Monday September 16, 2013 6-10pm at The Cove, there will be a performance by Suzie Vinnick, one of Canada’s premiere blues performers.

Photo by

Daniel St.Pierre

All September long The Cove Country Inn is having weekend dinner specials.

Every Saturday is an all you can eat roast beef dinner spread with all the fixings, this event starts Saturday September 7, 2013 and ends Saturday September 28, 2013. The all you can eat roast  beef dinner is $23 a plate, and runs from 5:30-8:30pm.

Every Sunday in September there is a prime rib dinner with all the fixings, this event starts Sunday September 1, 2013 and ends Sunday September 22, 2013. The prime rib dinner is $26 plate, and runs from 5-8pm.

Come down to The Cove this September and enjoy incredible food and foliage.

Photo by

graur codrin

Join the romantic and musical duo Kevin Head and Miss V for enjoyable and endearing music all weekend long at The Cove Country Inn. Every Saturday and Sunday in September, on Saturdays from 6-9pm, ending Saturday 28th, and Sundays 12:30-3:30pm, ending Sunday 22nd.

For more information visit  www.kevinhead.ca

Photo by

supakitmod

The popular ACOUSTIC BLUE SUNDAY Summer Series just ended at THE COVE INN in Westport with a fabulous performance by Juno Award nominee TREASA LEVASSEUR. Now it’s time to look forward to another great season of BLUES ON THE RIDEAU at THE COVE. Celebrating it’s 8th year BOTR has become one of the premier Blues Series in the country. The combination of a delicious buffet dinner and dancing to some of Canada’s best blues bands in the friendly, intimate setting of The Cove has proven to be a real winner. Proceeds from every show go to support different local charities. $38,000 has been raised since the Series started and another $7,000 is expected this year.

It’s another great Line-Up for 2012/13 – a combination of the most popular acts who’ve played the Series previously and some exciting new talent.  The 2012/13 Season starts October 26 and will continue once a month until May (excluding December). There will be a total of 11 shows this year  – 2 two-night stands (Friday & Saturday) and 3 singles (Friday only). Most occur on the third weekend of the month. Times are the same for all shows – 7 to 11 pm. Despite increased costs the ticket price will remain the same as last year – $60 which includes a full course buffet dinner, dancing and a donation to the charity.

2012/13 LINE-UP  – our 8^th season!

October 26 – TERRY GILLESPIE BAND

From Vankleek Hill, ON – a very talented singer/songwriter/guitarist Terry learned the Blues growing up in Detroit watching greats like Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy and John Lee Hooker perform. He moved to Ottawa in 1968 and helped establish the Blues scene there with his great band “Heaven’s Radio”. His hot trio now consists of him on guitar and vocals with Wayne Stoute on drums and Lyndell Montgomery on bass – they were semi-finalists at the 2012 Memphis International Blues Challenge. Keyboardist Peter Measroch will join them for this show.

PROCEEDS TO THE LUCY DRYSDALE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND

November 16 & 17 – FATHEAD

From Toronto – one of Canada’s best loved Blues bands for over 20 years led by harmonica/sax player/singer Al Lerman and the great John Mays on lead vocals with Teddy Leonard on guitar, Omar Tunnoch on bass, and Bucky Berger on drums. This band has won 2 Juno Awards & multiple Maple Blues Awards over its career and every player has won a Maple Blues Award in their instrument category at least once. A superb blend of blues R&B, funk and soul.

PROCEEDS TO FRIENDS OF FOLEY MOUNTAIN & WESTPORT FOOD BANK

January 18 – CONOR GAINS BAND

From Cambridge, ON – an incredible young guitarist/singer/songwriter (only 19 years old!) with a very tight band who has already played prestigious events like the Montreal International Festival de Jazz and the International Blues Challenge in Memphis to standing ovations. He has a great new album out full of original songs. A rising young star on the Canadian Blues scene. It’s his first visit to BOTR at The Cove.

