...Well, they never really went away. But as with many Peace Region bands, they've undergone their fair share of lineup changes and accompanying hiatus's (um hiatuses?) ... time off.  With the departure of FSJ's esteemed percustitute, Mitch Guindon, remaining members Adam Perrin and Tyson Mowat were not to be left alone for long. Ryan Hennessey offered up his services to fill the vacancy. He says:

"I'd been a fan and a friend of The Suspicious for years, since the first Rockin the Peace event. When Mitch left, I could see the growth that the band had undergone, the set that they had built, I knew I'd have a good time playing drums with them.  When a band, any band, works hard and puts in the effort you don't want to see that fade away.  Plus, I've always dug Mitch's playing so I've tried to rip off some of his chops. We'll see how it goes!"

In early 2012, the band is eager to play live in FSJ, Dawson Creek and perhaps further abroad.  The inaugural show of the year is at Egan's Pub, Friday Feb 3rd, at 8:30 pm.  Come on down for some straight up, loud and proud, decade-spanning rock and roll!

One of the amazing things about Fort St. John, is that I'm always meeting new cool musicians who have recently moved into town!  I met Kyle Bischke 2 weeks ago.  As a bartender at Tony Roma's, he was asked to perform a few songs at the Pomeroy Christmas Party... After hearing him, and without a second thought, I thought it would be awesome if Kyle would be intereted in opening up for the upcoming Ari Neufeld Show.

So, here's the news:

Kyle's will be performing one of his original tunes, never before heard, tomorrow night - Jan 24th - at The Breakfast Room!  He'll be playing a handful of cool covers, and setting the mood for the evenign!  Come support Kyle and checkout the amazing music of Okanagan musician, Ari Neufeld.

Tickets in advance are $15 (available online below), or $20 at the door.

The show is available to all ages, and there will be a bar available for 19+.  Food will be available and served through Tony Romas resturaunt.

CANCELLED: Due to unforseen work circumstances, Brad will not be able to make it back to town for this show. He is planning another show for this spring, once work has slowed down, and we hope you will be able to make it!

Shortly after his last show at Patch Java on October 27th 2011 Brad Langerud began a life changing journey of physical, emotional and spiritual growth. The show was a great success and brought many people together; children and adults alike smiled and sang the night away. Everyone walked away from the evening with laughter and lifted spirits. Little did we know that the days following the show would bring about some of the most difficult times in our lives. 

Brad was diagnosed with an illness at the start of November and in the weeks and months that past we were never really sure when we would see the next up or down in this struggle. Life seemed to bring about all kinds of new challenges that at moments seemed to bombard us with overwhelming fears and emotions. 

But, with the help of loved ones, friends and family Brad has made incredible leaps and bounds forward in healing and in the process created some of his most incredible songs to delight our hearts. This journey through dim and dark times has brought forth even more light to our lives; he has connected deep within his spirit and pulled out more imaginative lyrics and compelling guitar rhythms than ever before. 

Hope you can come out and see this intriguing local musician as he displays more of his intellectual songs featuring renowned word play, poetic and thoughtful lyrics backed with uplifting folk and blues influenced beats.

Come see Brad Langerud live at Patch Java Coffee House on Friday January 27th 2012.

Smoking hot guitar, searing blues voice and a delivery that will leave you breathless

“Every now and again you hear an artist that just pulls you up short, stops you dead in your tracks, like being on a top flight cutting horse that can stop on a dime, rollback and give you a nickel in change. Matt Andersen is the whole package and can play guitar, write relevant songs and present the songs in a way that will just bring you to a standstill you and make you listen up”

The best performing songwriters, the ones who sound like they really mean what they’re singing about, tend to come from areas known for hard times and hard work. Like say, Perth-Andover, a rural blue-collar village in the Canadian Maritime province of New Brunswick—the home of acclaimed singer-songwriter and guitarist Matt Andersen.

“Perth-Andover’s a really small, family-oriented community,” says Matt. “Everybody knows everybody. My dad’s worked as a logger pretty much his whole life. But there’s always been music around: My grandfather played fiddle, my mom plays piano in church. Most of my cousins have had bands at some point. Whenever there’s a get-together there’s always about nine or ten fiddles or guitars in the room.”

Matt’s musical household got him interested playing early on and by junior high he was in the school band, first on tuba and later on trumpet. He took up guitar at 14, and before long was playing classic rock and Top 40 covers in pub bands while he studied studio engineering. Things changed dramatically, however, when he discovered the blues.

“Through Eric Clapton I got into B.B. King, which led me to the Chicago electric stuff and eventually back to the Mississippi Delta guys,” says the 30-year-old singer. “What really hit me most about the blues was its total honesty.”

Matt began to build his name on the Canadian circuit, his imposing voice and slashing slide guitar making a monolithic impression on audiences. He debuted with 2002’s One Size Never Fits, and followed with the likewise-warmly received Solo at Session (2004) and Live at Liberty House (2005).

What is it Matt hopes audiences experience when they hear him? “I’m not trying to change anyone’s lives in a big way, but I love it when [listeners] really get involved in the music,” says Matt, performs over 200 shows a year and in 2011 won the Maple Blues Awards for Entertainer of the Year and Acoustic Act of the Year and was nominated for four East Coast Music Association awards. “That’s what really makes it a great night, for everyone.”

