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24 Artscene Oakville Beaver · FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2006 Oakville musician has the CNE singing the blues By Krissie Rutherford music festival line-up, featuring some of the "more famous Canadian blues artists," said John, including Juno award winner Jack De As musical director of the Canadian Keyzer and Juno nominees Danny Brooks National Exhibition's (CNE) Midway Stage, and Michael Pickett. Prakash John wanted to bring something The Roots Alternative festival last weeknew to Toronto's music scene. end saw Texas swing, rock-a-billie, Cajun That's why the Oakville fold, Black Gospel and more resident and renowned "They wanted to performed by artists like bassist set up the roots, blues revive the music end Grammy nominated trumand Motown weekends. peter Kevin Clark, The Carlos of it in terms of less "Those are three festivals del Junco Band and Bishop which, oddly enough, I found tribute bands and Hell. out Toronto does not have," more music, and I "There's been lots of said John, who has been play- thought it was a enthusiasm from not only my ing professionally since the good idea." bosses at the CNE, but lots of 1960s. "Toronto doesn't have enthusiasm from the public," a blues festival or a roots fes- Prakash John, said John. "We've had good tival or a festival of rhythm organizer of the roots, crowds." and blues, whereas most big blues and Motown The Rhythm and Blues cities do." Weekend is set to kick off weekends at the CNE John, who has played today, and will include John's alongside music legends 20-year-old son, Jordan, an including James Brown, Alice Cooper and accomplished musician who performed earLou Reed, was approached by The Ex's lier at the CNE with his Jordan John & The entertainment director to come up with a Blue Angels. program for the Labatt Blue Midway Stage. John and the Lincolns will host `A Salute "They wanted to revive the music end of to the Legendary Toronto '67 Sound' this it in terms of less tribute bands and more weekend along with Danny Weis, John music, and I thought that was a good idea," Finley, Michael Fonfara and `Whitey' Glan, he said. "I think these festivals would be former members of Rhinocerus, Bush, Alice nice for the CNE to develop over the next Cooper and the Lou Reed Band. few years as something of a new attraction. "It's a fun thing for me because I get to They certainly have the space and the facili- play with some of my peers who I don't usuties." ally get a chance to play with," said John. John and his 10-piece band, The "I've not had a chance to do this in many, Lincolns, are performing Labour Day week- many years." end ­ Monday is the last day The Ex is open John was in L.A. and New York when ­ in the Rhythm and Blues festival, which Toronto experienced a surge in musical talruns Sept. 1 through 4. ent in the late 1960s and early 1970s, so he See Rare page 25 The Big Blues Weekend kicked off the OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER CNE MUSIC MAN: Oakville's Prakash John is seen here practicing with one of his sons, Jordan. Prakash, who has played alongside legendary musicians including James Brown, Lou Reed and Alice Cooper, is the Musical Director of the Blues, Roots and Motown Weekends at the CNE. Both Jordan and Prakash are performing this weekend in the last of the festivals on the Labatt's Midtown Stage.