The Osoyoos Elks are bringing blues musician David Gogo to perform next week at their first blues dance. (Publicity photo)
The Osoyoos Elks are bringing in blues musician David Gogo as they try something new – a dance – in addition to their ongoing blues concert series.
Gogo, who released his newest album “17 Vultures” last month, will be performing at Osoyoos Elks Hall on Friday, Nov. 16.
“When I was in Prince George, basically all I did was dances,” said Earl Krushelnicki, who has been the driving force in attracting blues talent to the Music at the Elks concerts. “We did a couple of concerts, but most everything was dances.”
This season and last, the blues shows at Elks Hall have all been concerts, and those will still continue, Krushelnicki said.
“One of the things that I found kind of interesting is that a lot of people who like to dance haven’t gone to a dance with live music in quite a while,” he said.
He found it surprising when he talked to women especially and asked when they last went to a dance that wasn’t country music, and some of them would say it was maybe 20 years ago when they got married.
“So I thought, let’s try to do some dances,” said Krushelnicki. “Blues is easy to dance to. It’s got a lot of rhythm.”
At several of last year’s concerts some people wanted to dance, but the Elks discouraged it because it tends to get noisy. The dance with Gogo will be a chance to try it out, he said.
“I thought we’d start with one of the best,” he said, adding that there will be more to come if this one goes well.
Krushelnicki said Gogo’s style, which blends rock and blues, is well suited for dancing.
“He likes to rock it,” said Krushelnicki. “He’s used to playing dances, so yes, his (dance) show is much different than his acoustic shows.”
Gogo last performed in at the Elks in Osoyoos in November 2017, but it was a solo concert.
Although the upcoming Gogo performance is a dance, Krushelnicki said it would still be worthwhile for those who would rather watch and hear the show than dance to it.
Gogo’s recently released album is his 15th.
Over the years he has performed on stage with such musicians as BB King, Johnny Winter, Albert Collins, Bo Diddley and Otis Rush.
He has built a reputation for lead guitar electric performances as well as being an acoustic performer in his solo shows.
He has been nominated six times for Juno Awards and was named Guitarist of the Year three times at the Maple Blues Awards. He has also been Musician of the Year at the West Coast Music Awards and has won Blues Recording of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards.
Krushelnicki said this year’s blue’s concert series will continue, but he’s not sure what will happen in future seasons if the dance is a success.
“I would prefer to do dances myself, but my wife prefers concerts,” he said. “Sometimes she wins.”
Tickets for the dance are $25 and are available at Mills Office Productivity. People can also contact Ken at 250-495-3936 to purchase tickets and pick them up at the door. The doors open at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 16 and the dance starts at 8 p.m.
RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
