ACOUSTIC BLUE SUNDAYS

THE COVE INN, WESTPORT ONTARIO


A Summer Dinner & Show Fundraiser Series

featuring some of Canada's best acoustic blues artists
in support of local Westport festivals


All shows - 6 to 10 pm

Buffet Dinner & Show $45


Advance reservations required.

Book early - these nights usually sell out in advance.

Call (613) 273-3636 or 1-888-COVE-INN


The Cove Country Inn www.coveinn.com is located in the picturesque town of Westport
on beautiful Upper Rideau Lake in eastern Ontario a 45 minute drive from Kingston, 1.5 hours from Ottawa
Well priced accommodation available at The Cove and nearby B&B's


2012 SUMMER SCHEDULE

 

June 24

From Hamilton

STEVE STRONGMAN

www.stevestrongman.com

Steve Strongman is one of the most gifted guitar players and singer/songwriters in Canada today and was just recognized as such with the 2012 Maple Blues Award for Guitar Player Of The Year. He plays electric and acoustic equally well. Born in Kitchener he started his career playing Led Zeppelin and Neil Young songs in a pub band when he was still underage. He fell in love with the Blues when he saw the late, great Mel Brown, along with Ronnie Earl and Duke Robillard, perform at a local club. Mel became a mentor to him helping him hone his guitar playing to a high level and Steve still lists one of his greatest accomplishments as winning the Mel Brown Award in 2009. Steve moved to

Hamilton in 2003 wherehe was introduced to more great Canadian bluesmen like Richard Newell a.k.a King Biscuit Boy, Harrison Kennedy and Jack de Keyzer. He released his first album "Honey" in 2007 to much acclaim and followed it up with "Blues In Colour" in 2010 which was also very well received. His new CD - all acoustic - will be out just in time for his appearance at The Cove.

"The spirit of Mel Brown lives on with the soulful, precise and always tasteful guitar playing of Steve Strongman. He's also a natural singer and gifted harp player who writes great original material." - Holger Petersen, Saturday Night Blues, CBC Radio

YOU TUBE of Steve playing one his original songs "River" at Toronto's Waterfront Blues Festival 2009
Click Here for Night review
  
   

July 8

from Austin, Texas

DANNY BROOKS

www.dannybrooksmusic.com

Danny Brooks has led a remarkable life having been rescued from the depths of despair and drug addiction at one point to joy and faith in the Lord and he isn't afraid to tell you about it. The one constant through it all has been his wonderful music. He is a consummate songwriter, a talented guitarist and harmonica player who possesses a deep, soulful, powerful voice. Many people are convinced that he is from the American deep south when they first hear him and in fact he now lives


in Texas but his roots are in Toronto where he grew up and played for over 35 years. Danny has played Blues On The Rideau at The Cove band twice in the past and always delivers a captivating Show. Now we get to hear him solo at Acoustic Blue Sunday. He'll be featuring many songs off his new album "Texassippi Hill Country Soul Man" which probably comes as close to describing his unique style of music as you can get.

"Anyone who cares at all about music - and I mean REAL music that comes from the soul - should make themselves aware of Brooks winning blend of blues, R&B, and Stax". Mark Rheaume, CBC radio

YOU TUBE of Danny solo doing one of his original songs "Carry Me"
Click Here for Night review
  
   

July 22

From Hamilton

HARRISON KENEDY

Harrison Kennedy is another fabulous Canadian singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist (guitar, mandolin, banjo). He was born and raised in Hamilton "The Hammer" Ontario, a direct descendent of African American slaves who made their way to freedom in Upper Canada through the Underground Railroad in the mid 1800's. They brought their soulful roots music with them and was passed it down from generation to generation which no doubt explains why he plays and sings the Blues so deeply. Harrison has had two careers within one
lifetime. In the early '70's he was the lead singer in one of the seminal soul Supergroups of that time - Detroit's "Chairmen Of The Board". After touring the world with them for several years he returned to Ontario and took a "real" job for several decades although he never stopped playing music. Finally in the early 2000's he decided to return to it full time but with a focus on roots/country blues. Harrison writes and sings what he feels from the heart telling stories about the sorrows and joys that we all face in everyday life through his songs. He has recorded 5 albums since 2003, 4 of which were nominated for Juno Awards, including his most recent one "Shame The Devil".

