Feminine Touch
Thunder Bay's Blues Festival
#LSN_Arts
THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO March 24, 2018 (LSN) 2018, being totally captivated by the "feminine touch," is very special. Friday night sees the return of the raspy, smoky vocals of folk-rock superstar Melissa Etheridge to Bluesfest. Saturday's tandem of headliners, Canadian music icon and Lilith Fair founder, Sara McLachlan and 9-time Grammy Award winner Sheryl Crow, who has sold 50 million albums of her of timeless music, will astound. The festival closes Sunday to the resonating sounds of multi-platinum selling rock star Pat Benatar and long-time husband in music and life, Neil Giraldo.
Canadian rock idol Sass Jordan, who has newly recorded her classic album Racine, will be there, as will alto sax giant, Mindi Abair partnered with Randy Jacobs' electrifying Detroit blues band The Boneshakers. Thunder Bay audiences will remember Mary Bridget Davies from her riveting 2017 performance in A Night with Janis Joplin at the Community Auditorium. Atop the don't miss list is Magpie Salute, a 10-piece southern rock band featuring ex Black Crow front man Rich Robinson, stunning guitarist Marc Ford and female back-up vocalists. One of Canada's finest showmen, Alan Doyle will delight with a stellar band including fiddle sensation Kendel Carson. Canadian alt-rockers, Big Wreck, in the midst of their 20th anniversary tour, and Hamilton-based, Juno Award winning pop rockers the Arkells will amplify the party vibe while The Blues Brotherhood cranks up the nostalgia and stage antics. 18-year-old, south-paw Spencer
MacKenzie, Maple Blues' 2017 New Artist of the Year and International Songwriting Competition finalist lands squarely in the real deal blues department as do the 3 Blackburn brothers who will regale with their uniquely soulful take on blues and roots music.
Lock stepped with this year's theme, many of our most creative local female musicians will take a turn on the Bluesfest stage. Always a popular draw is The Chain led by the powerful vocals and charm of Chrissy Klaas. Fans of horn driven R&B won't want to miss the Boardroom Gypsies underlined by the vocal duo of Cheryl Grant and Nancy Hamilton. Now focused on her solo career, Arley Hughes will weave stories from her brand new album of original blues songs. No act at this year's Bluesfest will match the sheer joy and enthusiasm of The Angies, 5 lovely young ladies who cover the Stones from their early days when they were a blues band. And, if you want to hear authentic blues slide guitar and good old rock 'n' roll, you're sitting in the right chair at the right place when Southern Comfort performs.
Friday, July 6
Gates open at 4 pm
Melissa Etheridge (9:30 p.m.)
Big Wreck (8 p.m.)
Sass Jordan (6:45 p.m.)
The Angies (5:30 p.m.)
Arley Hughes (4:15 p.m.)
Saturday, July 7
Gates open at 12 noon
Sarah McLachlan (9:30 p.m.)
Sheryl Crow (7:15 p.m.)
Arkells (5:30 p.m.)
Mindi Abair and the Bone Shakers (4:15 p.m.)
The Blues Brotherhood (3 p.m.)
Spencer MacKenzie Band (1:45 p.m.)
Boardroom Gypsies (12:30 p.m.)
Sunday, July 8
Gates open at 12 noon
Pat Benatar (9:30 p.m.)
Magpie Salute (7:15 p.m.)
Alan Doyle (5:30 p.m.)
Mary Bridget Davies (4:15 p.m.)
Blackburn (3 p.m.)
The Chain (1:45 p.m.)
Southern Comfort (12:30 p.m.)