Episode 1: Mike Biggar's 2017 SUMMER ROAD REPORT for BluesandRootsRadio.com
Episode 1: July 1 - Happy 150th Birthday Canada!
Wow, what better way to kick off Episode 1 of my Blues and Roots Radio SUMMER ROAD REPORT than with our celebrations of the 150th birthday of Canada’s confederation…and with a band gig right in my hometown to boot! This is going to be such a fun project while out on the road over the next 2 or 3 months and I am delighted to share the ups and downs and antics of life as a career artist this way...I hope you enjoy it as well!
The day was a bit rainy…well…a LOT rainy! But in spite of last minute venue changes it couldn’t dampen the spirits of Canada Day celebrants, their red and white wardrobe choices clearly exhibiting pride in their country and a passion to come together to celebrate…or maybe it was the cupcakes and hot dogs! In any case, we loaded in, set up, and readied ourselves for a great time. It’s always a treat for me to have the band on stage with me, given that I do about 80% of my shows either solo or as a duo…and the lads always do such a fine job. My regular guitar player and drummer were both away, but the fellas that jumped in are total pros and I was super lucky to have them on stage.
It was a great afternoon notwithstanding the rain…even though I was denied my efforts to challenge the boys in the band to a bouncy castle battle…the life of an artist has so few rewards!
Dignitaries abounded as happens at these events, including the mayor, town councilors and our local Member of Parliament Wayne Long…all of whom I was sure to hit up for a grant! And of course moving the show to inside a hockey arena (then back outside, then inside again!) meant lots of concern about volume levels which folks were glad to confidently share with us…again and again J All in all though it was a super fun day and even though I missed out on the Canada Day maple leaf cupcakes I can only report good feelings and a total satisfaction with the show. Next stop is the Cavendish Beach Music Festival on Sunday July 9…and down the summer road we go! And check the Shows page for all my upcoming dates this summer!
REMIND ME...WHAT IS THIS BLOG THING AGAIN?
I was asked exclusively by the global internet radio station Blues and Roots Radio (based in Toronto) to capture the moment by moment adventure of my summer travels as an independent Canadian artist out there following a life in music. It features video, photos and a blog stream, which will all be showcased on the B&RR main website and linked on my blog. It will all wrap up with an Ontario tour in September, including a feature interview special in Toronto with B&RR co-founder Stevie Connor.
ABOUT BLUES AND ROOTS RADIO Based in Port Credit, Ontario and Melbourne, Australia, http://www.bluesandrootsradio.com is a global online radio station with hubs in the UK, Ireland and Hawaii USA, featuring over fifty shows from around the world that highlight a vast array of independent artists playing Blues, Soul, R&B, Americana, Alt Country, Bluegrass, Celtic, Folk, Roots and more on a 24/7 stream. Described by Cashbox Canada as " Radio The Way It Used To Be " B&RR places high value on both the music of the independent artist and partner radio show hosts being free to present music to their listeners about which they are passionate.