Tremblant Blues 2019 Guide

Short descriptions of all shows happening at the Festival International du Blues de Tremblant from July 5 to July 14, 2019, in chronological order. The festival will be welcoming musicians from the four corners of the world for 10 days of blues music, from its purest roots to its influence from R&B, soul, funk, country, folk and rock. Close to one hundred indoor and outdoor shows, most of them free, will be presented in a natural environment on 4 outdoor stages, in 8 participating resto-bars of the pedestrian village, at l’Église du Village church and at Casino de Mont-Tremblant, as well as Street Blues, jam sessions in unusual locations, surprise shows, blues’araoke and music workshops for the family. There is even going to be a workshop on how to make a good gumbo!

JP Soars was nominated for “Blues Rock Artist of the Year” in the 40th annual Blues Music Awards in 2019, alongside blues music heavyweights Billy Gibbons, Eric Gales, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Tinsley Ellis. Winner of 1st place in the Blues Foundation’s 2009 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN with his band the Red Hots (and the prestigious Albert King Award as best guitarist), he was at one time a heavy metal guitarist, and toured with metal bands, before turning to the Blues. As well as having his own band, JP also is a member, with his Red Hots drummer Chris Peet, Damon Fowler and Victor Wainwright, of the band Southern Hospitality. I have seen both of these projects a few times, and always look forward to seeing them when they come near us.

Castro Coleman, aka Mr. Sipp, the Mississippi Blues Child, is another winner of the International Blues Challenge, and the Albert King Award as best guitarist, in 2014, as well as BMA Best New Artist Album in 2016. He has roots in gospel, starting out with his family, and then forming his own band in the genre, before changing to the Blues. He played this festival in 2018, and was a huge hit with the fans. Castro know how to please the crowd with his shows. This is a great choice for headlining the opening night.

Infused with spontaneity and improvisation, Wang Dang Doodle delivers rocking rhythm and blues flavored with a touch of funk. The band, formed by former Eight Seconds member, Marc Parent, draws inspiration from Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan and funk classics of the seventies. Wang Dang Doodle (jargon for “party” in blues circles), brings the party to every performance.

Bywater Call is a seven-piece band led by the raw, powerful vocals of Meghan Parnell and the soulful slide guitar of Dave Barnes that harnesses the sounds of southern soul, blues and gospel. The band won the 2017 Merriam Music Emerging Artist Award, the 2017 TD Oakville Songs of Summer Festival Emerging Artist, and the 2018 Toronto Blues Society Talent Search.

Barbara Diab was born in Australia to Lebanese parents and grew up in Canada near the Detroit border. So, it makes sense that her musical background would encompass the Motown sound, as well as gospel and blues. Now calling Montréal home, she founded The Smoked Meat Band with her bass-playing husband, Pierre Lamontagne. With an immense vocal range, a raw and honest voice and an unparalleled passion for the music, this band is a great choice for starting off this series of “breakfast” shows in a café at the top of the hill.

Lance Anderson has an impressive resume. He’s a JUNO Award-winning producer, a musical director and a session piano and organ player for artists like Blackburn, Garth Hudson and Fathead. He’s the man behind the immensely popular touring productions of “The Last Waltz”, “Mad Dogs and Englishmen” and “Soulsville—The Music of Stax”.

Quisha Wint is an accomplished performer-songwriter-arranger in her own right. The product of a Jamaican home, she grew up listening to reggae, R&B, gospel and jazz. Her mesmerizingly soulful voice has made of her a sought-after session vocalist. She was a back-up vocalist for Jacksoul and her voice has also supported Matt Dusk, Maestro Fresh Wes and William Shatner.

It was in the late sixties that Mike Goudreau first picked up a guitar. His passion for playing was fueled by his love of the Beatles, the Stones, Chuck Berry and Albert King, as one might expect. But he was also influenced by Johnny Cash, Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra. That’s probably why Mike masters a wide range of musical styles, from blues to jazz, to rock. You have probably heard some of his compositions, even if you have never seen him live, as he has developed a solid reputation as a music writer for the visual arts mediums, like TV and film.

