The Sterling Blues Band spent a recent weekend just before Christmas at the Sound Distillery recording studio in downtown Kitchener working on an EP that will be handed out to friends and fans who attend one of the band’s fundraising events early in January.
The band is preparing for its trip to Memphis, Tennessee to compete in the International Blues Challenge Jan. 20-25, representing the Bruce County Blues Society.
The first fundraiser is in Chatham on Friday, January 9, 2015 starting at 7:30 p.m. in Studio One at the Chatham Cultural Centre.
The band has three fundraising events planned – the first in Chatham, the second in Kincardine on Saturday, January 10 and the third in Hanover on Sunday, Jan. 11.
The Chatham-Kent based band earned its trip to Memphis by winning Bruce County Blues Society’s Queen Street to Beale Street contest in early October.
The fundraisers are being held to help offset costs for the trip to Memphis and are sanctioned by the Blues Society. The band will distribute the new EP at each of these fundraisers as a way of saying thanks to those who attend. It will contain several new original songs by the band.
Members of the Sterling Blues Band come from across Chatham-Kent, with vocalist Kim Sterling calling Chatham home, guitarist Aug Polowick from Blenheim and bassist John Gardiner from Wallaceburg. Drummer Tom Trembley currently lives in Sombra but is originally from Wallaceburg.
The band has been together for about three years, playing festivals, special events and bars across Southern Ontario. Notable gigs have included the Southside Shufffle in Port Credit, opening for Suzie Vinnick at Chatham Bluesfest and several appearances at the Windsor Casino.
Tickets for the Chatham fundraiser can be obtained at Aug’s Video in Chatham and Blenheim, from band members or by calling 519-676-8801.
They are $15 each and net proceeds will help the band with expenses for the Memphis trip.
