Story by Michelle McChristie, Photos by Darren McChristie
On Saturday night, the Thunder Bay Blues Society held their first ever Blues Blast at the DaVinci Centre. It was a perfect way to celebrate the society’s 25th anniversary.
The fact that it sold out well in advance and featured local bands Brother John and The Chain proves that the blues is alive and kicking in TBay. Doors opened at 3:30 pm, so the audience was well-primed for the first of three world class bands—Tony Holiday, direct from Memphis. He played with his regular guitarist, Gordon Greenwood, and, as a treat for fans, flew-in Monkeyjunk’s rhythm section—Steve Marriner and Matt Sobb (a new supergroup?). It was an incredible 75-minute set and the dance floor was packed, but alas, the night was still young!
Up next was Dave Weld and the Imperial Flames from Chicago. Weld is nothing short of a machine who plays the slide guitar with frenetic energy. He was accompanied by Monica Myhre on vocals, Terrence Williams on drums, Joe Fanelli on bass, and Rogers Randle Jr. on sax. Weld and Myhre left the stage to play among the audience a few times which amplified the amount of energy in the room.
The show wrapped up with a mind-blowing performance by Mississippi Heat (also from Chicago—don’t let their name fool you!). A self-described “American with a French accent,” Mississippi Heat’s frontman, Pierre Lacocque, is an acclaimed harmonica player backed by an equally talented band: Sheryl Youngblood on vocals, Giles Corey on guitar and vocals, “Big Mike” Perez on vocals and bass, and Terrence Williams on drums (kudos to him for playing a double set without missing a beat!). Corey and Perez took turns on lead vocals and stunned the audience with their talent and the band left the audience wanting more, so they squeezed in an encore that, no doubt, left everyone singing on their way home.
If you’re looking to add some blues to your life, check out the Thunder Bay Blues Society’s next event: the Blues Challenge on June 17 at The Foundry. This is a blues competition with local bands—the lucky winner will represent the Thunder Bay Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, TN in early 2024.
If you’ve been to a Noondaagotoon concert before, it will come as no surprise that this event is becoming an annual tradition for music lovers throughout our community.
See our full gallery of photos from last Friday’s concert on our website, link in bio! Don’t forget to send us any of your photos from the concert for a chance to win one of our earlybird Top Five in 5 Challenge prizes this Friday.
If you’ve been to a Noondaagotoon concert before, it will come as no surprise that this event is becoming an annual tradition for music lovers throughout our community.
See our full gallery of photos from last Friday’s concert on our website, link in bio! Don’t forget to send us any of your photos from the concert for a chance to win one of our earlybird Top Five in 5 Challenge prizes this Friday.
Spend any amount of time in TBay and you will notice the trains. For some, trains and railroads evoke a sense of adventure and possibility, connecting our remote city to a wider world. In this, the first ever Trains issue of The Walleye, we take a closer look at trains in Thunder Bay’s past, present and future.
Pick up your hard copy around town tomorrow or read our digital issue online. Link in bio!
P.S. You can find a special announcement from @wakethegiant807 on p. 74 of the May issue 👀
Spend any amount of time in TBay and you will notice the trains. For some, trains and railroads evoke a sense of adventure and possibility, connecting our remote city to a wider world. In this, the first ever Trains issue of The Walleye, we take a closer look at trains in Thunder Bay’s past, present and future.
Pick up your hard copy around town tomorrow or read our digital issue online. Link in bio!
P.S. You can find a special announcement from @wakethegiant807 on p. 74 of the May issue 👀
Counting down the days till we can have weekends like this again - doing nothing but eating #goodfood, hanging out with friends, and enjoying #goodvibes at the waterfront… festival season can’t come soon enough!
What was your favourite festival last summer? Ours involved lots of craft beer 🍻
Counting down the days till we can have weekends like this again - doing nothing but eating #goodfood, hanging out with friends, and enjoying #goodvibes at the waterfront… festival season can’t come soon enough!
What was your favourite festival last summer? Ours involved lots of craft beer 🍻
Over the last five years, Damon Dobak has been busy working on a collection of abstract paintings inspired by nature and architecture. And his exhibit opens at Co.Lab Gallery tonight!
Read more about his art and the show on p. 42 of our April issue, story by Sidney Ulakovic, photos by Damon Dobak. Link in bio!
Over the last five years, Damon Dobak has been busy working on a collection of abstract paintings inspired by nature and architecture. And his exhibit opens at Co.Lab Gallery tonight!
Read more about his art and the show on p. 42 of our April issue, story by Sidney Ulakovic, photos by Damon Dobak. Link in bio!
Boozhoo! Meet Esther Maud, the passionate founder driving the mission of Wabshkaa Animkii Benesii, a holistic after-school program at Sherbrooke Public School tailored for Indigenous and non-Indigenous children aged 7 to 14.
Read more about Maud’s empowering after-school program on p. 82 of our April issue, story provided by the CEDC. Link in bio!
Boozhoo! Meet Esther Maud, the passionate founder driving the mission of Wabshkaa Animkii Benesii, a holistic after-school program at Sherbrooke Public School tailored for Indigenous and non-Indigenous children aged 7 to 14.
Read more about Maud’s empowering after-school program on p. 82 of our April issue, story provided by the CEDC. Link in bio!
Rodney Brown has teamed up with the TBSO to pay tribute to the Canadian icon Gordon Lightfoot. Happening this weekend at Italian Cultural Centre - tickets available online at the TBSO’s website!
Read more about the event on p. 75 of our April issue, story by Tiffany Jarva, photo by Sidney Ulakovic, link in bio!
Rodney Brown has teamed up with the TBSO to pay tribute to the Canadian icon Gordon Lightfoot. Happening this weekend at Italian Cultural Centre - tickets available online at the TBSO’s website!
Read more about the event on p. 75 of our April issue, story by Tiffany Jarva, photo by Sidney Ulakovic, link in bio!