festival

A note from Lando:
I guess it all started for me when my mom and dad gave me a six string guitar from Sears (silvertone) for my 13th birthday almost half a century ago. My love for guitar-based live music has grown ever since and I have had the joy of being involved with coordinating live music events going all the way back to high school and now weekly in our coffeehouse. (House of James)
Eight years ago a group of us lead by Murray Moore of Chilliwack began the Back to The Blues: Gospel Blues Festival and this year is shaping up to have a stellar line up.

Some folks have asked “what is Gospel blues”? Isn’t that paradoxical? My answer is that it is “good news blues”. The good news of God’s love combined with blues music in the style of BB King, Eric Clapton and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan. Even though blues music originally came from poor folks singing about the hard times of life, it is now more connected with a style of music. Like ‘walking bass lines or 12 bar blues’. Not to be confused with bluegrass music featuring mandolin and banjo.

This year, approximately 15 bands will present their music including Danny Brooks, Darrell Mansfield, Thomas McClary, NewWorldSon, Kenny “Blues Boss” Wayne, Ord-Strauss Blues Revue, Black Owl Blues Band, Dr Bones, Chopped Liver, Four in the Fire, First Born Live, Jason Latreille Praise band, Vytal Sygns, Steve Delamar Band and Dalannah Gail Bowen.

I am very excited to have NewWorld Son with us for the first time. I remember seeing them in 2007 for the first time in St Catherines, I was totally blown away.
This description from their web site says it all: “The infectiously kinetic rhythm section of Mark Rogers (drums) and Rich Moore (bass/vocals) crossbreeds contemporary grooves with old-school timbres like Moore’s upright playing and Rogers’ weathered Slingerland bass drum circa 1930’s. The message is delivered by the tandem vocals of frontman/keyboardist Joel Parisien and singer/guitarist Josh Toal, mixing Spirit-filled lyrics with an atmosphere of sheer exuberance”.

Danny Brooks and his band will be back after a year’s absence. He is probably the most talked about artist we feature. His songs, stories and first class band always move the audience to their feet. He is not young anymore you would never know it.

Thomas Mcclary, guitarist for Lionel Ritchie and the commodores will be with us Sunday afternoon at 5:30. He will be backed up by a local band of studio musicians. This will be a rare treat for our festival. You can check out his music and story at www.thomasmcclary.com

Vytal Sygns, Steve Delamar, First Born Live and Ord- Strauss Blues Revue have all played recently in our House of James coffeehouse to packed out crowds and it will be fun to seem them on a large stage throughout the weekend.

The location of the festival is a very beautiful spot amongst charming antique buildings called the Thresherman’s Village, next to the big red barns of Heritage Park in Chilliwack. There is plenty of room to park your RV and trailers or pitch a tent, camping is only 15.00 for the weekend. It’s a great way to make new friends and enjoy fellowship with other blues lovers. The camping area does not have power and I suggest ear plugs as it is close to the freeway.

I’ve attended six of the last seven festivals and I am always delightfully surprised at the skill level of the artists and their approachability as most do welcome short conversations after their performance. I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed meeting folks from Washington, Vancouver Island , the interior as well as Alberta and Manitoba. Some have quite the stories of how they have come to experience the grace of God and how through varying unique circumstances they heard about the festival. It’s a gathering where everyone can come as they are and be themselves and hopefully experience anew the grace of God. I have enjoyed meeting many “first generation” Christians. It is a good event to bring friends to, its fun and non threatening where just maybe God’s love will sneak in.

For me, it’s a slice of heaven on earth and as I’ve often said, blues music is the only kind of music that will save the world. I look forward to seeing you there.
Tickets at www.back2blues.com, House of James, Abbotsford, Blessings, Langley; and Versus, Chilliwack, Long and McQuade, Chilliwack and Valley Water Chilliwack.

Lando