The BLUES ON THE RIDEAU Dinner & Show Fundraiser Series @ THE COVE INN, Westport Ontario ended the 2016/17 Season in style Friday May 12th with Vankleek Hill’s own TERRY GILLESPIE and his band www.terrygillespie.ca delivering a great show – Terry on vocals, guitar and harmonica, Andrew Cowan on guitar, Chris Breitner on bass and Wayne Stoute on drums. Blues, Soul, Funk, Reggae – we got it all including lots of songs from his brand new CD “Home Boy”. Cove Manager Seamus Cowan joined them on stage to play some bass for a few songs in the last set as did surprise BOTR regular Jeffrey McKay on harmonica. This was one of the first stops on Terry’s NEW “Home Boy” CD LAUNCH TOUR – they head off to the GTA for more shows this week so Toronto Blues fans take note – get out and see these guys when they’re in your neck of the woods – truly one of the most unique Blues artists on the scene today – they will put you “in the groove” – guaranteed! (Upcoming dates and venues are on Terry’s website).

The Cove served up another fabulous buffet dinner featuring roast beef brisket, cajun catfish and butter chicken with all the usual excellent veggies, salads and dessert.

$330 was raised for 4-H Ontario, Leeds Chapter bringing this year’s donation total to just under $4K – almost $64K has now been raised for local Westport charities since the BOTR @ The Cove Series started 12 years ago.

Lots of great Door Prizes were given out as always – several CD’s (including two copies of “Home Boy”), Kingston Blues Society and Ottawa Blues Society memberships, Jacob’s Creek Wine, The Cove Inn and Choose The Blues t-shirts and more.

Since it was the last show of the season we also had the big end-of-season PRIZE DRAW – two Comment Cards were pulled from all of the cards submitted over the year – and the WINNERS are:

1st PRIZE – 2 Night Getaway (bed & breakfast) at The Cove – Gordon Flagler, Orangeville/Gananoque. He was there that night to receive the prize!
2nd PRIZE – Dinner & Show for 2 at one of next season’s BOTR shows – MaryAnn Schryer from Ottawa (she attended GODBOOGIE’S show in April)
CONGRATULATIONS to both!

Here’s what some of the attendees had to say about Friday’s show on their COMMENT CARDS:

“Great service. Fabulous music. Marvellous sound”
Ed Stephen, Brockville (Has attended many BOTR nights in the past)

“A fabulous place for a nice dinner on the Rideau. Great people and exceptional music. The perfect spot for a Getaway Weekend”
Suzanne Charest, Ottawa (First time attending a BOTR night)

“We always look forward to our nights at BOTR @ The Cove. They never disappoint! Thank you. 10 out of 10 for everything – venue, food, service, sound and band. Ellie Lambert, Kingston (Has attended 5 previous BOTR nights)

“I’ve been to The Cove many times and it’s always filled with great people, great music and lots of good times. The family atmosphere here is fun and enjoyable” Cathy Hay, Perth (Has attened 2 previous BOTR nights)

A big end of season THANK YOU goes out to our Sponsors for their help and support with this year’s Series – we couldn’t do it without them – JACOB’S CREEK WINES, PERTH BREWERY, DAWG FM Ottawa, LAKE 88 Perth, OTTAWA BLUES SOCIETY and KINGSTON BLUES SOCIETY.

Also the local and regional media especially The Westport Review-Mirror, EMC Metroland Smiths Falls & Perth, The Humm, Explore Westport, Village of Westport Chamber of Commerce, DAWG FM Ottawa, LAKE 88 Perth and CBC Ottawa All In A Day.

And kudos to ROB BAILEY & GEOFF CHOWN from Kingston for their excellent job on the Sound this season.

BOTR @ THE COVE takes a break over the summer but returns September 22nd with the first show of the 2017/18 Season – our 13th year! It’s another fabulous Line-Up – BANDS & DATES will be announced shortly. Watch your email Inbox or check www.BluesOnTheRideau.ca and www.coveinn.com in a couple of weeks.

And remember that even though BOTR is taking a break great regular LIVE music continues throughout the summer at The Cove Inn. Check out the Entertainment listings on their website at www.coveinn.com

BLUES ON THE RIDEAU is produced by Choose The Blues Productions www.choosetheblues.ca in cooperation with The Cove Inn www.coveinn.com Sponsored by Perth Brewery www.perthbrewery.ca, Jacobs Creek Wines www.jacobscreek.ca DAWG FM Ottawa www.dawgfm.com LAKE 88 FM Perth/Rideau Lakes and the Ottawa Blues Society www.ottawabluessociety.ca Proceeds from all shows go to support local charities.

P.S. And while BOTR @ The Cove has ended another great season the *new* BLUES AT THE FARM Dinner & Show Fundraiser Series at THE WINCHELSEA near Winchester still has two more fabulous shows this Spring – 2X Juno Award winner JACK DE KEYZER & his band from Toronto on May 26 and MIKE GOUDREAU & THE BOPPIN’ BLUES BAND coming in from Quebec’s Eastern Townships on June 23. Dinner & Show is only $65 (plus HST). Proceeds go to support different local charities. More info at www.BluesAtTheFarm.ca Advance Reservations required. CALL OR EMAIL The Winchelsea 613-808-9258 events@thewinchelsea.com

Cheers and thanks everybody for another great BOTR season! See you in the Fall.

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