New Releases - November 2001 by John Valenteyn Wayne Buttery & The Groove Project / Waiting WPGP-0001 Indie This veteran Orillia-based band is normally a quartet with Buttery on vocals & guitar, Bob Federer on keyboards, Dennis King on vocals & drums and Charlie Hinkel on vocals & bass. For a couple of songs on this CD, Simon Wallis, saxophones and Paul Robillard, trumpet were brought on board and Steve Thomas guests on harp throughout. Federer's B3 is the most prominent sound and with Buttery on vocals, that gives them a `60's R&B feel. They open and close the album with Little Milton songs and that should give you some idea of the music they perform here. Ten of the remaining songs are band originals and of these, "Waiting", the title song (by Hinkel) and"Are You Doin' It Alone", with its acoustic intro, (by Buttery) are the best. "Waiting" is a well-written tender ballad done as a duo by Hinkel & Buttery and "Doin' It" is a mid tempo blues with a nice vocal a slide guitar part. Sound files are available at www.waynebuttery.com. Loose Blues News - April 2004 2004 Orillia Spring Blues Festival 9th Annual Orillia Spring Blues Festival, April 29 to May 2: Grammy award winner James Cotton kicks things off, with locals Wayne Buttery & the Groove Project, at the Thursday gala at Second Last Call. Tickets for this main stage event are $25 in advance and $30 at the door, which includes a weekend blues pass. Fathead plays the Highwayman Inn on Friday and Saturday nights, beginning at 9:30 pm. Jack de Keyzer plays Second Last Call on Friday night, while the Cameo Blues Band takes to the stage on Saturday night. Both shows begin at 10 pm. Morgan Davis returns to Orillia at the Broadway Banquet Hall on Laclie Street for two shows, including a History of the Blues workshop at 3 pm, and a Saturday night show beginning at 8 pm. He'll be followed by the six-piece zydeco blues band Loco Zydeco. Local blues favorites the Ronnie Douglas Band and Jumpin' Dunkin will also take to the stage at other local venues. The action wraps up Sunday with jambalaya and a blues jam at Second Last Call. Admission to all shows other than the main stage event is free with the purchase of a Blues Festival button at the door. For more information visit www.orilliaspringblues.com Loose Blues News - April 2004 Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival 2nd Annual Orangeville Blues & Jazz Festival, June 3 - 6: "This year will see the festival grow from 16 acts to close to 40 acts. Most events are free happening in restaurants, clubs, patios and coffee shops. There will be two free all-day concerts in Alexandra park behind the townhall on Saturday June 5 and Sunday June 6. The festival will showcase award winning International, Canadian and Local artists. The opening night gala on Thursday June 3 takes place at Baba Ganoush and will be hosted by Danny Marks and the Bluz FM Band. Headlining the free concert on Saturday will be Chicago blues legend Willie "Big Eyes" Smith and the Juke Joint Rockers with John Mays, Al Lerman, Mel Brown and Kevin Higgins. Other acts playing on the two stages include David Rotundo & the Blue Canadians, Wayne Buttery & The Groove Project, Fathead, Lance Anderson, Trouble & Strife and others to be added to the line-up. In the clubs will be acts such as Shawn Kellerman & Soul Providers, Jack DeKeyzer Band, Mark Bird Stafford and the Harmonica Knights, Julian Fauth, and Paul James along with many others. There will also be a healthy dose of jazz artists involved in the festival this year. A festival fundraising event will take place early in May at the Galaxy Cinemas in Orangeville. A blues concert in the 240 seat movie theatre will be followed by a Jazz themed movie screening. For more information contact festival director Larry Kurtz 519-941-7875. A complete schedule and information will be available on the festival web site www.orangevillebluesandjazz.ca.