Guitar players worth their salt will not miss this show.

Matt Andersen will be performing on Sunday, Feb 12 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available at the box office, by phone at (250) 785-1992 and online.  Adults $35, Students & Seniors $30 and Children $20.

Ladies and gentlemen, PLAYING Aerosmith songs to attract attention is easy - BEING Aerosmith, however, now that is something completely different.

Let's start with vocals. Danny Deane is the drop in the drink that turns this party. He has what is needed from the lead singer of a Smith tribute - the crisp high end, the sustain, the "yeh-yeh-yeh-yeh", and most importantly, that neck-tickling Steve Tyler presence that makes Aerosmith fans feel right at home.

Next we have Andrew Laing and Dan Parker picking up their axes in the name of Joe Perry and Brad Whitford. Although Aersomith is more widely known for their vocals, you would be surprised at how easily a guitar player can make or break their signature sound. These guys have re-created one of the most bad-ass guitar duos of all time...

No, it's not Aerosmith, it's Aerosmith Rocks, the tastiest tribute you've ever gotten buzzed on!

Tickets (this is a 19+ show) :

• $25 Advance General Seating (available at Systems and the FSJ Visitor Info Centre)
• $30 for Reservations of four or more
• $35 at the Door

The Lido
250-785-3011
www.thelido.ca

Update: This show is cancelled this week but check out the photos anyway!

Andrew Bourcet is live and on the JD Fitz stage this week as one of the great local musicians featured in their Tuesday Night Performance Series.

Andrew's last show was a great mix of blues and funky acoustic sounds. He has extensive musical knowledge and tastes which makes for a very interesting set.

He is a local DJ and hard-working musician and doesn't disappoint when he gets behind a guitar and mic stand. The music is basically going to be great so it's definitely worth leaving your cocoon and having a great night out.

See Andrew live at JD Fitzgerald’s on Tuesday, January 17th at 8pm. And check out some of the photos from his last great show!

It's time for another great show at JD's this weekend. It's a mash up of some of the best to grace the JD's stage...

Gidd - great guy, fantastic wingman, picks and slides his guitar strings to get a sound that will get you on the edge of your seat.

Bettyanne - the other lovely half of the Hampton duo, plays a mean accordian, adds definite flair to the stage

Dave - funny man, hits the cajon, keeps everyone in the same rhythm

Huck - great voice, adorable face, plays some kickass tunes, also has killer 'chops.

Come out and experience the jammin'est band in the house. They will make you laugh, cry, and mostly just want to join in!

Buck3Eighty at JD Fitzgerald's, Saturday, January 14th at 8pm. 

Boom goes the universe.

Deep.
Dark.
Heavy.

Serious Sound is at it again with another bass filled night of all local DJs. Friday, January 27th at the Maxx Lounge (10023 95 Ave) at 8pm the sound kicks off.

We have decided to christen the night, Subscape. A bass heavy experience. Filled with great tracks and great people, four distinct and unique stlyes of music. Let's get everyone together and dance our faces off again! We've got 2 massive 1500 watt 18" subwoofers that will blow you away.

8:00 - The Overature

9:00 - :Zero Even Matters: - Brutality

10:00 - :Serious.Sam: - Deep Dubstep, Drum n' Bass

11:00 - :Self+med: - Heavy Dubstep

12:00 - :Calmpound: - Future Dancehall

5 hours of music from 8pm - 1am, exceptional sound quality and lighting.
$10 cover charge, this event is 19+
Come out and show your love for bass music!

The Cultural Centre kicks off 2012 with supergroup, the African Guitar Summit!

Last years Memeza Africa show brought a full house audience cheering & waving to their feet. This year, the Cultural Center supports Black History month with the award winning African Guitar Summit, featuring nine of the most celebrated guitarists of African origin.

The group arrives in Fort St John January 23 for their only show in the cold north (their talent is hot enough to warm the entire city!)

Come early for preshow drumming with Fort St John’s Pan African group. Visions for Change, a group of 38 high school students will also be on hand to talk about their spring trip to
Ghana and the work they’ll be doing in an orphanage there. And then, the show we're all waiting for starts at 7:30.

History was made in 2004 when the super group African Guitar Summit assembled at the CBC studios to record what has been widely hailed as the greatest recording ever to come out of the fertile African music scene in Canada.

This is a really special show. Not only is it superb entertainment, it’s a great way to celebrate the growing cultural diversity in our community and bring people together with music.

African Guitar Summit is selling out venues across the country…huge venues like Massey Hall where entire audiences are jumping to their feet. I’m hoping that here in the Music Capital of the North we can fill the theater for them too. It takes a lot to get these kinds of groups here and we need everyone’s support to make it work …trust me this is worth coming out for!

See them. Experience this superb and truly incredible performance live on stage at the Cultural Centre …and take note: while you take in the rich, harmonized vocals, the movement, the rollicking guitar lines and unmistakable African flavor, you’ll need to look around at your surroundings to remind yourself you’re in Fort St John and not in the artists’ African home. It will be that easy to forget!

The show starts at 7:30 and the tickets are $40.00 Adult, $35.00 Seniors/Youth, $25 12 and under.  Tickets are available at the box office, by phone at (250) 785-1992 or online.