Page 61 - Blues Festival Guide Magazine 2014

(including our own www.BluesFestivalGuide.com). “Everyone is Allison Edgar
friendly, music is great… what’s not to like?” they exclaimed. “At (Ottawa, ON) and
Gord MacAuley
home we go to two or three concerts per week, mostly roots and (Saskatoon, SK)
Americana.” are organizers of
LeAnn and George are from Germany. This was George’s the Canadian
first time on the cruise; LeAnn went two years ago and had to Sail-Away Party
Photo courtesy
return and bring George. They are both huge blues fans and part Gord MacAuley
of a blues society in Germany. LeAnn has listened to blues music
for a long time (discovering it from older siblings) and George January 2015.
was 15-years-old when he got blues-inspired from a concert on Needless to say, that
TV. They heard about the cruise from musician friend Bernard bathroom remains in a
Allison. “The music is unbelievable,” says George. “Never seen state of chronic disrepair!”
such a packed schedule of music. What should we do now? Go If you haven’t already, you’ll want to add the Legendary
to this or that? But I have to make sure that I schedule in some time Rhythm & Blues Cruise onto your own bucket list. Whether you
to go to the bar, too.” travel across town to board, or fly across the world, there’s really
Will you cruise again? “We would love to continue to cruise nothing like the camaraderie and ultimate experience you’ll have
more - but it is expensive and a long trip from Germany. We will sailing with like-minded fans and your favorite artists. It’s a trip
come in two or three years from now – aiming for the January of a lifetime for any blues lover. Contact the Legendary Rhythm &
Cruise in 2016.” Blues Cruise at 816-753-7979 or find more information at
This was Canadian Joe Backus’ first LRBC trip. “The music www.bluescruise.com.
experience is amazing!” he says. “Onboard there are bands that
influenced me as a kid and now I get to bump into them as I walk Kaati is the owner and publisher of RBA and produces the annual
around the ship. This ship is amazing. I have been on ships, but Blues Festival Guide as well as the annual Reggae Festival Guide
nothing like this; so elegant and comfortable.” now for over 20 years. www.bluesfestivalguide.com
Saskatoon, Canada resident Gord MacAuley shared,
“Originally, I started coming for the music. That is still a reason
after four cruises, but it is now becoming more of a family reunion
each trip. Being part of Team Canada on the blues cruise is
always a hoot.”
We recently received a note from an Australian cruiser:
“When I first heard one of our Aussie performers talk on the
radio about the LRBC around 10 years ago, it went straight onto
the bucket list,” says Karen Stephens. “I started checking the line-
up each time and finally, the lure of Tedeschi Trucks performing
while sailing the Caribbean in October 2012 was too great.
I gave up the idea of a much-needed bathroom renovation,
cleaned out the savings account
(fares from Melbourne to the
U.S. are horrific) and signed
up. My husband Ken and
I agreed that it was the
best week of our lives.
We made wonderful
friends from the U.S.
and Canada, met
heaps of our musical
heroes and heard
some of the greatest
music around. Since then
we sailed again in January
2014 and we’ve signed up for

Aussies Ken McLeod and Karen Stephens aboard the LRBC
Photo courtesy Karen Stephens The Canadian contingent onboard the LRBC Photo courtesy Gord MacAuley

Blues Festival Guide 2014 59