Brandon Isaak, aka Yukon Slim, brings a little of the latest award-nominated music magic to Oak Bay Friday night.
The bluesman is nominated for a Juno in Blues Album of the Year for Big City, Back Country Blues “a cool little project” with Kenny Wayne and Tim Williams.
“It’s nice to get recognized by your peers and maybe make a little bit more money, I doubt it but maybe,” Isaak said with a laugh in a phone interview with the Oak Bay News.
The album came about after the three performed a Yukon blues fest and Isaak dragged the other two down to his Whitehorse studio.
“It was a two day quick one-two. … We just sat down in the studio and started making music. Sometimes magic can just happen without a bunch of planning,” he said.
He’ll perform an array of originals, some from the nominated album.
“I’m just going to play a bunch of original music,” Isaak says.
He hopes the audience shows ready to have a good time, leaving inhibitions at home.
“I play drums, guitar harmonica sing, all at once it’s like a freak show really. It’s called making a living,” he said. “I definitely entertain the audience, I don’t just sit there and play music and have a wall between me and them. I love to involve the audience … [otherwise] you might as well just put on a record.”
He’s also a fan of the Blue Moon Marquee the other half of the Saturday double billing at the Oak Bay Recreation Centre.
“They’re going to be great,” he says of the Gypsy Blues band born of the wild rose foothills of Alberta and transplanted to the Island.
A.W. Cardinal (vocals/guitar) and Jasmine Colette a.k.a. Badlands Jass (vocals/bass/drums) write and perform original compositions influenced by anything that swings, jumps or grooves. Their work is influenced by artists such as Lonnie Johnson, Louis Armstrong, Blind Willie Jonson, Charley Patton, Howlin’ Wolf, Screaming Jay Hawkins, Tom Waits, Memphis Minnie, and Django Reinhardt.
Brandon Isaak (Yukon Slim) and Blue Moon Marquee play a double bill Saturday, March 10 in the Upstairs Lounge at Oak Bay Recreation Centre, 1975 Bee St.
Get a taste of the music at https://www.brandonisaak.ca.
cvanreeuwyk@oakbaynews.com
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Tickets are $20-$25 available at Tickets available at Oak Bay Recreation Centre reception, Ivy’s Bookshop, or www.beaconridgeproductions.com.
editor@oakbaynews.com
