Bourgie Hall presents

Traveling Riverside Blues

This concert will take you on a trip through the blues of the Mississippi Valley! These well-known Canadian musicians come together to honour the African-American masters of the blues and perform original songs in this tradition which greatly interested Jean-Michel Basquiat.

In connection with the exhibition Seeing Loud: Basquiat and Music

Artists
Harrison Kennedy, vocals, guitar, and harmonica

Harrison Kennedy is a Canadian electric blues R&B/Soul blues singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known for being the lead vocalist of the group Chairmen of the Board, but has had a varied solo career since the mid-1970s. He was awarded the 2016 “Blues Album of the Year” Juno Award for his release, This Is From Here. It was Kennedy’s sixth nomination for that Award. He is also a Blues Music Award and multiple Maple Blues Award nominee.

Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, His family had roots in New Orleans and Tennessee, and his uncle was the noted Canadian blues musician, Jackie Washington. Harrison grew up in a house filled with music and famous visitors such as Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and Lonnie Johnson.

In 1968 Harrison joined the Detroit POP GROUP “The Chairmen of the Board” with whom he toured the world and played all the top venues including JOHNNY CARSON’S TONIGHT SHOW, SOUL TRAIN, AMERICAN BANDSTAND and ENGLAND’S “TOP-OF-THE-POPS’. Their most famous hit was “Gimme Me Just A Little More Time.” Chariman of the Board had performances with B.B. KING, JAMES BROWN, SMOKEY ROBINSON, STEVIE WONDER, FUNKADELICS and many more. They also performed many times at New York’s Famous HARLEM’S APOLLO THEATRE.

Michael Jerome Browne, vocals, guitar, gourd banjo, harmonica, and mandolin

Three-time Canadian Folk Music Award winner (Traditional Singer, 2015; Solo Artist, 2012 & 2008), Recipient of the Blues With A Feeling Award at the 2020 Maple Blues Awards (with 35 nominations since 1999), five-time Juno Award Nominee in both the Roots/Traditional and Blues categories, Kerrville (Texas) New Folk Finalist — Michael Jerome Browne is a multi-instrumentalist, a songwriter, and a living encyclopedia of American Roots music.

“That’s Where It’s At!” is the latest Juno-nominated album on Borealis Records, released in 2019. This album focuses on the connection between blues and soul, the stripped-down accompaniment consisting only of Michael’s guitar, with drummer John McColgan on five tracks. Vocal guests include Harrison Kennedy, Roxanne Potvin and Eric Bibb. Five originals are mixed in with songs from Sam Cooke, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Al Green, and Stevie Wonder, as well as two spirituals from way back- the roots of gospel and soul.

Stephen Barry, double bass
John McColgan, drums and percussion

Wednesday, November 2, 2022 at 8:00pm

To purchase your tickets visit: www.mbam.qc.ca/en/bourgie-hall/