Winners of New Brunswick Battle of the Blues announced.

Sunday, April 01, 2012

Rachel Shimell has contacted us with the result of this competition to select a British blues act to perform at the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada in September.

Rachel has sent us the following press release;

Winner of UK Blues competition on way to New Brunswick
Groove-A-Matics to perform to international audience

Tuesday 27 March saw the final of New Brunswick Battle of the Blues, at The Garage, Highbury, London.  Winners Groove-A-Matics (featuring Johnny Whitehill), from Gateshead, performed against 4 other quality and original unsigned bands from around the country for the chance of an all-expenses-paid trip to play main stage at New Brunswick’s renowned Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival in September 2012. 

Winning band Groove-A-Matics from Gateshead entered the competition at the end of last year.  Tourism New Brunswick were looking for unsigned musicians creating original sounds -  in order to provide genuinely new talent at the highly prestigious North American festival, which is held in Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick, Canada, each September. 

Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival’s David Seabrook, who was present at The Garage on Tuesday, said, ?When visitors think of New Brunswick they think of our wildlife, whale-watching and our history and culture.  Music and the blues is something we care passionately about, so it’s with great excitement that we’ll be welcoming Groove-A-Matics to the province in September. The standard of entries has been extremely high this year, as it was in the competition’s first year, 2011.  But there could only be one winner, and the band richly deserves the final prize!’

New Brunswick has an enviable history of music-making, with the Festival drawing fans from across North America and around the world. 

Says Groove-A-Matics’ John Morgan of their success; ?New Brunswick Battle of the Blues has been a fantastic experience for us and we’re so excited about travelling to the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival and experiencing the province. I know we’ll make some great new contacts there and playing at such a prestigious event will be a dream come true. Thank you New Brunswick!?

For more information about the competition and finalists, go to http://www.tourismnewbrunswick.co.uk.  All proceeds from the evening’s ticket sales will go to the Rainbow Trust Childrens Charity.

New Brunswick is one of Canada’s 3 maritime provinces and is known as the ?Jewel of Atlantic Canada’.? Only 6 hours flying time from the UK, the province is rich in history, wildlife, culture and natural beauty and music is an integral part of its psyche. Visit http://www.tourismnewbrunswick.co.uk for more information.
The Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival is an annual music festival held in Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick.? It has an international following and features blues, jazz and world music.  This year taking over the city between 13-18 September, it is one of Canada’s premier music festivals. Past artists include such luminaries as Buddy Guy.  For more information, visit: http://www.harvestjazzandblues.com

Finalists for New Brunswick Battle of the Blues at 100 Club on 27th March were
Chris James from Carlisle (winner of the North West heat), Paint It Blue from Bournemouth (winners of the South West heat), Little Devils from London (winners of the South East heat), The Groove-A-Matics from Gateshead (winners of the North East heat).  The nation’s favourite runner up is How Askew from Newcastle and he also took part in the final.

We also received a press release profiling the winning band Groove-A-Matics;

GROOVE-A-MATICS - blues at its best. The band mixes a blend of blues, soul and funk into a rich musical gumbo. Each member brings with him a wealth of experience and talent gained from many years gigging the lengh and breadth of the country, as well as Europe and beyond.??The band are:-

JOHNNY WHITEHILL (guitar) -  Johnny was for many years the backbone of Paul Lamb and the Kingsnakes and was voted blues guitarist of the year 4 times running. Also in 2007 he was deemed by Guitar and Bass magazine to be the 7th best British blues guitarist?behind some very well known guitarists. He still plays with the fire and passion that he had when he embarked on the blues trail?.

MICK CANTWELL (vox/ sax/ harp) - Mick has had a diverse musical career but has always been a bluesman at heart. He has worked with such bands as Saints and Sinners as well as the Bandits and the Road Dogs.  His deep rich voice puts the soul in the band, with a healthy dose of sax and harp for good measure.??
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JOHN MORGAN?(bass) -  a stalwart of the north-east blues scene playing with more bands than he can remember. He has spent the last 4 years being involved in various projects with Johnny and reckons this is the best yet.?
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Last but certainly not least is BARRY RACE (drums)? - he is also a veteran of the north east scene?- ?as rock solid as they come and along with John creates a solid groove which drives the band along.??
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Quote: ?we believe the competition is vital?to keeping the blues scene alive and healthy not only as a spring board for young blues musicians but also as ?a chance for us older guys to show that we still have a lot to offer! Old and young alike we?all play with a passion and that passion is blue - .our love of it will never die!