Those who once rocked out to the swing, blues, jazz and rock and roll blended sound of Tom Lavin and the Legendary Powder Blues Band will have a chance to relive their youth this Saturday.
The Vancouver-based band will be taking to the stage of the Kay Meek Theatre In West Vancouver for the first of their final three dates on the band’s 45th anniversary tour, and the last in the Lower Mainland for this year.
They may have more than four decades of music and a number of tours under their belts, with notable gigs like the world-famous Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, but it’s here on the North Shore that they’re particularly excited to play, said Lavin.
“Because the Kay Meek Theatre is an intimate venue, somewhat smaller than we are used to appearing in, it will offer us a unique opportunity to connect with the audience on a more personal musical level,” he said.
He hopes the band is greeted by a contingent of their long-standing fan base from the North Shore, especially those who have “enjoyed our recordings in the past, but have never seen or heard us live and are curious to do so,” he said.
What can be expected from a 45th anniversary spectacle? The Chicago-born frontman promises it will be a mix of both old and new.
“We will, of course, try to include all of the radio hits that we are best known for, so as not to disappoint fans that may have a favourite,” he said, “but we also intend to include plenty of room for musical improvisation, hopefully exploring some interesting new ideas.”
With the band’s tour coming to a close – the final two dates are Nov. 23 at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sydney, B.C., and Nov. 24 at the Port Theatre in Nanaimo – Lavin is reflecting on what has been a “great year.”
Highlights for the local star include headlining “a large blues festival in Northern New Brunswick” and making an appearance at the Edmonton Blues Festival, he said, a streak of memorable performances he hopes will only continue into next year.
“Our 45th anniversary tour has been a very enjoyable and gratifying one, but as is so often the case, ends mark new beginnings. We are already accepting dates in happy anticipation for 2024 and beyond,” he said.
“My hope for the future? More music, more fun, new tunes, and old. It’s far too late to stop now, and who in their right mind would want to anyway?”
For tickets visit the Kay Meek Arts Centre website.
Mina Kerr-Lazenby is the North Shore News’ Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
