Some of the best blues musicians on the West Coast will be heading towards the many venues around scenic Pender Harbour on June 2, 3 and 4. Shows will run nightly at the Royal Canadian Legion in Madeira Park and they mark what’s great about the 14th annual Pender Harbour Blues Festival.
Simon Paradis with Gut Bucket Thunder opens the festival at the Harbour Spirit Centre at 4 p.m. where visitors can catch some barbecue along with their blues. The restaurant at the Painted Boat Resort offers dinner and a performance from songwriter/pianist David Vest on Friday and Saturday evening. You may not have tried the renovated Café at John Henry’s yet, and here’s your chance. Singer/songwriter and guitarist Jim Foster kicks off a dinner show there at 6 p.m.
Maple Blues award winner Steve Kozak with the Vancouver-based Grand Koolios and Dave Webb will take on the Friday night Legion event. Blues fest organizer Marilyn Macleod is happy with the way the Legion has opened up the festival to dancing. With 160 seats inside and a permanent stage for music acts, the venue is a winner.
Legion events are ticketed. Free shows start Saturday at noon at John Henry’s with Poppa Greg and the Chillin’ Dylans and also at the park behind the community hall with a bevy of blues musicians.
Diane Lines, the queen of jump and swing, can play just about anything, said Macleod. The piano player and vocalist will be performing Saturday evening at the Legion with saxophonist Karen Graves. The Upper Deck Cafe in Secret Cove opened for the season on Mother’s Day, and they will host a dinner show with Coast roots musician Joe Stanton on Saturday night.
Vancouver’s favourite party band, Brickhouse, is sold out already. If you have a ticket you will hear them rocking the Pender Harbour Community Hall on Saturday night.
Mad Park Bistro in The Harbour Spirit Centre will host Gary Gilbert with The Blue Line Trio on Saturday afternoon and also a quieter Sunday Brunch with Joe Stanton for those who partied too much the night before.
The Sunday Morning Gospel Show at the School of Music led by Dawn Pemberton and David Vest will feature the Pender Harbour Choir. Take in the ever-popular All Star Sunday Afternoon Jam at the Legion, hosted by Tim Hearsey, with many special guests including Karen Graves. Russian guitarist and electric blues performer Arsen Shomakhov closes Sunday evening at the Legion.
See ticket info and a schedule of events at www.penderharbourbluesfestival.com.
