Hit the clubs

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Buddy Guy (SUPPLIED LOGO)

IT’S called the Jazz Winnipeg Festival, but the official kickoff to the summer festival season is about more than just jazz.

Beginning tomorrow and running for 10 busy days, the festival will fill Winnipeg's theatres and clubs with the sounds of jazz in all its diversified glory, but there are heavy helpings of blues, garage rock, soul, indie-rock, electronica, funk and world music to choose from.

Jazz columnist Chris Smith highlighted his jazz picks earlier this week, so here are a few non-jazz suggestions to help you plan your schedule.

Tickets are available at jazzwinnipeg.com unless otherwise indicated. All club shows are $17 in advance, or $20 at the door. A club pass allowing entrance to every Club Series show all week long is $80, while one-day club wristbands are $25.

MAGIC SLIM AND THE TEARDROPS

Friday to Sunday, Kings Head. The 71-year-old Mississippi native Morris Holt might not be as slim as he was when he earned his nickname, but he's still magic on the guitar and one of the greatest living purveyors of authentic Chicago blues (he moved to the Windy City in 1955).

BUDDY GUY

Saturday, Pantages Playhouse Theatre. Buddy Guy needs no introduction, but here's a quick one: the 72-year-old is one of the best electric blues guitarists in the world, cited as an inspiration by luminaries such as Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. Local blues king Big Dave McLean opens. Tickets are $49.50 at Ticketmaster.

KEYS N KRATES

Saturday, Pyramid Cabaret. The Toronto trio of DJ Jr. Flo, Matisse and Tune use instruments, samples and turntables to create a "live remix" experience. With LeBeato.

ALICE RUSSELL

Monday, Pyramid Cabaret. The breakout star of last year's festival was U.K. songstress Alice Russell, who was belting out the SSRq60s-era soul before Amy Winehouse was a glimmer in the tabloid lens. With Mama Cutsworth and Mizz Brown.

SEA AND CAKE

Tuesday, Pyramid Cabaret. The must-see indie-rock show of the festival is Chicago's Sea and Cake, who dabble in atmospheric post-rock, noisy soundscapes and electronic experimentation. Which side of the band will music geeks will witness Tuesday is part of the allure. With the Liptonians.

THE SHUFFLE DEMONS

Tuesday, Le Garage Cafe. Yes, it's those Shuffle Demons, the Toronto jazz-funk group known for their mid SSRq80s hits Spadina Bus and Out of My House, Roach. If they ask for directions to their old haunt, the Spectrum Cabaret, following their show, tell them it's called the Pyramid now.

LAND OF TALK

Wednesday, Pyramid Cabaret. This up-and-coming Montreal-based trio's combo of dark and brooding indie-rock one minute and pretty pop jingles the next has made it favourites of music fans and critics. With Boats.

THE BAD PLUS WITH WENDY LEWIS

Thursday, West End Cultural Centre. The Minneapolis group has mastered the art of making jazz for rock fans who don't like jazz with its own dynamic compositions and covers of artists such as Nirvana, Black Sabbath and Rush. Their latest album, For All I Care, consists of nothing but covers by the likes of Wilco, Pink Floyd and the Flaming Lips and is the first to feature a vocalist, Wendy Lewis. With the Curtis Nowosad/ Keith Price Quintet. Tickets $24.50 (or club pass).

WRAP-UP WEEKEND, JULY 3-5, OLD MARKET SQUARE

The festival concludes with three days of free music in the Exchange District.

Friday (6 p.m. to 1 a.m.): Trio Bembe, Simon Fisk Trio, Marco Castillo, Bomba and Papa Mambo.

Saturday (2 p.m. to 1 a.m.): Ministers of Cool, Lindsey White, Flo, Athavale, Lisa Bell, Blue King Brown, Beast and the Heavy.

Sunday (2 p.m. to midnight): Groovy Moustache, Jonny Moonbeam, Flying Fox & the Hunter Gatherers, Paul Metcalfe, Blue King Brown, Beast and Moses Mayes.

-- Rob Williams

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 25, 2009 E15