Bringing blues and bluegrass together

Railway Blues and Bluegrass Festival performers jam during a press conference Photo by Chris Simon last week. About 2,500 people are expected to attend the event. Blues and bluegrass are banding together to preserve the region's heritage.

The first Railway Blues and Bluegrass Festival will be taking place at the Toronto North Cookstown KOA Kampgrounds Sept. 5. The event, organized by All Aboard Productions, is expected to draw about 2,500 people, and will include some of the top Canadian blues and bluegrass musical entertainers, said organizer Tim Sample.

"It's a great site, and hopefully we'll have lots of campers," he said, during a festival press conference at KOA last week. "Our hope is that we get the railroaders and the musicians to work together for a common cause, to get more visibility for both communities."

Hard Ryde, Downchild Blues Band, Silverbirch, Grant Lyle, HoneyGrass Bluegrass Band, Russ Strathdee with Ken Losell and The Links, and 'Hurricane' Mike Thompson will perform at the festival. There will also be vendors, a food court, music workshops and camping space available, said Sample.

"These two distinct (music) groups had not joined together to maintain the history," he said. "There have been railway conventions and concerts, but there's never been a true railway bluegrass and blues festival until now. We're really excited to be the first group to put this together."

The festival will raise money for the preservation and promotion of railway heritage in the area. Sample and fellow organizer Jim Murray developed the concept of the festival after seeing the decay of the rail station in Barrie, and a nearby train engine.

Music that later influenced the blues and bluegrass styles were commonly played by some of the area's pioneers, who built the railway and used it as a major form of travel. So, it only made sense to give the festival a related musical tinge, said Sample.

"This came from a visit to the Roundhouse in Toronto. The artifacts and the history being cared for by the railway pensioners was overwhelming," he said. "There were so many pieces of history.

"The need to preserve this rich heritage became clear, when combined with Barrie's rundown eyesore of a once vibrant train station and the rotting engine. The idea was a need to refurbish our once strong history ... and restore artifacts from this area."

HoneyGrass bassist Karen May says the event will help raise awareness of the importance of preserving the area's history.

"I wasn't sure how the blues and bluegrass would mix, but based on our short experiences in jam sessions, we're quite excited," she said. "We're going to have a lot of fun."

The event will also generate thousands of dollars for the local economy, says KOA manager Matt Stovold.

"It's great for the community and for us," he said. "This will truly support the railway and music industry."

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster Canada. Admission is $25 for adults and $15 for seniors and students. For more information, visit www.railwayblues.com.