A second set with this duet, in case you did not get up early enough for the first one.

J.P. returns with his band for a show on a smaller, more intimate stage.

Doing the opposite of J.P. Soars, Bywater Call will be doing their second show on the big stage.

One more time for J.P. Soars on this stage.

So as well as opening the breakfast series, Barbara and her band will also open the series of shows happening on the BB King stage.

Drawing from influences that include James Brown, Prince, and his own family, AJ Ghent (pronounced “jent”) has a flair for creating a joyful sound that fuses rock, pop, funk and blues into something he calls “new blues”. His impassioned vocals are a perfect match for his sacred steel playing style that simultaneously evokes all that is sanctified and all that is profane. He has played with or opened for The Allman Brothers Band, Gov’t Mule, Robert Cray and Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, to name just a few. The energy and passion which resonates from AJ’s music, from the strum of the guitar and the conviction of the vocals, the pounding rhythm of the drums, to the thought provoking lyrics, is sure to be felt by any crowd. AJ aims to create an unforgettable experience for music lovers, with the hopes of taking them to a musical paradise. A little hip-shaking, finger snapping, head nodding is all you need for this tuneful travel excursion.

Marc Parent returns with the band to perform on the BB King stage.

When you think of New Orleans, the city’s foremost flambeaux-lit traditions of Mardi Gras, Bourbon Street, voodoo, Po’ boys, beads, gumbo, and Second Line undoubtedly come to mind. You can also count Big Sam’s Funky Nation amongst those NOLA treasures. Known for a boisterous blend of funk, jazz, rock, and hip-hop, nothing short of seismic live “experiences,” and a whole 

“By playing on these streets, you learn how to work your craft and entertain an audience,” exclaims Sam. “You can go to Juilliard and Berklee all you want, but they won’t teach you how to rock a stage. It comes naturally in New Orleans. I’ve been here my whole life and rocking these streets. Even during Hurricane Katrina, I drove nine hours from San Antonio every weekend for two years just to play live. The sound out here is unlike anything else in the world. It’s not just a figure of speech—there’s music going all night, literally.”

Mike’s second show with his band will be in one of the bars on this Saturday night full of bar shows.

This Ontario based band will be performing in another of the Saturday night bar shows.

Shane Murphy epitomizes the modern blues musician. He draws inspiration from blues masters of the past and from early rock and roll, funk, reggae and soul traditions. Over the course of his career as a Montréal music mainstay, he has opened for Buddy Guy, Adele, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Blue Rodeo. The singer-guitarist-songwriter has 3 full-length albums and 3 EPs under his belt, including Texas Sessions Vol. 1 produced by Big Sugar’s Gordie Johnson and recorded at Willie Nelson’s studio in Austin.

The last show for this year’s festival from this band will be at the Casino.

Sean Pinchin is a slide-guitar titan who turns heads with great riffs and catchy melodies. His music is at once familiar, drawing from the rich history of the blues, and original, unlike anything else you’ve heard. I first saw him at Trois-Rivières En Blues a few years back, and thoroughly enjoyed his playing style. One of Canada’s best blues slide guitarists, in my opinion.

Alfie Smith is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and songwriter with seven records to his credit. He has performed on stages from Sudbury to New Orleans. “Smith’s powerfully soulful voice and muscular playing never betrays its roots in the Mississippi Delta.” —Jason Schneider for Nightlife. Again, a great choice for the breakfast series.

The young Kitchener, Ontario native has garnered an enviable reputation as a passionate songwriter with a mature soul/rock voice. He’s also a talented guitar, piano and organ player. Although some have thought of him as a throwback to the ’60s (in the best possible way), his authentic sound captivates young and old alike. Weidinger is an old soul with a raspiness in his voice that commands attention.

Shane brings his show to the big stage.

A second set from Matt at the same stage as the first.

The duo brings the show to an outdoor stage.

Surrounded since her youth by ‘60s and ‘70s vibes, Maude Brochu has a kind of vintage aura that she marries perfectly with the sounds of today. Sometimes compared to Amy Winehouse or Susan Tedeschi, she also cites Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys, Alabama Shakes, The Black Keys and Gary Clark Jr. among her favourite artists. In a timeless universe where power and sensitivity are allies, Maude Brochu offers her take on the songs that you’ve always loved, that she loves and that your heart and ears will also love.

