Bill Johnson

Bluesman Bill Johnson is coming to Shady Grove for a house concert Nov. 23 starting at 7:30 p.m. A 40-year blues vet, he is probably one of the very best guitarists and vocalists on Canada's West Coast and claims his passion for the blues began as a child and has had many years to mature and become unique.

Although he's mostly self taught, he has had to satisfy some very famous original artists working as a sideman and also has been recognized by the Toronto Blues Society four times with Maple Blues Award nominations.

Johnson's most recent CD, Still Blue, was nominated for the 2012 Juno Award for best blues recording.

He now performs solo, in a trio, quartet and quintet all over Canada to eager audiences and in the intimate confines of Shady Grove, blues fans can relax and enjoy.

As always, refreshments will be available, too.

Donation is $15 per person. Paid reservations are required.
Lexi Bainas / The Citizen
November 20, 2013 - Cowichan Valley Citizen

"A great sounding album with enjoyable tracks, vocals, and a fine calibre of musicians along. It hit's the spot with some classic blues sounds, and well produced too. Right up my blues alley." - 4NSA Noosa Community Radio FM 101.3 Sunshine Coast, Qld Australia

"A great sounding album with enjoyable tracks, vocals, and a fine calibre of musicians along. It hit's the spot with some classic blues sounds, and well produced too. Right up my blues alley." - 4NSA Noosa Community Radio FM 101.3 Sunshine Coast, Qld Australia

I’ve been a fan since I saw Bill play at an annual general meeting of the Victoria Blues Society a couple of years ago.  This follow up to 2007’s magnificent “Work Songs” was released in 2010, and is currently up for the WCMA Best Blues Recording, and no wonder- it is supple and magnificent, likely his breakout album.
Bill’s been playing guitar since age 9, but it wasn’t the blues that got to him first. “Chuck Berry is the one that did it for me” Johnson notes on his website. “Chuck made me want to play.”  That much is obvious when you listen to a song like “Red Hot”. In the 70’s and 80’s he was drawn into the blues by studying masters such as BB King and T-Bone Walker, and hasn’t looked back since.
Where “Work Songs” was rough around the edges in a very satisfying way “Still Blue” is more polished.  Unlike other bluesmen such as his friend David Gogo, Johnson prefers a more laid back approach to the blues. “My music isn’t aboutenergy, energy, energy” he told me in an email, “I have many different feels; finger style, slide, flat picked, fast, lyrical, laid back., swampy- I suppose it’s all about what you like.”  That’s why “Still Blue” works so well- it’s a combination of styles that works when you get all these songs together. From the fun loving and up tempo “300 Pounds Of Heavenly Joy” (I first heard it by Howlin’ Wolf) to the slow, lonesome burn of a song like “Half The Man”, Johnson touches all the bases.  His voice certainly suits the blues, and as guitarist I’d put him in the same league as Duke Robillard, he’s that good.  If you’re into the blues but don’t yet know Bill Johnson, get started with a visit to CD Baby. Sweet Spots; “Half The Man”, “Fishing With Your Boots On”, “Worked To Death”, “300 Pounds Of Heavenly Joy” John the Rock Doctor, Alberta Canada
"I am not in the least surprised that Bill was nominated for Best Blues Album for the 2012 Junos. From the opening track Fishing With Your Boots On, all the way to the last note of Remote Control Man, this album kept me mesmerized! A must for any Blues collection!" - EB-Bluesday CKUW, Winnipeg MB

I’ve been a fan since I saw Bill play at an annual general meeting of the Victoria Blues Society a couple of years ago.  This follow up to 2007’s magnificent “Work Songs” was released in 2010, and is currently up for the WCMA Best Blues Recording, and no wonder- it is supple and magnificent, likely his breakout album.
Bill’s been playing guitar since age 9, but it wasn’t the blues that got to him first. “Chuck Berry is the one that did it for me” Johnson notes on his website. “Chuck made me want to play.”  That much is obvious when you listen to a song like “Red Hot”. In the 70’s and 80’s he was drawn into the blues by studying masters such as BB King and T-Bone Walker, and hasn’t looked back since.
Where “Work Songs” was rough around the edges in a very satisfying way “Still Blue” is more polished.  Unlike other bluesmen such as his friend David Gogo, Johnson prefers a more laid back approach to the blues. “My music isn’t aboutenergy, energy, energy” he told me in an email, “I have many different feels; finger style, slide, flat picked, fast, lyrical, laid back., swampy- I suppose it’s all about what you like.”  That’s why “Still Blue” works so well- it’s a combination of styles that works when you get all these songs together. From the fun loving and up tempo “300 Pounds Of Heavenly Joy” (I first heard it by Howlin’ Wolf) to the slow, lonesome burn of a song like “Half The Man”, Johnson touches all the bases.  His voice certainly suits the blues, and as guitarist I’d put him in the same league as Duke Robillard, he’s that good.  If you’re into the blues but don’t yet know Bill Johnson, get started with a visit to CD Baby. Sweet Spots; “Half The Man”, “Fishing With Your Boots On”, “Worked To Death”, “300 Pounds Of Heavenly Joy” John the Rock Doctor, Alberta Canada
"I am not in the least surprised that Bill was nominated for Best Blues Album for the 2012 Junos. From the opening track Fishing With Your Boots On, all the way to the last note of Remote Control Man, this album kept me mesmerized! A must for any Blues collection!" - EB-Bluesday CKUW, Winnipeg MB

