MusicFest News:
MusicFest Concerts

Christmas In July Tix On Sale Now – Buy Them Here On Line

‘Christmas In July’ Tix are only $102 and there are only 1000 available so get ‘em while you can! These are the cheapest tickets you can get to our wonderful Fest.

We sell these to our ‘regular’ Festival goers as a thank you for your continued faith and support so don’t ask who’s playing yet because we won’t tell for awhile!

Get Them On Line Right Here From Our Website

or at the following MusicFest Ticket Venues …

In Courtenay

• Got It, Need It, want It
• Long & McQuade

In Campbell River

• The Music Plant

In Nanaimo

• Fascinating Rhythms

In Victoria

• Vancouver Island Brewery

In Parksville

• Cranky Dog

- everybody wants tickets to the Island’s Best Fest in their stockings this year. Get ‘em for Granny or Grandpa,  Sis and her kids,  your Boss or the babysitter. What could be better than a weekend in paradise? Get ‘em for Hanukkah or for Winter Solstice … but get ‘em fast because they wont last long. We sell out every year. See you in July!

Tim Williams In Concert

“Conversation halts, glasses still, and all eyes turn on Tim Williams as the room becomes a train stop on a tour of half-forgotten memories in the collective consciousness.”

At The Cumberland Hotel

Friday, NOV 25th

Tix available now $20 Advance $25 at the Door

Buy Tix at the Cumberland

250-336-8844 for more info

A MusicFest Fundraiser

See You At Another Great MusicFest Concert! Last One Before the Holidays…

Tim Williams’ career began in the coffee houses of Southern California in the mid-1960s and continues today around the world from his home base on the Canadian Prairies. Tim has played festivals, folk clubs, concert halls and roadhouses from Rabat, Morocco, to Melbourne, Australia, and from Dawson City, Yukon Territory to Zihuatanejo, Mexico, all to huge acclaim. His guitar skills are frequently compared to Ry Cooder and David Lindley (and like them, Tim plays a wealth of other string instruments), and his songwriting has won praise from the likes of Tom Russel and Willie Nelson. A string of Maple Blues Award nominations (Toronto Blues Society), two JUNO award nominations (Canada’s Grammy equivalent) , five Betty Mitchell Awards for composition/musical direction in theatre, and roughly a dozen awards from Real Blues magazine (as artist, guitarist, producer) attest to the high caliber of his work.

Tix on Sale Now at the Cumberland Hotel!

Who is Wendell Ferguson and Why Should I See Him Play?

Christmas Song

Wendell Ferguson

Live at The Cumberland Hotel

Thursday, Nov 10

Presented by Vancouver Island MusicFest

advance tix 20 available now at The Cumberland Hotel

call 336-8844 for more info.

Part funnyman and part extraordinary guitarist, Wendell Ferguson will be making his debut performance in the Comox Vally this coming Thursday at the Cumberland Hotel.

“He’s played with some of the biggest names in the business,” says MusicFest Artistic Director Doug Cox, “and we are thrilled to present this intimate show at the Cumberland Hotel as part of our fall concert series.”

A guitarists guitarist, Ferguson has played with many of the greats including Shania Twain, The Dixie Chicks, Gordon Lightfoot, Sylvia Tyson, Deana Carter, Keith Urban, Buddy Miller, Jane Siberry, Patty Loveless, Emmylou Harris, Tommy Hunter, Ian Tyson, James Keelaghan, Tommy Emmanuel,Paul Brandt, Murray McLauchlan, Suzie Vinnick, Lynn Miles, PrairieOyster, George Canyon… the list is endless.
And he’s won his fair share of awards doing it. He’s won the CCMA (Canadian Country Music Associations Guitar Player of the Year Award so many times they had to retire him from the running. And most recently his CD, “Menage A Moi” has won the “Best Instrumental Album at the Canadian Folk Music Awards.

Aside from his stunning musicianship, Wendell is also known for his hilarious parody s and songs that help make his concerts a complete experience full of exemplar playing and funny stories and songs. He is one of the funniest guitar players around!

“The shows we are presenting at the Cumberland Hotel are partial fundraisers for MusicFest,“  adds Doug Cox. “ We are trying to harken back to the ‘folkclub’ shows we used to present at the Edge Pub in Comox and Cresslynn and her staff at the Cumberland have done a fantastic job of setting the mood for these shows. There is really room right now for this type of presentation in the Valley.” Cox adds, “If you are a guitar player here in the Valley or simply a fan of great acoustic and country music, this show you dont want to miss!”

A few quotes …

Morgan Davis In Concert!

Vancouver Island MusicFest Proudly Presents:
Morgan Davis In Concert
Weds Oct 12th
at The Cumberland Hotel

TIX available now at The Cumberland Hotel
20 advance
25 at the Door

Call 250-336-8844 for more Info.

For nearly four decades Morgan Davis has been on the road travelling across Canada, the United States and Europe. His performances draw from a rich tradition of country blues, as well as his own contemporary songs infused with wit and a large dose of humour.

Originally from Detroit, Davis grew up listening to a prolific mix of rhythm and blues. The music of Jimmy Reed, Ike and Tina Turner, Chuck Berry and Fats Domino was in the air. He later moved to California with his family, and then in 1968 left for Canada.
While living in Rochdale College, Toronto’s mecca for the subculture of the late 1960′s, he immersed himself in the study of Delta Blues, especially the music of Robert Johnson. Toronto’s music scene in the early 1970′s was the perfect place for Davis to cut his teeth as a journeyman, having the opportunity to see and play with many legendary performers. Bukka White, Johnny Shines, Sunnyland Slim, Snooky Pryor, Hubert Sumlin, and John Hammond were encouraging supporters.
Davis hit the road with the Rhythm Rockets, The Knights of The Mystic Sea, and David Wilcox’s first band, eventually forming his own trio.
Over the years he has had the priviledge of opening for Willie Dixon, John Lee Hooker, Albert King, John Hammond, Albert Collins, and Eric Bibb. A highlight of his career was backing the phenomenal Dr.John. Morgan has shared the stage with Colin Linden, who also produced his second album, shared the stage with James Cotton, Huber Sumlin, Sunnyland Slim, Snooky Prior, James Harmon, Gene Taylor, Dutch Mason, Gene Taylor, Sue Foley, Ray Bonneville, Carlos DelJunco and many other great blues artist over the years.

Davis’ songwriting talent received international recognition when Colin James covered his searing ballad “Why’d You Lie”.

Morgan’s recording “Blues Medicine”, on Electro-Fi records, garnered critical acclaim as well as awards for songwriting and production. His multi- award winning release “Painkiller” won an impressive four awards at the 2004 Maple Blues Awards and not long after took home Canada’s top music prize…the Juno for Blues Album of the Year.

Upcoming Shows

Here’s just a few of the Upcoming Concerts Presented by Vancouver Island MusicFest to be held at the Cumberland Hotel – advance Tickets are available at the Cumberland Hotel

• Doc MacLean and Big Dave McLean – Thursday, September 15
• Morgan Davis – Wednesday, October 12th
• Wendell Ferguson – Wednesday, Nov. 1oth
• BettySoo and Doug Cox – Thursday, Nov 17th
• Tim Williams – Friday, Nov. 25th

watch for more show announcements coming soon