The duo performs their second set on the same outdoor stage.

Now based in Austin, Texas, Jo Hell is a Montréal bluesman with a Cajun soul. He launched his music career when he was 16 and soon formed his first band. With each passing year, the group’s reputation grew as did its number of gigs throughout Quebec. Hell and his band ventured to Austin for SXSW in 2006 and from there, they soaked in the sound of the Deep South, fusing it with their energetic rock sound.

Backed by some of Canada’s best blues and roots musicians, Lance Anderson and Matt Weidinger front Matchedash Parish. The all-star lineup comprised of nine musicians and three back-up singers features alumni from the bands of Al Green, Colin James, Lucky Peterson, The Barkays and Harry Connick Jr. It all adds up to a gospel and roots spectacular with all the fervour of a southern revival tent. I saw this band at the Blues Summit in Toronto earlier this year, and highly recommend seeing them live.

Rebecca & Megan Lovell began their musical careers in 2005 as teenagers with the formation of a bluegrass/Americana group, the Lovell Sisters, with their eldest sister, Jessica Lovell. After self-releasing two independent albums and touring successfully for four years - appearing on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion, the Grand Ole Opry, and performing at Bonnaroo Music Festival - the Lovell Sisters announced the group's disbandment in December 2009. In January 2010, Rebecca and Megan regrouped as Larkin Poe. "Larkin Poe" was the name of the sisters' great-great-great-great-grandfather. Packed with southern harmonies, their brand of roots rock and roll prompted National Public Radio in the US to call them “a sister act with staying power”. Their most recent release, Venom & Faith, reached the top spot on Billboard’s blues album chart. This is a show you do not want to miss.

The Sunday night bar shows include one from Jo Hell.

Bar shows also include Shane Murphy.

Mike Goudreau and his band round out the bar shows for this Sunday night.

Sean Pinchin & Alfie Smith - 12:00 - Scène Promenade Deslauriers Stage

This duo moves their show up to the Deslauriers stage to start the Monday shows.

Joanna Connor became a viral phenomenon when a video of her scorching slide guitar solo from the 2014 North Atlantic Blues Festival was viewed over 1.4 million times (if you haven’t seen it yet, do yourself a favour and go find it). Hailing originally from Worcester, Massachusetts (not exactly a hotbed for the blues), Joanna credits her mom for her early musical education: “I heard Buddy Guy and Taj Mahal when I was a kid and got into the more obscure artists as I went on. And I saw all the Chicago bands who came through town.” She eventually relocated to Chicago where she learned from the best, including James Cotton, Junior Wells and Buddy Guy. Another not to be missed show, especially for guitar aficionados.

Whether he’s performing solo or fronting his group, MonkeyJunk, Steve Marriner is a powerhouse. He’s a multi-instrumentalist who gained notoriety as a harmonica player and singer. His music blends roots, soul and blues to deliver songs with great depth, grounded in authenticity. Marriner has graced top festival and club stages throughout Canada, the U.S., Europe and Australia to great critical and fan acclaim.

He has already revealed himself as a blues harp player to watch. His singing and playing style are reminiscent of some of his heroes, including Sonny Boy Williamson and Little Walter. He credits his early immersion in the blues to his music-loving father, which may explain how such a young musician can create music with so much maturity. Shawn will be appearing with the Shawn McPherson Band and in an intimate performance with blues guitar veteran, Henri Breton.

Maude’s second show takes place on this more intimate stage.

Jamiah Rogers has rapidly risen within the ranks of Chicago blues artists to be among the city’s favourites. With two albums recorded with The Jamiah Rogers Band plus one solo outing, Blues Superman, released last fall, Jamiah has toured extensively throughout the U.S. and has performed at many prestigious festivals in North America and Europe. A young man that is showing that the Blues is in good hands for the future.

