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Biggest little blues tour coming to Cumberland

MacLean and Davis will play Nov. 6 at the Cumberland Hotel.

Doc MacLean is pleased that veteran bluesman Morgan Davis will join him on Canada’s seventh annual biggest little blues tour this fall.

MacLean and Davis will play Nov. 6 at the Cumberland Hotel.

The National Steel Blues Emergency Tour will bring its blues medicine coast to coast, answering some 50 calls to nine provinces. The songs and stories in the round event promises to prescribe in venues “both large and small, grand and humble.”

“Morgan Davis is a Canadian icon,” says MacLean of his much-celebrated, much-awarded co-star. “He’s one of the greatest storyteller-entertainers, one of the best songwriters in the genre, one of the most respected musicians. I’m thrilled to have Morgan on the tour.”

The tour began in Atlantic Canada in September, finishing some 10 weeks later in Western Canada. This year’s theme, Blues Emergency, was selected as both artists view the blues as a healing art form, and the title plays an obvious, humorous riff on the pairing of their names.

“The Blues is actually in great shape across Canada,” states MacLean, “but we will make house calls!”

Fans will look forward to this one-time pairing of two of Canada’s best-known and most-travelled blues storytellers and entertainers.

Get your tickets at the Cumberland Hotel or at https://tickets.islandmusicfest.com. Last year's show was packed.

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BettySoo and Doug Cox perform Nov. 8 at the Cumberland Hotel as they tour their new CD Across the Borderline: More Lies.

She broke the record two years ago of "artist who sold the most CDs without an evening mainstage slot" at MusicFest and along with the Valley's own Cox, has toured all over the United States and Europe, creating a very solid fan base.

The two return to do a short Western Canadian tour in November with an intimate show added at the Cumberland Hotel for local fans!

"BettySoo's voice is the perfect combination of strength, vulnerability and clarity while the sound of Cox's resophonic guitar shifts from delicate to strong. It is just perfect." — Americana-UK (10 stars).

"BettySoo's voice is gorgeous — soulful, tender and Cox's playing so sympathetic ... BettySoo and Doug Cox absolutely nail it!" — Maverick Magazine (Live Show Review).

"BettySoo mainly takes the lead vocal and delivers a wonderfully fragile interpretation ... BettySoo and Doug's duet will tip the balance." — Maverick Magazine (4 stars).

"They had us eating out of their hands." — No Depression (Live Show Review).

"BettySoo's voice is strong, feminine, and mesmerizing, and Doug Cox's guitar riffs are a perfect complement, soulful, tight, and clear." — Taproot Radio.

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A limited number of Christmas in July MusicFest weekend passes will go on sale Dec. 1. These are the cheapest tickets you can get for next year's event, which will happen July 12 to 14.

— Vancouver Island MusicFest