Bozzini’s is kicking off its 13th season of presenting some of the world’s finest artists in their tiny Upstairs Lounge next month.
It’s “most likely the finest series of roots and blues ever presented in Chilliwack with a mix old favourites and a few artists making their Chilliwack debuts,” says Emmanuel Asprakis, Bozzini’s owner and artistic director.
Kicking things off on March 5 and 6, with her Chilliwack debut, is award-winning blues artist Sue Foley and her trio in support her latest album The Ice Queen.
She’s hot on heels of winning a Maple Blues award for Guitarist of The Year as well as being nominated for a Juno and a 2019 Blues Music Award. Foley is a multi-award-winning musician and one of the finest blues and roots artists working today.
She is a veritable triple-threat of musical talent as a guitarist, songwriter and vocalist. As with many blues women of the past, Foley has a long history of defying convention, and being a positive role model for aspiring, young female musicians.
She has been working professionally since the age of 16, and by the age of 21, Foley had relocated to Austin, Texas and began recording for Antone’s, the esteemed blues label and historic nightclub that helped launch the career of Stevie Ray Vaughan and many others.
In the two decades that have followed, Foley has been busy touring and recording steadily, all while toting her signature pink paisley Fender Telecaster. In 2001, she won the prestigious Juno Award and also holds the record for the most Maple Blues Awards in Canada and has earned three Trophees de Blues de France. She has also garnered several nominations at the Blues Music Awards from The Blues Foundation.
The Ice Queen represents Foley’s indefatigable commitment to her craft, and her transparency with the journey that birthed her, further proving that you can’t keep a good blueswoman down, particularly when she is The Ice Queen.
The Sue Foley Trio performs Tuesday, March 5 (sold out) and Wednesday, March 6. Doors open at 6 p.m. and show is at 8 p.m. Tickets $35 and available at Bozzini’s or by calling 604-792-0744.
On April 4, Bozzini’s welcomes Ottawa’s Murray Kinsley and his band Wicked Grin to Chilliwack for the first time. The band won the 2014 Maple Blues Award for Best New Group and their two latest CDs — Shame On Me and Stormy Water — were each named Blues Rock Disc of the Year by the Blues Underground Network. In 2015, bassist Leigh-Anne Stanton received the Maple Blues Award for Bassist of the Year.
Bozzini’s then celebrates its 37th anniversary on April 6 with frequent visitors David Gogo and Blues Legend Jim Byrnes performing together with Special Guest Jon Brooks.
May features the only non-roots-and-blues show on the calendar, Grammy-winning and long-time favourite at Bozzini’s, Alfie Zappacosta on May 10. Zappacosta is undeniably one of Canada’s premier songwriters and performers with chart topping hits and a recording and acting career that has spanned 40 years. He continues to evolve as an artist by “doing it his way,” an effort that has been rewarded with an impressive song catalogue and a discerning loyal fan base.
Two weeks later they’ll be joined by one of Canada’s true stand-out roots and blues artists, a shape-shifting maverick who continues to blaze her own trail, Suzie Vinnick, on May 24 for her first ever performance in Chilliwack.
To close out the spring calendar, roots and blues artist Joe Nolan visits from Edmonton, AB for his 3rd visit to “the world’s most intimate venue.”
Tickets range from $17.50 to $39 and are available at Bozzini’s, or reserve by phone at 604-792-0744. For full details on each performance visit www.bozzinisrestaurant.ca/event.