Acoustic blues takes centre stage as Sean Pinchin and Alfie Smith, Steve Marriner, Joanna Connor, Shawn McPherson Band, Maude Brochu pay tribute to this traditional form. Set in a songwriter’s circle environment, the Acoustic Summit has become a Monday night highlight on the Casino Stage at Place Saint-Bernard.

Hot on the heels of the release of her sixth album entitled Mad Love, festival favourite Dawn Tyler Watson returns to the Tremblant stage this year. Her impressive awards and accolades include top honours at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in the band category, a Screaming Jay Hawkins Award for Best Live Performance, a Trophée France Blues for female International Artist of the Year and several Quebec Lys Blues and Maple Blues awards.

Montréal blues harp hero Carl Tremblay got his first harmonica when he was just 13 and a lifelong passion was ignited. He soon headed for California where he crossed musical paths with Joe Cocker, The Blues Brothers, Etta James and Buddy Miles. He then moved on to Chicago and Europe before returning to his homeland. Ever since, he has been an important presence on the Quebec blues , performing with the likes of Gerry Boulet, Marjo, and Vic Vogel.

Shane is back at a different bar on this night.

Joanna joins the bar show ranks. 

Shawn and his band play in a bar show.

Big Time Lew is Quebec’s boogie-woogie piano king with a soul-tinged voice. Along with his musicians, The Screamin’ Rockets, Lew transports his audience back to the era of convertibles with tailfins, jukeboxes and bobby socks, when the soundtrack was supplied by rock and roll greats like Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Elvis and Ray Charles. Blues, swing, boogie-woogie and rock and roll fans are sure to be thrilled by Big Time Lew’s classic covers and top-notch original compositions.

Hailing from the Algonquin reserve of Kitigan Zibi, Quebec, Odjick went from small town living with very little exposure to live music to teaching himself harmonica and starting his own blues band. With a fat swinging rhythm section and a blistering harmonica, Lyle Odjick & The Northern Steam jumped from a few club shows to the festival stages of Calabogie Blues & Ribfest, RBC Ottawa Bluesfest, JUNOfest, as well as Ottawa’s Westfest and has opened for heavy-hitting blues acts such as Colin James, Randy Bachman, MonkeyJunk, Paul Reddick and many more.

Lew and the band perform a second show, this time on the Deslauriers stage. 

Backing Dawn Tyler Watson, the Ben Racine Band won the 2017 International Blues Challenge held in Memphis. During the same competition, Ben walked away with the Albert King Award for guitar player of the year. The band’s lineup features a tight rhythm section with François Dubé on bass, Nicky Estor on drums, Charles Trudel on keys, plus a fantastic horn section, in addition to Ben on vocals and guitar. It’s a recipe for unbeatable blues, soul and R&B.

Shawn does another show, this time at the Vieux-Tremblant Stage.

The Hammond organ is an all-too-often overlooked instrument in the blues, relegated to the guitar and the harp’s shadows. Lachy Doley is rectifying that injustice. He first caught the world’s attention when his “Stop Listening to the Blues” video went viral on Facebook. It now has more than 4.3 million views. The celebrated blues-soul-rock organ player has been called the Jimi Hendrix of Hammond. Like the Jimi Hendrix Experience, the Lachy Doley Group is a power trio, augmented by drummer Jackie Barnes and bassist Joel Burton.

Joanna Connor & Jamiah Rodgers - 19:15 - Casino Stage - Place Saint Bernard

Two Chicago based powerhouse guitar forces join together to perform. This should be quite a show.

Take a trip back to August 1969 as Quebec band The Porn Flakes pay tribute to the legendary festival on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. Relive some of Woodstock’s most memorable performances, including songs by Joe Cocker, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, Sly and The Family Stone, Janis Joplin, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and many more.

Late night bar show for Jamiah and his band.

Fourth show in two days for this band, this time in one of the bars.

Dan Livingstone has been receiving acclaim from musicians and audiences alike as an exceptional fingerstyle guitar player and an engaging performer. Drawing inspiration from roots blues and ragtime acts of the 1930s, The Griffintown Jug Addicts recreates the ambiance of that lost era in music when simplicity and fun were what really mattered when making music. The group reflects and reinvents these traditions in its own unique voice. 

