KELOWNA — Guitars are tuning up around the Okanagan with the announcement of a competition where the winner will open for blues legend Buddy Guy.
Packing the House Productions is looking for just the right band to open for the Chicago bluesman when he plays the Kelowna Community Theatre April 18.
“The winner will perform an opening set prior to Guy coming on stage, while the runner up will have the opportunity to play in the lobby of the theatre prior to the main stage concert,” reads a press release from Packing the House.
Guy, who last appeared in the Okanagan at Vernon’s Rarearth Music Festival in 2009, has been called the bridge between the blues and rock and roll.
He is one of the historic links between Chicago electric blues pioneers Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf and popular musicians such as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page as well as late revivalist Stevie Ray Vaughan.
It was the late Vaughan who stated that, “Without Buddy Guy, there would be no Stevie Ray Vaughan,” while Clapton has said, “Buddy Guy was to me what Elvis was to others.”
A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and past winner of five Grammy Awards, Guy’s latest recording, Living Proof, is nominated for a 2011 Grammy for best contemporary blues album of the year.
Bands interested in opening for Guy are asked to submit their name, a short bio, and a link to a YouTube video topackingthehouse@hotmail.com.
The deadline for submissions is March 1, and the winner will be announced March 15.
For more information, visit www.packingthehouseproductions.com.
Tickets to see Guy are available at www.selectyourtickets.com.
