Bradley McGillivray Blues and Harris&DeBray

Description

Doors: 6:30-7:30pm
Showtime: 7:30pm – 10:30pm
This concert is All Ages, and there won’t be alcohol served on-site and there is none permitted on the premises

ABOUT BRADLEY MCGILLIVRAY…
https://bradmcg.com/

Hip, grit, power and tenderness–Bradley/McGillivray Blues is one of Vancouver’s live music treasures, fusing blues, jazz, funk and gospel into their signature brand of soul.

 

Ruth McGillivray’s knock-you-flat vocals are a force to be reckoned with. Tastefully interwoven with Sheldon Bradley’s unique blend of citified jazz and gritty blues, these two will will slay you one moment and break your country heart the next. The whole sound is rounded out by an inventive rhythm section featuring funk-masters Paul Freeman on bass, and Hoto Parker on drums and percussion.

For Bradley/McGillivray, the blues are more about attitude and resilience than genre. Influenced by artists as diverse as BB King, Jon Cleary, Janis Joplin, Merle Haggard, Aretha Franklin and Etta James, they showcase an eclectic repertoire of original music and fresh takes on old favourites. They’re tight and polished, but connection trumps script–expect warmth, laughter and authenticity in every show. A band of music lovers for an audience of music lovers.

 

The band’s debut CD, River of Soul, was released in September 2003 and featured their first collection of original material. It received critical acclaim, 4-star reviews, and a nomination in the Jazz/Blues category of the Shai Awards. Their second CD, Livin’ This Way, was released in 2008. Produced in Vancouver, B.C. by award-winning producer Bill Buckingham, Living’ This Way features nine original tunes, a unique, signature version of Tennessee Waltz, and an interpretation of Piece of My Heart of which Tom Harrison of the Vancouver Province said Ruth “makes the song her own”.  Both Canadian Musician and Real Blues Magazine cited Livin’ This Way as “one of the best Canadian blues albums of 2008.”  Their third album, Snapshot (2017), features blues, funk and soul classics peppered with Bradley/McGillivray signature twists.

 

Impressed as much by the life of Etta James as her music, Bradley/McGillivray recently began performing Echoes of Etta, a show they created that weaves the story of her life through their own arrangements of featured tunes from her songbook. They return to the studio in 2020 to record several  signature songs from that show for the Cellar Live jazz label.

 

ABOUT HARRIS & DeBRAY…
https://harrisdebray.com/

 

What sets Harris&DeBray apart from the pack is the way they connect with their audience.  You feel as if you know them – and you will by the end of the night!

 

The music is foot stompin’, guitar pickin’, both singin’ fun with vintage blues, roots music and new originals.

 

Curtis and Leslie met in the BC Okanagan in 1996 and, recognizing kindred spirits,  started playing together.  Many years, musical adventures and shenanigans later, they continue to be best friends and creative companions and the result of that partnership is Harris&DeBray.  In May of 2019, they got to share the bill with Suzie Vinnick, which was a huge honor, not to mention a damn good time!

Date & Time

Fri., May 26, 2023 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Venue Details

Mel Lehan Hall @ St James

3214 West 10th Avenue
Vancouver, British Columbia V6K 2L2

Vancouver Blues Around Town