Musical Entertainment Lineup – Ribfest 2022

Ribfest 2022 Musical Performer Schedule

Friday, August 26

  • 5:05-5:50 pm ~ Brodie Dawson Duo

  • 6:10-7:00 pm ~ Blue Tonic

  • 7:20-8:00 pm ~ Ocean Waves Square Dancers

  • 8:15-9:00 pm ~ David Thrasher

Saturday, August 27

  • 12:15-1:00 pm ~ Luke Blu Guthrie & Anela Kahiamoe

  • 1:15-2:15 pm ~ Springsman Family

  • 2:40-3:40 pm ~ Blue Deuce

  • 4:10 – 5:10 pm ~ Coast to Coast

  • 5:30-6:30 pm ~Al Pasanen “The Man in Black”

  • 7:00-9:00 pm ~ Tightrope

Sunday, August 28

  • 12:00-1:00 pm ~ Sue Pyper

  • 1:00-2:00 pm ~ Blueshift

  • 2:30-3:30 pm ~ Tailgate

For more information on our entertainers, please see below.  

Brodie Dawson & Desmond Dey

Brodie Dawson was born in Hamilton, Ontario and grew up in an environment that would prove to be her life’s classroom. Her father Brent J. Dawson, was at the heart of the city’s music scene. He was a soulful vocalist and harmonica player in the Rock n Roll band ‘The Breeze’, and Brodie grew up with guitars, speakers, amps and a drum kit set up in the basement, evening rehearsals, backyard jams, and her dad’s legendary record collection spinning non-stop. Music Music Music. She absorbed it all and began to develop her own sound. Her style reflects a true love story between life and music that is constantly evolving, and it awakens and stirs up deep emotion for those who receive it.

She has shared the stage with many talented musicians such as Rick Fines, The Sojourners, George Canyon, Kira Isabella, Jake Owen, and Serena Ryder!  Her songs can be heard on SiriusXM Radio, 98.9 Jet FM, 97.3 The Eagle, Scrilltown Radio, and CBC Radio, and she has had the pleasure of being a musical guest on CBC’s The Vinyl Café with Stuart McLean. She’s twice-played Sunfest Country Music Festival, Filberg Festival in Comox, Mission Folk Festival, Yellowknife’s ‘Folk on the Rocks, and Serenity’s Harvest Music Festival on Birch Island, among many west coast tours with her previous female trio She Could Be Trouble, who were nominated for ‘Group of the Year’ at both the Vancouver Island Music Fest as well as BC Country Music Association, and in that same year, they were also nominated for the BCCMA ‘Ray McAuley Horizon Award’, a prestigious industry ‘nod’ to promising artists.

Brodie calls her style a mix of ‘soulful bluesy folk’ with a gospel funk, a twist of pop and a twang of old-school country.

The Good News Music Collective is a grassroots community of musicians that originates from the Comox Valley, BC Canada. Desmond Day is the imaginative force behind the movement, bringing many years of studio, touring and live performance experience to the table. The collective was formed during the lockdown months of Covid-19 on Vancouver Island with hopes that live music would return with an unstoppable force! Black Gold is Desmond Day’s most recent music release (Featuring Lonny Eagleton, Bassist of LA band, Black Veil Brides.) Black Gold was written and recorded on an acoustic guitar made from the salvaged floorboards of Jimi Hendrix’s family home in Seattle, courtesy of Reuben Forsland of Joi Guitars. The song features Hendrix inspired melodies, lyrics and overall feel of the music legend. Black Gold is sweeping across the airwaves, bringing hope and inspiration to people of all walks of life. Good News Music is an exciting new revival of Joy, Peace and Love! Tough Luck l Desmond Day featuring Lonny Eagleton and Brodie Dawson

  • https://www.desmondday.com/home

Blue Tonic

Blue Tonic is a jazz trio from the Comox Valley featuring Ralph Barrat (keys & vocals), John Hyde (bass), and Mike Berman (drums). We cover a wide variety of jazz styles as well as popular tunes done with our own eclectic pulse. 

Ocean Waves Square Dance Club

Square dancing had been going on in the valley since the 50’s. As with many clubs, the Ocean Waves had a variety of caller/cuers over the years including the Jeglums, Doug and Elsie Anderson, Mike and Lena Groenendyks, Wolf and Ann Clar.  Additionally, the Andersons, Groenendyks and Clars kept the club going, sometimes struggling through low attendance and few new dancers.  A spirit remained however and Fran and Roger Archambault became Caller Couple in 2009.

