It is with great sadness that we report that Wade Brown, one of this country’s premier blues guitarists, has passed away. He was found dead in his home by a neighbour on Friday, February 19.

Wade was known as a guitarist’s guitarist, laying down licks and riffs of sublime intricacy. He was called the backbone of the Dutch Mason Band during their peak years and became an even greater influence as arthritis began to limit Dutch’s ability to play guitar.

He influenced two generations of guitar players on the East Coast scene, either by example or by teaching. Joe Murphy recalls, “He was so generous. When I was just starting out and trying to improve my guitar playing, Wade gave me a lesson for a whole afternoon and that lesson would last an entire year. Then I went back for another one.” 

A picture is worth 1000 words so here you have 6000 words about the latest event at The Cove (Westport, ON) on February 19, 2010 featuring Jerome Godboo with Alec Fraser, Al Cross and Shawn Kellerman.

 Dancing fools at The Cove - as always!

It's another gorgeous Saturday in Niagara. We really can't complain about the winter so far – just a little bit of snow, mild temperatures and blue skies more often than not. Although all of this comes at a price.

Climate change and what it will bring to our kid's future is always at the back of my mind. I make a conscious effort to keep informed on this subject and many others that affect our day-to-day lives, but on this beautiful Saturday afternoon I have but one thought on my mind – tapping my toes and swinging my hips to the blues.

All Together Now - Music for Everyone.

Our goal is to provide and promote opportunities for people to sing and play music together. Music is fun, inspiring, and a great way to build community. We offer a series of singing and musical workshops in Guelph every spring and fall, led by local musicians.

For a list of upcoming workshops...

Chet Baker was a leading jazz musician in the 1950s, playing trumpet and providing vocals. Baker died in 1988, yet he is about to add a new claim to fame as the lead plaintiff in possibly the largest copyright infringement case in Canadian history. His estate, which still owns the copyright in more than 50 of his works, is part of a massive class-action lawsuit that has been underway for the past year.

The infringer has effectively already admitted owing at least $50 million and the full claim could exceed $6 billion. If the dollars don't shock, the target of the lawsuit undoubtedly will: The defendants in the case are Warner Music Canada, Sony BMG Music Canada, EMI Music Canada, and Universal Music Canada, the four primary members of the Canadian Recording Industry Association.

Google has deleted six of the most popular Blogger-based music blogs on the web (including their entire archives) in an effort to combat online music piracy. The move comes in response to Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) take-down notices.

According to The Guardian, the deletions were performed without clear notice, and bloggers are insisting that they did not host any owned content without permission.

TWO DATES AT TORONTO’S GLENN GOULD THEATRE SET FOR SATURDAY FEB. 27 AND  MONDAY MARCH 8
 
New Brunswick's Matt Andersen is larger than life — and so is his talent and his showmanship.  Now based in Halifax, Andersen’s a 400-lb. giant who’s building an international following for his high energy performances of a sprawling hybrid of blues, roots and rock and roll.
 
Now, having won the acoustic solo/duo award at the Blues Foundation’s annual International Blues Challenge in Memphis in January, he’s setting off on yet another tour. This time he’s playing more than 25 theatre concerts in Ontario, British Columbia and Saskatchewan; additional dates may be added to the tour. Andersen will be sharing the stage with Wil, a highly praised Calgary guitarist, singer and songwriter. Their two Toronto concerts will be at the Glenn Gould Studio.