Guess who’s headlining this year’s Thunder Bay Blues Festival?
Here’s a hint – they’re all Canadian.
In fact, it’s a lineup that features Canuck musicians in its entirety, a first for the always popular summer festival.
Rocker’s Tom Cochrane and Colin James hold down the final slot of the night on Friday and Saturday at this year’s event, with Canadian rock legend Burton Cummings wrapping up the festival in the coveted Sunday night headliner spot.
There’s a little something for everyone at the three-day festival, slated for July 8-10 at Marina Park.
Serena Ryder, who drew out the younger set when she performed in 2014, gets a pre-headlining spot on Friday night, with Gowan slotted for an hour-long show immediately before at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday night is equally stacked, featuring the likes of David Gogo, Downchild Blues Band and Jonas and the Massive Attraction leading into James’s performance.
Sunday highlights include Jack De Keyzer, April Wine and Cummings, the former front-man for the Canadian Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Guess Who.
Cummings, 68, possesses of the most easily recognizable voices in Canadian music, who wrote or co-wrote a number of rock standards, including American Woman, These Eyes, No Time, Laughing, Clap for the Wolfman and Share the Land.
Cochrane, an eight-time Juno Award winner, enjoyed equal success, first with the iconic Canadian band Red Rider, then on his own.
Cochrane helped form Red Rider in 1978, releasing six albums, producing hits like Lunatic Fringe, White Hot and Human Race.
Venturing off on his own in the early ‘90s, Cochrane’s Life is a Highway, from 1991’s Mad Mad World exploded, reaching No. 1 in his home country and No. 6 in the United States.
Add in other hits like Big Leagues, Sinking Like a Sunset and No Regrets and the basis for a solid Saturday night show is there for the taking.
Like Cochrane, James is no stranger to Thunder Bay, having headlined the Blues Festival three times, most recently nine years ago in 2007.
James is touring in support of his latest studio album, Hearts on Fire, releases in 2015.
It’s a perfect fit for summer listening – along with a string of hits including Voodoo Thing, Five Long Years, Just Came Back and Chicks and Cars and the Third World War.
“Making this record with my good friend Colin Linden and such a fantastic veteran rhythm section was an amazing experience,” James says on his website. “The majority of the recording was done in Nashville during a stretch of warm spring weather, so every time I hear the songs I feel I’m right back in the South.”
Thunder Bay Community Auditorium general manager Bob Halvorsen said the slumping Canadian dollar played a major role in the booking decisions this year, but an all-Canadian affair has been a long time coming.
“There’s certainly not a drop in talent over any other year,” he said.
And it just wouldn’t be Blues Fest without a little touch of Northwestern Ontario.
There’s plenty of local talent on this summer’s bill.
Camden Blues opens the Festival on Friday, July 8, followed by fellow local bluesman James Boraski. Loose Cannon gets the opening spot on Saturday, while The Roosters and The Chain are the first two acts on Sunday.
“All your favourites, all in one place for about $6 an act when buying a weekend pass,” Halvorsen said.
Weekend VIP passes are $159, while general admission passes are $109. Daily tickets are $69 apiece. Ticket imformation can be found here.
The full lineup:
Friday, July 8
Tom Cochrane
Serena Ryder
Gowan
James Boraski
Camden Blues
Saturday, July 9
Colin James
Jonas and the Massive Attack
Downchild Blues Band
David Gogo
Steve Hill
Carson Downey Band
Terra Lightfoot
Loose Cannon
Sunday, July 10
Burton Cummings
April Wine
Jack de Keyzer
Dawn Tyler Watson
Steve Strongman
The Devin Cuddy Band
The Chain
The Roosters
