Acrpost: A Project of the Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres

Event Description

He's been called a blues evangelist and that is a very fitting moniker. "I speak the
blues like it's the truth, and it is" he was recently quoted. "I do feel like I'm a servant of
the people. And I do believe that music can heal people, especially blues music, if they
pay attention to the good messages in the songs we perform." He delivers those
messages in the traditional sound of early electric blues. Think of the old Chess
Records and Sun Records of the late 40's and early 50's. Harpdog says "Blues has a
healing power. It's a beautiful celebration of our perfectly flawed lives. We help people
forget about their issues for a moment and then they realize that we all have our issues,
and that it's ok."

Vancouver-based Harpdog Brown was born in Edmonton in 1962, an adopted child
who has felt somewhat detached his whole life - "a lifelong battle of not feeling like I
belonged. I think I was born for the circus, you know, born to travel. The blues tapped
me on the shoulder years ago and said 'this is where you belong, son'. So the blues
became my circus and there's no better way to travel than with a classic blues band!"
They love the traditional early electric blues sound and they perform that style with
authenticity. Some call it a Chicago Blues sound. Harpdog calls it Classic Blues.
Think late 40's and early 50's vintage electric blues. They perform mostly originals yet
they often include great songs of the masters from that era. Think Howlin' Wolf, Sonny
Boy Williamson, Little Walter, Jimmy Reed and of course, Muddy Waters. Audiences
say that they love hearing that lo-fi vinyl sound live on stage. They often do it all while
using vintage gear as well.

Harpdog Brown is a gifted vocalist and an imaginative harmonica player. He is a threetime
Maple Blues Award Winner (2014/2015/2016), Fraser Valley Music Award Winner,
three-time Western Canadian Music Awards Nominee, Juno Nominee and the only
Canadian to win the coveted Muddy Award. In 2016 he was nominated for 3 Maple
Blues Awards (Harmonica Player, Male Vocalist and Album of the Year) for his latest
release Travelin’ With The Blues. The album features a duet with Charlie Musselwhite
and was produced by the Beale Street Blues Bopper himself, Little Victor with guest
appearances from Kid Andersen, Big Jon Atkinson and other heavy hitters in the
American blues scene.

Holger Peterson, CKUA, CBC and SiriusXM broadcaster, exalted that "this band could
play anywhere in the world, in any venue, and blues fans of all stripes would love this
show. Canada’s premier ‘old school’ harp wizard has never sounded better. Supported
by mature, understated players, Harpdog’s effortless vocal delivery is a rare and natural
gift.”

Charlie Musselwhite, who sat in for a duet on his latest release says "Harpdog's got a
smokin' band playin' and he's singing the real-deal old-school blues just like you want
to hear. I love the killer guitar playing too!”

“If somebody asks you “what do the blues sound like?”, this is the disc you need to
play for them” says John the Rock Doctor of www.GonzoOkanagan.com
​