Songwriters Tippy Agogo and Bill Bourne team up with virtuoso guitarist Madagascar Slim and veteran drummer Michelle Josef on a new recording, 'Amoeba Collective'.

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In BOCEPHUS KING, the enigmatic Vancouver native who's melodiously skirted so effortlessly so effortlessly between blues, alt country, traditional songwriting and modern aesthetics, we find now the voice of a songwriter and musician on a new path, ever-creating his own distinct sound.

The results are nothing less than glorious on his new album WILLIE DIXON GOD DAMN !.

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Alex Boisselle is a Roots/Blues slide guitar/harmonica singer/songwriter recently signed to the EAR DRUM VALLEY label. He was picked out of a nationwide demo submission in the summer of 2009 and was awarded a label funded recording deal including mixing, mastering and promotion.

With his group Ashbury Train, Alex recorded the album in Calgary in November 09 with a producer and mobile studio. The recording sessions went so well and the music was so appreciated by the label that the group was approved for another recording in the coming year.

SandyBone is a well-established Canadian musician and an accomplished bandleader who sings, plays guitar, drums and harmonica. Known for his charismatic and passionate performances he has devoted his life to music: touring, performing, recording and producing records across North America and around the globe for over 30 years.

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Canadian Juno Award winner Bill Bourne has received international acclaim for his recordings and live performances. A veteran of the international blues and roots music scene, life on the road is reflected in Bill's music - powerful rhythms and soulful songs, steeped in blues, world beat, cajun, celtic, folk, latin, funk, poetry and more.

Bill Bourne began his professional music career in 1975. In 1982 his first album was released by Radio Canada International. He has toured and recorded solo - and with Scotland's Tannahill Weavers, Bourne & Macleod, Shannon Johnson, Hans Stamer and Andreas Schuld, Tri-Continental, Eivør Pálsdóttir (Faroe Islands), Bop Ensemble and the Free Radio Band.

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Norine Braun's new cd No. 8 brings renowned producer and Juno nominated, Adam Popowitz (Pacifika, Mollies Revenge, Leela Gilday) on board producing and performing on the songs with bass and lead guitar. Elliot Polsky, drummer extraordinaire (Jim Byrnes, Zubot and Dawson, Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir) lends a pair of hands and feet on the groove and heartbeat of No. 8. Blues meister Andrew "HuggyBear" Huggard (Ollie Bollen Trio, Leonard and the Lab Rats) shakes things up with his soulful blues harmonica. International touring freelance keyboard/pianist Mary Ancheta (Bjork,John Mayer, Nickleback) shines with her astounding keys on feature tracks too. The new material on the album is a mix of originals with blues, roots rock and soul at the center.

From the Triad Theatre in NYC to Shibuya Home in the entertainment district of Tokyo and to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, international performer and singer-songwriter Norine Braun offers an "amazing, diverse and terrific show" according to DJ Motmot from Songplanet adding she "would definitely go see Norine perform again".

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Harpdog Brown was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. The Dog started playing Blues in 1981 and never looked back. Some influences include Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Little Walter Jacobs, Sonny Boy Williamson, James Cotton, and Tom Waits.

Having been in the business as a touring recording artist for close to thirty years, he has shared the stage with such greats as Matt “Guitar” Murphy, Pinetop Perkins, Tim Williams, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, The Powder Blues Band, Willie MacCalder, Jack de Keyzer, Fathead, Donald Ray Johnson, Morgan Davis and the late Dutch Mason.

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For years, Bobby Cameron’s playing’s been called powerful, lately his songwriting’s been touted as powerful. What this artist has first and foremost is staying power. He does not re-invent himself to suit the current climate, instead Cameron has steadily built a career that started as an ace guitarist in rock bands, to a valued sideman, to frontman, to singer-songwriter.

The passion he dedicates to his career is the same as you’ll witness on stage from this inspired live performer. Whether on his charismatic solo shows or fronting his energetic roots-rock band, it’s obvious Cameron loves what he does and is doing just what he was meant to do, in his career and his life.

