Blues Fans,
As you can see by the following pictures and attached links, the First Great Canadian Polar Bear Blues Showcase held at the Kooky Canuck in Memphis on February 2, 2012 was a huge success, with a full house taking in all 7 bands and 7 solo/duo acts representing 10 Canadian affiliates at the International Blues Challenge. A big thank you to Shawn Danko and the entire staff at the Kooky Canuck for being such gracious hosts and to Johnny Max who did a terrific job as MC for the event.
On behalf of the Ottawa and Montreal Blues Societies, I would like to express our appreciation to those who attended the event as well as the organizations listed below for their help in sponsoring the showcase. Also, please refer to the list of "Other Contributors" who helped make the showcase such a success.
We have received nothing but positive feedback, not only from those in attendance, but from the musicians themselves who appreciated another opportunity to play while in Memphis, as well as the opportunity to meet with and see their fellow Canadian musicians perform. One of the more important comments came from Jay Sieleman, Executive Director of the Blues Foundation, who expressed his expectations that we continue to organize this event as part of the IBC related activities.
We also ran a raffle at the showcase in support of the HART (Handy Artists Relief Trust) Fund and were proud to present the Foundation with the proceeds totalling $500.
I would like to thank Irene Ippersiel, President, Montreal Blues Society, and showcase co-organizer for putting this webpage together in addition to the wonderful graphic work she did on all of our promotional material. A big thanks also to another co-organizer, Liz Sykes, President, Ottawa Blues Society, for her work liaising with the musicians and producing the compilation CD of their music along with a number of other important tasks.
Once again, we thank you for your support and we look forward to doing it again next year.
Gary Paradis
Ottawa Blues Society
Chair – IBC Canadian Showcase |
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| Kooky Canuck's - 97 South 2nd Street Memphis, TN 38103 |
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| The fabulous Johnny Max hosted the event |
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Kevin Marcus Dillon - Collingwood Jazz & Blues Society (South Georgian Bay area, Ontario) |
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Click to see Channel 3 News' report of the event and a performance
of the Terry Gillespie Trio - Ottawa Blues Society (Ontario) |
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| The Roper Show - Loyal Blues Fellowship (Belleville area, Ontario) |
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| Jimmy and the Sleepers - Edmonton Blues Society (Alberta) |
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| David "Boxcar" Gates - White Rock Blues Society (British Columbia) |
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| Expat Shawn Danko - Proprietor of the Kooky Canuck |
Jay Sielman - Executive Director, The Blues Foundation |
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| A few familiar faces in the crowd |
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| Connor Gains Band - Grand River Blues Society (Waterloo, Ontario) |
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Gary Paradis, Ottawa Blues Society, Rob Pengelly of the Canadian Consulate General in Atlanta and Shawn Danko drawing prizes
Proceeds from the draws raised $500 for the Blues Foundation's HART Fund |
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| One of the draw prizes, keeping with the Polar Bear theme, donated by the Montreal Blues Society |
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| The residents must have noticed the unusual activity around their local eatery |
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| Ross Neilsen - Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival (Frederiction, New Brunswick) |
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| Kelly Prescott & Anders Drerup - Ottawa Blues Society (Ontario) |
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| Robbie Antone's Blues Machine - Great Lakes Blues Society (London, Ontario) |
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| Breezy Brian Gregg - Edmonton Blues Society (Alberta) |
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| The Fraser Melvin Blues Band - Collingwood Jazz & Blues Society (South Georgian Bay area, Ontario) |
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| Dawn Tyler Watson & Paul Deslauriers - Montreal Blues Society (Quebec) |
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| 24th Street Wailers - Toronto Blues Society (Ontario) |
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| VARIOUS LINKS ABOUT THE EVENT AND MORE PHOTOS: |
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| CKUA Radio Network (Alberta)- Grant Stovel |
| Channel 3 News (Memphis) |
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| OUR SPONSORS |
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