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BLUES FOR PEACE
GETS
WORLDWIDE ATTENTION!
Blues for Peace
is an independent, non-political organization established in Israel to honor
the roots of blues music and promote peace and the understanding that ALL
peoples have had their share of the blues.
Blues for
Peace has been recognized by UNESCO as promoting
the Culture of Peace, and has been featured in these
publications:
**
Downbeat
** USA
Today
**
Jerusalem Post
** CNN
Student News
** PBS
American Masters
** BBC's
The World
and more
LINK TO REVIEWS
Events & Programs
Blues for
Peace programs are planned to be offbeat, entertaining, educational,
and exciting - intended to bring people together on themes of Peace.
Past events have
included an evening of Blues & Ethiopian Music, a Blues
Bash for a People to People group from the Eisenhower Foundation
that toured Israel, Jordan & Lebanon, a Faith, Hope and the Blues
concert in Jerusalem, midnight Blues Cruise on the Sea of
Galilee, a Battle of the Blues Bands and more.
An affiliate the
International Blues Foundation, Blues for Peace sent the
SOBO band from Jerusalem to perform in the 2004
International Blues Challenge held in Memphis, TN. The
band talks about the trip and the blues scene in Israel on the BBC's
Global Hit - listen here!
For more information, visit
the Blues For Peace Website.
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June 25, 2005 |
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Featuring 10 Bands Including
FREE
ADMISSION!
A DAY OF BLUES AND ROOTS
A FAMILY EVENT - MUSIC AND TRANQUILITY
MEL LASTMAN SQUARE
SATURDAY
JUNE 25 - 2005 - 2:00 - 10:00 PM
TORONTO, CANADA
BLUES FOR PEACE:
The Association of Artists for a Better
World presents the 3rd Annual Concert For Peace at Mel Lastman
Square, on June 25, 2005, featuring ten dynamic and exciting
blues and roots bands, running continuously from 2:00 till 10:00 PM.
The all-day concert relies upon the universal power and language of music to
bring artists and members of our diverse community together to share a day
of tranquility and good vibes in the square. This year we are networking
with
Blues for Peace to raise our combined voices to the world to
encourage people to think, talk, and promote themes of peace peace; create
an environment of cultural acceptance and understanding for all people to
live together in harmony. The journey to peace starts inside.
PERFORMERS
SCHEDULE:
2:00 -
Michael Pickett
2:45 - Laura Fernandez
3:30 - Whiteboy Slim
4:15 -
Gary Kendall Band
5:00 -
Brian Gladstone Band
5:45 -
The Tulips
6:30 -
Danny Marks
7:15 -
Roses In The Snow
8:00 - Wild T & the Spirits
(Tony Springer Band)
9:00 - Jack de Keyzer Band
WHAT:
Blues For
Peace is a FREE family day of Blues and Roots
Music with underlying themes of peace. It is a festival for the
entertainment of our audience, not a peace rally, so there are no marches,
no signs, no politicians, and no speeches. The music is the message! Enjoy a
great day of blues and roots in the square!
WHEN:
June 25, 2005, 2:00 - 10:00 PM, Rain or Shine!
WHERE: Mel Lastman Square is located at 5100
Yonge
 Street
two blocks north of Sheppard Avenue. By TTC, take the Yonge line subway
(exit North York Centre). Getting there couldn't be easier when you
ride the rocket!
WHO:
Blues for Peace is presented for the first time in Canada by
The Association of Artists for A Better World, a registered
non profit organization to inform, encourage, and stimulate artist awareness
of social, cultural and ecological issues; create an information avenue to
communicate their words through their art form; organize, promote, and
present events which allow artists to express their thoughts on important
issues and let their words be known. Visit the website for more information.
www.abetterworld.ca
MUSICIANS CAN
APPLY TO PLAY
AT BLUES FOR PEACE:
We are accepting submissions (starting April 15, 2005)
from blues and roots artists or bands to fill FOUR stage spots.
All bands will be paid. Submissions are accepted online only through
Sonicbids, and will be evaluated by selected judges. Four selected
artists / bands will be notified by email before May 24, 2005 (Ensure your
Sonicbids contact info is accurate), and will need to confirm their
attendance in Toronto, Canada before June 1, 2005. Submission fee is $10.00
from April 15 to May 5, and $15.00 from May 3 to May 17.
WHAT MAKES IT TICK:
The concert venue 'Mel Lastman Square' is a
facility of the City of Toronto, thus
admission must be FREE. Funding for this event is
raised through donations, sponsors (pending) and
artist submissions. 'Blues for Peace' is a
not for profit event, presented by 'A Better
World'. Funds raised will be used pay ALL
artists, advertising and promotion, posters,
and other event related expenses. ALL of the
preparation and organization on this event has been
provided entirely by volunteers who have
generously donated their time.
