Like a cat with nine lives, The Legendary Downchild Blues Band keeps on rolling and doing what they do best – playing the blues, with co-founder Donnie “Mr. Downchild” Walsh leading the charge, as he’s done for over 52 years.
When Downchild kicked off their 50th Anniversary Tour in Canada on June 22, 2019 at the Toronto Jazz Festival with a star studded lineup including Dan Aykroyd, Paul Shaffer, David Wilcox, Kenny Neal, the late Gene Taylor and Erja Lyytinen, the band had no idea the world would be hit by a pandemic and their tour would come to a grinding halt mid-tour for over a year and a half.
Then, Downchild’s keyboard player for over 25 years and former Lou Reed bandleader, Michael Fonfara, passed away in January 2021, which hit the band hard and left them wondering what the future held. With the long break from touring, drummer and 20-year Downchild veteran, Mike Fitzpatrick decided to retire from music to spend more time at home with his family.
“Chuck, Gary, Michael, Pat, Mike and I have been performing together as a band for over 20 years, which is longer than most bands stay together.” says Donnie Walsh. “It was tough to think about Downchild continuing without them, but we talked it over and we all still love to play live, so we knew we had to find some new guys.”
In June the band asked drummer Jim Casson, who was a member of Downchild from 1996 – 2001, if he’d be interested in filling the drum chair and he jumped at the chance to rejoin the band again.
“It’s been 20 years since my first stint in Downchild and I’m really looking forward to making great music with old friends again,” says Jim Casson
Downchild has a long tradition of incredible keyboard players from Michael Fonfara to Gene Taylor (The Fabulous Thunderbirds/The Blasters) to the much beloved Jane Vasey. Needless to say, they’re big shoes to fill but after playing a few songs with Toronto based, Tyler Yarema, they knew they’d found their man.
Tyler Yarema states, “I have been a fan of the Downchild Blues Band since I was a little boy growing up in Thunder Bay, Ontario. This music has been the soundtrack of my life and the main reason I play music today. It is with this that I accept, from the incredible Jane Vasey, the great Gene Taylor, and the Master Michael Fonfara, the torch that has now been passed to me. ”
“It’s great having Jimmy back in the band and adding a young guy on keys like Tyler, who’s an amazing player and singer and a perfect fit with the Downchild sound and both bring a cool new energy to the band,” says Donnie Walsh.
Downchild are fired up and ready to hit the road again to audiences across the country with their new lineup on The Longest 50th Anniversary Tour Ever.
Downchild is a Canadian blues institution with an international reputation. They have shared the stage with blues icons and contemporaries B.B. King, Buddy Guy and John Lee Hooker to name a few and have performed around the world, leaving fans thoroughly entertained wherever the go.
Jim Casson is a veteran of the Canadian Blues Scene for over 30 years. Notably spending five and half years in Downchild from 1996 – 2001. He recorded on two Downchild albums, “Lucky 13” and “Come On In.” He has also toured throughout North America and Europe and/or recorded with Rita Chiarelli, The Official Blues Brothers Revival (Musical Director), Sparkjiver, Chuck Jackson’s All-Stars, The Johnny Max Band, The Mighty Duck Blues Band, Jani Lauzon, Carlos del Junco, Bill King’s Rockit 88 Band, The Gary Kendall Band, The Stickmen, Chris Murphy, Joe Mavety and many others. He is the drummer for the Maple Blues Band, the house band for the Maple Blues Awards. He has performed on over 70 albums and has twice been nominated for a Maple Blues Award for Drummer Of The Year. His mantle boasts Maple Blues Awards, Jazz Report Awards, Hammer Blues Awards and nominations for Juno Awards, Genies and Niagara Music awards. Jim has released three critically acclaimed solo albums under the name “Dark Orchard” and two under the name “The Reluctant Cosmonaut.” He hosts a weekly radio show on CFBU in St. Catharines called “Cerebral Cinema”, teaches several students and has his recording studio “The Cherry Pit” at his farm in Niagara.
Tyler Yarema is a 30 year veteran of the Canadian music scene. Known for his blues prowess and explosive Boogie Woogie style, he’s been in constant demand with his own band at clubs, theatres and festivals. Tyler has performed and recorded with a who’s who of the Canadian music scene, including Powder Blues Band, Dutch Mason, King Biscuit Boy, Snooky Pryor, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith and Jeff Healey, and still holds his 26 year long house gig at the world famous Reservoir Lounge downtown Toronto.
THE LONGEST 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR EVER!
08/07/21 Sherblues & Folk Festival Sherbrooke, QC
12/09/21 Southside Shuffle Port Credit, ON
02/11/21 King’s Theatre Annapolis Royal, NS
05/11/21 Rebecca Coen Auditorium Halifax, NS
06/11/21 deCoste Centre For The Arts Pictou, NS
07/11/21 Capitol Theatre Moncton, NB
09/11/21 Imperial Theatre Saint John, NB
11/11/21 Harbourfront Theatre Summerside, PE
13/11/21 The Playhouse Fredericton, NB
18/11/21 Sault Community Theatre Sault Ste. Marie, ON
21/11/21 Capitol Centre North Bay, ON
25/11/21 Festival Hall Centre For The Arts Pembroke, ON
26/11/21 Aultsville Theatre Cornwall, ON
27/11/21 Empire Theatre Belleville, ON
24/03/22 Meaford Hall Meaford, ON
26/03/22 River Run Centre Guelph, ON
13/08/21 Nanaimo Summertime Blues Festival Nanaimo, BC
Tickets for all shows are ON SALE NOW at www.downchild.com