Time: 9 p.m.

Cover: $15 advance, $20 at the door

 Big John Bates http://www.bigjohnbates.com/

John Bates was the original singer and a founding member of the highest selling heavy metal band from Canada, Annihilator, formed in Ottawa, ON with Jeff Waters. Beginning with 1989's Alison Hell on Roadrunner Records and continuing until 1997's Remains, John co-wrote of many of Annihilator's most well-known songs (Alison Hell, Human Insecticide, WTYD, I Am In Command, King of The Kill). John left to join the short-lived Ligeia as singer then began Bates Motel as vocalist / guitarist. Moving from Ottawa to Vancouver in the 1992 the Bates Motel project released two albums (Tales of Ordinary Madness - Tomcat Records 1996 / John Bates - Spinner Records 1998).

Musical influences such as the Cramps and the new burlesque revolution in 2001 led to the formation of Big John Bates & the Voodoo Dollz. Bates was the first artist to bring burlesque performers on tour throughout Europe and North America (2002) in an ensemble known as the Voodoo Dollz (Dynamite Magazine). Four albums and two live DVDs were released on a variety of indie European labels as noted in interviews with BJB, ex-bassist sCare-oline and articles in Bizarre Magazine (2005), Tattoo Life Magazine (2010), on Europe's VH1 and on national television in France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Documentaries in North America on the A&E Network and Discovery Network have featured John's interviews on the influences of both film-makers such as Russ Meyer and authors Dashiell Hammett and Mickey Spillane on the lyrical content and neo-burlesque styles. Bates' version of "Tainted Love" from their Mystiki album (2003) was also selected for the soundtrack of the French film ""Un singe sur le clos". The band stopped touring with the Voodoo Dollz in late 2010.

This stylistic change was reflected in the Scarecrow Close release for Germany's Rookie Records co-written with Hofner-endorsed upright bassist Brandy Bones. Their adoption of the Indie style also encompasses rustic punk (southern influences with dark, rural lyrics & melodies) and puts the band in the company of 16 Horsepower, Jack White, Hank Williams III, Legendary Shack Shakers and PJ Harvey. A 6-song EP-CD Headless Fowl was released to iTunes in February 2012 supported by a tour with Murder By Death. A full-length album entitled Battered Bones is scheduled for release in August 2012.

Gretsch guitar endorsee Big John Bates is based in Vancouver Canada but is constantly touring Europe and North America. They have shared stages with notable and varied performers such as Andre Williams, Wayne Hancock, Dex Romweber, Corb Lund, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the Supersuckers, Solomon Burke, the Blasters, T-Model Ford, Eric Sardinas, Southern Culture on the Skids, Los Straitjackets, Jay Munly, Koko Taylor and Jooles Holland.

Big John Bates has managed to sell thousands of copies of each of their records without any major label support. They have played over 1000 shows in 17 countries; headlined to 10,000 at Germany's Stemwede festival; a federal prison in Belgium and topped the bill at the first Stag-o-lee Festival. They've performed at the oldest theatre in Germany, were banned by Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas and awed festival crowds in Palermo, Sicily. They played the Raalte Festival in Holland with the and the Ink & Iron Festival in Long Beach. They’ve even been featured on Battlestar Galactica (Season 3, Episode 14 – The Pleasure Planet).

Big John Bates is based in Vancouver, Canada but is constantly touring Europe and North America. They have shared stages with notable and varied performers such as Andre Williams, Wayne Hancock, the Fuzztones, Dex Romweber, Corb Lund, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, the Supersuckers, Solomon Burke, the Blasters, Eric Sardinas, Southern Culture on the Skids, Los Straitjackets, Jay Munley, Koko Taylor and Jooles Holland, T-Model Ford, the Bellrays, US Bombs, New Bomb Turks.

All of Big John Bates recordings have been included in Library and Archives Canada "dedicated to providing the best possible account of Canadian life through acquiring, preserving and making Canada's documentary heritage accessible."


==Current Performers==

* John Bates (vocal, guitars)
* Brandy Bones (vocal, upright bass)
* Bill Dozer (percussion) / Studio - Tim Hagberg

 Murder By Death http://murderbydeath.com/news.php

Adam Turla: Vocals, guitar
Sarah Balliet: Cello, keyboards
Matt Armstrong: Bass, noises
Dagan Thogerson: Drums, percussion
Scott Brackett: Keyboards, Cornet, Accordion, Percussion, mandolin, backup vocals, theramin

They may call Bloomington, Indiana, home, but since their 2000 formation, Murder by Death have been a band without musical borders. Theirs is a world where Old West murder ballads mingle with rock-injected Western classicism; where an album’s sequencing can take listeners from a haunted back alley in rural Mexico to a raucous Irish pub. All of which is to say, Murder by Death albums don’t just string together songs; they create experiences. With their fifth album (and second for Vagrant), Good Morning, Magpie (04/06/10), Murder by Death continue the tradition of border expansion that drove career standouts like 2006’s In Bocca al Lupo and 2008’s Red of Tooth and Claw. The difference, however, is that this time, the band literally went off the map to get there.

“Going into the woods helped me write in a way I never would’ve been able to otherwise,” says singer/guitarist Adam Turla, recalling the 2009 retreat into the Tennessee mountains during which, armed with little more than a tent, a fishing pole and a notebook, he wrote the 11 songs that would become Good Morning, Magpie.

Black Mastiff http://www.reverbnation.com/blackmastiff

Class: Working

Breed: Black Mastiff

Origin: Edmonton, AB

Description:

The Black Mastiff is a powerful breed known for its thick grooves, tasteful leads, and soothing melodies. Though new to the scene they have over 35 years of previous touring and playing experience combined! This breed of musicianship is well versed in the trials and triumphs of being a Canadian working band. The Black Mastiff has a gentle temperament, but will not back down when presented with the opportunity to flex their powerful, yet soulful sound.

Not recommended for those that are ‘faint of heart’. This breed delivers a heavy dose of stoner soul rock. They are not afraid to stray from home and roam the nation; commanding attention, they convert idle listeners. The Black Mastiff is a first-rate breed and with very little effort is sure to provide an excellent life long companion for anyone who is looking for a fresh and honest working breed.

Black Mastiff is made up of:

Vasilios (Bob) Yiannakoulias – guitar and lead vocals
Allan Harding – drums and vocals
Clay Shea – bass and vocals