PROCEEDS TO RIDEAU WATERWAY LAND TRUST

February 15 & 16 – THE HOGTOWN ALLSTARS

From Toronto – 6 players from two of Canada’s most famous Blues bands – DOWNCHILD & FATHEAD – wow! Chuck Jackson (vocals &harp), Teddy Leonard (guitar), Michael Fonfara (keyboards), Pat Carey (sax), Gary Kendall (bass) and Mike Fitzpatrick (drums). Both bands have won Junos and everyone in the band has won a Maple Blues Award in their instrument category at last once. Are you ready for some Big Time Blues?

PROCEEDS TO RIDEAU VISTA & ST. EDWARDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

March 15 & 16 – JACK DE KEYZER BAND

From Toronto – Canada’s “King Of The Blues” – singer/songwriter and guitarist extraordinaire.  A 2X Juno Award & 7X Maple BluesAward winner. “The finest Blues guitarist in Canada” according to the late, great Jeff Healey. This is Jack’s 4^th visit to The Cove and he always rips it up. One of the most popular acts to ever play the Series.

PROCEEDS TO EASTER SEALS EASTERN ONTARIO & HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

April 19 & 20 – DAVID ROTUNDO BAND w. JULIAN FAUTH

From Toronto – A Blues Superduo with multiple Maple Blues Award winning singer/songwriter and harp player David Rotundo along with Juno award winning singer/songwriter piano player Julian Fauth. Their show at BOTR last April was so good we just had to have them back! High energy “tear the house down” Blues from two of the best. 

PROCEEDS TO WESTPORT IN BLOOM & WESTPORT LIBRARY

May 17 – ROBIN BANK$ BAND

From Toronto – a dynamite vocalist and 3X Maple Blues Award nominee Robin sings Blues, Soul and R&B equally well with passion, power and clarity. Over the years she’s lived in Chicago, Memphis and Texas playing alongside Blues greats like Sam Myers, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and Junior Watson. Now she’s back in Toronto and about to do a new album produced by Duke Robillard who has stated that “Robin Banks has got soul, class and most of all, good taste”.

PROCEEDS TO RIDEAU DISTRICT MUSEUM

DINNER & SHOW $60

ADVANCE RESERVATIONS REQUIRED 

1-888-COVE-INN or (613) 273-3636

WELL-PRICED ACCOMMODATION IS AVAILABLE AT THE COVE AND NEARBY B&B’s

More information including LINKS to artists’ websites, YOU TUBES & song samples from each of them can all be found at www.choosetheblues.ca

BLUES ON THE RIDEAU @ THE COVE is produced by CHOOSE THE BLUES PRODUCTIONS, Kenmore Ontario

TREASA LEVASSEUR at ACOUSTIC BLUE SUNDAY at THE COVE

VOICE of the RIDEAU – singing competition
Sponsored by WESTPORT ARTS COUNCIL for MUSICwestport

CALLING ALL SINGERS! Whether you love to sing in a choir, sing in the shower or sing out loud, this is the singing competition for YOU!

Westport Arts Council announces a new event as part of MUSICwestport for 2012. A singing competition, the VOICE of the RIDEAU, is being held this summer. The auditions are at the North Crosby Hall on Saturday, July 28th and the finals are part of MUSICwestport on August 18th at the Cove Inn, Westport.

MUSICwestport, a day long free music festival is celebrating its 6th year. For more information please go to the Westport Arts Council website at www.westportartscouncil.ca or call Robin Jones at 613-273-9195.

The first annual Plein Air Art event will take place on October 2, 2011. Registration begins at 8:30 at The Cove (2 Bedford St, Westport). All art must be back at the Cove for judging by 3:30. Cash prizes and a wine and cheese social will conclude the event. There will be a children’s category…and here everybody wins!!! Contact Georgia Ferrell –igeorgiad@gmail.com for more details.

If you are a business owner or have an interest in the tourism of Westport & The Rideau Lakes, you will want to join the first ever “Let’s Talk Tourism” session hosted by the Chamber of Commerce on November 3rd. Join in on the discussion to determine what needs to be done for the future of tourism in Westport and the Rideau Lakes.

Share ideas, learn from experts and enjoy an optional lunch if you are hungry! This event is taking place at The Cove from 12:30pm to 4:30pm.

Optional lunch available at a cost of $10. Please RSVP to Kim @ 613-273-2929 or wrlcc@rideau.net.