Thunder Bay Blues Festival Awards Column

Thunder Bay Blues Festival Daily Report

Publication Date: 7-11-11

By: Hubert O'Hearn

And so by the time you read this, the 10th Annual Thunder Bay Blues Festival will packed and gone. At the time I write this, it actually isn't quite over - more in the 'where's the toothbrushes and did anyone water the plants?' stage. So if Sunday night's curtain closers Blue Rodeo play the most monstrously magnificent set in the history of live music and it's not mentioned here, so sorry. Yet instinct tells me that The Who playing See Me, Feel Me as the sun rose at Woodstock is probably safe for another year.

For as long as I've been filing these daily reports, I've always closed with my completely arbitrary and subjective Festival Awards. They come with no trophy or plaque; only warm feelings and a hand held open in expectation of bribery which has never arrived. There is always next year however. Onwards:

The Hardcore Award - To those several hundred plastic-wrapped souls who stuck it out Saturday from 11:30AM-7PM through a rain sheet that had animals gathering two by two. This Blues Award goes to those who found themselves blue-lipped in the cold.

The Shiny New Toy Award - There was really only one previously little-known band that made the crowd spark and rise, and that was Trampled Under Foot, who played as the rain ended Saturday. Nick, Kris and Danielle Schnebelen gave a kick of boisterous energy to a Festival that was calling for it.

The Tasty Num-num Award - I try and hit as many of the food vendors' booths as I can, proudly clogging arteries in the name of research. My favourite thing this year was the Fox on the Run's pulled pork sandwich gracefully oozing with a mustard grape sauce.

The Hooterville-on-the-Lake Award - Let's call this a tie. First mentioned is whomever the anonymous City Administration putz was that pulled the internet router out of Marina Park right before the Festival...when there just maybe might be a few hundred people wanting an internet signal. Also, Thunder Bay Transit for not running any departing buses after midnight. I'm sure downtown bars and restaurants might appreciate having another 500 or so patrons who shudder at the notion of $40 taxi rides back to the south side.

The Novelty Act Award - The Blues Brotherhood, who gave a note by note recreation of The Blues Brothers act made famous by John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. Crack studio musicians, led by original Blues Brother Tom 'Bones' Malone and high energy singing made them a great addition to the Saturday evening performances that were the guts of this year's Festival.

The Prodigal Son Award - Thunder Bay born Tyler Yarema brought his swing blues band back home for Toronto and played a sharp and enjoyable set that enlivened what had been a sleepy Sunday afternoon. I've long advocated that a local act at least be given a 6PM time slot and the crowd reaction to Yarema provided all the needed evidence for that position.

The Show-Stopper Award - Dana Fuchs. Nobody was close...okay, Buddy Guy was close. But Dana, who also kindly stayed late into the night after signing every autograph seeker's album to give an interview you'll be seeing soon, is the best singer I have ever seen. She made an incredible, personal connection with every member of the audience. The one act I would actually travel to see. To use an old wrestling line, If she's not back - we riot.

Dana Fuchs - Another wrestling line:
The Best there is, the Best there was, the Best there will ever be

Line of the Year - Again from Dana Fuchs. 'This is such an incredible city and country. Canada Rocks. There was so much love being shared out there, but I hope that everyone keeps sharing the love all the time, not just when we're at a concert together.'

Be seeing you.