The club now has regular attendance, and new enthusiasm graduating 21 students under Fran’s instruction in 2014.The Ocean Waves dance the lst and 3rd Saturday night, every month from September through May at the Florence Filberg Centre in Courtenay.  Lessons are Monday night at the Church of St. John the Divine on 5th Street.

David Thrasher

David Thrasher is an international artist & musician.  He was born in southern Ontario where he sang in choirs from an early age. He began playing at 17 with local Burlington & Hamilton players.  Music has always been his second love followed by Art which has lead David around the world where he played & jammed with such luminaries as Hound Dog Taylor, Keith Richards, David Wilcox, Rick Danko, Avashai Cohen, & Cyro Baptista to name a few.

Luke Blu Guthrie & Anela Kahiamoe

At a time when many musicians struggle to find an authentic representation of self in their music, the charismatic Luke Blu Guthrie is a beacon of originality. Deeply soulful, and passionately committed to creating and sharing his music, Luke Blu has devoted much of his life to his craft. Often armed with only an acoustic guitar, Guthrie has been an integral part of the Vancouver Island music scene for two decades. He is widely respected for his versatility and skill as songwriter, vocalist and guitar player.

Born of humble beginnings in a rural setting, much of Guthrie’s music is reflective of his childhood experiences living a simple lifestyle while surrounded by a colourful and eclectic cast of characters. These experiences, combined with an unquenchable thirst to understand the mechanics and soul of music, have helped to shape and guide his personal and musical journey. The result is a body of contemplative, original music that bends and blurs the boundaries between multiple genres. Guthrie’s music is a clever and potent fusion of folk, funk, dark country and rock n roll. It is representative of a lifetime of thoughtful listening and his uncanny ability to select elements from each genre then combine them to create a refreshingly innovative, yet timeless style that engages the sensitivity and sentiment of a broad range of listeners.

Luke Blu’s lyrical wanderings show a profound and raw understanding of the human condition. Whether he is exploring the dark underbelly of human nature, taking a light hearted look at the frivolity of flirtation, or contemplating the joy, mystery, and confusion of love and loss, Guthrie’s stories are poetic and poignant. With a firm belief in the importance of human connection, he successfully manages to provide a compelling, cathartic experience for his listeners, giving them an opportunity for greater insight into themselves, providing comfort, escape, and a chance for greater empathy.

A naturally charismatic and dynamic performer, Guthrie will be charming audiences for years with his electrifying playing and smooth vocals.

 Born on the island of Oahu, Anela is one of only 8000 pure Hawaiians left in the world.  Starting his professional career at the ripe age of 17, Anela worked his way up as a full time musician with his fellow bandmates in “the island band”, recording 3 albums!  Later Anela became a studio and back up musician for some of Hawaii’s finest musicians and singers. Today he resides in Beautiful British Columbia doing what he does best, performing, teaching, and spreading the aloha with his music.

Springsman Family

Take one adventurous, fun-loving, creative dad.  Combine with his four uniquely talented, courageous, and friendly kids, and you have, The Springmans!

The Springmans first album, Happy Beach, was produced by, and co-written with, multi Grammy© and Dove Award winner Mark Heimermann. (dcTalk, Michael W. Smith, Newsboys)  Happy Beach won a number of awards including the Parents’ Choice Award, NPPA Award, and the GMA Canada Covenant Award for “Children’s Album Of The Year.”  Following the release of their first record The Springmans did a number of very successful tours in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

Their most recent album, Upside Down, also recorded with Mark Heimermann, was completed in February, 2021.  A great portion of the album was recorded at Valley Christian School in San Jose, CA with the help and support of many fine student musicians and teachers.  It features solos by each of the Springman children, and veteran Las Vegas brass players Dan Falcone (trumpet), Eric Tewalt (sax), and Nathan Tanouye (trombone).  The album will be individually released for streaming beginning in June, 2021.  Physical CDs will be available through selected outlets, the band website, and at concerts.

Originating from Vancouver, Canada, this family music group has been playing together nearly since they learned to walk.  And their dad, Perry Springman, quickly learned that the audience was somehow inexplicably drawn to children playing and singing their songs with their whole hearts, and on real instruments. (what? no backing tracks?!)

