Last weekend's Pender Harbour Blues Festival drew full houses to every event.
"We're a success," said organizer Marilyn MacLeod, with only slight surprise. Like other volunteers and directors, she worked all weekend and was loving it.
By the time this reporter arrived on Sunday, many positive reports had come in - especially from the Grass-hopper Pub (WillieMcCalder) and the Painted BoatResort (Diane Lines with her piano and vocal stylings).
Highlights of Saturday's free concerts included Steve Hinton on harp, Gary "Dr. Fun" Gilberton harp and guitar, Mark Crissinger on acoustic guitar and GregSlauenwhite on guitar.Peter Van Deursen, Sully Antonik and PatHaavisto provided backup to many musicians throughout the day,highlighting the tightness of the blues community on the Coast.
Saturday's events were further enlivened when, while performing, Gilbert (successfully) asked Tani Schwarz to marry him.
On Sunday, most of the community was still recovering from Saturday night's dance. "I love the band, Brickhouse," said Cindy Cantelon, still dancing while working her Sunday shift at the Copper Sky Café.
At the Gospel Experience concert, show stopper Dawn Pemberton, along with her singing colleague Tom Pickett, gave up her amazing gospel renditions, throwing the audience into a clapping, foot tapping, feel good frenzy and upstaging Blues Fest headliner Diane Lines, who accepted the fact with good humour. Pemberton has been singing since she was a child and professionally for the last 10 years. She met Lines and Pickett when they joined the Universal Gospel Choir in Vancouver.
By reputation, the All-Star Jam is the one not to miss. The Garden Bay Pub was packed on a Sunday afternoon. McCalder on keyboards led off with Tim Hearsey on guitar, festival organizer Van Deursen on organ, Chris Nordquist on drums and Rob Becker on bass.
The Russian sensation Arsen Shomakhov came on stage "direct from Moscow and Powell River" to tear up a few good ones. His band's bass player, Bruce O'Neill, screwed up his face like Popeye the sailor man, spun his bass and did acrobatics to add visuals to the concert. It was pure rock with some new takes on old tunes.
Over the white wine and the yam fries, my table mate told me that she had been on hand when Johnny Ferreira and his saxophone packed the Garden Bay Pub on Friday.
"That was a good show," she said, "but the Gary Comeau concert was " - she searched for the right word - "exceptional."
And when Comeau turned up at the All-Star Jam, he was indeed exceptional, brimming with stage presence and playing blues, Cajun music and a distinctly Celtic reel. Dancers on the deck struck up a spontaneous jig.
Sunday night's boogie woogie blues roundup was "more fun than one man should have," reported Crissinger. "Willie McCalder sat in for a few tunes and even tag teamed the piano with Diane. She was elated!"
Thanks go to Van Deursen who made every musician welcome. Special thanks also to the many sponsors and to Ron Johnston and Marita Jokela, whose ongoing support for live musicensures great performances year round.
-With files from Ted McNichol
