Lightning Lenny February 28, 2006

Tomorrow, March 1 is part II of the Victoria Rock & Roll Music Hall of Fame series on Victoria's CBC Radio One 90.5 FM. It's 8:20am (approx.) and features pioneer guitarist Lightning Len Siemens (also in todays picture)and the stories of his playing at 14 years of age in downtown Vancouver nightclubs during the very early sixties and who was seen in the audience studying his ground breaking innovative guitar technique's. When you look up the expression "dedicated to his craft" in the dictionary, it's Len's picture under the guitar section.

Todays venue additions: Secret Coffee House, Outer Limit and Surfside Cabaret

We spoke with Sharon Wadsworth and John Fisher, two of the driving forces behind R&B Fest last Saturday at the Central Bar & Grill. Her some of what they had to say:

OKAY SO WHAT I WANTED TO SAY ABOUT THIS YEAR'S R&B FEST IS THAT I DO BELIEVE IT WAS PROBABLY THE BEST ONE SO FAR; FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS: AS YOU KNOW JOHN AND I HAVE BEEN CALLING THIS EVENT THE COMPANY PICNIC FOR QUITE SOME TIME.THIS EVENT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LOCAL MUSICIANS TO SOCIALIZE AND TO PERFORM FOR EACH OTHER AND OF COURSE THE AUDIENCE.THE AUDIENCE IS ALSO MEMBERS OF THE COMPANY PICNIC IN THAT MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN NOT ONLY SUPPORTING THIS ANNUAL EVENT THEY ARE THE PEOLE WHO STILL GO OUT TO HEAR LIVE MUSIC AND BLUES AT THAT.SO ALL IN ALL IT'S ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY.
WHAT DOES STAND OUT FOR ME THIS YEAR IS THE ANMOUNT OF SOCIALIZING THAT WENT ON THIS YEAR COMPARED TO EVEN LAST YEAR THERE ARE REASONS FOR THAT TOO,ONE BEING THAT 90% OF THE MUSICIANS HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS EVENT BEFORE AND MANY OF THEM FOR MANY MANY YEARS(I AM GOING TO LOOK BACK AND SEE HOW MANY FESTS FOR EACH MUSICIAN) SO WITH TIME TAKING ITS TOLL AND AGE BRINGING WISDOM(AND OTHER THINGS) I THINK THAT PEOPLE ARE REALIZING THAT WE /THEY HAVE A REALLY GOOD THING HAPPENING AND THEY ARE MAKING THE MOST OF IT.
THE MUSICIANS PUT ON AN INCREDIBLE SHOW..ALL OF THEM PROFESSIONAL AND VERY POLISHED.IT IS VERY HARD TO GET UP FOR ONLY 45 MIN,FRESH AND PERFORM LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN PLAYING ALL NIGHT BUT THEY DID AND THE AUDIENCE RESPONDED WITH SUCH ENTHUSIASM!!!
WE HAVE SO MANY TALENTED MUSICIANS IN OUR VICTORIA POOL..
THE PLACE WAS PACKED AND SOME PEOPLE CHOSE NOT TO COME IN AS IT LOOKED TOO BUSY FOR THEM.
WE MADE $2,246.00 WHICH WE DONATE TO THE NEED CRISIS LINE.
THE MCs WERE A HIT THIS YEAR AS WELL STARTING OFF WITH SCOTT JAMES FROM THE Q,FOLLOWED BY THE HILARIOUS AUNTIE KATE AND FINISHING WITH THE DRY HUMORED IAIN HOOEY FROM THE JAZZ FEST.THE AUDIENCE LOVED THEM.
SO ALL IN ALL IT WAS A FANTASTIC EVENT, NO ONE GOT HURT, AND EVERYONE HAD A GOOD TIME, A REAL RECIPE FOR A SUCESSFUL FESTIVAL!

Our thanks to Sharon & John for who they are and what they do, our hats are off to you.