His soul is anchored in his Cape Breton upbringing, Cameron brings to his music a riveting mix of styles, running the full gamut from folk and roots right up to blues and rock.

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Ron Campbell - rich, famous, teen idol? Nope, just a working musician from the little town of Powell River, Canada. Every weekend finds me where I've been for the last 45 years - on stage. Whether it's playing an acoustic show at a coffeehouse, or rockin' out with my band the bLUES bUSTERS, this is what I do - it's who I am.

For more than 40 years, I've been making music and entertaining audiences. I've toured professionally all over BC in various bands and as a solo artist (and have been privileged to play with many of Canada's finest musicians); and I've released 4 CDs.

My musical taste runs to the "rootsy" styles: classic rock, country, jazz and older pop. I especially love all forms of blues. As a songwriter, I value strong melodies and tight, well-structured lyrics.

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Richard Carr is a singer, guitarist currently residing in Quebec City (Beauport) who's early exposure to the culture of the Southern US and a working-class background were two of the main elements that contributed to his natural inclination towards Blues and Roots music. Add to that his musical connection to a gospel choir of a Baptist church and, Carr was... discovering the foundations of his musical personality. 2006 Lys Blues award winner Richard Carr is a class act, a captivating performer with a powerful tenor voice. Richard Carr has shared the stage with : Little Joe Cook, Weeping Willie Robinson, Fiona Boyes, Philip Pemberton, Damon Fowler, Sarasota Slim, Steve Arvey, Mookie Brill, Jimmy Botts, Sean Carney, Harrison Kennedy, Rick Hayworth, Jordan Officer, Stephen Barry, Andrew Cowan, Gordie Adamson, Cristian Malette, Ricky Paquette, Bob Walsh, Bob Harrison, Carl Tremblay, Dawn Tyler Watson, Kim Richardson, Adam Karsh, Paul Deslaurier, Papagroove Big Band, to name a few.

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Bob Corriveau is a Calgary, Alberta based roots and blues singer/songwriter.

Bob started out exploring the Calgary open mic scene before befriending the late Calgary blues legend Back Alley John. John became Bob's mentor teaching him the blues and educating him about the music biz. Together they performed at various venues.

After a few years Bob ventured out on his own and formed the Sideshow Bob Band.

In the fall of 2010 he started a new project called Bob Corriveau and Hot under the Hood and has just released his first CD caleed 'Future in the Blues'.

Hot under the Hood consists of some of Calgary's finest blues musicians. Kevin Belzner on drums and Suitcase James on bass played with Back Alley and currently perform with Tim Williams. Local blues icon Bill Dowey is on keys. Dylan Macdonald of Bill's band the Blues Devils is on guitar and harp and Randy Ousten who performed at the 2010 Calgary Bluesfest is on guitar.

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Not so long ago and not so far away, near the mountains in a place the Canadians call Alberta, a young man fell in love with the blues. Bottleneck slide blues, to be precise, maybe the most soulful and haunting music to ever come out of life in the Deep South.

Slide is all about the notes between the notes, the ones just this or that side of the frets that hold so many kinds of music together. It's an ancient thing, going back thousands of years and it's a familiar thing, something we hear in the cello, the violin, the oud and the voice of a great singer.

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John M. Crawford & Strange Cargo

Daddy Long Legs, Waterloo Ontario's gritty electrified blues band, are happy to release their fourth CD, “Liars, Cheats and Scoundrels”, on Busted Flat Records.

For Daddy Long Legs, playing the blues has nothing to do with nostalgia, or trying to recreate their blues record collections. Rather, it’s about mashing together all the brawn of riff-based garage rock, the soul of 60’s era rhythm and blues, and all the jump and shuffle of the west coast and Chicago sounds to create new blues music that is about the here-and-now. As a result, Daddy Long Legs have become an enigma of the music scene, appealing to an eclectic bunch of blues purist, rock-a-billies, and alt-rockers alike.