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June 25, 2005 - Blues for Peace
Line Up |
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2:45 |
Laura
Fernandez -
Singer songwriter pianist Laura Fernandez was born in
Madrid, Spain and lived in Switzerland before immigrating to Canada as a
young child. Her song writing is reflective of these cultural influences as
she writes and performs in both English and Spanish. She is a well known
painter and illustrator and often compares her song writing to Vermeer's
paintings and the quiet capture of moments in time. Fascinated by portraits
she describes her songs as self portraits and her most intimate reflections
on relationships and situations. Her songs are open and revealing laying
bare the nature of complex emotion. Laura Fernandez was the winner of the
best soft rock band at the New York International Independent Music
Festival. |
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3:30 |
WHITEBOY SLIM -
Maurice Richard Libby, [aka] WHITEBOY SLIM creates a gutsy, throwback
version of the blues by incorporating pieces of jazz, hip-hop and DIY
recording techniques that feel wholly original. His unique take on the
American institution of the blues is memorable. The true greats of blues
generated enormous excitement and awe in their audiences with flamboyant
showmanship; with aloof, tough delivery; with elegance and charisma; with
passionate virtuosity; with all sorts of styles, but always with original
talent and awesome presence. Meet Whiteboy Slim |
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4:15 |
GARY KENDALL
is one of the best known bassists on Canada`s blues scene adding a rock
solid bottom end to Downchild's distinctive sound. GARY KENDALL has also
toured and recorded with blues greats Morgan Davis, Snooky Pryor, Chris
Murphy, Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson, Big Jay McNeely, to name only a few
and he`s the Musical Director of the Maple Blues Awards. He was honoured
with the "Blues With A Feeling" Award in 1993 and has won the Maple Blues
Award as Bassist of TheYear in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002. Originally from
Thunder Bay, Ontario, Gary has also been honoured by his hometown, receiving
the Thunder Blues Award from the City Of Thunder Bay and the Keeping The
Blues Alive Award from The Thunder Bay Blues Society in 2002. When not
touring and recording with Downchild he performs with The Gary Kendall Band
and released his first solo recording "Dusty & Pearl" on his own 47 Records
label in late 2004. |
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5:00 |
Brian Gladstone Band -
Toronto singer
/ guitarist Brian
Gladstone is a finger-picking guitar master, a
prophetic lyricist, a philosophical story-teller and a dynamic performer.
(Canada Music Week Magazine, March 2001) Brian's
particular way of seeing things through irony and old time approach reminds
me of great artists as John Prine, Dave Van Ronk, and Mississippi John
Hurt. He is their own true son and he continues their great sounds.
(Susa Onda Radio Network, Italy).
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5:45 |
The Tulips -
4
Rocking High Energy Blues Chicks
- Four talented, dedicated & beautiful
ladies
have come together to form The Tulips, an all female band which is
exciting, sensual and a whole lot of fun. The Tulips bring a
delightful estrogen-edge to their music, while demonstrating strength,
confidence and power to their respective instruments. Blues and
beyond...describes their repertoire. Each women brings with her an
extraordinary and unique voice, that blends together to create what can only
be called...The Tulips and they are: Gayle Ackroyd; guitar, vocals,
Christine Bird; bass, vocals, Silvia Wright; keys, accordion,
vocals and lead by Maureen Brown; drums, vocals |
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6:30 |
DANNY MARKS -
Many
Canadians know Danny Marks as the man of a million songs from CBC
radio's the Humline, others go all the way back to the 60's when Danny was
one third of the original blues/pop supergroup Edward Bear. Most
prefer to remain in the present, as Danny Marks hosts the popular
bluz.fm radio programm on jazz.fm91 Toronto, every Saturday night at
8. Danny's recent albums include Guitarchaeology, the all
instrumental, and TRUE, the story of love lost, both original works.
In 2004, Danny has just released Big Town Boy, a tribute to Toronto's Rock
and Roll past. |
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7:15 |
Roses in The
Snow -
Canada's Newest All Women
Kick-Ass
Bluegrass
Band Roses in the Snow is a
fusion of four unique women performing bluegrass, country and folk music
with soaring harmonies and great musicianship. After only one year together,
the Roses are making waves in bluegrass circles and are building a strong
grassroots following. Each Rose adds a different dimension to the band:
Marnie Niemi (bass and vocals) ; Kathy Montgomery (banjo and vocals); Leslie
Knowles (violin, viola, mandolin) Dottie Cormier (guitar and vocals).
The Roses deliver fresh and creative arrangements of traditional tunes and
they also love to crossover and mix things up -- drawing from their
appreciation and love for classical, country, jazz, pop, rock and folk
music. |
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8:00 |
Wild
T and the Spirits
- Tony "Wild T" Springer has
hung with the best of them. David Bowie, Jeff Healey, Bon Jovi, Deep Purple,
Jay Leno, David Letterman and Arsenio Hall are just some of the musical acts
and personalities that have been blown away by Wild T's guitar. Moving to
Toronto from Trinidad, T quickly gained a reputation on the local club
circuit. Since then he has recorded two albums (Love Crazy 1991 and Givin'
Blood 1995) with his own group, Wild T and the Spirit for Warner Brothers.
He has also recorded an album (Black Tie, White Noise) with David Bowie and
has appeared with Bowie on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with
David Letterman and the Arsenio Hall Show. He has toured with Bon Jovi and
Deep Purple throughout North America and has performed thousands of club
shows. Recently he was asked to portray Jimi Hendrix in the Monkee Movie for
TMN. |
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9:00 |
Jack de Keyzer Band -
2003 JUNO Winner! - Best Blues Album -
Jack de Keyzer is an award winning blues
guitarist, singer and song writer. Jack de Keyzer has four CD's under
his own name and has appeared on dozens of CD's for other artists. An
exciting entertainer, electrifying guitarist and soulful singer, Jack de
Keyzer delights a vast spectrum of music lovers wherever he performs. His
latest CD, 6 String Lover, is a milestone in the lifelong musical travels of
a contemporary rhythm & blues journeyman.
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