Peter's Players picks some show dates
By Chris Simon

Musician Shakura S'Aida recently performed at the Lions Hall in Alcona.

Peter Swanek was back at it again last week.

The former Innisfil resident and concert promoter brought Maple Blues nominated female vocalist of the year Shakura S'Aida to the Innisfil Lions Hall Friday. Over 30 people watched the concert, and listened to S'Aida belt out several songs with a blues-influenced beat, as band members floated guitar and saxophone melodies.

"She's so versatile, she can do soul, funk, gospel, and tonight she's doing blues," he said, minutes before the concert.

Swanek has been promoting concerts in Innisfil since 2000, hosting several in his living room/makeshift auditorium. However, he recently moved to Gravenhurst, and has been building the 150 seat Peter's Place theatre in his backyard. That venue will open with a concert featuring musicians James Cotton and Johnny Winter in April.

Over the next year, he'll also be hosting several shows at the Lions Hall.

Toronto blues harpist David Rotundo will play the hall Jan. 12, while Guitar Shorty will perform Feb. 1, said Swanek.

"That's what I've got planned right now," said Swanek. "If it wasn't here, it could be any other small town. This all started out of my living room. I looked on the back of CDs, got the phone number and (booked artists)."

Rotundo has toured the United States, with stops in New Orleans, Louisiana, Austin, Texas, Memphis, Tennessee and Chicago, Illinois. He started a band called Blue Canadians in 1997, and joined the Jack de Keyzer Band in 2000. His debut album, Blowin' For Broke was nominated for blues album of 2001 by the Canadian Independent Artist Association. In 2002, he was named the best new artist of 2002 by the Maple Blues Awards. He's also been named the CBC/Galaxie Rising Star, and has been nominated for several Maple Blues harmonica player awards.

Guitar Shorty was recently presented with the 2007 contemporary blues album award by the Blues Foundation. He has been credited with influencing Jimi Hendrix and Buddy Guy. Guitar Shorty began performing in 1957, and has worked with musicians B.B. King, Sam Cooke, Otis Rush and T-Bone Walker among others. He has performed at the Chicago, Monterey Bay, King Biscuit and San Francisco blues festivals.

"I'm here to develop a circuit, so I can buy shows on my own and I don't have to wait for a tour," he said. "I want (musicians) to come and use me as an anchor and then spin off to their gigs in Rochester, New York, or wherever."

Since 2000, Swanek has hosted over 200 shows.

"I've had about 60 in the (Innisfil) house, but I've booked from Niagara Falls, Blue Mountain, Brechin and Gravenhurst," he said. "Nobody complained. All the politicians knew about it, and we'd collect money and give it to charities. I didn't want anybody to screw it up and call and complain about it."

For more information on upcoming concerts, visit www.petersplayers.com.