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Fathead may be the best blues and roots band to come out of Canada since Ronnie Hawkins hired the future-Band to become his backup group, The Hawks, in the mid-1950s. An ultra-tight ensemble, Fathead brings together the most respected musicians in the United States' northern neighbor to create an energetic blend of funk, soul and rockin' blues. "Real Blues" referred to the group's harp and guitar-dominated sound as "one of those rare, much sought after, but seldom achieved, chemical/spiritual reactions that happens when all the right ingredients come together: talent, personality, humour, united vision and a little bit of "hoodoo/voodoo".

"The Toronto Star" praised Fathead when it commented, "If the blues were a sports league, Fathead would be the equivalent of an all-star team".

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What separates Brandon from the rest of the pack besides his world-class musicianship and song writing, is his ability to connect and involve the audience in his live shows.

In 2010 Brandon was nominated for Song Writer Of The Year by the Maple Blues Awards. This honor recognized him as being one of Canada’s top songwriters. He was also one of Canada’s 13 song writers picked to write a road song about their province / territory for the CBC’s, great Canadian Song Quest 2011.

Brandon has just released his first solo album entitled; “Bluesman’s Plea”. Don’t let the title fool you; this is a very versatile and diverse roots album that truly reflects the music that he plays in his “Live” performances. The song’s showcase Ragtime, Delta Blues, Piedmont, Gospel as well as Swing styles.

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Bill Johnson began playing the guitar when he was 9 years old. Records by Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, The Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton, were his early influences, but Bill remembers: “Chuck Berry was the one that did it for me. Chuck made me want to play guitar”.

Bill became a working musician early and spent most of his teens making music. During the 70’s and 80’s Bill played with various projects, achieving respectable successes while exploring different musical genres. Then he began to study the likes of B.B. King, Elmore James, and T-Bone Walker.

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Megan Lane fills the gaps between blues, jazz, rock, and soul with fierce passion. An experienced song-writer, performer, and producer, Lane is touring her latest album 'Bow and Drill the Spark', (2009). With this release Lane showcases an incredibly diverse style that is both sensitive and provocative. Igniting her audience from the first note, Lane has shared the stage with Colin James, Buffy St. Marie, and many others.

Lane’s distinct voice moves back and forth between a deep dark growl and the breaking point of an aching cry, and her weeping guitar is anything but gentle. Her music resonates with the intensity and wisdom of someone who knows how to make fire from friction, and it leaves a burning mark.

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Considered one of the top harp players in the country, singer/songwriter AL LERMAN is a journeyman musician who plays with sizzle and a whole lot of soul. His harmonica and saxophone playing have garnered him several Maple Blues Award nominations. He is founder and leader of the 2X Juno Award (Canada's Grammy) winning blues outfit FATHEAD, touring regulary playing festivals, concert halls and roadhouses all across the country.

When FATHEAD is not on the road, Al can be found working with a variety of top notch musicians - either as a sideman or fronting.

He regularly performs as solo artist accompanying himself on guitar and rack harmonica.

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Not many blues artists can call themselves “the Doctor of the Blues” without a whole stretcher-full of the idiom’s winking big talk. But Marshall Lawrence can, and with only the slightest bit of irony. The award-nominated Canadian bluesman actually holds a doctorate in psychology, and he knows how to use it—just as he knows how to use his slashing guitar, stinging, lightning-fast slide, and pleading, mournful moan: Marshall’s prescription for a maximum blues remedy.

“Psychology is about talking about the good times and the bad times, about dealing with it and getting it out there,” says Marshall, who recently retired after 10 years of counseling troubled teenagers to devote himself full time to playing the blues. “And that’s also what the blues are about—singing about the good and the bad. So there’s always been a parallel there for me.”

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Mama B & Freight Train are a dynamic acoustic blues duo. Drawing extensively from blues music of the 1920s through the present, they remain true to the origins of the blues while bringing their own fresh take to both originals and covers.

