Ken Whiteley, Terrace

Another of my all time favourite Harbourfront Shows took place in the Lakeshore Terrace during Milkfest. Local musician Ken Whiteley is to history class, what the Blues is to music and what Santa is to Christmas. The white bearded, twinkling eyed man of 1,000 songs (300 or so written himself), started with a joyous tune introducing himself by name, date and venue and then by asking the duely enamoured audience (aged 8-64), to imagine the time of the Negro slave. To imagine being robbed of your own language, forced to come here against your will, denied your customs and your religion and made to do such brutally hard work. “Now imagine the salvation found in music. The joy of expression in each human voice. C’mon with me,” he said “we’re gonna chop this tree down.” Then he said “chop” with a clap and the audience chopped/clapped in response. He called a line and we sang it back to him, all of us.

So began each in a terrific series of shows. Surrounded with windowed waterfront views, the audience was focused on one man on stage, with so many instruments. Whiteley would give a historical context and then a musical example of what was going on at the time. Using a four string banjo, a well worn national steel guitar, an impeccable acoustic guitar with elaborate mother of pearl inlay, an electric piano and his amazing voice. What a master! With a bag of tricks including jugs, wash boards, spoons and various percussion enabling many, many kids to join him on stage for the song about how to build a wash tub bass, and the show’s grand finale. Including samplings of jazz and good ole crowd pleasin’ rock ‘n roll, Whiteley mapped a lesson in history that demonstrated his musical prowess, and multi-faceted talents in passing. Whiteley was mesmerizing in story and song, embracing a good dose of hilarity and expressing a sincere interest in engaging young minds in his workshop, Bluesberry Jam.

BLUESBERRY JAM Lakeside Terrace, York Quay Centre, during Milk International Children’s Festival of the Arts, $5-12.25 plus wristband, Grades 4 and up, May 23-30/04

"Attention All Radio Holders. The show in the Terrace is UP."

It was great to be on the team with Amanda, because she always twisted my arm behind my back making me talk on the walkie talkies, just because she was the boss of me and noticed I avoided it. What a pal. She also left artist relations to me, even though I was the (measley) House Manager and she was Assistant Production Coordinator. And then, I could tell she was a tiny bit mad when the performer thanked ME specifically, everyday and gave her a different name every time he actually did include her in some sporadic comment of gratitude.
I learned a lot that week with her and Duncan. We had a good time together. I remember running into her at Clinton's (where she was working with James Paul for crying out loud), and I climbed right up on stage to give her a hug, like that was a perfectly normal thing to do. Harbourfront has some awesome staff.