Choose the Blues Productions

05/14/2026

Look at what I stumbled on to on YouTube today. Some of my favourites just jammin'. What a mix! Circa late '60's/early '70's.

16K likes, 831 comments. "Van Morrison - Caledonia Soul Music"

05/11/2026

Here’s another video clip from BLACKBURN’S amazing show at The Cove last night. Wild horn by Alexis or what!

05/10/2026

What a great show to close out the 2025/26 BLUES AT THE COVE Series in Westport last night with the incredible "SoulFunkin'Blues" of the BLACKBURN BROTHERS Blackburn Brothers band from Toronto. Multi, multi Blues Award winners and nominees especially over the past year including Junos and several U.S ones.

BLACKBURN is Brothers Brooke on guitar and vocals, Duane on keyboards and vocals, Cory on drums with friends Alexis Baro on trumpet, Neil Brathwaite on sax and Roger Williams on bass.

Cove Manager/bass player Seamus Cowan joined them for a song last night as well - always a crowd pleaser. How many venue owners do you know who can step out from behind the bar, pick up the bass and fit in with the band like he was a regular? Cool!

Does it look like anyone was having any fun in the photos?

This was BLACKBURN's 5th appearance at Blues On The Rideau/Blues At The Cove going back to 2010 and they just keep getting better! Rapid fire high energy repertoire one song after another with no breaks in between they had the crowd up and dancing all night long.

Another example of the incredible high quality Blues talent in this country. If you get a chance to see one of their shows DO IT!

(B.C. and Alberta fans take note. They are doing a number of Festivals out there this summer including Nanaimo, Langley, Salmon Arm and Edmonton - with probably a few more gigs in between. Check their website for dates, times and details). www.blackburnbrothersmusic.com

$500 was raised for the Westport Lions Club last night bringing the grand total raised for local charities to just over $100K over the past 20 years of BOTR/BATC at The Cove.

A reminder that even though BATC is finished for the season LIVE music continues at The Cove 7 days a week much of it on the beautiful outdoor Patio throughout the summer so stop in for a visit any time if you are in the area. Advance reservations always a good idea. The Cove is VERY popular in the summer. Call 613-273-3636 www.coveinn.com

The 2026/27 Season of BLUES AT THE COVE marks the 20th Anniversary since BLUES ON THE RIDEAU (now BATC) began and it's going to be another amazing Line-Up. Check the website for details closer to the first show in October for details.

05/03/2026

OOPS - WRONG DATE on Blackburn Brothers show at The Cove - it's this coming Saturday MAY 9 not May 16. Apologies. Early senility.

05/03/2026

LAST CALL REMINDER
The final show of the 2025/26 BLUES AT THE COVE Series at The Cove Inn Westport takes place this coming Saturday, May 9 (7-11 pm) - and there are still a few tickets left.

BLACKBURN BROTHERS Blackburn Brothers are coming up from Toronto for their third visit to The Cove since 2010. 3 amazingly talented brothers - Brooke on guitar & vocals, Duane on keyboards & vocals, Cory on drums & vocals with cousin Nathan on bass and friend Neil Braithwaite on sax deliver the best Soul, Blues and Funk you'll hear anywhere on the planet.

Reactions to their latest album - appropriately named "SoulFunkinBlues" - says it all:

* 2024 Blues Blast Magazine (USA) winner for Best Soul Blues Album
* 2024 Blues Foundation Music Award (USA)nominees for Best Album and Best Soul Blues album of the Year
* 2024 Juno Award nominee for Blues Album Of The Year (their second Juno nomination - they were nominated in 2016 as well)
* Multiple Maple Blues Award nominations over the years including Best Recording, Producer, Songwriters, Electric Act, Entertainers, Male Vocalist, Guitarist, Keyboardist and Drummer.
Wow!

Tickets $95 + hst includes deluxe buffet dinner, the show, dancing, door prizes and a donation to the Westport Lions Club Beach.
ADVANCE RESERVATIONS are required
613-273-3636 [email protected]
Overnight accommodation IS available at The Cove and several great nearby B&B's

Don't miss these guys when they are in our area! They don't get up this way that often.

P.S. The BATC Series may be ending until it restarts next Fall but a reminder that The Cove features great LIVE music 7 nights a week throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall including on their famous Patio. Check the Music Listings on their website www.coveinn.com - and remember to RESERVE AHEAD if you want a seat. The Patio fills up fast on beautiful days.

