Calgary Bluesfest Receives Civic Honour

blues festivals, Canada

Calgary Bluesfest
August 23-26
Pumphouse Park, Calgary

August 23-26 Declared “Calgary International Blues Festival Week”

The third annual Calgary International Blues Festival launches next week, with a range of regional and international blues acts slated to appear at Pumphouse Park August 23-26. The event will feature over 35 bands on the mainstage, including international legends Edgar Winter, Rick Derringer, Duke Robillard, Canadian giants David Gogo, Jack de Keyzer, Doug Riley, and host of others.

The festival, which ran for the first time in 2005, has been embraced by the community and seen unprecedented growth in three years, quickly becoming one the largest blues festivals in western Canada. Presented by Calgary Blues Music Association (CBMA), a non-profit group who foster and encourage blues artists and their music, CBMA is behind the success of the Calgary Bluesfest and ongoing concert and events throughout the year.

In a significant gesture, the Mayor of Calgary and City Council have last week officially recognized the Calgary Bluesfest with a Proclamation declaring the dates of the event “Calgary International Blues Festival Week,” solidifying the event’s place on Calgary’s cultural calendar. On Wednesday, August 22 at noon, Alderman Dale Hodges will officially present the Proclamation to Calgarians and festival organizers at Olympic Plaza during the Calgary Bluesfest preview concert.

The official kick-off to the Calgary Bluesfest begins on Sunday, August 19th, with the first of three festival preview concerts, ‘Blues at Tompkins Park’ featuring the Aaron Penton Band with Curtis Glas, and Bill Dowey & the Blues Devils running from noon until 5:00 pm. Two noon-hour concerts will take place as part of the City of Calgary’s Brown Bag Lunch Series at Olympic Plaza. On Monday, August 20th, Greg ‘Junior’ Demchuck and Friends take the stage, while on Wednesday, August 22nd, Guy Chaput & the Sci-fi Band appear following the delivery of the Proclamation by Alderman Hodges.

Other features of the festival include the signature Twilight Blues Dance Parties, with live music and dancing till the wee hours on the festival site nightly in the beer garden tent once mainstage closes. New this year are two workshop events to be held on Saturday & Sunday, August 25 & 26. Hosted by Calgary bluesman Tim Williams, the workshops will also feature special guest artists Little Miss Higgins, Doc McLean, Kelley Hunt, and Sista Monica, all of whom will appear on mainstage during the festival.

2007 CALGARY BLUESFEST SCHEDULE

MAINSTAGE THURSDAY, AUGUST 23

3:00 PM Richie Pollack Band
4:00 Guy Chaput & The Sci-Fi Band
5:00 Rick Derringer Band
6:30 Edgar Winter Band
8:00 Jimmy Bowskill Band

Twilight Blues Dance Party - Beer Garden (Sponsor Recognition)
9:30 Karl Roth Trio, Firm Handshake

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24

3:00 PM Curtis Glas & The Aaron Penton Band
4:00 Megan Lane Band
5:15 Vargas Blues Band
6:30 David Gogo Band
7:45 Little Miss Higgins
8:15 Devon Allman’s Honeytribe

Twilight Blues Dance Party & Jam – Beer Garden Tent
9:30 Bill Dowey & the Blues Devils, Brian MacAreavey & the Promises

SATURDAY, AUGUST 25

11:00 AM Front Porch Acoustic Blues Workshop
Hosted by Tim Williams with Little Miss Higgins, Doc McLean

1:00 Albert Cummings Band
2:15 The Highwater Jug Band
3:15 The Duke Robillard Band
4:30 Kelley Hunt
5:45 Garret Mason Band
7:00 Mike Clark Band
8:15 The Kinsey Report

Twilight Blues Dance Party & Jam – Beer Garden
9:30 Adele & the Krusers, Bill Dowey & the Blues Devils

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26

11:00 AM Gospel Blues Workshop
Hosted by Tim Williams with Doc McLean, Sista Monica, Kelley Hunt

12:45 Agnostic Mountain Choir
1:30 Blue Rhino Band
2:30 Perpetrators
3:30 Stepchyle
4:30 Doc McLean
5:15 Du-Rite Aces
6:30 Sista Monica
8:00 Jack de Keyzer & the Canadian Blues All Stars with Doug Riley
(Dave Babcock (saxophone), Tom Knowles (bass), Duris Maxwell (drums)

Twilight Blues Wrap Up Party & Jam - Beer Garden
9:30 Sonny Rhodes with the Electrofires

for more information visit www.calgarybluesfest.com

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