Mama B & Freight Train will draw you in with their sincere, heartfelt interpretations of artists ranging from Robert Johnson, Memphis Minnie and Bessie Smith to Bonnie Raitt, Sean Costello, Rita Chiarelli and more. In addition to covers of past and present blues greats, Mama B & Freight Train have their own stories to tell and they do so with heartfelt sincerity and honesty. Their original roots and blues music draws from the past, speaks to the present and looks to the future.

Local guitar ace Russell Marsland has been a powerful presence on the Vancouver music scene for more than 30 years. At 15, he would sneak out of his parents' East Van residence to play between strip shows at the Penthouse; two years later he was in the house band at famed '70s hangout Lasseter's Den, performing with the likes of Powder Blues guitarist Tom Lavin (who handled bass back then). By the time of his first pro gig, Marsland had already been exploring the guitar for a decade.

"I was five the first time I picked it up," relates the 50-year-old fretmaster, calling on a cellphone from a "Zenlike" Richmond farm where he and his fiancée, vocalist Suzanne Gitzi, are painting a friend's barn.

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Mud Dog is an original roots-blues band/duo that has a rich contemporary sound infused with big harmony vocals, soaring harmonica, sparkling dobro & acoustic guitar. In March 2003, Mud Dog released its debut CD "Devil's Ride" at the Terry Fox Theatre to a house full of excited fans. "Devil's Ride" features eleven original songs written and produced by Sainas, as well as two traditional arrangements. The CD is receiving regular airplay coast to coast.

Five years later, Mud Dog released their second CD “River of My Soul” that features eleven new original acoustic songs written and produced by Sainas. Fans and reviewers describe “River of My Soul” as Mud Dog’s best CD so far. Mud Dog’s second CD, "River of My Soul" was nominated “Outstanding Blues Recording” at the 2008 Western Canadian Music Awards & 2008 TEMA Winner Best Blues CD.

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Canada’s hardest working blues rock act, Ross Neilsen & The Sufferin’ Bastards, do it right. They take their strong, timeless material to the place that matters. The People. Three years, 600 shows, 240 000kms, five national tours all executed 100% independently. In a time of corporate cookie cutter music this is the return to real. Proving hard work pays off Ross Neilsen has been honoured with a nomination for Best New Artist at The Maple Blues Awards in 2010, two Rising Star nominations from CBC, back to back Blues Album of the Year nominations from the East Coast Music Association and more recently Ross won Best Blues Recording for Redemption at the 2010 MusicNB awards. Ross Neilsen is the real, old school kind of artist. Write. Tour. Record. Tour. Repeat.

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Sean Poluk´s debut CD ¨NEVER¨ is a fresh blues album for the new generation with ten original songs.

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B.C. Read is an award winning singer , songwriter from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. He has spent over twenty five years refining his craft in some of the finest clubs and festivals throughout Canada, Europe & the northern US. With a unique style of Roots & Blues song writing that has received praise from all over the world.

B.C.'s songs have been used in movies (Something More) and television shows (The Incredible Story Studio).

His first two album's "My Tunes" (1998) and "Live" (2002) has been charted in the top 10 by Blues DJ's from as far away as Australia, Greece, Spain and Germany as well as in the US & Canada. His latest effort, "Bowl of Sugar" has also received wide praise from both fans and critics. It was nominated for a "WESTERN CANADIAN MUSIC AWARD" as the "Out Standing Blues Recording".

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Jack Semple may live in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, a bastien of country music, but he plays with the soul and fire of a Mississippi Delta blues man. Jack has spent decades honing his craft and establishing himself as one of North America's premiere guitar virtuosos.

Jack grew up on a farm, the youngest of six children. He began playing the guitar by learning from his brothers, and then progressed to formal lessons, studying classical and flamenco. His first foray into professional music was on a television show called Country West, where he met and worked with artists such as Prairie Oyster, Valdy, K.D. Lang, Sylvia Tyson, and Colin James.

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Arsen Shomakhov, Russian singer & guitar player extraordinaire, in the past five years has become a major force as a blues artist, performing for Russian Federal TV, Moscow's legendary BB King Club and numerous blues festivals throughout Russia.

