THE LEGENDARY DOWNCHILD BLUES BAND FAREWELL TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUEST JEFF ROGERS
After 19 albums, countless awards and 55 years of spreading the blues around the world on tour, the time has come forΒ THE LEGENDARY DOWNCHILD BLUES BANDΒ to say farewell to the road and their beloved fans, with their FAREWELL TOUR.
Tickets for all shows are ON SALE NOW HERE.
It’s hard to believeΒ THE LEGENDARY DOWNCHILD BLUES BANDΒ are celebrating theirΒ 55thΒ AnniversaryΒ this year. As they say, time flies when you’re having fun!
Downchild came to international prominence as the inspiration for Hollywood starsΒ Dan AykroydΒ and the lateΒ John Belushi’sΒ hit film,Β The Blues Brothers. In fact, two Downchild songs, “Shotgun Blues” and “I Got Everything I Need (Almost)” were even covered on The Blues Brothers’ 1978 multi-platinum albumΒ Briefcase Full of Blues.
Donnie “Mr. Downchild” Walsh has seen it all throughout his fifty-five years as leader and co-founder of the band (with his since-passed brother, Richard “Hock” Walsh). From the early days of recording their debut album Bootleg in the parking garage at Rochdale College in Toronto, to sharing the stage with American blues legends,Β B.B. King,Β Buddy Guy,Β James CottonΒ and many more in some of the finest venues around the world. In 2019, Donnie was inducted into theΒ Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, alongside some of the greatest songwriters of our time, including Leonard Cohen, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell.
Downchild continues to be led by Donnie Walsh on guitar and harmonica, singer Chuck Jackson, who also plays harmonica, tenor sax man Pat Carey, Gary Kendall on bass, drummer Jim Casson and Tyler Yarema on keyboards.
With their infectious signature jump-blues style sound, Juno Award winners Downchild deliver a live performance that is second to none. This is your Last Chance To Dance, so come on down, have some fun and celebrate one of the greatest blues bands of our time!
Ottawa Soul/Blues singer/songwriter,Β Jeff RogersΒ will be supporting most of the dates on the FAREWELL TOUR, showcasing songs from his acclaimed new albumΒ Dream Job, that was nominated forΒ Soul/Blues Album of The YearΒ at the Blues Blast Magazine Awards in the U.S. in 2024.
Jeff Rogers’ unmistakably soulfulΒ voice often evokesΒ weightyΒ comparisons to the past – whether that’s Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles or even Otis Redding…. yet, his tone, range,Β phrasing, and sincerity,Β all make him unmistakablyΒ contemporary βΒ and totally original.
Jeff’s highly anticipated new solo albumΒ Dream JobΒ was recorded in the revered music mecca of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, where many of the greats including, Aretha Franklin, The Rolling Stones, Bob Seger, Etta James, Paul Simon, Otis Redding and The Black Keys have recorded.
For this album, Jeff is accompanied by some of the legendary musicians,Β includingΒ Kelvin HollyΒ (Little Richard, Bobby Bland etc.), Clayton Ivey (The Staple Sisters, Thelma Houston), Justin Holder (Keb Mo’, Delbert McClinton)Β andΒ Shonna TuckerΒ (Booker T. Jones, Drive-By-Truckers).Β Dream JobΒ is co-produced byΒ Dick CooperΒ ofΒ The Cooper BrothersΒ and features special guest appearances byΒ Grammy Award winner, Colin Linden,Β andΒ Juno Award winning singer, Kellylee Evans.
Tour Dates
17/10/24 Meaford Hall** Meaford, ON
18/10/24 Village Playhouse** Bancroft, ON
22/10/24 River Run Centre** Guelph, ON
25/10/24 Gravenhurst Opera House** Gravenhurst, ON
26/10/24 Midland Cultural Centre** Midland, ON
02/11/24 Imperial Theatre*** Sarnia, ON
13/11/24 Hugh’s Room Live** Toronto, ON
20/11/24 NAC β Babs Asper Theatre** Ottawa, ON
21/11/24 The Port Theatre** Cornwall, ON
22/11/24 The Regent Theatre** Picton, ON
28/11/24 The Studio** Hamilton, ON
29/11/24 Aeolian Hall** London, ON
* With Special Guest Tony D
** With Special Guest Jeff Rogers
*** With Special Guest Suzie Vinnick
ArtistΒ Links
