Steve Strongman to Headline 13th Blues With A Feeling Concert June 6th, 2015

The Friends of Richard Newell in association with the Hamilton Spectator are pleased to announce the 13th annual Blues With A Feeling concert, a tribute to Hamilton’s internationally renowned blues legend the late Richard Newell a.k.a. the King Biscuit Boy. The all star revue will take place Saturday June 6 at the Bay City Music Club at Leander on the Hamilton Waterfront.

Our 2015 blues extravaganza features the return of Steve Strongman and his electric band as the show’s headliner. Steve’s latest CD, Let Me Prove It to You, was nominated for a JUNO award in the blues category and his previous release, A Natural Fact, was a JUNO winner. He is also the winner of multiple Maple Blues Awards and Hamilton Music Awards. He has toured the world entertaining audiences with his electrifying performances and we’re proud that he will be bringing that musical excitement to his hometown on June 6.

Unfortunately this year we received some sad news for Blues With a Feeling fans. The Waterfront Trust has ceased to operate harbour cruises aboard their Harbour Queen. This marks the end of the always popular Blues With A Feeling Blues Cruise featuring Trickbag and special guests. However we will try to keep the Blues Cruise alive by recreating its spirit as part of Saturday’s concert.

Trickbag, a longtime Hamilton blues favourite that includes former King Biscuit Boy sidemen, will offer a set featuring a number of special guests including, Dave Rave, Tim Gibbons, Hailee Rose and Les Smith.

Jerome Godboo

Finally, since Richard Newell is regarded as one of the greatest blues harp players Canada has ever produced, it is fitting that a program honouring him should feature a red hot harpman of today. Since he first attracted attention as a member of the Toronto based Phantoms, Jerome Godboo has blazed new trails on his instrument through his solo projects and his collaborations with well known artists such as Jack DeKeyzer, Jimmy Bowskill and Jeff Healey. At the 2014 International Blues Challenge in Memphis Jerome was awarded the Lee Oskar Best Harmonica Player Award.

In what has become a popular Blues With a Feeling tradition Eddie Cookie (Ronnie Copple), an original member of Richard Newell’s Chessmen band of the 1960’s will be on hand to musically greet everyone. The concert begins at 8. Doors open at 7:30.

As always proceeds from this year’s event fund an annual scholarship in Richard Newell’s name awarded to students in the music program at Mohawk College.

Advance tickets are $25 ($30 at the door) and are available at the Spectator, Picks and Sticks, Dr. Disc, Chedoke Flowers, Stardust Records and Looney Tunes Records in Burlington.