Some like classical music, others like classic rock, but mostly everyone likes the blues. It comes from a deep place inside us and has a groove that’s close to our heartbeat. Hundreds of fans sat in the sun at John Henry’s and at Madeira Park last weekend to hear the Pender Harbour Blues Festival give free performances from the likes of the Blue Line Trio and Brandon Isaak.
Tim Hearsey, guitar genius, was on stage for almost all of Saturday’s shows, sometimes accompanied by the Grand Koolios, the Blues Festival’s house band.
Organizer Marilyn MacLeod was thrilled by the turnout, calling it a record number of concert goers. The popular gospel show on Sunday was sold out ages ago. “It was also the amazing performances by all the musicians,” she said. “Stellar moments were made during the weekend.”
Jim Foster is a veteran of the music scene – he’s played all over the world and we’ve seen him perform locally at the Lighthouse Pub and 101 Brewhouse now that he lives on the Coast. He really rocked when he played with Hearsey and keyboardist Peter van Deursen.
Al Foreman showed that the blues has a sense of humour with his original song, “You Used to Be My Dream But Now You’re My Nightmare.” At the Harbour Spirit stage Poppa Greg and the Chillin’ Dylans caught the blues edge of Beatles and other rock tunes.
When Kenny ‘Blues Boss’ Wayne came out on stage at the community hall decked out in a baby blue outfit with twinkling shoes to match, the audience shifted from their seats at once and danced. The blues boss got right down to it at the piano and gave a longish first set of boogie-woogie with only a few pauses for breath.
“That’s the great thing about here,” said the energetic, suntanned woman opposite me at the table. “People come from all over for this, but when they get up and dance it’s a real community.”
At the Legion that same evening Al Foreman featured New Orleans style music.
“How Al was able to play the keyboards, sing and conduct a group that he doesn’t regularly play with,” said one fan, “is one of those musical mysteries which I’ll never understand.” It was very danceable music and local saxophonist Karen Graves was met with wild applause. Keep the website handy (www.phblues.ca) for word of next year’s festival.
