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“They are poised for worldwide recognition in a brilliant and unique genre-bending ride through American blues and folk, Gypsy jazz, Native American themes, jump blues, swing and more.” - Duke Robillard (Roomful of Blues, Fabulous Thunderbirds), Award-winning guitar player & producerbluemoonmarquee.com/home
Blue Moon Marquee writes and performs original compositions influenced by anything that swings, jumps or grooves. A.W. Cardinal (vocals/guitar) and Jasmine Colette a.k.a. Badlands Jass (vocals/bass/drums) have played for a vast gamut of crowds at jazz clubs, Lindy Hop dance halls, folk venues, blues haunts, hospitals, prisons, markets, motorcycle joints, dive bars and prestigious festival stages.
Colette not only commands the upright bass but also brings the rhythm with her feet on a custom foot drum kit, all while singing in her signature honey-dipped tone. Cardinal’s distinctive and soulful vocals barrel out like a raging bull while his guitar crackles with the swinging energy of jazz-tinged blues.
The result of 9 years of rigorous touring, crisscrossing Europe and North America, is a distinct energy and style from this acclaimed duo. Carving a path through blues, jazz, jump jive, folk, country, swing, and Indigenous soul with an authentic spirit, their sound does not idle easily in one certain category. It stomps and struts through the wilds, conjuring a blend where Howlin’ Wolf tangos with Django, Earnest Tubb shoots firecrackers with Cab Calloway, and Memphis Minnie throws dice with Screamin’ Jay Hawkins.
"Blue Moon Marquee has its own completely original style. Modern Blues doesn't really get any better than this. This is a tremendous sound by a hugely talented duo” says American Roots UK.
They are the first artist in over 20 years to receive a JUNO nod for Blues Album of the Year in two consecutive years. This time for New Orleans Sessions (2024 release), a spectacular album featuring 10 tracks all recorded live-off-the-floor in the Crescent City and on vintage gear by the esteemed Jon Atkinson. Their JUNO Award-winning 5th album, Scream, Holler & Howl (SHH), Blue Moon Marquee captured their most sophisticated collection of songs yet. Co-produced by Duke Robillard and recorded live to tape, SHH blazes forward with a full band featuring some of Canada’s finest veteran players. While they have primarily performed as a duo since 2013, over the last couple of years they have been performing often as a trio or quartet featuring Darcy Phillips (Jann Arden) on piano and Jerry Cook (Colin James) on tenor and baritone saxophone. The album was also nominated for the JUNOS Indigenous Artist of the Year.
Scream, Holler and Howl drew attention in the US with a nomination for the Blues Foundation’s Emerging Artist of the Year (2023). The release also swept the 2023 Maple Blues Awards (Canada’s highest honour in Blues) with four wins including, Album of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Acoustic Act of the Year and Entertainer of the Year. More recently they were honoured as at the Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards with Live Musical Performance of the Year and Roots Album of the Year. In 2024 the accolades continued with a win for Blues Artist of the Year at the prestigious West Coast Music Awards.
The album has also topped the charts in the US and Canada achieving #1 on the !Earshot National Folk/Roots/Blues chart and #3 on their National Top 10 Chart for all genres, #1 on Canada’s Top 50 Chart by Roots Music Report, #6 on the International NACC Radio Chart and #8 on the coveted Living Blues Radio Chart. There was even a four-week run at #1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown. In a rare feat, the album reached #9 on the !Earshot National Jazz Chart while charting in Blues.
With 2019’s Bare Knuckles and Brawn (BNAB), released on Spanish label FOLC Records, they were nominated as Blues Artist of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards and Indigenous Songwriter of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards.
With a “totally unique approach…such a powerful original mix of swing styles with jazz and blues, west coast swing and New Orleans feel” (Sound Guardian) the record topped both the Earshot National Folk/Roots/Blues Charts simultaneously with the National Jazz charts, a rare feat. Starring standout vocals and catchy hooks that speak to music lovers, BNAB instantly charmed first-time listeners and thrilled long-time fans.
Stylistically, the album is a swaying lantern, highlighting their unique diversity. From the potent Indigenous-storytelling calypso swagger of ‘Big Black Mamba’ to the sultry laid back blue jazz of ‘Hard Times Hit Parade’ to the hard-swinging Spanish-tinged ‘Smoke Rings for My Rider’.
Appreciated for their lyrical candour, outstanding musicianship and vivacious live performances, Blue Moon Marquee was the most requested band in the country for the Canadian International Jazz Festival Circuit following their 2017 release Gypsy Blues.
This full-length album of original material also garnered the Indigenous Artist of the Year nomination from the Western Canadian Music Awards as well as a Best New Artist nomination at the Maple Blues Awards.
Born of the wild rose country in Alberta, Canada, both Cardinal and Colette played in punk, metal and rock and roll bands. Leaving home at a young age, they both spent years traveling on their own, working a variety of jobs and touring with different acts. At one point Colette was hitchhiking throughout North America performing vaudeville with her appalling act of hula hooping, skateboarding and playing trombone simultaneously while Cardinal was living in New York City working as a bike mechanic and performing at open mics every night.
It was in 2012 that they came together in Vancouver, B.C. to record Cardinal's original material for his album Stainless Steel Heart which he had written while living in Montreal. A mutual old friend was engineering the project and they connected deeply on their taste and obsession over music.
The vast repertoire of this band is a reflection of bounteous years on the road, experiencing life through a wide diversity of lenses. The result is their trademark blend that pulls the different parts of their musical worlds together, taking the tones of early blues, the expressions of jazz, the heart of country, the spirit of folk, the swagger of soul and the rhythm of roll. The way Colette's velvet tones lift Cardinal's mystique is something that enthralls audiences from backroom bars to festival stages.
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This is a ticketed event: Sliding scale tickets are $18 to $30. Tickets start at $18, but, if you're able, please add a few bucks. This helps us to feed and pay the artists better, and to cover venue costs to bring a variety of cultural events to our community. xo
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About Wild Eye Pub:
A family-friendly venue restaurant and bar, with nightly entertainment in a lovely listening space, with a comfy vibe. Enjoy full-service dining, in both our 'supper club' showroom or our casual bar lounge: farm-to-table foods from local & organic sources, plus regional brews, wines, spirits & mocktails.
Seating/service starts at 5:30, music at 6:30. We offer table service of food & drinks before & during the event, in our lovely listening space.
IMPORTANT: We LOVE reservations, to help us plan for each show. For busy events, reserved guests get priority seating & table service.
Easily make reservations - just seats, or seats & table for dining - while buying tickets, or by calling or emailing, 24/7. Your table will have your name on it. A low, sliding cover fee helps us pay & feed the artists. Thanks for supporting live artists!
PARKING: Pub has free parking. More parking at the corner of Mill & McCourtney, a 2-minute walk. Across from Pub, French Ave has parking. Carpooling is encouraged - our neighbors appreciate it.
Reservations/questions: 530-446-6668 or [email protected]
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Event Venue
535 Mill St, Grass Valley, CA, United States, California 95945
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Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
