Garret T. Willie

Garret T. Willie is having a moment. At just 26, the Alert Bay singer and guitarist is taking his blues-rock well beyond Vancouver Island, with a growing audience, a new Nashville-recorded album, and shows alongside John Fogerty, Joe Bonamassa, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Christone “Kingfish” Ingram. Willie has the kind of live show that makes it easy to understand why. His deep, gravelly voice and explosive guitar playing pull from old-school blues and rock, but there’s nothing old-fashioned about the way he plays it. His new album, Bill’s Cafe, was recorded with Grammy-winning producer Tom Hambridge and named for his grandfather’s pool hall café in Alert Bay. It’s a record grounded in where Willie comes from while pointing clearly toward where he’s headed. The James Vickers Band kicks off the night, bringing another generation of Vancouver Island blues to the Tidemark stage. Led by guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter James Vickers, the band has been making its mark across Vancouver Island and mainland BC with a fresh, guitar-driven take on the blues. Vickers began performing publicly at just 11 and has already represented BC at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis and shared stages with Jim Byrnes, Crystal Shawanda, and Wide Mouth Mason. Join us this November for a night of blues from two of Vancouver Island’s most exciting young players. Tickets: $40.00 Members, $45.00 Non-Members (+applicable taxes & fees)