A Juno nominee and
two fast-rising stars of Canadian Blues
to launch the 21st edition of Viree Blues Boreale

Just back from a 20 show American tour, the Maple Blues and Juno 2015 nominee, our friend JW-Jones will be here with us to launch the 21th edition of Viree Blues Boreale. For the occasion, he invited two other of this year’s Maple Blues Awards nominees, Irene Torres (The Sugar Devils) and Jon Knight (Soulstack) to present this unique show.

As often proven in the past, talent is not dependant on the number of years ... as JW-Jones once again demonstrates! Although worth of performing on the Guitar Masters Vol 2 compilation with such legends as B.B. King, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Carlos Santana, JW-Jones is still not that well known by people from his own region, despite performing a lot since 17 years! This can be explained by checking his tour programs. On top of his 8 Cds, he gave over 2000 performances in 200 cities, in 19 countries on 4 continents! Indeed, JW-Jones often performed on major stages in the United States, in Canada, in Russia, in Europe, Australia and Brazil. It brought him to rub shoulders and work with the Junior Watson, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Charlie Musselwhite, Little Charlie & The Nightcats, Rusty Zinn, Rick Holmstrom, Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers, Johnny Winter, Jimmie Vaughan, Colin James, Anson Funderburgh & The Rockets as well as with living legends Hubert Sumlin, Buddy Guy and B.B King ... among others. And now, his band have been labelled “Amazing Blues Band” by famous Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd and rightly so! This young 34 year old bluesman, born here and still a resident of the region was nominated some 20 times, 14 of which were nominations to the Maple Blues Awards, one was for this year’s Junos and he was awarded many other various prizes.

His voice that he grew in the tradition of the great vocalists of the ‘40s and ‘50s, where feelings and good vibes were first and foremost lets him go from Chicago Blues to Rhythm’N’Blues and, on occasions, to Jazz. Out last October, the new JW-Jones’ album “Belmont Boulevard” was recorded in Nashville by the famous Tom Hambridge (Buddy Guy, George Thorogood, Susan Tedeschi), who was awarded a Grammy and on the famous Blind Pig label. Upon release, the album hit the Top 10 on the Blues Albums Chart of the Billboard and has been keeping on top at #1 for 14 weeks on the Blues & Roots Music Chart of the Canadian Radio. On stage, the band comes out strong with Laura Greenberg on bass, Jamie Holmes on drums under the direction of singer and guitarist JW-Jones, "One of this country's top Blues Guitar Stars", according to “the Globe and Mail”.

The first guest of JW-Jones for this occasion was also J-Man’s featured artist on this week’s Studio DAWG, the talented and attractive Irene Torres of Irene Torres & The Sugar Devils, who were nominated as `Best New Band` at the 2015 Maple Blues Awards; she also performs with the Latin Flamenco Fusion band, Santerias. You should also listen to Studio DAWG on DAWG FM 101.9 next Monday, February 9, to get in the mood. Born in Peru and now residing in Toronto, Irene Torres began her career in commercials for Toyota, Jell-o and McDonald, among others. Since then, she clearly displayed a high level of versatility with various musical genres while stunning her audience with the power of this delicate looking young lady’s voice and with her energy! Irene Torres & The Sugar Devils appeared on various Festivals and stages in Canada and in the United States with their latest album, 'In The Details' and have been on the same stages as, among others, Gino Vannelli, Jon Cleary, Ike Stubblefield, and Jack DeKeyzer.

And JW-Jones also invited Jonathan Knight, the lead vocalist of Soulstack, also a rising star on the Canadian Blues scene. A triple nominee at the Maple Blues Awards, one as "Male Vocalist of the Year" his powerful voice and dynamic presence on stage have become his trade mark from sea to sea. After performing at some of the country’s major festivals like the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Blues in Tremblant, Calabogie Blues & Rib Fest and The Kitchener Blues Festival, the band’s two albums, "Big Red" and "Five Finger Discount” reached #2 and #3 on the Canadian Radio’s Blues & Roots Music chart. This prolific composer is promising that a 3rd album in less than four years should soon be released.

JW-Jones, Irene Torres and Jon Knight will be here to launch the 21th edition of Viree Blues Boreale, Wednesday, February 11 2015, around 8h00 p.m. at the very famous and friendly Bar Le Petit Chicago, 50 Promenade du Portage, in the Old-Hull sector. Tickets are already on sale at: www.vireeblues.ca and will as well be available at the door for a mere 20$. And, after an unexpected pause and back for this edition, we are offering you to take advantage of our very profitable, practical and pleasant supper & show option to enjoy the charcoal-grilled delicacies of Galo Piri Piri (www.galopiripiri.com), just 2 doors from Le Petit Chicago, which will also reserve assigned seating at the show when you make reservations at: (819)771-7474. You can find further information on our guests at: www.JW-Jones.com at: www.thesugardevils.com and at: www.Soulstackmusic.com. Viree Blues Boreale’s complete program will be available from February 12 at: www.vireeblues.ca. For inquiries and to arrange interviews, please contact Alexandre Petit at: info@vireeblues.ca . Be sure to take part in the Facebook event for this show at: www.facebook.com/events/1390525101254734/ and also make sure to join us on our facebook page at: www.facebook.com/vireeblues.