Pat Loiselle is a talented multi-instrumentalist (guitar, harp, banjo, dobro and even kazoo) who has opened for the likes of Dutch Mason, Robert JR Lockwood and Magic Slim. Drawing from the delta blues, Cajun two-step and fingerstyle guitar instrumentals, Pat offers a show that guarantees a good time for all. Pat Loiselle will perform with The Pat Loiselle Band and with Montréal blues and jazz guitarist, Martin Hury.

Dan and his great guitar playing will be on display at the Deslauriers stage.

A semifinalist at this year’s International Blues Challenge in Memphis, the Justin Saladino Band is one of those rare revelations that leaves a lasting impression with audiences. It’s an act that is dynamic, original and versatile. The band’s music explores a colourful musical palette, transitioning effortlessly from wailing blues riffs to smoother R&B textures and back again.

Since being named the festival favourite at the 2013 edition of the Tremblant International Blues Festival, Miche Love has continued her ascent on the Quebec blues . Along with The Atomic Bullets, she won the Band of the Year Award at Jive Fest in 2016 and made audiences sit up and take notice at the 2019 Blues Summit in Toronto. Her jump blues-swing-rockabilly band The Sugar Darlings, featuring guitarist Warren Gross, drummer Danick Tardif and bassist Olivier Prud’homme, consistently thrills crowds wherever it performs.

Formed in Montréal in 2011, The Snyders is a family blues-roots band that pulls deeply from many styles of music. The family unit is comprised of blues-rocker Southside Denny Snyder on vocals and lead guitar, his daughter Lorrie Snyder on vocals and bass and his son Phil Snyder on the drums. Inspired and influenced by their father’s musical talent, the siblings took interest at an early age and began to hone their craft until they were able to join him and form a band. They have three albums to their credit and have played at numerous festivals, including the Kalamazoo Blues Festival, the World’s Largest Block Party in Columbus, Indiana, the Kincardine Summer Music Festival and Bluesfest.

Lachey brings the Hammond B3 and his band to the big stage.

Lew and band play BB King stage.

Xavier Amin Dphrepaulezz, better known by his stage name Fantastic Negrito, is an American singer-songwriter whose music spans blues, R&B, and roots music. His 2016 album The Last Days of Oakland won a Grammy award for Best Contemporary Blues Album at the 60th Grammy Awards. In 2019, his album Please Don't Be Dead won the same category for the 61st Grammy Awards. When you listen to Fantastic Negrito, you’re invited to hear the story of life after destruction. Each song is a real story about a musician from Oakland who experienced the highs of a million dollar record deal, the lows of a near fatal car accident that left him in a coma, and is now in the midst of a rebirth that took him from the streets of Oakland to the Grammy stage. On the way he won the Nation Public Radio (NPR) Tiny Desk Contest and toured the world, playing alongside artists ranging from Chris Cornell to Solange to Sturgill Simpson. ”The last album was more observational,» says Negrito. «On this one I’m bringing the fight.»

An avid disciple of Stevie Ray Vaughan and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Dwane calls his style “Rockin’ Roadhouse Blues”, but you’ll probably call it loads of fun. Dwane is a genuine blues-rock ambassador championing the sounds of the ’60s and ’70s. A true road warrior, he plays an average of 200 gigs per year and it shows in his mastery of performance and showmanship.

Now it is Justin’s time to join the bar shows.

Pat kicks off the Thursday shows at Deslauriers stage.

Another of Montreal’s great list of talented blues musicians, Riot and The Blues Devils were formed in 2001. The three-piece combo plays the blues with a rockabilly attitude they have dubbed “blues-a-billy”. Inspired by Slash of Guns N’ Roses, Riot got heavily into music at a young age and picked up his first Gibson Les Paul. He started working the Montréal club , playing covers ranging from Pantera to Ray Charles. With time, his musical tastes broadened with his discovery of the twang sound unique to the Telecasters of Muddy Waters, Danny Gatton and Roy Buchanan. Riot soon made the switch from Les Paul to Telecaster. The band now has three studio albums to their credit plus a live CD/DVD set. Get ready to experience the “blues-a-billy” sound of Riot and the Blues Devils.

