Award-winning blues, legendary jazz and more at Hilton Beach

NEWS RELEASE

OLD TOWN HALL
CONCERT SERIES

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HILTON BEACH - Just two weeks remain until the 18th annual Old Town Hall Concert Series kicks off in Hilton Beach on St. Joseph Island.

The series this year includes an up-and-coming pop singer/songwriter, a multiple award-winning blues man, and one of Canada's legendary jazz pianists, all in a three-concert series in August.

The Old Town Hall Concert Series has tickets available for the full series of three concerts or for individual concerts, online at oldtownhall.ca or by phone at 705-246-0055.

Tickets are expected to sell out this season so you're encouraged to order yours as soon as possible.

Kicking off the season on August 7 is blues great Jack De Keyzer.

Jack is a multiple Juno and Maple Blues award winning guitarist, singer song writer and producer, and one of the finest blues guitarists touring today.

With a career spanning over three decades, Jack has appeared as a session guitarist on hundreds of recordings and his work has appeared on TV, movies, and other artists' albums.

His album 6 String Lover won the 2003 Blues Album of the Year and The Corktown Sessions won the same award in 2010 at the Juno Awards.

He's also racked up seven Maple Blues Awards and the CBC's Great Canadian Blues Artist of the Year in 2009.

Jack de Keyzer is a masterful, electrifying guitarist and soulful singer, whom Jeff Healey called "the finest blues guitarist in Canada."

On August 14 the Old Town Hall Concert Series is proud to present one of the biggest names ever to grace our stage.

Oliver Jones was a disciple and friend of Oscar Peterson.

In fact, he grew up just down the street from him in Montreal, and Oscar's sister Daisy was his piano teacher in the 40's.

Jones was a child prodigy, and played his first night club at the age of nine.

He spent the 80's playing with Charlie Biddle and has toured the world many times over.

He's won a Juno Award, a Felix Award, and the Oscar Peterson Award.

He's received the Order of Quebec and the Order of Canada and the Governor General's Performing Arts Award.

He's one of the best known and most skilled Canadian jazz pianists in history.

Accompanied by the rich, powerful vocals of Juno winner and Order of Canada recipient Ranee Lee, this is one of the biggest shows the series has ever had the honour of presenting.

Wrapping up the Series on August 21 is an up-and-coming pop artist with a voice as sweet as a ripe peach.

"She totally hits our sweet spot: female vocalist with a pretty voice singing pretty songs. If you like Sara Bareilles, Colbie Caillat or Ingrid Michaelson, then you will love Darrelle London upon first listen," wrote celebrity blogger Perez Hilton.

Singer-songwriter Darrelle London's career is just getting off the ground, but is already attracting plenty of attention.

She caught the ear of songstress Chantal Kreviazuk in 2010, who went on to co-write three songs for Darrelle's album Eat a Peach.

She was also noticed by Sarah McLaughlan, who chose her as the Toronto Lilith Talent Search winner.

Her song Understand was used in an ad campaign in South Korea, leading to an explosion of fans in that country, while Darrelle continues her rise to stardom with continued exposure on TV and airplay on radio here in Canada.

The concerts are held on three consecutive Wednesdays in August at 8 p.m.

They take place in the Hilton Beach Community Hall, a small venue with a seating capacity of just 250, which makes for an up-close and intimate musical experience unlike any other.

The facility is air-conditioned and fully handicapped-accessible, and has been upgraded acoustically to provide a wonderful venue for these concerts.

Snacks and refreshments are available before the concert and at intermission.

Hilton Beach is approximately 40 minutes east of Sault Ste. Marie.

Tickets are just $30 per concert or $80 for all three, and are available online at oldtownhall.ca, by either purchasing online directly or by printing out and mailing an order form.

Tickets can also be ordered by calling 705-246-0055.

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