Drayton Blues Festival

The way we came about going to an excellent blues fest a couple months ago was kinda neat.

Jonathan took lots of video at the Jazzfest we went to in Toronto just a few weeks before...

Where an excellent blues group named Braithwaite & Whiteley played. 

Well Diana Braithwaite and Chris Whiteley saw the video that Jonathan took and cut together

and they were so pleased with it they asked Jonathan if they can use his video
and if we would be their guests to 'The Underground Railroad Blues Festival'.

Well, I LOVE the Blues and we've never really had the chance to enjoy it live so we shouted a resounding

'YES...Yes we would love to come'

So we hopped in the car one early Saturday morning and drove out to Drayton, Ontario and
unfamiliar countryside for an amazing unforgettable day.

Let me share my favourite shots from the day & show you who we felt very lucky to see/hear...

Curly Bridges was up first...he does this cool buzzing sound with his mouth, ha ha...

(Check out some video of Curley Bridges right here).

Than was my favourite, the super talented Harrison Kennedy,

his voice is so soulful and deep, seeing him live was such a treat...

(Check out some video of Harrison right here).

Up next was the sassy 'Miss Angel' who sure can shake her booty, ha ha...

(Check out video of Miss Angel right here).

Chris Whiteley and his son Jessie, who rocked the keyboard, were so so good...

(Check Chris & Jesse out in my honey's video, right here).

Up next was the talented Donovan Locke....

(Check out his vocal stylings right here).

Then all the way from The Mississippi was 'The Prepare A Table Ministry Choir'...
and a preacher who was very charismatic and who completely tuned us in...

We were surprised to find ourselves really enjoying pastor Tim Bailey's powerful message,
it wasn't the usual preachy stuff but it was all about a humans basic right to freedom and dignity and
the importance of fighting for those things, not just for our ourselves but for everyone planet wide...

Up next was the Douglas Watson band...   

(Check him out here).

Than another of my favs was Canadian Folk singer & Juno and Gemini award winner Kevin Breit...

(There is something so honest and gentle and fun about his music, check him out here).

And last but not least, the lovely Diana Braithwaite...
or otherwise known as Braithewaite & Whiteley...

(Check out Diana's gospel set right here and here).

It was a wonderful day with a really friendly and quaint atmosphere.

(The only negative was that there were no food options for us vegetarians, besides watermelon, ha ha,
so we were quite ravenous by the end of the night!)

The day and program ran so smoothly, we only had to wait 5 or 10 minutes at most in between sets.

...

Besides enjoying some great blues talent, the day was all about paying homage to the underground railroad and the people who made it, worked it and used it...
and to celebrate the freedom we in this country possess and enjoy today.

We are hoping the festival will take place again next year and that we'll be able to attend.

Thanks for having a look everyone....

Now let's go off and enjoy our freedom full day.

XO Mandy