Pat Loiselle moves to the Deslauriers stage.

“The next big name in blues: Thorbjørn”—Blues Wax Magazine

Back in 2003, Thorbjørn Risager handpicked some of his favourite musicians to join him. The group, that would eventually adopt the moniker Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado, has been playing together ever since. Risager’s guitar-playing and songwriting prowess are matched only by his powerful voice. The band has been touring and recording consistently through the years with notable stops throughout Europe, Canada and at Mumbai’s Mahindra Blues Festival, where they shared the stage with none other than Buddy Guy.

Dwane takes a turn on this stage.

Jim Zeller’s career, which spans over forty years, is dotted by many highlights. They include tours in France, Japan and Spain, and playing with B.B. King, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Bob Dylan, all of which are a testament to his incredible talents as a harmonica player, singer and performer.

Steve Strongman has an impressive list of awards to his credit, including a JUNO Award for Blues Recording of the Year, several Maple Blues awards and this year, the top honours as Best Guitarist (Solo/Duo) at the International Blues Challenge. When you hear him perform, it’s easy to understand why so much acclaim has been heaped upon him. He’s always energetic, incredibly inventive, original and versatile. With the release of his latest album, 7, in May, Strongman is back with an even stronger fire in his belly.

Miche and band will give a second show at BB King stage.

You know you’re doing something right when Joe Bonamassa calls you “one of the best, if not the best guitar player in the world”. That’s what he had to say about Eric Gales. Eric picked up his distinctive left-handed upside-down playing style from his brothers Eugene and Little Jimmy King. By the time he was 16, he had his first major-label recording contract with Elektra Records and Guitar World Magazine’s Reader’s Poll proclaimed him “best new talent” of 1991. Fifteen more albums would follow, including his latest, Bookends, which features the talents of Beth Hart, Doyle Bramhall II and B. Slade. This is a definite must-see for this year’s festival.

Jim’s second show, at one of the bars.

Steve moves his band to a bar for a show.

Riot and band go up the mountain to the Casino for a late show.

The breakfast at the café series returns with Adam Karch, who has a raw talent that was evident from the first time he picked up the guitar at an early age. By age 14, he was fronting bands, headlining clubs, and dazzling audiences with both his spirited guitar playing and soulful singing. His first album "Crossroad Diaries" (Justin Time Records 2002) was an exciting compilation of original songs that highlighted Adam's impressive range and exceptionally fiery guitar playing. Another good choice for this series.

Spencer MacKenzie has a deep, truthful blues sound full of soul. Blues Blast Magazine exclaimed that “his guitar playing is crisp and clean even as it delivers some down-to-the-bone licks”. He has taken home several awards for his talent, including New Artist of the Year at the Maple Blues Awards and Blues Artist of the Year at the Niagara Music Awards.

Joining Spencer and his band will be nineteen-year-old Gavin McLeod. He’s a singer, songwriter, blues guitar player and YouTube personality from Milton, Ontario. He has been performing for over ten years. In 2019 he released his first project, The Hollow EP, and showcased his songs at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

The former late-night radio host of “Blues with Endy” puts his music scholar talents into practice as the leader of The Sandwiches. Endrick’s guitar, harp and vocals are supported by Greg “The Mac” McEvoy (guitar and vocals), Mandela Coupal Daigleflesh (drums), Simon Ethier (bass) and Elyze Venne Deshaies (saxophone). As they like to proclaim, they are just a bunch of kids trying to emulate the sound of Hooker and Muddy’s boogie and blues.

Spencer moves to Deslauriers stage for his second show.

While still in his teens, Hayden Fogle achieved the kind of success that many lifelong musicians only dream of. He has shared the stage with the likes of Buddy Guy, James Cotton and Robert Randolph. In 2018, he walked away with the Lee Ritenour/Yamaha Music International Guitar Honours in the blues category. Hayden Fogle will take the stage fronting the Hayden Fogle Band and in an intimate performance with Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, the guitar wunderkind who appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”, “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” and now can be seen on Spike Lee’s Netflix series “She’s Gotta Have It”.

