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‘Blues Songs of Christmas’ ringing in the season at Duncan Showroom

Big Hank and The Kingpins perform Nov. 5
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Big Hank is kicking off his Tribute to the Blues Songs of Christmas tour at the Duncan Showroom this year on Saturday, Nov. 5.

Along with The Kingpins, Big Hank has been touring his Blues Songs of Christmas show for a number of years now and this unique, variety filled program of blues-basted Yuletide tunes is one that has left audiences drenched in the Christmas spirit and coming back for more when the next holiday season rolls around, said a press release for the show.

Touring from Vancouver Island to the snowbound prairies of Alberta, this Christmas show has consistently tied together a variety of classic blues styles, some R&B and a touch of soul, said the release.

“Big Hank is armed with a muscular voice, one that can be as warm as the hearth surrounding a well-stoked winter fire, and one that can alternately rattle the rafters and shake the snow off a 30-foot Christmas tree,” said the release.

This refreshing take on holiday concerts finds the singer and his talented, veteran band rolling through music that includes tunes going back a century to Christmas blues tunes that have been favourites of the boomer generation that grew up listening to B.B. King and Eric Clapton.

Tunes from the books of Big Joe Turner, Charles Brown, Etta James and Louis Jordan also find their way into the festive mix.

It’s been quite the road for Big Hank who cut his teeth on the Edmonton bar and cabaret circuit early on in his career. He immersed himself in the blues with Edmonton-based Hot Cottage and Victoria’s Uncle Wiggly’s Hot Shoes Blues Band. The latter group signed with RCA, sold an impressive number of albums and opened for the greats like Muddy Waters, Joe Cocker, James Cotton, Paul Butterfield and Koko Taylor.

The Kingpins also include Steve Cross on guitar, Mick Woodhouse on bass, Any Graffiti on Drums, Steve Ranta on keyboard and Paul Wainwright on saxophone.

The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Admission is a suggested donation of $25 each.