Currently Arsen is residing in British Columbia, Canada. His new album 'On the Move', recorded with the best blues musicians of the Western Canada, was released on the Blues Leaf Records on July13, 2010. The album was on the charts for 12 weeks and reached # 1 in Canada and #2 Worldwide according to Roots Music Report.

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On the urging of mutual fans, David & Keith did their first concert together in the spring of 2010, a sold-out event at Deep Cove Yacht Club. The response was so amazing that they were eager to continue, and have since done a series of concerts on the lower mainland, Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, and again encouraged by fans, have recorded a studio CD and a DVD of one of their concert performances.

Rocking instrumentals, featuring David’s percussive acoustic guitar playing and Keith’s soaring chromatic harmonica are mixed with vocal tunes featuring both David and Keith. The style is a rootsy blend of blues, jazz and folk, both David and Keith have extensive backgrounds as solo artists, sidemen and studio musicians, and bring their wide range of skills to the duo. As well as chromatic and blues harps, Keith incorporates some specialty harps and his excellent guitar playing into the show, resulting in an incredible variety of sounds from just two guys.

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Alfie Smith is a true modern day Blues Man, blending hard-edged Rock and Roll, Gospel, Folk and Jazz with Pure Primal Blues to create his own unique sound.

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She won V.I.M.A.’s Female Songwriter of the Year in 2007 and First Place in Songwriting at the Shuswap Lakes International Writers Festival in 2005.

She has played with some of Canada’s greatest musicians including Don Thompson, Pat Coleman, Robbie King and Ken Lister. Her last cd release ("Sweet Embrace") has a stellar line up including Phil Dwyer, Dave Gogo, Pat Steward, Miles Black and local favorites Todd Sacerty, Phil Whipper, Chad Geekie and Tina Jones. She’s been playing gigs and sharing the stage with a couple of the best guitar players in B.C. Rick Salt and Jim Cochran, bass players, Marisha Devoin and Terry Strudwick and drummers Paul Nixon and Dave Bouwman.

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It has been a long and winding road, as the song goes, and the musical story is as changing and varied as the geographical.

From crooner and tap-dancer in the 50’s and folk-singer in the 60’s in NY, to folk rocker in the 70’s and 80’s in Vancouver, a short stint as a country artist in Florida in the early 90’s and, then, in the last visit to NJ, the blues began to be the driving force in his music.

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Since 2000, The BlueVooDoo have played their brand of blues-rock at just about every possible venue in Western Canada establishing themselves as one of Canada's most sought after original blues bands.

They have received award nominations from the Toronto Maple Blues Awards in 2003 for Best New Artist and also received a nomination for Most Outstanding Blues CD at the 2005 and 2007 Western Canadian Music Awards for Sparkle and Shine and Back to the Shack cds and a recent nod from the Blues Critics awards in California for their Back to the Shack release.

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The art in mainstream, modern music is suffering; dying. It gasps for the crisp air of originality as the noxious clouds of imitation, insincerity and fabrication threaten to stifle it existence. Quite simply, creating original, earnest music is becoming extinct.

Vancouver area-based quartet The British Columbians are a breath of that fresh air. While their music is an incomparably unique union of very diverse backgrounds that results in a mixture of old school blues-influenced stompy rock 'n' roll songs (heavy emphasis on the roll), with songs that are haunted, wooden and pastoral, one must understand how their outlook and passion fuels this creativity and originality. It is their grassroots approach to making music for music's sake that is seeing them blossom as one of Canada's few truly authentic acts.

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In fact, The Harpoonist and the Axe Murderer is more like a sweaty fling between a sack full of harmonicas, a mess of foot percussion, and a very greasy Telecaster. Shawn Hall and Matthew Rogers say they’re making blues for a changing world, but a fan put it even better: this is ‘blues that gets you in the crotch.’

