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Blues Fest lineup has something for everyone

Paul Rodgers will have anything but bad company surrounding him when he takes the stage on July 6 to close out the 14th edition of the Thunder Bay Blues Festival.
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The Sheepdogs perform in Thunder Bay in 2010.

Paul Rodgers will have anything but bad company surrounding him when he takes the stage on July 6 to close out the 14th edition of the Thunder Bay Blues Festival.

This year’s lineup has a little something for everyone, says Bob Halvorsen, who’s been scouring the music scene all winter long looking for the perfect mix of musicians to set the Lake Superior shoreline a-rockin’ this summer.

Rodgers, best-known as the front-man of ‘70s rockers Bad Company, will be joined by the likes of Johnny Reid and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, who returns to the headlining stage after a seven-year absence.

Other well-known names include the Sheepdogs, former Glass Tiger singer Alan Frew and Great Big Sea’s Alan Doyle, who brings his solo act to Thunder Bay.

Lesser-known names sure to create electricity at Marina Park include Doyle Bramhall II, who shreds for Eric Clapton and spent time in the Arc Angels, and Lukas Nelson, son of country legend Willie Nelson and no slouch himself on the guitar.
It’s Nelson that has Halvorsen salivating to see.

“I always seem to have one who sticks in my brain, and this year it’s Lukas Nelson on Sunday,” Halvorsen said, admitting he didn’t like the first song he heard when first contacted by Nelson’s agent.

But not one to give up quickly, he clicked on another song and was sold in a heartbeat.

“I spent Sunday night going through YouTube watching his videos. There are two or three videos of him on the Letterman show and I was just absolutely star struck. The guy is an absolutely phenomenal guitar player,” Halvorsen said.

At the time he didn’t realize who Nelson’s famous father was, but the voice gave it away.

“Once you hear that voice, combined with that playing, it really is incredible,” Halvorsen said. “I really think people are going to be very, very impressed with Lukas Nelson.”

Organizer Trevor Hurtig said they’ve tried to diversify the Blues Festival lineup in recent years, bringing in the likes of Serena Ryder, 38 Special and Great Big Sea to appeal to broader audiences. But they’ve never strayed from the annual festival’s blues roots.
It’s a chance to expose both sides to different genres, Hurtig said.

“I don’t hear too many people coming down and saying, ‘Well, I only came for this artist and I didn’t enjoy anything else,” he said. “Most everybody tells us they had a great time and that they really enjoyed all of the music, even though they may have only come for one of the artists.”

Reid, Friday’s headliner, has played the Community Auditorium a couple of times and is almost always sold-out.
 



For Hurtig, it's Sheperd he's most looking forward to catching on stage again. 

“I have to admit he’s one of my favourite guitarists of all time. There’s only a few guitarists out there in my mind and when they’re playing it just seems like they can make it do anything. And he’s one of them for sure,” Hurtig said.

“He has a couple of new albums out since he was last here, so we’re excited about that.”

Other acts to note include The Walkervilles, whose lead singer sounds a lot like Darryl Hall, and Winnipeg’s The Brothers Landreth have an Eagles feel to their music, while 11-year-old Brandon Niederauer is already channeling his inner Jimi Hendrix and continues a tradition of younger artist bookings at Blues Fest.
 



Local acts include Loose Cannon on Saturday and The Boardroom Gypsies on Sunday. And as always, perennial favourites the Groove Merchants will be back in the Bay.



Ticket prices remain the same as last year and go on sale on Friday at the Auditorium box office.

This year’s complete lineup, as follows:


Friday
The Boardroom Gypsies
The Paul Deslauriers Band
Alan Frew
Johnny Reid

Saturday
Loose Cannon
The Groove Merchants
The Brandon Niederauer Band
Brother Yusef
Kelly Richey
The Walkervilles
Alan Doyle
Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Sunday
The Krazy Kenny Project
Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer
Jordan John
The Brothers Landreth
The Sheepdogs
Lukas Nelson
Doyle Bramhall II
Paul Rodgers
 

 

 

 



Leith Dunick

About the Author: Leith Dunick

A proud Nova Scotian who has called Thunder Bay home since 2002, Leith is Dougall Media's director of news, but still likes to tell your stories too. Wants his Expos back and to see Neil Young at least one more time. Twitter: @LeithDunick
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