Time: 8 p.m.

Cover:$20 members, $25 non-members

www.willyblizzard.com

    “Truly gorgeous Canadiana” — Penguin Eggs
    “Smoothest baritone West of the Rockies” — Canadian Folk Music Bulletin
    “A mahogany-rich voice.”  – John P. McLaughlin, The Province
    “Their songs feel like they’re already classics” — B.C. Musician

Willy Blizzard is riding a musical journey that literally spans the decades, even the centuries.  Their 2010 album In From the Cold conveys the emotional depth of a songwriter who is so earth-centred he actually holds a degree in Agriculture.

Willy Blizzard is fronted by lead vocalist John Hough who has shared the stage with David Rea, Jesse Winchester, and Canada’s beloved Valdy.  He has opened for Tom Russell at Vancouver’s Rogue Folk Club, and his performance credits include the Vancouver Folk Festival, the Mission Folk Festival, the Filberg Festival, Harrison Festival of the Arts.  John’s former Celtic band Under The Moss brought his warm baritone vocals to wider audiences when his band was the feature at the Expo 86 Folklife pavilion.

John’s public performance history began at age 4 back in Toronto when he gave an impromptu, but well received, performance of Kawliga in McGirvens Grocery Store. He won his first official singing contest at age 18 at the old Caribou Club in Toronto, where he was privileged to play with Bob Lucier and Johnny Burke.

Willy Blizzard’s album In From The Cold is essential Americana.  Its rich detail has met with generous praise from press and critics both in Canada and Europe.  The last year has found Willy Blizzard enchanting audiences on tour in Western Canada, making appearances at festivals such as Kaslo Folk Festival, Desert Daze and sharing the bill with artists like Linda McRae, Romi Mayes, Andrea Ramolo and Dustin Bentall.

As the principal songwriter for Willy Blizzard, Hough’s music has garnered airplay on many CBC Radio programs like North By Northwest, Morningside (Peter Gzowski), The Early Edition, Vicki Gabereau, Folksounds (KBCS).  John’s musical history includes many TV and movie placements.  The song Eamonn An Cnoic was purchased by Gordon Lightfoot for use in the feature film Harry Tracey starring Bruce Dern.

A true nature lover since long before the contemporary environmental movement took hold, John’s academic background in Biology deeply informs his songwriting.  Few writers can authentically utilize lyrics like symbiotic parasite in their work. (“Hallie”)

Bringing along his beloved Martin D18 and his trusty Sada to earlier careers as a canoeing instructor and outdoor education instructor, John has also served as a very popular teacher of math and science to generations of guitar-loving teens.  In Willy Blizzard, right brain meets left brain to sustain an enduring encounter through music.