The Citizen, 2008-03-20, Page 19Blues lovers in the area are in for a
rare treat when well-known
Canadian guitarist Shawn Kellerman
performs in Brussels March 28.
The evening is being put together
by Jim Lee, who, one might broadly
state, set Kellerman on the road to
success.
“I had played classical piano for
years. Jim, who jammed with my
father brought a guitar to the house
and well, I was kind of freaking out
on the guitar,” said Kellerman.
His father recognized something
in his son’s interest and purchased a
guitar for him, marking the end of
the piano and the beginning of
something exciting.
Kellerman’s blues roots run deep.
His father, who owned the acclaimed
Kitchener blues club Pop the Gator,
influenced his musical taste through
a record collection of jazz, blues and
blues rock.
As well, said Kellerman,
Kitchener was a community that was
strong in blues. “The vibe was
everywhere. It was pretty much
inevitable that this would be the
music I’d play.”
Kellerman soon began garnering
attention in the Canadian music
scene, but it was after opening for
some Chicago blues musicians when
he was 20 that his career truly began
developing.
“Playing on my own was great, but
I kept hearing one thing. There was
talk of discipline. There is
something that needs to happen to
take you to the next level.”
Kellerman began making calls and
before he could say T-Bone Walker
found himself backing up some of
the best blues men in America. He
recorded in D.C., for an English
label, then “jumped to Mississippi”.
He has toured in 22 different
countries and last year worked on an
acoustic CD, Raw, with
Mississippi’s Bobby Rush. “It went
to number one on the blues chart,”
said Kellerman.
On his own, Kellerman has
released two CDs, most recently
Land of 1000 Dreams. He and his
three-piece band are currently
touring, primarily in the States.
“Last year I decided I wanted to
tour with my own band. I’ve always
been the guitar player, the hired gun.
Ninety-five per cent of my time has
been with others, now I have to make
sure that two musicians and myself
are employed.”
The Brussels stop is one of the
smaller venues on the tour, but not
abnormal by any means, said
Kellerman.
“I’ve played festivals, then the
next night a 50-seat club. That’s
what blues is all about. You can be in
a five-star hotel one night then check
into a motor lodge the next.”
For Lee, the event is a chance to
celebrate spring’s arrival and
promote his love of music. Tickets
for musicians of Kellerman’s quality
can generally command a high ticket
price. At $10, Lee is hoping to
provide people with an opportunity
to see someone they might not
typically be able to.
“They can expect to hear one of
the best blues guitar players and hear
him in a small venue.”
Lee said when he threw the idea of
the Brussels show at Kellerman, “he
was game.”
“We pulled it together and we’re
looking forward to a night that will
be a lot of fun.”
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2008. PAGE 19.Entertainment Leisure&Kellerman brings blues to Brussels
“In the Spring a young man’s
fancy lightly turns to thoughts of
love,” Tennyson wrote in 1642 – and
it is as true today as it was then.
The Blyth Festival Singers are
celebrating love and the long-
awaited season with a heart-warming
concert on Sunday, April 6 at 2:30
p.m. They are performing Love
Songs for Springtime in the acoustic
space of Clinton United Church.
Come and enjoy the show as the
40-voice Blyth Festival Singers
explore the many aspects of love
from romantic to flirtatious, from
unrequited to forbidden. Music will
include selections from Brahms’
Love Song Waltzes and pieces by di
Lasso, Willan, Lloyd Webber and
others under the professional
direction of Robert Blackwell. The
double piano talents of Kathleen
King-Martin and Allan Keith will
also be featured.
A special treat will be a guest
performance by Jeffrey McFadden,
acknowledged as one of the finest
guitarists of his generation. With
concert engagements throughout
Canada, the United States and
Europe, McFadden has performed
world premieres of work by
numerous composers and has been a
featured artist at international music
festivals.
The Daily Telegraph of London
exclaimed “McFadden’s ability to
make the guitar sing is second to
none”, and Classic CD has described
his playing as “major artistry”.
Classics Today raves, “Jeffrey
McFadden is not only an
extraordinary guitarist – he’s also an
inspired musician.”
He is frequently heard on CBC
radio – both as soloist and ensemble
player.
Adult tickets are $12 and children
under 12 pay only $6. Tickets are
available at The Dutch Store,
Clinton, Tasty Nu Bakery, Zurich,
Westcoast Photography, Goderich,
Snyders Studio, Wingham, Nifty
Korners, Seaforth or from any
member of the Blyth Festival
Singers.
Some tickets may also be available
at the door.
The Ethel euchre party was held
on Monday, March 10 with eight
tables in play.
Winners were: share the wealth,
Sharon Freeman, Keith Turnbull;
high, Myrna Burnett, Judy Hahn;
lone hands, Iola Subject, John
Subject; low, Mary Craig, Rex
Whaley.
There were numerous tally prizes.
The next euchre will be held on
Monday, March 24 at 8 p.m.
Singers in the mood for love
T IC K E T S
O N S A L E
N O W !!
www.donjonesproductions.com
LIVE IN CONCERT
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9th
Academy Theatre
www.academytheatre.ca
1-877-888-0038 or 705-324-9111
CKNX AM 920 &
The Wingham Ironmen
present Canadian Country Music
Superstar George Canyon!
Saturday, June 7 at 8:00 pm
North Huron Wescast
Community Complex
Licensed tickets and All-age tickets Available:
By phone: 1-888-999-8980 Online: www.centennialhall.london.ca
In person: Dean’s Valumart, 55 Josephine St. or
Christine’s Clothes Closet, 220 Josephine St., Wingham
www.georgecanyon.com
O N
S A L E
N O W !
Blyth Rd., Auburn 519-526-7759
NOW LICENSED
UNDER LIQUOR LICENCE ACT
OF ONTARIO
Stickers Family Restaurant
Monday - 6:30 - 4:00;
Tuesday & Wednesday 6:30 - 8:00;
Thursday, Friday & Saturday 6:30 - 9:00;
Sunday 9:00 - 7:00
Saturday,
March 22
Pork Chop
Dinner
5 pm - 9 pm
Friday Smorg. ~ 5 pm - 8 pm
Sunday Smorg. ~ 4 - 7 pm
Buck ’n Doe
for
Shaun “Shmoo”
McAdam
&
Connie McLean
Saturday, March 22
Seaforth District
Community Centre
9 pm - 1 am
Lunch provided
$5.00 in advance
$7.00 at the door
Age of majority
Call
Jason 519-527-1233
or
Karen 519-440-2747
Buck & Doe
for
Brett Martin
&
Leanne Haggitt
Friday, March 28
Blyth Community Centre
9 pm - 1 am
$5.00 in advance
$6.00 at the door
Age of majority
Call
Christa 519-523-4342 or
Chad 519-523-9824
Happy Birthday
Terry on March 22
and Brendan
on March 30
Love from Mom and
Grandma and PaulLove
Mom & Dad
Lordy, Lordy
This Cowgirl
is “40”
Happy Birthday
Chris
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen
Romantic tunes
Jeffrey McFadden will be the
guest performer as Blyth
Festival Singers celebrate love
with a concert of some of the
best romantic music on
Sunday, April 6 at Clinton
United Church. (Photo submitted)
8 tables
in play
at Ethel
euchre
ON $5.00 THURSDAYS
Drop into either of our offices any
Thursday with your word classified
(maximum 20 words) and pay only
$5.00 + GST (paid in advance).
That’s $1.00 off regular rates.
The Citizen