For the 18th consecutive year, some of the best musicians from around the world and around the block will be arriving in Thorold the week after Thanksgiving.
The Canal Bank Shuffle Blues Festival has put Thorold on the musical map, from Nanaimo to Memphis, and from Manchester to San Francisco. Beginning in 2002, the festival has attracted performers from these four points and many, many more. As one of the prizes at the International Blues Challenge (IBC), held each year in Memphis, Tennessee, a spot in Thorold’s festival has become a coveted bonus.
Organizer Tim Sinnett takes several trips a year to some of the world’s biggest blues gathering to ensure Thorold is on their minds, and to recruit performers for the blues events that happen in Thorold on a regular basis. Those events have now grown beyond even the Shuffle as Blues on the Battlefield is a summertime outdoor festival hosted by Thorold, and several one-night concerts throughout the year that feature top names who have added Thorold to their touring schedule.
In fact, the next two weeks will see two such events. First, on Oct. 10, international recording artists Nick Moss and Dennis Geunling will play a show at Holy Rosary Hall. One week after the Thorold event, Moss and Geunling are headed to Europe on tour to appear in Luxembourg, France, the Netherlands and Denmark.
As they embark on that tour on Oct. 17, The Canal Bank Shuffle will be kicking off at Holy Rosary Hall and continue through the weekend at various downtown venues.
Headlining the show will be an all-star band led by Blues Hall of Famer, Johnny Rawls, backed by musical director Lance Anderson and former Fathead members Teddy Leonard on guitar and Omar Tunnoch on bass along with Ted Peacock on drums, Howard Moore on trumpet, and Allison Young on sax. They will be performing the music of the legendary Stax musicians from the famed Memphis studio. Rivalling Motown, Stax produced some of the most iconic stars of the last century, including: Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Carla Thomas, William Bell, Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Eddie Floyd, and Albert King, to name a few.
The show will be repeated on Friday night as it’s bound to be a huge hit. Anderson has put together tremendous tribute shows over the past few years including two wildly popular presentations at the Shuffle; Mad Dogs and Englishmen and The Last Waltz.
Opening Thursday night will be two local bands, Harrison Kennedy--a former second-place finisher at the IBC in the solo category, and Niagara’s own popular Max Hillier Band.
Also coming to Thorold for the Shuffle will be Matt Schofield. Originally from England, Schofield is a member of the British Blues Hall of Fame and ranked among the top 10 best British blues guitarists of all time.
New this year will be the inclusion of Pretzel Logic, a world-renowned Steely Dan cover band who appeared at this summer's Blues on the Battlefield and earned a huge response.
Chicago blues will be well represented as Toronzo Cannon returns for his second show and Maurice John Vaughn will be making his first appearance in Thorold.
Also returning are favourites Jack de Keyzer, Jerome Godboo, Billy the Kid, and many more. In all, 24 bands will present 29 shows over the four-day event which runs from October 17-20.
Tickets cost $25 in advance and are available at the Pen Centre Customer service desk at Glendale Ave. St. Catharines; Donnelly’s Pub at 54 Front St. South, Thorold; Trillium Industrial Safety, 526 Queenstown St., St. Catharines; and online at www.canalbankshuffle.com