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Formed three years ago, The Mojo Stars have wasted no time in establishing themselves as force to be reckoned with. With roots in the blues/soul R&B and funk, this multi-talanted band has been collecting a large following by playing everywhere from closing night at two years worth of Vancouver Jazzfest to local award shows and casinos. With some serious songwriting from group leaders Randy Clarke and Mark Rankin, The Mojo's sound is steeped in old school, new school and everything in between.

Their 2009 debut CD, Devil's Advocate has been garnering great reviews and receiving extensive radio play in Canada, America and Europe.

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The Transcontinental Blues Band was formed in the spring of 2009. The members are Randy "Freight Train" Wayne on lead guitar and vocals, Mama B on guitar and vocals, Laurence Deslauriers on bass and backup vocals, and Don Sproule on drums. They play a variety of electric blues and cover many artists from Memphis Minnie, Etta James, Koko Taylor and Ruth Brown to B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Howling Wolf and more.

The band called "US" began in the basement of Paul Pitchuck (the lead guitar player’s house) with his friend Brad "bongo-head" Brown. Paul wanting to get back to some roots, aimed for the raw flavor of a non-traditional Blues/Rock sort of feel.

Paul was later introduced to Marlene Galloway and knowing we needed a great front person to be both entertaining and talented, Mar quickly proved she was here to fill that void. After a few weeks of playing around with ideas, we decided to complete this project, add a bass man.

Singer-songwriters are dime a dozen - and that accounts for inflation. They come. They go. Many of them have the requisite ‘voice’ and necessary perspective while some possess the talent required to attract your attention. Yet few rise above the ether.

Suzie Vinnick is different. Like so many others, she doesn’t perform because she wants to. She performs because she’s driven to. And, as anyone who’s followed her career knows – she never merely attracts your attention. She captures it – and holds it prisoner.

Possessed of a distinctively alluring voice – once described as being “spun of gold “ – she has the power and grace to project it through finely-crafted (and increasingly self-penned) songs that make you sit up and wish you knew her better. Her lust for constructive collaboration and her instrumental dexterity has rendered her irreplaceable to countless musicians, providing her with musical hearth and home in any configuration in which she chooses to play.

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With a vocal style that encompasses the soul of Etta James, and Carmen McRae, the modernity of Holly Cole and the playfulness of Jann Arden, Maureen Washington evokes comparison to some of the great female Jazz singers of our time yet remains one of a kind.

Maureen Washington songstress for a variety of different ensembles, began her music career in Prince George where she sang in a funk, blues, swing band named BOP.

Now based in Victoria, Maureen performs with many different configurations: from duos to sextets at several high end venues around Vancouver Island. She also performed at 4 events during 2008 and three for the 2009 International Victoria Jazz Fest.

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Sabrina Weeks and Swing Cat Bounce has been named the best new blues act in Canada after winning the prestigious title of best new artist / group at the 2012 Maple Blues Awards.

In 2010, Sabrina Weeks and Swing Cat Bounce released their debut CD "Tales from Lenny’s Diner." The CD debuted at #1 in Canada, #12 globally on the Roots Music Report Blues Music charts, peaking at #6 on the global blues charts in March 2011. Further, the CD made the top 100 RMR list for most radio plays globally for 2011. "Tales from Lenny’s Diner" has been rated in the top 100 new CDs released in 2010/2011 according to the Real Blues "Top of the Charts" report and voted as the #1 CD released for 2010 by CFBX and best new artist for 2010 by the Blues Underground. Also, Sabrina Weeks and Swing Cat Bounce sits at #3 on the Siruis XM "Picks to Click" blues charts with their song "Bad Boys" being the most played song on BB Kings Bluesville for March 2011. Also, Sabrina Weeks and Swing Cat Bounce have been nominated by BCIMA for the "Blues Album of the Year" Award in 2011.

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Sunday Wilde is from the wilds of a small northern ontario town, but she has been found singing everywhere from small logging and mining towns at coffee houses, funeral parlours, and blues joints and all the way to large festivals, house concerts and bars in bustling metropolises.

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