Canadian blues festivals and venues range from small, community-based festivals that feature mostly local performers to major corporate-sponsored festivals that draw nationally- and internationally-prominent blues bands and huge crowds. Some of the large festivals include the Ottawa Bluesfest, the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and the Edmonton's Labatt Blues Festival. These festivals, which are usually organized by volunteer-based blues societies, are an important part of the Canadian blues scene. Bluesfest International produces two shows on the third weekend of July in both Windsor and London, Ontario. The premiere event was in downtown Windsor in 1995 and the London festival was added 6 years later.
Canadian blues bands also appear at a range of venues, including bars, taverns, lounges, and community centre concert series. Only a small number of these venues specialize in blues music; in most cases, venues will have a "blues night" or an occasional blues series. Some of the best-known blues venues in Toronto are Healey's (named for former owner, the late Jeff Healey) and The Silver Dollar Room. Other well-known Canadian venues include Boon's House in Hamilton, Ontario, Café Campus in Montreal, Blues at the Bow Live in Alberta, Blues On Whyte in Edmonton, The Shamrock Hotel in Calgary, and The Yale in Vancouver.
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