For many blues fans in St. Albert, it’s a sad day.
The Tuesday night Moosehead/Barsnbands Open Stage at LB’s Pub is moving to Edmonton.
Starting in July, hosts Mark Ammar (drums), Randy Forsberg (bass) and Jim Dyck (guitar) are moving the jam to The Leaf Bar and Grill in Edmonton with new times from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
“We had a few creative differences at LB’s and this was a really nice opportunity,” says Ammar of the move.
However the transfer is bittersweet.
“Last night I had a good cry. I had to take a walk around the block. I really don’t want to leave the city,” says Ammar.
The slick drummer has kept blues open jams humming in St. Albert for close to a decade. He initially started at the Castlerock, Blind Pig Pub and Taphouse. For nearly five years, he’s been the driving force at LB’s.
“I’ve met some wonderful musicians and great people and this has been really hard.”
The list of nationally and internationally renowned musicians he introduced to the community is endless – Doc MacLean, Simon Fisk, Jerry Granelli and Jerry Mercer of April Wine fame, to name a few.
His most breathtaking encounter was playing double drums with New York jazz drummer Ian Froman.
“My wife flew him in for my 50th birthday. It was a surprise present. He was absolutely amazing. I had to listen and keep my ears open and I dropped my sticks twice. Honest to God, it was a total dream. It seemed my hearing and my mind came back after the event.”
In a final appearance this coming Tuesday, Ammar leaves on a high note. His special guest is Morgan Davis, one of the great godfathers of blues.
Originally from Detroit, Davis moved to Toronto by way of California. Toronto’s ’60s and ’70s scene was the perfect environment in which to cut his teeth on the Delta blues and he found support from Bukka White, Snooky Pryor and John Hammond.
Davis’ multi-award winning Painkiller won the 2004 Maple Blues Award and a Juno for Blues Album of the Year.
“He brings experience and knowledge of the blues. He’s a true bluesman,” adds Ammar noting that Davis plays a National steel guitar and a hand-made cigar box guitar.
In discussing the move, Ammar repeatedly poured out his gratitude to a supportive blues community.
“Without good people buying food and drinks, we wouldn’t have made it,” he said. “But hopefully they’ll come and visit us.”
LB’s Barsnbands starts at 9 p.m.
