Blues societies play a tremendous role in the Canadian music scene. They do more than just provide a common meeting ground for folks with an interest in the blues. Blues in the Schools programs, weekly open stages, major festival and seasonal concert promotions; the hardworking, passionate folks who keep these organizations up and running provide all these services and more. We all live in cities, towns, counties or countrysides but, ultimately, we all live in communities. It is the blues societies across the country that help bring us all together as a community.
Here are just a few of the societies out there doing great work.
Toronto Blues Society (http://torontobluessociety.com/)
Formed in 1985 the Toronto Blues Society is home to the Maple Blues Awards and the Women’s Blues Revue. Both are highlight events on the Canadian blues calendar each year, bringing together players from all across the country to celebrate the best in blues.
Edmonton Blues Society (http://www.edmontonbluessociety.net/home.cfm)
The Edmonton Blues Society holds monthly events and an open stage. In 2012 they held a competition to send the top Edmonton blues performers to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn.
Canada South Blues Society (http://www.bluessociety.ca/)
Located in Windsor, Ont., the Canada South Blues Society is the recipient of the 2011 Keeping the Blues Alive Award for Historical Preservation from the Blues Awards put on by the Blues Foundation in Memphis.
Saskatoon Blues Society (http://www.saskatoonbluessociety.ca/)
Now in their tenth year, the Saskatoon Blues Society hosts the annual Saskatoon Blues Festival.
Great Lakes Blues Society (http://www.greatlakesbluessociety.com/)
The Great Lakes Blues Society out of London, Ont., presents some of the top blues acts touring in their performance series throughout the year.
Victoria Blues Society (http://victoriabluessociety.shawwebspace.ca/)
It took a Legendary Blues Cruise in the Caribbean for two women from Victoria, B.C., to meet and form the Victoria Blues Society. That’s a long way to go and six years later they have come a long way.
Ottawa Blues Society (http://www.ottawabluessociety.com/)
There must be something blue in the Ottawa River. Some of the top blues artists in the country hail from the nation’s capital and are members of the Ottawa Blues Society: Trevor Finlay, JW-Jones, Sue Foley, Terry Gillespie and MonkeyJunk, along with dozens of other great musicians.
East Coast Blues Society (http://www.eastcoastblues.ca/)
But then there is the East Coast that could give Ottawa a run for its money. The East Coast Blues Society’s list of local players includes: Carson Downey, Charlie A’Court, Joe Murphy, John Campbelljohn, Matt Minglewood, Morgan Davis, Garrett Mason, Matt Andersen – the list goes on.
Société Blues Montreal Blues Society (http://www.bluesmontreal.com/)
Société Blues Montreal Blues Society is home to Dawn Tyler Watson and Paul Delaurier. Out of 80 acts at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn., they landed one of eight finalist spots performing at the legendary Orpheum Theatre.
Thunder Bay Blues Society (http://www.thunderbaybluessociety.ca/)
The Thunder Bay Blues Society has been giving back to the community with seasonal fundraising events since their inception in 1998.
If there is a blues society you would like highlighted and linked here, just drop us a line: blues@cbcmusic.ca
And in the spirit of community how about linking your society website to us here at www.cbcmusic.ca/blues.