Jack de Keyzer at Leander Boat Club

“BLUES with a FEELING” is back for the 21st time.
Presented by The Friends of Richard Newell the annual concert pays tribute to Hamilton’s foremost exponent of the blues, the late Richard Newell a.k.a. King Biscuit Boy. For this year’s show our featured acts have all had a close association with the music of the King Biscuit Boy.
When: Sunday May 25, 2025 – 3 PM to 7 PM
Where: Leander Boat Club (50 Leander Drive, Hamilton)
As mentioned above this year’s headlining performers have been part of Richard Newell’s musical endeavours in days gone by. Guitar wizard Jack Dekeyzer contributed to King Biscuit Boy live shows and was a featured sideman on a number of Richard’s albums, including the comeback album “Mouth of Steel” and the Juno nominated “Richard Newell a.k.a. King Biscuit Boy”. Jack was also a graduate of a legendary Canadian “college of musical knowledge” – Ronnie Hawkins’ Hawks. Since 1989 Jack has enjoyed a successful and celebrated solo career including two Junos for “Album of the Year”, one of which was recorded live in concert in Hamilton in addition to seven Maple Blues Awards including a lifetime achievement citation. Real Blues magazine twice named him “Guitarist of the Year”. Jack is always a guaranteed crowd pleaser, particularly in his hometown....

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“BLUES with a FEELING” is back for the 21st time.
Presented by The Friends of Richard Newell the annual concert pays tribute to Hamilton’s foremost exponent of the blues, the late Richard Newell a.k.a. King Biscuit Boy. For this year’s show our featured acts have all had a close association with the music of the King Biscuit Boy.
When: Sunday May 25, 2025 – 3 PM to 7 PM
Where: Leander Boat Club (50 Leander Drive, Hamilton)
As mentioned above this year’s headlining performers have been part of Richard Newell’s musical endeavours in days gone by. Guitar wizard Jack Dekeyzer contributed to King Biscuit Boy live shows and was a featured sideman on a number of Richard’s albums, including the comeback album “Mouth of Steel” and the Juno nominated “Richard Newell a.k.a. King Biscuit Boy”. Jack was also a graduate of a legendary Canadian “college of musical knowledge” – Ronnie Hawkins’ Hawks. Since 1989 Jack has enjoyed a successful and celebrated solo career including two Junos for “Album of the Year”, one of which was recorded live in concert in Hamilton in addition to seven Maple Blues Awards including a lifetime achievement citation. Real Blues magazine twice named him “Guitarist of the Year”. Jack is always a guaranteed crowd pleaser, particularly in his hometown.
Like Jack Dekeyzer our co-headliner at this year’s Blues with a Feeling, Jesse O’Brien has shared the stage and recording studio with Richard Newell on numerous occasions. His keyboards were prominently featured on the Juno nominated “Urban Blues ReNewell” Jesse began gigging professionally when he was barely in his teens. By the time he reached twenty he was well established in the Ontario blues and roots music scene. Since then, he has gone on to national and international renown with acts like Colin James, Tom Wilson and many others. An exciting addition to Jesse’s group at this year’s show is guitarist Jimmy Bowskill, like Jesse a former musical child prodigy. Jimmy has had a lengthy and successful solo career as well as being a full-time member of both the Sheepdogs and Blue Rodeo.
To add to the excitement at Blues With a Feeling 2025 we look forward to a special guest appearance by Earl Johnson. Prior to being a founding member of Moxy, Earl was lead guitarist in the King Biscuit Boy Band. Earl plans on sitting in on a few tunes with both Jack and Jesse.
In addition to those acts Lester Smith, Larry Feudo and Paul Panchezak of the band Trickbag will offer a short set of acoustic blues from the “Ronnie Copple Memorial Chair” in the foyer of the Leander Boat Club. Acting as musical greeters of sorts and invoking the busking spirit of Chicago’s Maxwell Street they will start the festivities at about 2:30.
Also, this year we are pleased to announce the addition of caterer/entertainer Sam Squid to the festivities. In keeping with our new afternoon time slot Sam will be serving up some home cooked culinary treats at reasonable prices.
Proceeds from this year’s concert will be donated to the Hamilton Musicians’ Guild’s Bob Pedler Fund, a benevolent fund which provides financial assistance to musicians who are unable to perform due to health issues.
TICKET AVAILABILITY: Ticket price is $30 (cash only please) and will be available at Picks and Sticks, Dr. Disc, Stardust Records and Looney Tunes (Burl.) soon.
Blues With A Feeling is presented by the Friends of Richard Newell in association with 4680 Q ,The Hammer Monthly, and The Hamilton Musicians’ Guild

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