“Our End-year chart list was already in when we wrote this review, otherwise sympathetically this Canadian would have been part of it.
 The covers of  Walker’s “T-Bone Blues” and Willie Dixon’s “300 Pounds Of Heavenly Joy”, are excellent examples of a perfectly done job. These two and Bill Johnson’s own songs are of the same high quality level.
We could not help but pick out one song. The phenomenal “Half The Man”, with brilliant guitar work, is a real candidate for blues song of the year. Sometimes it makes me think of Al Stone, and then again Chris Rea. The magnificent soulful singing, a two and a half minute guitar solo that even would have Eric Clapton applauding, completes it really as a world class song.
 
But nevertheless, it seems wrong to pick just one out. It doesn’t do justice to other songs like “Experience” in which you hear a screaming slide, or “Worked To Death”, a great  Chicago-Blues-song.
We would say listen to the entire album, and find that together with Rick Erickson (bass and vocals), John Hunter (drums and vocals), and Darcy Philips (keyboards and vocals), Bill Johnson  has made a fantastic release that we highly recommend.” - Bluesy Luc, Rootstime Online Radio and Magazine

“Our End-year chart list was already in when we wrote this review, otherwise sympathetically this Canadian would have been part of it.
 The covers of  Walker’s “T-Bone Blues” and Willie Dixon’s “300 Pounds Of Heavenly Joy”, are excellent examples of a perfectly done job. These two and Bill Johnson’s own songs are of the same high quality level.
We could not help but pick out one song. The phenomenal “Half The Man”, with brilliant guitar work, is a real candidate for blues song of the year. Sometimes it makes me think of Al Stone, and then again Chris Rea. The magnificent soulful singing, a two and a half minute guitar solo that even would have Eric Clapton applauding, completes it really as a world class song.
 
But nevertheless, it seems wrong to pick just one out. It doesn’t do justice to other songs like “Experience” in which you hear a screaming slide, or “Worked To Death”, a great  Chicago-Blues-song.
We would say listen to the entire album, and find that together with Rick Erickson (bass and vocals), John Hunter (drums and vocals), and Darcy Philips (keyboards and vocals), Bill Johnson  has made a fantastic release that we highly recommend.” - Bluesy Luc, Rootstime Online Radio and Magazine

"I didn't want this CD to finish - but when it did I went back to the beginning and started listening all over again!" Great songs, great voice and I love Bill's guitar playing. I'll be playing 2 tracks on my Blues Show" - Gary Granger

"I didn't want this CD to finish - but when it did I went back to the beginning and started listening all over again!" Great songs, great voice and I love Bill's guitar playing. I'll be playing 2 tracks on my Blues Show" - Gary Granger

I'd like to congratulate Bill Johnson on his - the first ever - double win. When I first started working on this disc I literally listened to "Half The Man" so many times I couldn't even fathom a guess as to the number. The song is sung with so much feeling and emotion and the guitar playing is absolutely masterful. As for the disc itself - "Still Blue" - I'd put it up against any disc I've heard....ever. From start to finish, song after song, the vocals and musicianship are flawless and extraordinary. - Mary4Music.com

I'd like to congratulate Bill Johnson on his - the first ever - double win. When I first started working on this disc I literally listened to "Half The Man" so many times I couldn't even fathom a guess as to the number. The song is sung with so much feeling and emotion and the guitar playing is absolutely masterful. As for the disc itself - "Still Blue" - I'd put it up against any disc I've heard....ever. From start to finish, song after song, the vocals and musicianship are flawless and extraordinary. - Mary4Music.com

I’ve been a fan since I saw Bill play at an annual general meeting of the Victoria Blues Society a couple of years ago. This follow up to 2007’s magnificent “Work Songs” was released in 2010, and is currently up for the WCMA Best Blues Recording, and no wonder- it is supple and magnificent, likely his breakout album.

Bill’s been playing guitar since age 9, but it wasn’t the blues that got to him first. “Chuck Berry is the one that did it for me” Johnson notes on his website. “Chuck made me want to play.” That much is obvious when you listen to a song like “Red Hot”. In the 70’s and 80’s he was drawn into the blues by studying masters such as BB King and T-Bone Walker, and hasn’t looked back since.

