Performer of the Week: Isobelle Gunn

Isobelle Gunn is a talented vocal trio with family roots. Siblings Leanna and Jeremy Zeyl and his wife, Lara Schat-Zeyl make up this wonderful team.

They've been singing together since 2006 and released an amazing self-titled EP in 2007.

Their song, “Emily,” from that disc received an Honourable Mention in the ISC International Songwriting Competition.

Recently, they also contributed the track, "I Send Up a Prayer" to the Design Hope charity CD: Love is Everything.

The group's sound features incredible harmony vocals with a folk/pop feel and just a hint of country on a few songs.

Links My Space, Reverbnation, CDBaby (listen/purchase EP)

Pappy Johns Blues Band - Waltz (Nov. 28, 2009)

If you can't see the videos below, click here


Shortly after winning the Canadian Aboriginal Music Award for best Blues album, the Pappy Johns Blues Band played Waltz.

First, the opening group, the Retrofit Blues Band, played a few numbers . . .



Joshua Miller (singer/guitarist for Pappy Johns) joined them for a few songs as well.


-----------

Then the main attraction rocked the place . . .


---

Keyboardist/singer, John Lee was in a dark bar, wearing black, next to a black background so you may have to take our word for it that he was singing on this song :)


---


---

The band were joined by Rebecca Miller on this Otis Redding tune.

Fred D. Smith and Friends - Artword Artbar (Nov. 21, 2009)

Fred D. Smith (vocals, guitar) was joined by Pete Sisk (bass), Midnight Jon (guitar/banjo) and Karen Corinth (Harmony vocals)







-----------

Karen Johnson takes the mic



------

Fred and Karen take five as Midnight Jon sings a tune with Pete and Dorothy Carey backing him up.



------

Now Pete Sisk belts it out



----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Previous (Blues News Bites) - - - Next (Pappy Johns Band@Waltz)

How to Help Support This Site

The Hamilton Blues Lovers is a not-for-profit organization. This blog and all our other related sites are labours of love.

Our main goal is to promote the amazing, talented blues/folk/roots/old-fashoined rock musicians in the Hamilton/Halton/Niagara area. By promoting us, you are helping them continue to entertain us with incredible music.

You can help promote us:

• Spread the word about our sites.
• If you have a web site or blog, please consider adding a link to our blog on it.
• Share our YouTube videos on your Facebook, MySpace or Blog site

Blues News Bites (Awards, Podcasts, Videos)

Local

• Mississippi Kings discuss Hamilton Music Award nomination (video)
• Video of Aboriginal Music Awards 

World

• Nothing But the Blues podcast # 3
• Woodstomp Blues Show podcast #15
• Roadhouse Podcast # 249
• Folk Singer Bess lomax Hawes Passes (she sang with Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger and wrote with the Kingston Trio)

 Videos

Pete Sisk, Fred D Smith and Friends at Artword Artbar


 Video of Pappy Johns Band Live


Jacob Moon's Welcome Christmas Trailer

Ariana Gillis Wins Canadian Folk Music Award

Local singer/songwriter, Ariana Gillis won Young Performer of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards on November 21, 2009. Congratulations!

More Ariana Gillis Stories

Other winners include:

Traditional Album of the Year
James Hill & Anne Davison – True Love Don’t Weep (Langley, BC)
Contemporary Album of the Year
Joel Plaskett – Three (Halifax)
Children’s Album of the Year
Chris McKhool – FiddleFire! (Toronto)
Traditional Singer of the Year
Colette Cheverie - Hours Before Dawn (Charlottetown PE)
Contemporary Singer of the Year
Jim Byrnes – My Walking Stick (Vancouver)
Instrumental Solo Artist of the Year
Tony McManus – The Maker’s Mark (Elora ON)
Instrumental Group of the Year
Sultans of String – Yalla Yalla! (Toronto)
English Songwriter of the Year
Susan Crowe for Greytown (Halifax)
French Songwriter of the Year
Catherine Durand for Coeurs Migratoires (Montreal)
Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year
Don Amero for Deepening (Winnipeg)
Vocal Group of the Year
Madison Violet – No Fool For Trying (Toronto)
Ensemble of the Year
The Deep Dark Woods – Winter Hours (Saskatoon)
Solo Artist of the Year
Catherine MacLellan – Water in the Ground (Charlottetown PE)
World Solo Artist of the Year
Karim Saada – La Danse de L’exilé (L’Assomption QC)
World Group of the Year
Jayme Stone and Mansa Sissoko – Africa to Appalachia (Toronto / Quebec QC)
New/Emerging Artist of the Year
The Good Lovelies – Good Lovelies (Toronto)
Producer of the Year
Joel Plaskett for Joel Plaskett – Three (Halifax)
Pushing the Boundaries
Steve Dawson – Telescope (Vancouver)

Performer of the Week: Mike Allen (Guitar Case Mike)

Burlington boy, Mike Allen aka Guitar Case Mike, is a master of acoustic folk blues. His music combines deep-down folk music vocals, a bit of boogie, and the old delta blues of Robert Johnson and Leadbelly.

Throughout the years, this talented musician has played in Canada and the US. He performed in rock groups but has since returned to his acoustic roots.

On occasion, he teams up with bassist Bill Douglas as the Acoustic Boogie Duo.

In 2003, Mike released the CD, Blues, Boogie and Roots. He took classic folk/blues forms and added his own unique spin.

