathouse in Victoria Park
7:00 PM WAITING FOR THE TRAIN TO VICKSBURG:
featuring Douglas Watson, Sean Pinchin, Dave Mowatt, Alex Tintinalli

Saturday kicks it up one more notch by running a full day of events at 4 stages.

Tent Stage @ King & Frederick St.
12:00 PM Run Away Slide
1:45 PM Jordan John and The Blue Angels
3:30 PM Ellen McIlwaine
5:30 PM Maria Muldaur
7:30 PM Leon Redbone

Waterloo Region Record Matt Osborne Stage @ the Kitchener Market
10:00 AM The Weber Brothers
11:20 AM Tarbox Ramblers
12:40 PM Colin White and The Blue Ribbon Players
2:00 PM Mason Rack Band

Main Stage @ Kitchener City Hall
12:00 PM Legacy Band-Samantha Testa
12:50 PM Big Gilson
2:00 PM Canned Heat
3:40 PM Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks
5:20 PM Derek Miller
6:40 PM Studebaker John & The Hawks
8:00 PM Tab Benoit
9:20 PM Elvin Bishop

Children’s Stage @ The Children’s Museum
11:00 AM John McKinley
1:00 PM John McKinley

Workshop Stage @ The Boathouse in Victoria Park
1:00 PM CLASSIC WOMAN BLUES
featuring Maria Muldaur, Miss Angel, Silvia DiDonato
2:45 PM SWAMP BOOGIE
featuring Studebaker John, Morgan Davis, Big Gilson, Jon Knight, Dave Mowatt
4:30 PM KID ROCK
featuring Alex Tintinalli, Runaway Slide, Colin White
7:00 PM COUNTRY BLUES
featuring Dave Mowatt, Junior Malleck, Sean Pinchin

On Sunday the Kitchener Blues Festival will wrap up with their final performances. They can be found at:

Tent Stage @ King & Frederick St.
10:30 AM Gospel Breakfast with Calvin Cooke
12:30 PM Douglas Watson and The R&B Revue
2:15 PM Caught Away with George Olliver
4:00 PM Guitar Shorty

Main Stage @ Kitchener City Hall
12:00 PM LMT Connection
1:20 PM Deborah Coleman
2:40 PM Ronnie Baker Brooks
4:10 PM David Clayton-Thomas
6:00 PM Homewreckers-Mel Brown Tribute featuring Miss Angel

Children’s Stage @ The Children’s Museum
11:00 AM John McKinley
2:00 PM John McKinley

Workshop Stage @ The Boathouse in Victoria Park
1:00 PM BLUES DOWN UNDER
featuring Mason Rack, The Re-Mains
2:45 PM WEBER BROTHERS
featuring The Weber Brothers
4:30 PM SLIDE ON OVER
featuring Debra Coleman, Michelle Malone, Ellen McIlwaine

There will be lots of other opportunities to get up close and personal with many of these artists as they participate in what has been affectionately known as the “12 Bar Blues”. Pubs and Nightclubs around town will be featuring some of the artists from the stages mentioned above, and others that aren’t on the bill but will be sure to add to the Blues experience that can be found when this huge FREE event comes every year.

Check out the Kitchener Blues Festival website for more information on who is playing and where, or check out our events calendar to plan your nights appropriately.