As we continue the celebration of our 25th Anniversary, The Thunder Bay Blues Society (TBBS) is proud to announce the bands for Blues Shakedown Saturday October 21, 2023 at the DaVinci Centre (340 S. Waterloo St). 

The evening will open with TBBS “Hwy 61 to Memphis” Blues Challenge winners The Bustle, who will kick things off at 6:30PM with a 30-minute set. Be sure to come out and support the band as they prepare to represent the Thunder Bay Blues Society at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis January 16-20, 2024.

 
We have had many requests from TBBS members to bring back this next band…and we heard you!! Shawn Holt and the Teardrops will be returning to Thunder Bay and will hit the stage at 7:30PM. Shawn played to a sold-out room at Port Arthur Legion Branch#5 in November 2017. Those in attendance that evening witnessed a real deal blues show, and the dance floor was filled the entire evening. With the increased room size at the DaVinci, the band is sure to garner even more fans! The son of legendary bluesman Magic Slim, Shawn continues to carry the blues torch into the next generation for all to enjoy.

Headlining the evening at 9:30PM will be Alligator Records recording artist Toronzo Cannon and The Chicago Way. Born and raised on the notoriously tough south side of Chicago and paying his dues as a sideman for a number of years, Toronzo started fronting his own band in 2001. Since that time, he has had numerous Blues Music Award (the Grammy of the blues) nominations in multiple categories including artist and album of the year. In 2016 his Alligator Records release The Chicago Way was voted album of the year by Living Blues magazine. He has toured the world and is an in-demand artist at all major blues festivals. Pictured here with TBBS President Rob Croves, Toronzo wants every blues fan in Thunder Bay to know that he is excited for his Thunder Bay debut and prepare to party the Chicago way!

Exclusive for TBBS Members: Thunder Bay Blues Society members will have first access to tickets for Blues Shakedown during a two-week presale starting Saturday September 9. TBBS members have the opportunity to purchase reserved group seating at $50 per ticket for groups of 2/4/6/8 only.

As ticket demand is expected to be high for Blues Shakedown, each TBBS member will be limited to a maximum purchase of 4 tickets (remember joint memberships are entitled to 8 tickets which can fill an entire table). Once the TBBS member presale is over, general admission tickets (with no reserved seating) will be available at ticket outlets (subject to availability) starting September 25 at $65 per ticket.

If you are not currently a TBBS member, membership is quite reasonable at $15/single or $20/joint membership (2 people living at the same address). 

More information on the presale will be communicated by September 1, so be sure to get your blues group organized now!

We hope you join us in continuing to celebrate 25 years of supporting the blues in Thunder Bay at our inaugural Blues Shakedown show…it is one night you will not want to miss!!
 
— Thunder Bay Blues Society