Hornby Blues

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The Hornby Island Blues Workshop takes place every spring on Hornby Island. Each year they invite a dozen or so of the finest Canadian blues and roots musicians around to share their knowledge and inspiration with some lucky students. We thought - why not catch some of these great players, singers and all-round entertainers, and get them to do a show for us on the way? One of Vancouver's own teams up with three of the best from the rest of Canada. It's a simple but foolproof formula! This is the third year that we have presented this delightful showcase. 

As if this concert wasn't special enough, three of the four musicians will be bringing along freshly released CDs with them. Tim, Michael and Paul all have put out new material in the past few months.

Cécile Doo-Kingué 
An exceptional stage presence, guitarist / singer-songwriter Cécile blends blues, afro-roots and soul to create a unique sound. Born and raised in New York City, first generation from Cameroon, she has lived in the USA, France, and is now an adopted Montrealer. Considered one of Canada’s most electrifying and versatile guitarists, she has explored blues, roots and life in their myriad of aspects, earning her accolades and multiple Maple Blues Award nominations for her exceptional guitar playing, soulful vocals, and powerful songwriting. Cécile Doo-Kingué is quickly earning a stellar reputation and a place alongside Canada’s current roster of great guitarists. Powerful and raw, Cécile Doo-Kingué’s guitar prowess, lyrics, and sound make for enthralling and intimate communion. "Full of sophisticated musicianship and striking lyricism." - Living Blues Magazine. Read an article here written Alexander Varty about Cécile in the Georgia Straight. 

Tim Williams
Tim Williams is a blues-based singer / songwriter / multi - instrumentalist. He is a 40 year veteran of the roots music scene in North America, roots which stretch back to the coffee-house scene of his native California in the mid 60's. Imagine, if you can, a front porch where Robert Johnson, Hank Williams, Hula Hattie, Flaco Jimenez and Bob Marley meet often and discover just how much they have in common.  Tim's music would fit right in. Settling in Canada in 1970, Tim is a studio musician, producer, and a performer in constant demand. He has played Folk / Blues / Jazz festivals and concert halls and clubs from Halifax, to Vancouver Island, to the Yukon. Inspired by the Hillbilly and Western Swing music he heard as a child, Tim absorbed late Fifties Rhythm & Blues and Rock & Roll, Hawaiian and Mexican music, early Sixties Folk, and Bluegrass “like a sponge” before discovering a passion for traditional blues styles which was fueled by seeing many first generation blues musicians live during the Blues Boom of the mid and late Sixties. NEW RELEASE: 'Corazones Y Murrallas'.

Paul Pigat
What kind of music do you want Paul to play? Blues? Jazz? Gospel? Bluegrass? Punk? Classical? Metal? Rockabilly? Western Swing? Something unique, say Mel Torme meets AC/DC? He could do it, and he could it well, he's that kind of guy. Paul Pigat can play just about every style and technique imaginable, with a modern twist that is both fluid and precise, and is without fail exhilarating in its intensity. Diversity in a musician is always a bonus, but of course at a blues concert Paul will narrow the scope for sure, to focus on his brand of country meets bebop blues and traditional delta finger style. With his rockabilly heart and his hobo soul this self admitted guitaraholic is like a pitbull on a bone when it comes to practicing his craft. “Hot enough to raise sweat on a chunk of granite!” - Monday Magazine. "His lead guitar is stunning and the generous breaks bristle with invention and at times are lightning fast.” - Now Dig This (UK). NEW RELEASE: Boxcar Campfire - 'The Game'.

Michael Jerome Browne
MJB is a three-time Canadian Folk Music Award winner, Maple Blues Award winner (32 nominations since 1999), Kerrville (Texas) New Folk Finalist, four-time Juno Award nominee in both the Roots/Traditional and Blues categories. He's a multi-instrumentalist, a songwriter, and a living encyclopedia of American roots music. Whether he's gliding a slide across his national guitar, pulling his bow over the fiddle strings to play a lively Cajun waltz, or frailing away on his gourd banjo, Michael's passion and virtuosity always shine through. In the true tradition of folk music, his performances inspire us to see the interconnections between the many cultures and influences that gave birth to American roots music, gospel, blues, old-time, country, soul and Cajun, expect to hear all of this and more from a performer who's been called a street-smart archivist and an absolute treasure. A musician's musician, when he isn't performing his own material he is in demand backing up and recording with other artists, most notably Eric Bibb, whose Grammy nominated CD “Migration Blues” he co-produced and played on. "Arguably the finest acoustic blues artist in this country.” - The Globe and Mail. NEW RELEASE: 'That's Where It's At!'

We have no connection with the Hornby Island Blues Workshop. For more information about it, please see their web site here. They are celebrating their 20th Anniversary this year, and have just been given the 'Blues Booster of the Year' award by the folks at Maple Blues.

The Rogue Folk Club is pleased to provide great Sponsorship Opportunities for all our shows. For a nominal cost, individuals or businesses can sponsor any of our shows and reap a number of benefits - free tickets, reserved table, recognition on literature, our web site and at the concerts. Find out more here, or simply contact our Sponsorship Director Morris Biddle at mobiddley@me.com