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Blues artist Cécile Doo-Kingué returns to Nickel City April 26

She's considered 'one of Canada’s most electrifying and versatile guitarists'
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An exceptional guitarist, singer-songwriter and stage presence, Cécile Doo-Kingué will be featured in The Motley Kitchen’s Dinner & Show series on Thursday, April 26. (Supplied)

An exceptional guitarist, singer-songwriter and stage presence, Cécile Doo-Kingué will be featured in The Motley Kitchen’s Dinner & Show series on Thursday, April 26. 

She will appear with her trio which includes Pierre Desmarais on bass and John McColgan on drums.

Doo-Kingué blends blues, afro-roots and soul to create a unique sound. Born and raised in New York City, first generation from Cameroon, she has lived in the USA, France, and now calls Montreal her home. 

Considered one of Canada’s most electrifying and versatile guitarists, she has shared a stage and/or recorded with Montreal Jubilation Choir, Blind Boys of Alabama, Kevin Breit, Suzie Vinnick, Michael Jerome Brown,  Scarlett Jane, and United Steel Workers of Montreal,  to name just a few. 

She has opened for many icons including Canned Heat, John Prine, Eric Andersen, Angélique Kidjo, Youssou N’Dour and Manu Dibango. 

Doo-Kingué has four solo albums to her credit and has earned multiple Maple Blues Awards nominations, including two this year, for Female Vocalist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. 

But don’t expect what most people perceive to be blues. 

"I don't do traditional blues per se… the blues that I play is as bastardized as I am culturally," she said. 

“Unfortunately, a lot of times the type of blues that gets pushed is a stereotype of itself, right? And so sometimes I get a kick out of playing a blues gig and never once playing a 12-bar. Blues is also a very rich genre, so the idea is to see how to represent it nowadays without being limited to that.”

Doo-Kingué is quickly earning a stellar reputation among the top echelon of great guitarists. Powerful and raw, her guitar prowess, lyrics, and sound make for enthralling and intimate communion.

Although she tours internationally, Doo-Kingué is happy to be returning to Sudbury where her too-infrequent past appearances have garnered fervent fans, both Anglophone and Francophone, something she appreciates here.

"There seems to be co-operation on either side of the linguistic fence, at least artistically, which is great!" Doo-Kingué said.

Dinner and entertainment combined is $55, including HST. Show-only seats are $20 each. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the buffet dinner served at 6:30 p.m. and the show from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Reserve now to assure good seats and dinner by calling 705-222-6685.

The Motley Kitchen presents this series in collaboration with the Northern Lights Festival.


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