Photo is from BLACKBURN's last visit to The Cove in June 2023

05/01/2026

I attended the Ottawa Blues Society's ROAD TO MEMPHIS Challenge last night at the new Hard Rock Cafe at the former Carleton Raceway in Ottawa. I was once again honoured to be one of the judges along with David McCabe from the Montreal Blues Society/Société Blues Montréal and long time Ottawa area Blues musicians Luke Ambridge and Ron Laframboise.

he winner gets to represent the OBS at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis held in January where they will be competing with hundreds of blues bands and solo/duo artists from across the U.S. Canada and around the world. https://blues.org/international-blues-challenge/

Canadian - especially Ottawa based - Blues musicians have done very well at the IBC's over the years. Past winners include MonkeyJunk, JW-Jones, Horojo (all Ottawa), Dawn Tyler Watson & The Ben Racine Band (Montreal) and many more. I know I'm missing a bunch - help me out Canadian Blues Societies and fans and post past winners from your area in the comments section!

7 bands competed last night in Ottawa:
JB & The Saturday Nights
Mark Green Band
Rollin' Steady Blues
River City Junction
Joe Ray MacDonald
Zooloo & The Seaweeds
Swamp City Stompers

And the WINNER was - RIVER CITY JUNCTION (Caroline Addison vocals & drums, Jason Fryer guitar, James Close drums and ______ on congas (sorry I missed his name).
https://rivercityjunction.com/
https://www.facebook.com/rivercityjunction/
YouTube
https://youtu.be/NR4uNhTIRcg?si=uXxoPmJJec7TbG_e

They're "goin' to Memphis"!
Good luck guys!

Congratulations to them - and to all the bands who participated - and thanks for a night of good LIVE Blues!

Kudos to the Ottawa Blues Society - especially Dave Brennan and Debra Thornington and all the volunteers for organizing the event.

04/29/2026

OK everybody here’s another one! Great to see so many plays and comments on the previous two songs. I posted from Garrett Mason‘s great show at The Cove in Westport a couple of weeks ago.

My advice - buy(preferably) or stream as much of Garrett’s music as you can find. Better still get out and see him. LIVE. Whenever you get the chance, he plays Beley’s in Halifax regularly and other maritime venues and he does tour once a year.

04/22/2026

Got so many plays off the last reel of Garrett masons performance at The Cove last Saturday. Thought I would post another one. Can’t get enough of this man’s funky stuff!

04/20/2026

And Saturday night at THE COVE INN Westport it was the great GARRETT MASON who took the stage, up from Halifax on his annual Upper Canada Tour. As usual he blew everyone away with his incredible guitar work. That man gets more sounds out of that instrument than anyone I know - it's a sonic cornucopia! And he's the only artist I've ever seen who can play licks with his elbow.

(Thanks for doing that Magic Sam style tune that you know I love so much Garrett - and for the nice Shout Out).

I keep saying - if Garrett Mason is playing anywhere near you, especially if you've never seen him before, do yourself a big favour and get out and see him. He really is extraordinary.

That's Toronto Blues Society's Lucie (Lulu) Dufault who came all the way up from Caledonia, Rose Ker from Toronto and Celyne Gaspe from Kanesetake in the photo with Garrett. Ask them how much they enjoy visiting The Cove Inn 😎❤ (And we love having them)

04/20/2026

Another fabulous weekend of LIVE Blues at The Cove Inn Westport.

Friday night it was ANGELIQUE FRANCIS Angelique Francis with her family band (father Kiran on drums, sisters Kharincia and Kira on horns) from Ottawa.

Check out the video to get an idea of what we got to enjoy. Tom Burns' grandson little Darnold was up on the dance floor immediately like he always is on BATC nights!. Definitely a keen Blues fan in the making!👍😎

Next up - last BATC Show of the season at The Cove:

Saturday, May 9 - 7 to 11 pm
From Toronto
BLACKBURN BROTHERS
www.blackburnbrothersmusic.com
- another Juno Award winning band (and nominees for a couple of American Blues Music Awards last year as well). SoulFunkin'Blues as good as it gets.

$95 includes a deluxe buffet dinner, the show, dancing, door prizes and donation to the Westport Lions Club Lions Club

Advance Reservations required 613-273-3636 [email protected]