Many artists are back with an all-new show that promises a rousing good time

Following past sold-out performances, the stars of Northern Blues Review are back with an all-new show.

Northern Blues Review V opens this Friday, April 11 at the Rene M. Caisse Memorial Theatre in Bracebridge, moving to the Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts in Parry Sound on April 18. It completes its three-concert run at the Algonquin Theatre on April 25.

Showtime at all venues is 8 p.m.

Sponsored by Cavalcade Color Lab, the two-hour program will feature many of the same fantastic area musicians as before – Tobin and Bill Spring and ‘Papa John’ Witterick – as well as some new faces, including Tamika Herod, a magnetic Bracebridge singer, and Kristin Dalziel, a budding artist who attends Huntsville High School.

“We’re trying to expand our venues and bring in new local talent from those areas,” said Tobin Spring, a dynamic musician from Huntsville, who is lead singer/guitarist for the band Laganza.

It was Spring who originally had the idea to put together a revue-type show featuring local talent. Together with Sean Connon he gathered up a cast of 22 very talented musicians with one goal: to put on a performance that would leave audiences screaming for more. The Northern Blues Review presented its first show in the spring of 2006 to a sold-out audience at the Algonquin Theatre in Huntsville.

One of the stars of Northern Blues Review is Tobin’s father Bill, a local businessman by day and hardcore blues musician at night. Until recently, few knew that Bill Spring was an original member of the Lost Marbles Boogie Band.

Also performing in Northern Blues Review V is Sherisse Stevens, well-known for her leading roles in a number of past musical theatre productions. Huntsville High School’s musical finest Louis Tusz and Jordan Riley, Mike Moretto, Derek Cochrane, Richard Watling and Roly Platt are also involved, along with many others.

While it maintains a blues theme throughout, the show also encompasses jazz, soul and, of course, some old-fashioned rock and roll. Remaining true to its blues roots, Northern Blues features tunes from the likes of Van Morrison, Stevie Wonder, the Doobie Brothers and the Blues Brothers.

“Although much of the cast is the same there will be all new songs. It’s not the same as the previous shows,” said co-organizer Connon.

The best thing about the Northern Blues Review is that even if you’ve been to one show, there’s always reason to come back. So don’t miss Northern Blues Review V. Tickets in Bracebridge and Parry Sound are $24 for adults and $22 for students and seniors, and in Huntsville are $22 in advance and $24 at the door.

Advance tickets can be ordered by calling the box office at 645-8400 or 706-2672 in Bracebridge, 705-746-4466 or 1-877-746-4466 in Parry Sound and 789-4975 in Huntsville.

  With files from Laura MacLean