"In the current divisive political and social environment, I think blues and soul music has the ability to unify people around something that just speaks to the heart, but the music also provides a vessel to highlight important issues in a subtle and non-aggressive way."

Bywater Call: Spicy Music Gumbo

Born out of a love for southern soul, blues…

"I am always drawn to the places where music connects people who might seem different from each other or divided. I've been in many situations where there are divisions or differences among people in terms of their political views and cultural backgrounds, but it melts away (or at least gets set aside) when we play music together."

Sue Decker: Outskirts of Love…

"Music is a central cog in our socio-cultural identity from the individual to the global level. It helps us define ourselves and our humanity. It connects us with each other. I want it to keep doing that."

Wide Mouth Mason:

I Wanna Go With The Blues

Wide Mouth Mason is a soul power duo…

"I feel that not just Blues, but all music is among the greatest gifts the human race can give to the world, we are all equal and deserve to live a life on this planet!"

Big Dave McLean: Straight-Ahead Blues

The first thing Canada appointee Big Dave McLean will tell you about Pocket Full of Nothin’ (2019), his newest release on Black…

“Music is and always will the universal language and if people take the time to listen and to truly hear, there will greater understand and compassion for the differences between us. Peace.”

Myles Goodwyn: A Friend Of The Blues

Singer, guitarist, writer, producer and leader of the band April Wine, Myles Goodwyn’s passion and drive shaped and…

"Good blues players have a way of squeezing life's emotions out of each note by the the way they phrase, bend, slur etc. Blues often tells of woes and adversity, but it also rejoices in feeling good. That's a state of mind."

Al Lerman: Blues With a Whole Lot of Soul

Bluesman AL LERMAN is a multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter. He was…

"Blues has informed and influenced jazz, rock and roll, soul and pop music. It is in the fabric of almost all musical culture in one way or another."

Colin James: (Blues) Miles To Go

Canadian, Juno award-winning singer-songwriter and renowned blues guitarist Colin James will release his 19th album, Miles to Go, releasing…

"I believe that Blues is a very multi-cultural, and multi-racial music, even though the roots are certainly African American. I find that this music community is very welcoming to all cultures and I believe in the power of music to make change."

Dan Doiron: Livin’ Centre Stage

Friends say they don't recognize him without a guitar strapped on, as…

Women were among the first to be recorded in Blues: Mamie Smith and Ida Cox recorded in the 1920s. The Blues had and still has a lot of sex-appeal, sexual references and innuendo. It appeals to strong women who aren’t afraid to express their sultry side. The presence of women in Blues allows them to express just that: the flirty, playful and sensual side.

Barbara Diab: Mojo…

"I think both Blues and Rock music cross cultural, racial, political and socio-cultural lines. Music doesn’t differentiate or discriminate. It’s a language unto itself. It joins people in a common bond and shared experience.  It creates change in the world by allowing generation after generation to express their lives, their concerns, their ambitions and their hope for the future through music."…

"My hope for the genre is that artists will continue to innovate. You can only play 1,4,5 blues so many times. I think there is an unnecessary pressure on artists from the blues establishment to remain traditional."

Chris Antonik: Blues Monarch…

"I think Blues music should always remind you of how people felt living under oppression in a racially segregated society. To be disadvantaged and looked down upon."

Joel Poluck: One Love, One Blues

The…

"The audience dynamic is predominantly white and many white artists have picked up the mantel and are doing great things with these blues."

Donald Ray Johnson: Bluesin' Around

Donald Ray Johnson (also…

"Blues can never be a fad, as it speaks to basic human conditions and emotions that never change."

The Smoke Wagon Blues Band

Featuring funky blues harmonica, whisky stained vocals; slick guitar work and a solid rhythm section…

"I think Rock and Blues are both the best ways of expressing yourself musically, they both have so much emotion behind them."

Steve Costello: Grunge Rock n' Blues

Hard-hitting original rock songs driven…

"It's a huge impact on it as it crossed over a lot of people to what was once called Race music. Today blues is mainstream with white young guitar players. Helped race relations and guys like Bonamassa carry on the memory of all the great African America players.

Lyric Dubee: Revolution…

"Blues and Jazz music allowed the African American community to have a voice and share their songs and stories. Many people of different racial and cultural backgrounds heard those songs and connected with the music, so the music has helped unit us."

Holly Hyatt & Jon Burden: Maple…

"Blues has connected separated cultures. The white and black gaps (generally speaking) are by no means perfect but in my opinion they would be much more divided if it wasn’t for blues music."

James ‘Buddy’ Rogers: By My Side…

"Proudly, blues music is the one style of music that has singlehandedly bridged the gap between people, places and politics from around the world."

Jordan Patterson: Back To The Groove

After spending…

"I think all music brings people together, when we enjoy music from any part of the world, it reminds us that we are all brothers and sisters from the same mother, which is this planet Earth."

Paul DesLauriers: Blues-Rock Experiences…