"Harrison Kennedy has honed a rich, deep down Blues ...you'll find something to identify with in his music and this, coupled with his high-energy, rhythmic, always upbeat delivery, will make you feel good all over for the listening." Eric Thom, Blues Revue Magazine

YOU TUBE of Harrison performing "Noonday Train" at Club Belvedere, Canal Bank Shuffle 2011

Click Here for Night review
  
   

August 12

From Toronto

PAUL REDDICK

w. THE WEBER BROTHERS

Paul Reddick is one of the best singer/songwriter/harmonica players in Canada and has 2 Juno Award nominations, a W.C. Handy Award nomination and multiple Maple Blues Award nominations and wins to prove it. He has been called "The Poet Of Song" for his emotive, passionate way with words, voice and harp. Anyone who has ever seen him LIVE knows what a captivating, mesmerizing show he delivers. Paul has played The Cove twice before with a

full band but this time he will be joined by the very talented Weber Brothers - Sam on guitar and Ryan on stand-up bass. Originally from Maryland they came to Toronto to play in Ronnie Hawkins' band in the early 2000's and stayed. They have shared the stage with artists like Levon Helm and Garth Hudson of The Band as well as Jeff Healey, Tom Cochrane, Kris Kristofferson and David Wilcox. Both Paul and the Weber brothers have toured extensively across Canada, the U.S. and Europe. We are very fortunate to have them here together for Acoustic Blue Sunday @ The Cove.

"Paul Reddick is one of the most inventive and passionate bluesmen working today….truly a Rennaissance man of the Blues!!" - Sheryl & Don Crowe, Music City Blues Society, Nashville

"The Weber Brothers have the talent to be as big as anyone in the world." - Ronnie Hawkins

YOU TUBE PAUL REDDICK w. band performing "Pinegum" at Blues On The Rideau @ The Cove April 2011
YOU TUBE with THE WEBER BROTHERS performing "I Don't Belong To Anyone"
Click Here for Night review
  
 

August 26

From Montreal

MICHAEL JEROME BROWNE

w. JOHN McCOLGAN

Michael Jerome Browne was born in South Bend, Indiana but moved to Montreal when he was 12 has lived there since. He started his musical career busking on the streets then joined the famous Stephen Barry Band in 1985 playing with them for 15 years before launching his solo career in 1999. Since then he has released 6 great albums, including his most recent "The Road Is Dark". He has been nominated twice for a Juno, won the Canadian Folk Music Award for Solo Artist of

the Year and been nominated an amazing 17 times for Maple Blues Awards (Acoustic Act, Male Vocalist, Songwriter, Producer, Recording Of The Year and Entertainer Of The Year). He is an extremely accomplished instrumentalist (guitar, banjo, mandolin, violin and more) and singer and, together with his wife Bee, writes beautiful songs. It's hard to pigeon hole his music - you'll hear elements of folk, roots, gospel, country, soul, R&B, Motown, jazz, rock and bluegrass as well as blues in his repertoire - and its all good! For this Show he is joined by long time friend and excellent percussionist John McColgan (Stephen Barry Band, Ray Bonneville, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Emmy Lou Harris).

"Browne's masterful manipulation of electric and acoustic 12 and six-string guitars is wonderful... Beautifully wrought, easygoing, soulful sounds that might make you wonder if the singer-guitarist was born in another era." - Edmonton Journal

YOU TUBE of Michael playing one of his original songs "The War Will End"
Click Here for Night review
  
   

September 9

From Toronto

TREASA LEVASSEUR

w. DAVID BAXTER

I was first introduced to Treasa's music back in 2005 before she was well known when she sent me a home made demo CD with three songs on it. I became an instant fan as soon as I heard her and have remained one since. I am not surprised at the major success and recognition that has come to her since. As I
said in a Review I wrote for the Ottawa Blues Society for her first CD "Worthy In Its Ways": "Think Joni Mitchell, Etta James, Carole King and Dusty Springfield rolled into one….her voice has great range, it can whisper, cry, soar with joy and blast you out of your seat - sometimes all in the same song! She's also a first class songwriter with lyrics that emote, entice and captivate. And she can play - piano, accordion, guitar, mandolin, percussion, Rhodes and diamonica. Add in a theatre background and a career as a successful children's music teacher/entertainer and you have the versatile, eclectic and very talented package that is Treasa Levasseur". She will be playing songs from all of her albums including her just released "Broad" which is garnering lots of praise in North America and Europe these days. David Baxter, a very accomplished Producer and guitarist who has been with Treasa since day one, will be accompanying her for this Show.

"No matter what song she's singing, Levasseur's voice remains an utterly remarkable and absolutely captivating instrument. It's a pure and natural marvel, strong and clear but somehow soft, too, with a velvety warmth… and she's just as accomplished at writing and arranging as she is as a vocalist" - John Taylor, Blinded By Sound

YOU TUBE of Treasa with band performing one of her originals "Give Me Just One" LIVE in CBC studio - David Baxter on guitar
Click Here for Night review
  
   

FOR PHOTOS & REVIEWS OF THE 2011 SUMMER ACOUSTIC SERIES

CLICK HERE FOR SHOWS AT THE COVE INN, WESTPORT
CLICK HERE FOR SHOWS AT THE MILL TAVERN, MANOTICK