Emily Burgess, Rick Fines, Paul Pigat & Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne

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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 crowd-pleasers, and get them to do a show for us on the way? So, we snagged some of these entertaining entertainers to entertain you just before they head over there . It's a simple but foolproof formula! This is the fifth year that we have presented this delightful showcase.

"One of the best shows of the year - EVERY Year!" says Brent Morrison, Host of the 'Rockin' Blues Show' on CJSF 90.1.

Emily Burgess
Emily graduated with honours from Humber College’s prestigious music program at twenty-two years old, majoring in guitar. Direct from the hallways to the roadways, Emily began touring Canada and the U.S with the Juno nominated 24th Street Wailers. Burgess wrote two songs and took guitar duties for their 2015 Juno Award nominated album “Wicked”.  Eight years and hundreds of shows later, she's fronting her own band, The Emburys, and playing guitar with many different acts across Canada. Emily has shared the stage and traded riffs with guitar greats Jimmie Vaughan, John Primer, Garrett Mason, Suzie Vinnick, Sue Foley, and Sam Weber, among others. As guitarist for the Women’s Blues Revue Band since 2014, Emily has had the opportunity to take her place alongside many of Canada’s top musicians at Toronto’s legendary Massey Hall every November. In 2017, Burgess released her debut solo album ‘Are We In Love?' CBC music journalist Bob Mersereau calls the album “Empowering” and “A Big Winner”. John Valenteyn of the Maple Blues Newsletter wrote “she has a knack for writing attractive tunes that feature her biting lead guitar…a combination not often heard”. He adds that the album is “Gorgeously produced”.

Rick Fines
Rick crafts a unique blend of warm-hearted blues, juke joint folk, and dockside soul that both embraces and defies the genres that influence him. As a veteran of the North American blues and folk circuits, he engages audiences with captivating songs, diverse guitar styling and his signature vocal growl. First gaining attention as part of the legendary Jackson Delta, he’s since released four solo albums, another with his own Rick Fines Trio, and a critically acclaimed disc with fellow troubadour Suzie Vinnick.  Along the way he has racked up both awards and accolades.  His 15-year stint with Jackson Delta received both Juno and Handy award nominations.  His partnership with Suzie garnered a Maple Blues Songwriter of the Year Award.  On his own, he’s pulled in two more Maple Blues Awards (for Solo Act of the Year), as well as an astonishing eight other nominations.  While his songwriting chops won him a 2003 International Songwriting Competition, he’s equally proficient on guitar – having played for legendary blues piano player Pinetop Perkins, songstress Colleen Peterson, folk icon Penny Lang, and many others. “The classic blues guitar picking and authentic-sounding vocals of Rick Fines were the sweetener ... an early opportunity to hear more would be welcome.” – The Herald, (Glasgow).

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). 

Kenny 'Blues Boss' Wayne
Kenny was born in Spokane, Washington in 1944. He had a nomadic childhood; his family moved from New Orleans to San Francisco to Los Angeles to Compton when he was young. Wayne's father was a preacher who encouraged his son to listen to gospel music, but his mother preferred the sounds of Nat King Cole, Little Willie John and Fats Domino, which sparked his early interest in blues and R&B. Kenny was inducted into the Boogie Woogie Piano Hall of Fame in Cincinnati, Ohio in 2017. In 1981, Wayne landed a job with an R&B group who had booked a tour of Canada, and after visiting Vancouver for the first time, he fell in love with the city and decided to relocate. He is now based in Kelowna. Starting in 1995, Kenny has released 14 albums, and is currently under contract to Edmonton's Stony Plain Records. He is recognized by Living Blues Magazine for his six-decade career of bringing the piano back to the front ranks of contemporary blues. This Juno Award winner, WCMA winner and multiple Maple Blues Award winner is at the forefront of modern day blues piano.

We have no official connection with the Hornby Island Blues Workshop. For more information about it, please see their web site here. They are celebrating their 22nd anniversary this year, and have recently received the 'Blues Booster of the Year' Maple Blues Award.

Our COVID-19 Policy: The Government of Canada issued a statement on January 27 2023 that said in part ... "As COVID-19 activity continues and hospitalizations remain elevated in Canada, layers of prevention, including keeping up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations and personal protective practises remain our best approach to reduce the risk of developing severe illness and limit the burden on the health system." We agree with this.

Sponsorship Opportunities: These are available 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. For more information simply contact our Sponsorship Director Morris Biddle at mobiddley@me.com