The end of the summer may be near, but there’s still another chance to sit on the gorgeous 200-seat patio of the Commercial Hotel for great music. This long weekend, Blues on Whyte presents the two-day Whyte Avenue Blues Festival, showcasing the best in Canadian Blues outdoors, with a focus of local voices, and headliners Colin James and Monkey Junk.
“It’s a small venue for intimate concerts. And most importantly, this is a festival where people can stand up and dance to the music,” says Tony Ruffo, public relations at Blues on Whyte.
If you’ve passed by Whyte Ave during this warm season, chances are you’ve seen people dancing to outdoor concerts at Blues on Whyte’s block parties. Off the wide patio, there are another 400 seats for general admission, and an outdoor stage at the other end.
After an evening of outdoor blues, there’s also an after party where some of the artists from the show continue the festival indoors in the Commercial Hotel lounge. Ruffo suggests that this would be a good choice (with a lower price) for those who didn’t make it to the outdoor program.
“For Blues fans, they’d easily recognize that this is one of the best lineups Canada can offer,” says Ruffo. “We spent over a year arranging the festival. Colin James isn’t playing any other Alberta dates this year. We just can’t believe we’re able to bring it together.”
Tickets are on sale for the Whyte Avenue Blues Festival, September 2 – 3.
(Online VIP tickets for September 3, headlining Colin James, are sold out. There will be a few more left at the door.)
