Mid-Winter Blues Festival – Savoy Brown, Jack Semple, Shemekia Copeland

Energetic blues has been the calling card of the UK’s Savoy Brown since Kim Simmonds formed the band in 1965. “Blues rock” became the catch-all phrase in the late 1960s to describe the band’s music along with that of contemporaries such as Cream, Fleetwood Mac and Jimi Hendrix. Simmonds has been the group’s guiding hand from the first singles released in 1966 through to the band’s newest effort, their fortieth album, City Night, released June 7th, 2019. The album features Kim Simmonds on vocals and searing lead guitar complemented with Pat DeSalvo on bass and Garnet Grimm on drums.

Savoy Brown and Kim Simmonds have a body of work that is matched by only a small portion of musical artists. As they continue to tour the world, young and old find inspiration in their timeless music, classic style and ageless performances.

Regina’s Jack Semple has reached an international audience for his songwriting, recordings and performances as a vocalist and flamenco-technique, groove-loving guitarist. Juno recipient, two-time winner of the Western Canadian Blues Album of the Year, Grammy ballot nomination for “Contemporary Blues Album” in 2018 and 2019 and two-time Gemini nominee, what Jack enjoys most is jamming live!

Semple’s tight band returns to the Mid-Winter Blues Festival and kicks off the festival finale with what promises to be a tremendous night of entertainment!

American blues chanteuse Shemekia Copeland never holds back. Her instantly recognizable voice – capable of being sultry, assertive and roaring – delivers every song with unparalleled honesty and passion. Her wide-open vision of contemporary Americana roots and soul music showcases the evolution of a passionate artist with an up-to-the-minute musical and lyrical approach. Her intensely empowering, American music is as insightful as it is fun.

Her new album, America’s Child, received two Blues Music Awards: Album of the Year and Contemporary Blues Album of the Year. It is Copeland’s most compelling work yet, with music swelling beyond Blues and into spirited Americana, with elements of rock, soul and country. Shemekia sings with passion and insight about the chaos and uncertainty in the world while still finding joy all around her.

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