Anderson is the subject of the three Kings: Albert, B.B. and Freddie. He also cites Peter Green, Keith Richards, Tom Petty and Jeff Buckley. On the heels of the release of Out of My Head, his second album, he has hit the road, opening for Gary Clark Jr. in Australia, appearing at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis, the Redondo Beach Music Series and, of course, the Tremblant International Blues Festival.

Endrick now moves to the BB King stage for their second show.

The trio that makes up the Paul DesLauriers Band, Alec McElcheran on bass, Sam Harrisson on drums, and guitarist and singer Paul DesLauriers, have been playing together for close to 20 years in one form or another. It has led to a musical kinship based on mutual respect and a deep friendship. Together, they have the uncanny ability to deliver guitar-driven rock numbers with a distinctive blues backbeat that’s always sure to thrill any crowd. With several prestigious awards under their collective belt, including Maple Blues awards and Quebec Lys Blues awards, they return to the 2019 edition of the Tremblant International Blues Festival to once again shake the foundations.

Born out of a production created especially for the RIFF exhibit at the Musée de la Civilisation in 2010, the show is an exploration of the history and roots of the blues. Experience what it was like to be present in a southern juke joint where people gathered and played music, often using makeshift instruments cobbled together from household items like washboards and broomsticks. It’s a boisterous and joyful celebration of freedom and the birth of the blues.

Formed by actor and musician Raoul Bhaneja during the swing and jump revival in Toronto of the late ‘90s, Raoul and The Big Time is one of the most highly regarded and awarded blues acts in Canada. In January 2018, the seven-piece band travelled to Memphis and reached the semifinals in the International Blues Competition against over 250 artists from around the world. They have entertained audiences across Canada, performing at major festivals including the Vancouver Folk Festival, the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival and the Montréal International Jazz Festival.

Adam does his second show, this time at the church in the village.

Since launching her musical career in 2009, singer-guitarist-songwriter Samantha Fish has been acclaimed as a rising star on the contemporary blues . Always interested in exploring new territories, her talents as a songwriter have matured with each release, while her interpretive skills have grown increasingly electrifying. The New York Times called Fish “an impressive blues guitarist who sings with sweet power” and “one of the genre’s most promising young talents”. I saw her last year at Trois-Rivières En Blues, and can honestly say this is another must-see show for this festival.

Carl returns for another bar show.

This young duo does a bar show, with a cover charge.

Jim brings his show to a bar again, this time with a $10 cover.

Spencer will be at Fat Mardis on this Friday night.

Singer/composer Mark Leclerc founded Fuel Junkie with fellow music students in 2014. The concept was simple yet innovative: bringing the sax section to the fore with modern arrangements. Their blues is influenced by the sounds of soul and funk music. Every Fuel Junkie show is full of standout moments and surprises thanks to the creative interactions between band members. I like horns a lot in my Blues, so these guys are one of my favorite Quebec based bands. I also really like the fact that they rarely do covers, almost all of the content of their sets are original tunes.

Endrick And The Sandwiches - 10:00 - Café Johannsen

I doubt the entire band will be performing for this one. If so, attendees will be sure to be awakened! As is usually the case, I am guessing this will be a duo or trio show. 

Adam performs on the more intimate and close up Deslauriers stage.

The idea for Blue Standard came to Raoul Bhaneja of Raoul and The Big Time when he was passing by the famous Capitol Records building in Los Angeles. He wanted to explore his favourite standards, some familiar and some not so familiar, as performed by his greatest influences which include the under-appreciated Joe Williams as well as Nat King Cole, Chet Baker, Jimmy Scott and others. He contacted Jesse Whiteley, a young pianist and arranger, who quickly came on board. After a few gigs, they recorded their debut, A Good Thing, live off the floor with no overdubs. The Jazz Music Blog called Blue Standard “a stylish and accomplished collaboration that is solid and finely calibrated”. This should be very interesting.

Adam performs once more on the Deslauriers stage.