Links: MySpace, His CD, Acoustic Boogie Duo

Blues News Bites (Huron, Sawicki, Mayall)

Local

• Huron interview in View Magazine
  

World

• CNN iReport in the Blues
• Robert Johnson's home to be restored 
• Blues Musician Peter Lang needs help
• John Mayall's Bluesbreakers album with Clapton being reissued

Video

Justin Sawicki performs song from upcoming CD

Design Hope CD Release Party - Nov. 15, 2009 - Last Videos

Links: Part 1, CD Info and Part 2, 

Left to right: Christopher Clause, Zander Lamothe, Frank Koren.


----------

Links: Bob Bryden, More Bob Bryden Stories, Christopher Clause


----------

Left to right: Andrew Aldridge, Rob Lamothe, Zander Lamothe, Marrakech Koren

Design Hope Songwriter's Project - Love is Everything CD

Every year, around Christmastime, some of the best local artists gather to create an Incredible CD. On November 15, 2009, volume 4 of the Design Hope Songwriters Project was unleashed to the world. Proceeds from these amazing collections go to help feed and shelter the homeless.

This year's talent crop include, Christopher Clause, Fred D Smith, Isobelle Gunn, Josh Lamothe, Chris & Christa, Dan Medakovic, Kim Koren, Bob Bryden, Lisa Winn, Hailey Gillis, Amy King, Kori Pop, Shawn Brush, Jude Johnson, and Shelly Addams.

The CD will be available at the front desk of the Spectator, many local retailers, and through the Design Hope web site.

Click here for more Design Hope Stories.

Below are a few videos from the CD Release party - If you can't see the videos below, click here - Click here for the previous videos from the show. More will be posted soon.

Left to right: Christopher Clause, Zander Lamothe, Frank Koren


----------

Left to right: Amy King, Christopher Clause, Josh Lamothe, Zander Lamothe, Rob Lamothe


----------

Hailey Gillis (vocals, keys), Zander Lamothe (drums), Kim Koren (harmony vocals)

Performer of the Week: Backroom 11

R&B and soul are the specialties of this talented, Hamilton-based, 9-piece cover band. They can funk it up with a James Brown or Tower of Power tune; play it mellow with some Joe Cocker and Otis Redding; or rock it out to some Beatles and Stevie Ray.

You can definitely get some variety with Backroom 11 as a few of them take the lead vocal spot on different numbers.


Links: Main site, MySpace, Facebook

Design Hope CD Release Party - Nov. 15, 2009

Fred D Smith,(vocals), Karen Corinth (harmony vocal), Frank Koren (guitar, left), Zander Lamothe (drums), Christopher Clause (bass, right)


----------

Chris and Christa, Frank Koren (guitar, left), Amy King (keys), Zander Lamothe (drums), Christopher Clause (bass, right)


----------
Dan Medakovic (vocals), Colin Lapsley (keys), Kim Koren (harmony vocals), Zander Lamothe (drums), Michael Hickey (Trickbag, bass), Anthony Medakovic (guitar, right)


----------

Kim Koren (vocals), Frank Koren (guitar, left), Colin Lapsley (keys), Zander Lamothe (drums), Marrakech Koren (Bass, right)


----------

Jude Johnson and Randall Hil



------------

Click here to purchase/download any of the Design Hope CD or donate money to help the Out of the Cold program.

Blues News Bites (Neil Young, Canadian Heroes CD, Videos)

Canada

• BC Interior Music Award Winners
• Neil Young to reissue 1st 4 albums
• Leonard Cohen biography to be released in December
• Alex Tintinalli chosen to represent Grand River Blues Society at Memphis Youth Showcase 

World

• House of Blues podcasts: Rory Block talks about Bonnie Raitt, Bonnie Raitt talks about Fred McDowell

Videos
Canadian Heroes song released Nov 11


Jacob Moon covers Peter Gabriel (Video)


More Peter Gabriel covers/stories

Lee Harvey Osmond cover Neil Young

Performer of the Week: Chris White

Hamilton-born singer/songwriter Chris White has a long musical history. He started playing at 12, joined his first band in 1976, and shortly after, enrolled in the Humber College Jazz Program.

Later on, Chris provided background vocals and guitar for many performers, such as Glenn Campbell, Anne Murray.

All that impressive musical knowledge and experience culminated in a solo career and the release of his first album Three am in 2005. He's currently working on a follow up disc.

While his sound can be mainly classified as folk - Chris' superb songs also feature elements of jazz and pop.

Click here for his web site.

---------------------------------------------------

Previous (New John M. Crawford CD) - - - Next (Blues News Bites)

New John M. Crawford CD: Got Soul

John M. Crawford, of the band Strange Cargo, recently unleashed his solo CD, Got Soul.

The music is soulful, funky, and rockin'. From slow songs, fast songs and everything in between, there is something to please every type of blues lover.

Highlights include the catchy You Drive Me Baby Blues (written when he was 12), the delightful title track, and the wonderfully opinionated We Do Nothing.

The CD is available at Strange Cargo shows, Crash Landing (Ottawa St.), or by contacting John through his Facebook page.

Links: John M. Crawford, More John M. Crawford Stories

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

Blues News Bites (Kathleen Edwards, Stones, Videos)

Local

• New blog posts: Dave Rave
• Jacob Moon November Newsletter

International

• House of Blues podcasts: Rory Block, Sonny Rhodes
• Harmonica great Norton Bufallo (Steve Miller Band) passes
• Rolling Stones live CD gets Deluxe treatment
• Classic Rock Award Winners

Jacob Moon previews his upcoming CD on YouTube

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





-----------

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





----------

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