Bluesfest: The Beauties

I knew nothing of Toronto roots rockers the Beauties, other than they were signed to Six Shooter records, a label whose products I find pleasant but not particularly striking. I'll have to update that opinion, because The Beauties played a really knockout set. They grew their audience quite a bit by holding the attention of folks on their way to someplace else, including some on the bike path outside the Bluesfest fence.

Here they come! At a run even!



Darin McConnell and Shawn Creamer share guitar and vocal duties, Jud Ruhl streams the lead guitar while Paul Phisterer and Derek Downham

The shadowy figure of porkpie aficionado and bar owner Shawn Creamer.



Darin McConnell, also on guitar and vocals.



Jud Ruhl on lead guitar.



Guitar action! You can just make out bassist Paul Phisterer and drummer Derek Downham.



Closeup Paul.



The view from the other side of the stage.



Jud works the frets.



Derek hits!



Singalong action!



Paul gets some guitar time.



Beautiful action!



A really excellent, and one of the festivals most pleasant surprises.

• Show reminder: Albatros, We Fled Cairo, Currents and The Purple Ghosts play 446 Lisgar; Kyle Kinane, Evan Desmarais, Rob Mailloux and Chris Locke are at Cafe Dekcuf; the Elmdale hosts The Gertrudes and Charlotte Cornfield; the folks at Finish What You Started celebrate the season hardcore style with Sparrows, Tightrope, Fractures, Dead Weights and Sack Attack at Montgomery Legion Hall; Doll release their new CD at the Live Lounge with an assist from Muffler Crunch and A Darker Day; Silver Creek also have a CD release bash, at Mavericks; The Blood Red Truth, Placentophagia, and Deformatory perform at The Brass Monkey. Eddie Shaw and The Wolf Gang are at The Rainbow;  Ross Neilsen & The Suffering Bastards roll into Irene's.