After their first show at the church in the village, this group will be on site for a performance.

Spencer and band take the main stage at the top of the hill.

For their last scheduled show, one more time at this stage.

When you meet her, Jenie Thai is composed, pleasant, amiable, friendly, and — she won’t like the word but you have to live with it — sweet. She has an open face, long blonde hair, a ready smile and an easy laugh. And she is also tough, and gritty, and plays barrelhouse piano steeped in the blues — and if that wasn’t enough to get your head around, she also writes and sings tough and tender ballads, direct from her heart to yours.

Classically trained at first, she attended Grant MacEwen University’s jazz and contemporary music program. Her song “Only the Moon” received considerable airplay on CBC Radio and on stations south of the border. She’s performed everywhere from the prestigious stage of Toronto’s Massey Hall to tough bars like the Horseshoe. Thai is a singer-songwriter-musician who draws inspiration from a wide breadth of artists like Tom Waits, Nina Simone, traditional blues musicians, ‘60s R&B legends and current indie acts.

This is Hamish’s turn on the big stage.

After playing the late night show at the Casino, this band heads to this stage for a show.

Six time winner of the Maple Blues Female Vocalist of the Year, and a Maple Blues Songwriter of the Year, a star on the Canadian blues for more than 2 decades with 10 albums to her name, Angel Forrest is truly a force of nature. Her rise to prominence dates back to her flawless Janis Joplin tribute show. Angel and her band were also finalists in the band category at the 2018 International Blues Challenge in Memphis.

Christian Malette received his formal training in jazz and big band arrangements at CEGEP Saint-Laurent and at the Université de Montréal, but his blues education took place on the road as a member of Bob Walsh’s band for ten years. He also backed Quebec rocker Marjo for six years. Now, he’s up front as the singer and leader of his own swinging, rocking big band.

Carl is back for another bar show.

Hamish takes a turn with a bar show.

Jim at a bar for his last scheduled show. But I am pretty sure he will be at the big closing jam session.

The young Rivière-du-Loup, Quebec, native won the jury prize at the Festiblues de Montréal’s La Relève en Blues competition, which brought him to the prestigious Blues-sur-Seine Festival of Mantes-la-Jolie, in France. His unique fingerpicking style has earned him comparisons with Ry Cooder and Harry Manx. Denis’ music is anchored in the acoustic roots genre while taking bold steps towards Chicago and Louisiana-based blues. Another great choice for the breakfast series.

The Respectables frontman, Seb Plante, takes a break from his rock and roll band to go back to his roots. When he was 20 years old, he visited the cradle of the blues in Mississippi and New Orleans and those ghosts have haunted him ever since. Seb’s Music Shop is his one-man-band solo project that allows him to delve into the heart and soul of the blues and its progeny, rock and roll.

Seb’s second show. Yes, it looks blank in between, but there are workshops and surprise shows in there.

The harmonica wiz takes to the outdoor stage this time.

An avid disciple of Stevie Ray Vaughan and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Dwane calls his style “Rockin’ Roadhouse Blues”, but you’ll probably call it loads of fun. Dwane is a genuine blues-rock ambassador championing the sounds of the ’60s and ’70s. A true road warrior, he plays an average of 200 gigs per year and it shows in his mastery of performance and showmanship. Another of my favorite local bands.

After the breakfast show, Denis moves to this outdoor stage for a show.

Stante says that he sings, writes songs and plays guitar as a means to express himself: “Playing blues rock music allows me to get in touch with my innermost feelings. It takes me away from the drudges of everyday life.” He has already released three records, One Way Back, Man Out of Time and At It Again. Catch him performing live and you’ll also be transported away from the mundane.

Jenie gets the last show on the big stage before the final jam session.

The jam session is the outdoor blowout finale of the festival and it’s always filled with great performances, unexpected collaborations, and maybe even a few surprise guests. On stage: Carl Tremblay, Jenie Thai, Dwane Dixon, Lily Thibodeau, Denis Viel, Seb Plante and Angel Forrest.

Carl is one of two performers doing bar shows on this final night of the festival.

Dwane and band is the second of the last bar shows.