Celebrate Christmas blues with Big Hank and a Fist Full of Blues

Prepare to once again be spellbound by the rhythmic vocal talent and master musicianship of Big Hank and A Fist Full of Blues this coming Saturday at the Horizon Stage.

Regarded by their peers as some of the best in their genre, the Big Hank and a Fist Full of Blues Christmas program promises to be rich antidote to concerts leaning toward generic elevator type music.

Big Hank, who moved to Victoria in May to be closer with his children, is flying to Edmonton to pair up with the other members of the band – Ken Kirkwood (guitar), Barrie Nighswander (guitar), Bill Hobson (drums), Dennis Meneely (keys) and St. Albert’s Duane Smith on bass.

In addition, the band has also invited special guests, vocalist Rita McDade and two horns – Claude Godin and Dave Herrick to crank up the heat and give their sound added textures.

“The addition of Rita McDade and the horn players make it special. We’re not used to having horn players in the band. It’s more colourful with hired guns,” said Smith.

Three song samplings on the set list are Room Full of Blues, Please Be Home for Christmas and the Etta James version of Merry Christmas Baby.

The seasoned band members first made a name for themselves as members of the high-profile Tacoy Ryde. At that time Big Hank was cutting his teeth on Hot Cottage and shakin’ up blues bands on the West Coast with a raspy voice that was at once caressingly tender and gut-wrenchingly powerful.

When Big Hank and members of Tacoy Ryde combined forces to become Big Hank and a Fist Full of Blues, they quickly epitomized what the blues is about.

“People really enjoy the stylings of Big Hank. He’s powerful, soulful, a great front man.”

And in a true blues tradition, their music reflects a renewed human strength and spirit as well as a few good laughs.

“You’re going to hear a bunch of songs you wouldn’t normally hear at Christmas – songs like Christmas in Jail and I Caught Santa Cheating.”

For more information visit www.fistfulofblues.com.