Where “Work Songs” was rough around the edges in a very satisfying way “Still Blue” is more polished. Unlike other bluesmen such as his friend David Gogo, Johnson prefers a more laid back approach to the blues. “My music isn’t aboutenergy, energy, energy” he told me in an email, “I have many different feels; finger style, slide, flat picked, fast, lyrical, laid back., swampy- I suppose it’s all about what you like.” That’s why “Still Blue” works so well- it’s a combination of styles that works when you get all these songs together. From the fun loving and up tempo “300 Pounds Of Heavenly Joy” (I first heard it by Howlin’ Wolf) to the slow, lonesome burn of a song like “Half The Man”, Johnson touches all the bases. His voice certainly suits the blues, and as guitarist I’d put him in the same league as Duke Robillard, he’s that good. If you’re into the blues but don’t yet know Bill Johnson, get started with a visit to CD Baby.

Sweet Spots; “Half The Man”, “Fishing With Your Boots On”, “Worked To Death”, “300 Pounds Of Heavenly Joy”
- John the Rock Doctor , Gonzo Online

I’ve been a fan since I saw Bill play at an annual general meeting of the Victoria Blues Society a couple of years ago. This follow up to 2007’s magnificent “Work Songs” was released in 2010, and is currently up for the WCMA Best Blues Recording, and no wonder- it is supple and magnificent, likely his breakout album.

Bill’s been playing guitar since age 9, but it wasn’t the blues that got to him first. “Chuck Berry is the one that did it for me” Johnson notes on his website. “Chuck made me want to play.” That much is obvious when you listen to a song like “Red Hot”. In the 70’s and 80’s he was drawn into the blues by studying masters such as BB King and T-Bone Walker, and hasn’t looked back since.

Where “Work Songs” was rough around the edges in a very satisfying way “Still Blue” is more polished. Unlike other bluesmen such as his friend David Gogo, Johnson prefers a more laid back approach to the blues. “My music isn’t aboutenergy, energy, energy” he told me in an email, “I have many different feels; finger style, slide, flat picked, fast, lyrical, laid back., swampy- I suppose it’s all about what you like.” That’s why “Still Blue” works so well- it’s a combination of styles that works when you get all these songs together. From the fun loving and up tempo “300 Pounds Of Heavenly Joy” (I first heard it by Howlin’ Wolf) to the slow, lonesome burn of a song like “Half The Man”, Johnson touches all the bases. His voice certainly suits the blues, and as guitarist I’d put him in the same league as Duke Robillard, he’s that good. If you’re into the blues but don’t yet know Bill Johnson, get started with a visit to CD Baby.

Sweet Spots; “Half The Man”, “Fishing With Your Boots On”, “Worked To Death”, “300 Pounds Of Heavenly Joy”
- John the Rock Doctor , Gonzo Online

Bill Johnson contributes eight originals to his Still Blue, each one a fine example of a contemporary blues song, not merely a retread of a familiar 12 bar theme, and each sung in his evocative voice. The variety of approaches, from the sneaky slide on “Another One” to the crisp lead guitar midway between Cray and Knopfler on “Habitual Survivor” is invigorating. Very hip phrases and a hard-luck lyric make the minor-key “Half The Man” stand out. Johnson shows he can reliably deliver straight blues on his shuffle “Old Les Paul Guitar” and three well-chosen covers from Slim Harpo, T-Bone Walker, and Howlin’ Wolf. Lee Roy Parnell’s roadhouse rocker “Red Hot” rounds out the set. A gem of an album!
- By Tom Hyslop, Blues Revue Magazine

Bill Johnson contributes eight originals to his Still Blue, each one a fine example of a contemporary blues song, not merely a retread of a familiar 12 bar theme, and each sung in his evocative voice. The variety of approaches, from the sneaky slide on “Another One” to the crisp lead guitar midway between Cray and Knopfler on “Habitual Survivor” is invigorating. Very hip phrases and a hard-luck lyric make the minor-key “Half The Man” stand out. Johnson shows he can reliably deliver straight blues on his shuffle “Old Les Paul Guitar” and three well-chosen covers from Slim Harpo, T-Bone Walker, and Howlin’ Wolf. Lee Roy Parnell’s roadhouse rocker “Red Hot” rounds out the set. A gem of an album!
- By Tom Hyslop, Blues Revue Magazine

I just got this one today and I really like it. I mean I really like it! This is a well composed rockin blues party. You gotta imagine I listen to a lot of music and a lot of it just plays in the background. This one made me stop and listen.


- American Blues Blog

I just got this one today and I really like it. I mean I really like it! This is a well composed rockin blues party. You gotta imagine I listen to a lot of music and a lot of it just plays in the background. This one made me stop and listen.


- American Blues Blog