Each year on a weekend that coincides with the Maple Blues Awards in Toronto, Thorold hosts Guitar Wars.
The name is a bit misleading as there’s no animosity between performers - just some friendly exchange of showmanship followed by a super jam.
This year the show feature artists from across Canada. They include: David Gogo from Nanaimo, J.W. Jones from Ottawa, Paul DesLauriers from Montreal, Steve Grisbrook from Toronto and Riley Michaels of Beamsville.
David Gogo has six Juno Award nominations, has been named Guitarist Of The Year three times at the Maple Blues Awards, was named Musician Of The Year at the West Coast Music Awards, and won Blues Recording Of The Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards. He's performed with giants like BB King, Johnny Winter, Albert Collins, Bo Diddley, and Otis Rush.
J.W. Jones was a Juno nominee in 2015. And he won the Best Self Produced CD at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, 2017.
He's received endorsements from blues icons like Buddy Guy, who said, "This young man is one of the people who will keep the blues alive." Charlie Musselwhite said, "JW Jones is one of the best guitar players I’ve heard in a long time."
Paul DesLauriers is the winner of several Maple Blues Award, including Entertainer of the Year (twice), Guitarist of the Year, Electric Act of the Year and winner of five Lys Blues Awards in Quebec. His band also placed second at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis in 2016.
Steve Grisbrook is a veteran of many Canal Bank Shuffle Blues festivals held each October in Thorold. He fronted the popular Midnight Walk band for many years. His versatility and reputation led to appearances with Shakura S'Aida and Cleveland Fats when they needed a top gun. He's also a past performer at Guitar Wars and has hosted nearly every other guitarist throughout the history of Guitar Wars at his Saturday jam sessions. 'Griz' has mixed it up with the best and this outing will prove his mettle again.
New to Guitar Wars is 18-year-old Riley Michaels. The young gun from Beamsville has crashed onto the blues scene in Niagara in a big way. He was named best blues artist at the 2018 Niagara Music Awards which launched him into a series of appearances throughout the region. Most notably, he appeared with Canadian legend Jack de Keyzer in December. After jamming together, de Keyzer said, "This kid is going places. I like everything about him. His guitar, his voice and his stage presence."
Guitar Wars takes place at Holy Rosary Hall this Friday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $20 in advance and $25 at the door. They're available at Donnelly's Pub in Thorold, at Trillium Industrial Safety in St. Catharines and online here