BY
BILL BRADLEY
Sudbury's music fans will be dancing in the street, Durham St.
that is, this Saturday from 11 am to 11 pm during the annual
Downtwon Rotary Blues For Food event.
The event kicks off summer festival merriment while collecting
non-perishable food for the needy. As it is every Saturday,
parking will be free at all municipal lots and meters downtown.
The Comfortable Chairs are the opening act at noon. Following at 1 pm will be Dwayne Trudeau in Good Company.
At 2 pm, popular blues band Hipshake will take the stage. Tightrope will follow at 3 pm. Then Tommy Fyfe and Whisky River will belt out a dynamic blues sound at 4 pm. Mr. MD and the Aural Xciters will entertain at 5 pm.
Then the area will be cleared for the evening performances.
Johnny Williams will play his own version of blues classics at
7:30 pm. And then Eddie Shaw and the Wolfgang will make a
return appearance to Sudbury.
Eddie Shaw won the American 2006 Blues horn player of the
year award.
Tony Anselmo, owner of Records on Wheels, said,"Eddie Shaw
is probably the best blues sax player in blues today.
"The Blues Appreciation Society of Sudbury booked him in
1992 in the Mine Mill Hall. He was fabulous."
This week has been designated as Sudbury Food Bank Week by
the city.
"This special downtown community event was created to raise
dollars and food for the Sudbury Food Bank. It is also a great
showcase for local blues musicians and children's
entertainers," said Mareen Luoma, executive director of Sudbury
Metro Centre.
"To date this event has raised more than $101,000 and
collected close to 74 tons of non-perishable food items for the
Sudbury Food Bank, to be distributed to more than 38 charitable
food providers," said Luoma.
Blues For Food has definitely become a family event, said
Luoma.
Starting at 11 am, there will be a children's play stage and
zone sponsored by Telus. Story Socks, Master Musician Rene
Lacourciere, Mad Science and Charlie will perform.
Ongoing activities for children include free wagon rides,
Bouncing Merryland Inflatables, free face-painting and arts and
crafts.
Adults can cool off in the Labatts Refreshment Tent. In
addition there will be a barbecue sponsoured by M&M Meat
Shops.
"We're excited to be playing at Blues For Food this year,
our first appearance at this worthwhile event," said Lori
Paradis, a member of Dwayne Trudeau in Good Company.
"The whole idea is that we as a community need to make sure
the hungry have enough to eat. That's why we are excited to
contribute on Saturday our music," she said.
Tickets for the evening concert are $15 advance and
available at Records on Wheels and Jett Landry Music.
Admission during the day is a non-perishable food item or a
cash donation to be donated to the Sudbury Food Bank.
Durham St. will be closed to vehicular traffic between Elgin
and Larch for the entire day.
Some local sponsours such as Great West Life are hosting
office food drives.
"We'll be asking our employees at our offices on Pine St. to
collect non-perishable food with the help of containers
provided by Evans Lumber next door," said Craig MacTavish,
regional director.
"I hope other businesses and corporate offices do likewise
to help the Sudbury Food Bank," he said.
For more information about Blues For Food phone 674-5115.
