The Sound STC•Vol.2 Issue 01
January 2016
Thorold Takes Aim at the Title
“Blues Capital of Canada”
By Bob Liddycoat
Thorold has mounted a legitimate bid to claim the title of “Blues
Capital of Canada.”
A handful of cities point to their annual — admittedly terrific — blues
festivals as reason for the moniker but Thorold takes things a step further. It hosts the Canal Banks Shuffle Blues Festival each October. The
festival has become regarded as one of the best attracting a huge loyal
following and some of the world’s best blues artists. Add to this the
twice-a-week blues nights at Donnelly’s pub in downtown Thorold.
And Thorold goes beyond these events to present a series of onenight shows which feature some of these same outstanding festival
performers. One of those shows will happen on Friday January 15
when three of Canada’s premiere guitarists and blues artists will appear
together for the first time.
Shawn Kellerman, David Gogo and Jack de Keyzer will appear separately and together in a show billed as “Guitar Wars.” While the name
definitely elicits the connotation of conflict it is, in fact, a night when
these three will team up to demonstrate that Canada has produced
some of the finest musicians on the planet. And, for good measure,
thrown into the mix is local guitar icon Brant Parker who has, time
and time again, proven he too belongs among this elite. He also adds
credence to the “blues capital” claim by consistently demonstrating the
excellence of local talent.
Kellerman has toured the world extensively with blues superstar
Lucky Peterson among others. His several appearances at the Shuffle
have garnered appreciative ]