Corn, blues and raising money for a good cause – does it get any better?
Saturday, July 12 will be a big day at McB’s on 40, located between Chatham and Wallaceburg on Highway 40, and for owner/operator Mr. McB (Mike Andrews). That’s the day when the area’s first blues and corn fest will be held, offering a great way to kick off the sweet corn season, listen to some great blues music and help raise money for the Canadian Arthritis Society.
“I’m just absolutely thrilled to be presenting this great event,” Mr. McB said. “I was looking for a way to raise some money for a good cause, and a friend suggested a sweet corn festival. It’s something that to my knowledge has never been done in Chatham-Kent – and we grow the best sweet corn in Ontario – everybody knows that.”
Mr. McB said he chose the Canadian Arthritis Society as the benefitting charity because it’s something nearly all of us will have to deal with at some point in our lives. “I have friends suffering from this disease. I’m really happy to be trying to raise some money to help make a difference.”
The event will run from 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. and will feature a full meal of coleslaw, sweet corn, pulled pork and dessert, plus a tremendous lineup of blues bands. First band up will be the Stan Brown Blues Band, a tidy little trio that was a finalist in last year’s Road to Memphis contest in London, next will be the Sterling Blues Band, hot off playing the Chatham Bluesfest, and the headliner is Bill Durst Blues Band – Durst is one of the top bluesmen in Canada and also one of the hardest working. He was the driving force behind the band Thundermug and tours across Canada.
Tickets for the event are $25 and include the meal and music. They are available at Aug’s Video, both the Chatham and Blenheim locations, at McB’s Restaurant at the corner of Countryview Line and Highway 40, or by calling 519-365-1571. There will be a cash bar and bringing a lawn chair is suggested.
“We’re really hoping to turn this into an annual event,” Mr. McB said. “A sweet corn festival seems to make sense in this area and I’m so glad to be able to try to help out the Arthritis Society – it’s such a good cause. When you add in the great blues lineup, it should be a good time.”
