Harrison Festival Society Presents: Jim Brynes and Simon Kendall

Jim Byrnes lives and breathes music. He’s been on the blues highway for nearly fifty years, and he’s crooned, drawled, belted, hollered and sweet talked more songs into a microphone than most people even get to hear in a single lifetime. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri – that’s blues country. By age thirteen, Jim was singing and playing blues guitar, and his first professional gig was in 1964. Byrnes moved to Vancouver in the mid-70s, and in 1981, put together the Jim Byrnes Band – an outfit that became a staple of the local music scene. He’s released numerous albums, including five with producer Steve Dawson. His recordings cover the gamut from gospel, to blues, rockabilly, and country in an original and unique bluesy way. Jim’s evocative, smoky vocals are found in a truth that doesn’t come overnight. Jim will be joined by Simon Kendall, the talented Vancouver based keyboardist who first became well known as a member of Doug and the Slugs in the 80s, and has since gone on to compose for film, winning a Genie Award for Best Original Score for the film Cadillac Girls. He has recorded with numerous artists, including Cowboy Junkies, Colin James, Barney Bentall, Jim Byrnes, Chad Brownlee, East Van Morrison, Baba Brinkman, Illiteratty, and the Boom Booms.