MISS ROBIN BANKS has her roots deeply dug. Clearly comfortable with Blues, Jazz, Classic R&B, Soul, and even Reggae, she's also known for her bold and brassy, classy but sassy, Texas and Chicago electric Blues style.   This Grande Dame of the Blues, with her powerful, clear voice, often compared to the legendary Etta James’ and Dinah Washington’s, is coming to visit us here on the 23rd edition of Viree Blues Boreale, on her first visit ever to the Province of Quebec.   She’ll be performing with the band she rightfully calls her “All Stars Blues Band”.

    A native of Canada, and now a resident of Toronto, Robin Banks has an  imposing track record to show for, which goes from Canada, to the States, to Germany, Austria, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, France and Jamaica.   She grew up 50 miles east of Detroit City.   She even drove taxis in Toronto in the `80s, to earn money tho fund her career.   Her career really started in 1992 with the birth of her first band, near Windsor, Ontario. with George "Wild Child" Butler and Alford "Chicago Pete" Harrell.   Right in 1997, Miss Robin Banks was awarded the `New Artist of The Year’s Maple Blues Award.   Then, performances at most renown Blues and Jazz Festivals fast followed.   That same year, she launched her very first album, “Permanent Record” and also won her participation on the highly reputed Memphis International Blues Challenge.   She was then nominated in 1998, 2010 and also in 2011 to the  Singer Of The Year’s Maple Blues Awards.

    In 1999, Miss Robin Banks became a staple on the Texas music scene and continued to enjoy and record in the Lone Star state.   During close to the next 10 years, she brought together many bands from the Dallas / Fort Worth area, with reputed musicians, such as Marc Wilson (Anson & The Rockets), Drew Allain (Mike Morgan & The Crawl), Brian “Hash Brown” Calway and Johnny Moeller (Fabulous Thunderbirds), Danny Cochran (Delbert McClinton), Bill Campbell (LaVern Baker) and Marchel Ivery (Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers).   She then launched her 2nd album “Honestly” where many of those major names can be heard, like the legendary singer and harmonica player, Sam Myers (Anson & The Rockets).   Those inspiring experiences brought Miss Robin Banks to record a live CD, her 3rd opus titled  “live after Dark”, just one year later.

    Then, in 2003, she left for Europe and visited Belgium and Holland for the first time.   In 2006, she went to Jamaica, where she became a major hit with some of the major musicians of that country ... like Bob Marley’s Band!   Despite those resounding successes, in 2009, Miss Robin Banks chose to come back to Canada where she still resides while making sure to constantly maintain her presence alive in Jamaica, in Texas and in Europe where she’s still top.   In 2010, she brings out her 4th opus, “Livin’ Life” co-written and produced in Dallas, Texas, with the prodigious pianist Christian Dozzler.

    And now, keeping with a 200+ show a year beat all over the world, she brought out a 5th album “Modern Classic” launched in 2014 and produced by none other than Duke Robillard, with a huge success.   She is visiting us together with a gang she affectionately calls her “All Stars Blues Band” ...  and how!!!   They are Gary Kendall on bass and Mike Fitzpatrick on drums, both from Downchild Blues Band, an iconic Canadian Blues band which made famous, among other stuff, “Flip Flop & Fly” which was an inspiration to some band named the Blues Brothers!   And we also shall notice the great guitarist Teddy Leonard, from Fathead and from the Maple Blues Awards House Band.   (Unfortunately, when writing this communique, we could not be sure that Teddy Leonard would be present, due to a broken wrist.   In the unfortunate event that his problem would not improve sufficiently to allow him to perform here, he will be replaced by the highly talented JW Jones; this would definitely not affect, as you all know, the top quality of the performances)

    Miss Robin Banks and her “All Stars Blues Band” on the 23rd edition of Viree Blues Boreale, Wednesday, April 13  2016, around 8h00 p.m., at the famous venue, Bar Le Petit Chicago, so easy to find at 50 Promenade du Portage, in the Old Hull sector.   Tickets are right now on sale at: www.vireeblues.ca and will also be available at the door, always for only 20$.   You can also take advantage of our profitable, practical and pleasant supper & show package and enjoy the delicious charcoal grilled dishes of Galo Piri Piri Restaurant (www.galopiripiri.com), only 2 doors from Le Petit Chicago, which will reserve your assigned places at the show by making reservations at (819)771-7474.   In the meantime, you can find further information on our guest at: www.reverbnation.com/robinbanks .   You should also check our own site which,  provides you with links to all of our guests sites and so many other interesting information at:  www.vireeblues.ca .   For inquiries, please get in touch with us at: info@vireeblues.ca .   Make very sure to get the latest information on this show by taking part in the facebook event for this show at: www.facebook.com/events/189014694791162/ and mostly, make really sure to join and like us on our facebook page at: www.facebook.com/vireeblues .