Media Release

For Immediate Release: July 22 2009

THE LEGENDARY DOWNCHILD BLUES BAND'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
WITH VERY SPECIAL GUEST DAN AYKROYD Of THE BLUES BROTHERS!
NATIONAL TOUR

October - December 2009

TORONTO - It's time for Canada to celebrate the legends of Blues! And when one thinks of blues music in Canada, the first name that springs to mind is DOWNCHILD. It's been 40 years since Donnie "Mr. Downchild" Walsh and his late brother, Hock formed the renowned group that would be the inspiration behind the world famous Blues Brothers and DOWNCHILD plans to celebrate their anniversary in style, with some very special friends - including blues brother and movie icon DAN AYKROYD. Opening on the tour is COLIN LINDEN who will be performing both solo and then with the band. JAMES COTTON and WAYNE JACKSON OF THE MEMPHIS HORNS as well as JONAS, BOB WALSH and NANETTE WORKMAN who all make guest appearances along the way.

DOWNCHILD has always been a band with loyal fans and in 1970 DAN AYKROYD was one of their biggest supporters, recording two Downchild songs, "I Have Everything I Need (Almost)" and "Shotgun Blues" for the multi-platinum selling Blues Brothers album "Briefcase Full of Blues". DAN AYKROYD will be appearing with Downchild for three extraordinary performances in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto.

The DOWNCHILD Blues Band is a Canadian blues institution with an international reputation. They have been rewarded with an array of awards from both the media and the music industry, including a 1991 Juno Award for "Best Roots and Traditional Album" and "Entertainers of The Year" at the 2007 Maple Blues Awards. A constant throughout, DONNIE "MR. DOWNCHILD" WALSH, the leader and founding member of the band, has kept the music live and alive in the world of blues today. Downchild band members include some of the most well respected musicians in the country, who have performed together for over 15 years. This includes silky smooth singer and harmonica player CHUCK JACKSON, tenor sax player PAT CAREY, MIKE FITZPATRICK on drums, rhythm captain GARY KENDALL on bass, and former American super-group rocker MICHAEL FONFARA (of Rhinoceros fame) on keyboards.

QUOTES FROM THE MEDIA:

"Canadian blues legends", "one of the greatest blues bands in the world. Period", "A Tribute to Canadian Music"
~ Toronto Star

"Downchild has a virtual lock on Canadian blues hierarchy."
~ Blues Revue

"Downchild remains one of the best roadhouse bands around. The all original set reminds us that Donnie Walsh is one of the genre's best writers."
~ Montreal Gazette

Grammy nominee, COLIN LINDEN has played on and produced hundreds of albums for such luminaries as Lucinda Williams, Colin James, Bruce Cockburn and David Wilcox to name a few. Linden is touring in support of his new album entitled "From The Water" on True North Records/Universal. Last summer he went on a world tour as guitarist with Emmylou Harris and recently played on Allison Krauss & Robert Plant's new album to be released later this year.

Special guests for Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal are JAMES COTTON and WAYNE JACKSON. JAMES COTTON is a legendary blues harmonica player who grew up in the South playing with Muddy Waters and is now celebrating 65 years in the entertainment business! And the one and only WAYNE JACKSON OF THE MEMPHIS HORNS has played on 52 Number One records and over 80 Gold and Platinum records and toured the world and recorded with such stars as Elvis, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, Al Green, Neil Young, U2 and Peter Gabriel.

Joining the band in Montreal are BOB WALSH, JONAS and NANETTE WORKMAN.

BOB WALSH began his career in the 1970s with the groups Contrebande and the Devito and is a fixture at blues festivals and concert venues around the globe. JONAS is a young Juno-nominated singer who recently headlined a show at the Bell Centre in Montreal to over 7000 crazed fans that was captured on his brand new "Live At The Bell Centre" DVD. NANETTE WORKMAN, known as the Honky Tonk Woman, has provided back-up vocals for the best in the business from The Rolling Stones to John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr to name but a few. She also performed with Celine Dion at Quebec City's 400th Anniversary and has made a name for herself internationally both as a singer and actor.

DOWNCHILD currently recorded their 40th Anniversary album "I Need A Hat" with some very special guests. The release date in Canada is tentatively scheduled for October 2009 so stay tuned!

Tickets and on sale dates for the 40th Anniversary Tour will be announced soon!

CANADIAN TOUR DATES (more dates to be announced)

October 10	Nanaimo, BC	Port Theatre
October 14	Maple Ridge, BC	The ACT
October 15	Victoria, BC	McPherson Playhouse
October 17	Vancouver, BC	Rio Theatre
October 20	Kelowna, BC	Community Theatre
October 22	Golden, BC	Civic Centre
October 27	Edmonton, AB	Winspear Centre
October 28	Winnipeg, MB	McPhillips Street Station Casino
October 29	Regina, SK	Casino Regina
October 31	Thunder Bay, ON	Community Auditorium
November 12	Montreal, QC	Metropolis* / ***
November 13	Ottawa, ON	National Arts Centre*
November 14	Toronto, ON	Massey Hall*
November 19	Belleville, ON	Empire Theatre
November 21	Niagara Falls, NY	Seneca Niagara Casino
December 10	Kitchener, ON	Centre In The Square
* Dan Aykroyd, James Cotton, Colin Linden, Wayne Jackson of The Memphis Horns
*** Bob Walsh, Jonas, Nanette Workman