The annual Blues Cruise will be on the Friday September 8, and on September 9 the Capitol Centre City lot 3 will be transformed into an outdoor Blues Festival under the stars featuring six amazing blues artists including headliner – Rita Chiarelli and her all female band The Sweet Lorettas.

 

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 8th – BLUES CRUISE ABOARD THE CHIEF COMMANDA II

Boarding at 6:30 pm with departure at 7:00 pm

 

The lineup schedule includes:

Jake & The Fundamentals –  Jake is inspired by Chicago blues, Delta blues, good ol’ rock & Roll, R&B and everything in-between. These guys will rock your socks off!

 

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 9th – FESTIVAL GROUNDS IN CITY LOT 3 ADJACENT TO CAPITOL CENTRE

 

The lineup schedule includes:

4:00 -4:45 PM: Kevin Robert Walsh & The Blues Machine –  Kevin Robert Walsh, Ryan Walsh, Lisa Gibson-Nickle, Caley Campbell and Jaye Kift. Kevin will give us a taste of the world of blues from the many styles it encompasses.

 

5:00 – 5:45 PM: Friends of Jim Harney –  Peter Cliché, Bob Wills, Danny Colomby and Rob Joanisse will do a heart-felt tribute to their friend and local blues legend, Jim Harney whom we lost this past April 2017. The spirit of Jim will live on through his music.

 

6:00 – 6:45 PM: Paul Pruneau & The Journeymen – Local Blues frontman Paul Pruneau (vocals harmonica and percussion) has a new band with some familiar faces. Colin Norwood (guitar and vocals), Romeo Raymond (bass guitar and vocals), Mike Foisy (drums and vocals)

 

7:00 – 7:45 PM: T.S. Harpoon & The Blues Whalers – Native to Northern Ontario, T.S Harpoon has remained loyal to the blues fans from “back home” with the help of “The Whalers”. SINCE 1997, T.S. Harpoon & The Blues Whalers has been synonymous with the Nation’s capital Ottawa Blues scene. Ottawa-based T.S. Harpoon & the Blues Whalers earned their respective place within the Ottawa blues scene.

 

8:00 – 9:00 PM: Conor Gains – Conor Gains is a shooting star on the blues horizon. “Blues” in Gains’ world is not only a music form in and of itself but also continues to be a springboard for his excursions into related idioms. All of this sounds like the wisdom of a seasoned performer. And Gains fits that bill as a 22 year old if you consider that he started playing guitar when he was 8 years old, played with the renowned Les Paul at the age of 15, and headlined The Montreal Jazz Festival at 17. Recent additions to these accomplishments include winning the 2014 Toronto Blues Society Talent Search, competing in the Memphis International Blues Competition, and a head turning showcase at the 2015 Blues Summit.

 

9:15 – 11:00PM: Rita Chiarelli & The Sweet Lorettas – Juno winning Canadian music icon Rita Chiarelli is famous for thrilling audiences across the world as ‘Canada’s Blues Queen’. Chiarelli’s latest concert show has her wowing audiences with her all-star female bluesy R&B band, Sweet Loretta. Together, Rita Chiarelli and Sweet Loretta have brought the crowds to their feet with an exciting stage show and stellar musicianship. It’s a show not to miss!

 

After 11:00 PM: Elijah & The Backburners at The Raven & Republic After Party – Walk down to The Raven after Rita is finished and experience Elijah’s slick multi-instrumentalist blues skills. He’s not to be missed.