News and Views

Hi Friends,

I will be performing at Bourbon Street in the Prestige Hotel in Vernon: 6-8

This Wednesday! The Okanagan Restoration Services Jam at Don Cherry’s! 6:30 – 9:30. Thanks Vernon Morningstar for this article of last week. #bluesjam #marvmachura #vernonmusic

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Vernon’s Marv Machura is the host for the monthly Okanagan Restoration Blues Jam at Don Cherry’s Sports Grill in the Prestige Vernon Lodge and Conference Centre. (Facebook photo)

Vernon blues jams sweet on Cherry’s

Vernon sports grill Don Cherry’s hosts monthly Okanagan Restoration Blues Jams

• Morning Star Staff
• Aug. 1, 2022 11:00 a.m.
• Entertainment
• Local Entertainment

Don Cherry’s is going blue.

The sports grill pub/restaurant in the Prestige Vernon Lodge and Conference Centre is the new home for the blues as it hosts the Okanagan Restoration Blues Jam on Wednesday, Aug. 17.

Vernon’s Marv Machura, the host of the jam and local singer-songwriter known for his Western Canadian roots music, says that he “was hungry for a regular blues jam in Vernon,” and so he approached the new owners and managers of the Vernon Lodge and Conference Centre with the idea.

“They agreed and along with key support from community-minded Okanagan Restoration Services, the blues jam was born in the spring of 2022,” said Machura. “We have had a monthly jam since April, and it continues to grow in popularity with local musicians and blues fans. The blues is the universal music for young, old, and everyone in between.”

Machura is impressed with the local talent.

“There are so many great players in our town: professional blues players like Les Copeland (David Honey-Boy Edwards) and Russel Jackson (BB King), and local favourites like Blind-Dog Guido, and Tim Reardon,” he said. “They have been joining the jam regularly since it started along with many other talented musicians from Vernon and beyond. The support has been amazing.”

The next Okanagan Blues Jam is set for Aug. 17 (Wednesday) starting at 6:30 in Don Cherry’s Sports Grill.

For more information contact Machura online (marvmachura.com) or at 250-307-1505.

I am looking forward to being back at Match Eatery and Pub at the Vernon Casino this Friday–the start of the long weekend. Great food, drink, free pool, great staff, etc….”I love this bar.” – Toby Keith.

Starts at 6:30! with the Marv Machura Band

Coming soon!

Sorry to hear of the untimely passing of Harpdog Brown.

I, like so many others, am saddened and shocked to hear this news.

I knew him for many years as a fellow performer and recording artist based out of Edmonton. He and I shared many laughs and good times together off and on stage. I used to call him my favourite harp player and indeed he was.

My favourite memory is a time he was managing a tavern in Mirror, Alberta, and he booked me and my band to play for a couple of nights. Well…putting Dog (that’s what he wanted to be called) in charge of the bar was a bit like putting a coyote in charge of a henhouse. It was mayhem—and so much fun. He joined us on stage both nights and, as was his typical style, “blew the house down” with his performances.

To see all the outpouring of grief, love, and admiration for him is good to see. Being a performer, recording and touring artist is a rough road and not too many of us can appreciate what it takes to do what he did—and make look easy.

But, we all know and can feel that hole in the fabric of our lives that he touched and filled with music aches with the echoes and reverberation of those notes that now can only live on in our memories. Take care, friends and be sure to make the most of each moment of miracle that is life and keep live music alive in our lives as I know Dog would want more than anything else.

Hi Friends,

I will be at Polson Park on July 1, for Canada. I will performing at the main stage as part of a day of live music and events with these other fine local performers. I will be opening the show sometime near 12:00. Cheers!