  • https://www.thespringmans.com/

 

Blue Deuce
Daryll began his pursuit of musical enjoyment around 1983 when he was 13 years old. Initialy he focused on heavy metal and hard rock and by 16 was playing lead guitar in a Metallica cover band.                                                                  
It was on a late night greyhound ride on his 19th birthday and Daryll had fallen asleep with Jimi playing on his Walkman, that’s when he first “really heard the blues” Jimi playing Redhouse. That moment shaped Darylls musical path, Jimi was the gate way drug!  Opening the doors of exploration back to Robert Johnson and the first generations of great blues/soul musicians. By this time SRV was huge and Stevie proved to be a big source of inspiration on 19yr old Duus. It was also around then that he found his first regular bar band gig in the Okanagan playing bass with Rick Zipp in Ricks band Wheelhouse.                                                                                                                                                           
Over the years Daryll has played with and opened for many musical greats such as Magic slim and the tear drops, Gaye Delorme, Johhny Vee, Jack Velker, Colin Linden, David Gogo, etc.  Daryll loves the comradery that the stage forges amongst players so, when you see him play, he’s playing with his friends!   Bluesy, funky, rocking, jazzy, and the lines in between, all served up with a heaping helping of high energy edgy attack and growly whiskey soaked cigar smokey vocals.
Coast to Coast

Coast to Coast came to life in 2017. Three different songwriters and three different tastes in music have blended to cover everything from soup to nuts. Roots, folk, country, swing, Americana, original tunes and anything else that moves us is brought to the table and worked into something that gives us all joy. We’re just getting into our stride after a year or two together and every tune new and old is getting reworked in our emerging voice. We hope to see you in the audience some evening and hope you enjoy what you hear.

https://www.facebook.com/Coast-to-Coast-982144921884351

Al Pasanen

Al only started playing in public after retiring from the air force, mainly at jams/open mikes and has really enjoyed the music scene. A highlight was doing Johnny Cash tribute show at Comox Valley Musicfest.   He is looking forward to doing a set of Cash and other country legends at Ribfest!

Tightrope

Tightrope is an electric tribute to the blues. Their energetic performances have been felt around Vancouver Island,performing at festivals local venues. Tightrope is comprised of Lorne Fugle on guitar, Dave Stevenson on Fender bass, and Greg Hill on drums.

Sue Pyper

Sue Pyper is an award winning Canadian singer/songwriter originally from London, UK. An engaging performer, Sue has been known to bring audiences from tears to laughter through her evocative songs and hilarious musical comedy.  Her personal travels, both geographical and emotional, have inspired gentle, insightful, and heartfelt songs that look at life from all angles and visit themes of both hope and hardship.

Women of Substance Radio describes her music as “Heavily influenced by pioneering singer/songwriters of the 70s like John Denver, Jim Croce and Joni Mitchell, Sue Pyper’s music is rooted in timeless acoustic folk, and on par with current folk artists like Mary Chapin Carpenter, Patty Griffin and Dar Williams.”

Pyper’s first recording “Before You Learn to Fly” was considered a wonderful new discovery by folk music notables such as New York radio host, Bob Sherman, performer Christine Lavin, and Sing Out Magazine  and received international airplay and reviews. The album received nominations in five categories in the Mpower Independent Music Awards and the title track won “Best Song” in 2003. Sue’s second CD, “Tail Lights In The Rain” was released in 2009 and also garnered favourable reviews as well as new fans. The music video of the title track earned her an award from CM Broadcasting in Australia in 2010.

https://suepyper.com/index.html

https://www.facebook.com/Sue-Pyper-Singer-Songwriter-109444075750650 

Blueshift
Blueshift consists of Jim Papp and Christy Vanden on vocals and guitars, Brittany Bowman on bass, and Oscar Robles Diaz on drum kit. Each a well-established presence in their own right in the Comox Valley’s music scene, their combined energy and musicianship packs a powerful punch. With a repertoire that is heavy on the blues yet also known to stray into the realms of Motown, Soul, R&B, and more, Blueshift delivers what your ears want to hear and your body wants to groove to.
Tailgate
Tailgate is a country rock band from the Comox Valley. They perform at several  venues and festivals on Vancouver Island.  Tailgate has formulated a great line up of experienced musicians who live and breath country music and are passionate about performing new and old country music. Tailgate hits the stage with a heel toe docie doe and boot stompin time.  Always a Tailgate party!                                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                          https://tailgatecountryrock.com/home
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100058710081381&lst=510857298%3A100058710081381%3A1658125618