Erin Christie
Morning Star Staff
For Michael Charles, it害羞草研究所檚 not about the size of the stage _it害羞草研究所檚 how you use it.
The 62 year-old blues-man says he knows how to use a stage, and he intends to prove it to local audiences when he performs at Lorenzo害羞草研究所檚 Cafe in Ashton Creek on September 30 and The Grateful Fed in Kelowna on September 29.
Whether he害羞草研究所檚 playing on the gilded stage of the opulent Oriental Theatre in Chicago or a cramped corner bar in Moose Jaw, Sask., the eight-time Grammy-nominated performer said his 害羞草研究所済o big or go home害羞草研究所� approach has served him well.
害羞草研究所淚 can remember going to these little venues and seeing the people害羞草研究所檚 faces as I hauled in all my seven or eight guitars and my smoke machine. And then there害羞草研究所檚 the band. They see this and they害羞草研究所檙e looking at me like, 害羞草研究所榃ho is this guy?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟 Charles said.
害羞草研究所淲hether we害羞草研究所檙e playing a big hall or a tiny bar, we try to give people the same show. I will bring in whatever I can fit.害羞草研究所�
A show, he added, typically lasts two hours or so with no intermission.
害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 take breaks, I never have; even when I started out. My theory then was if I don害羞草研究所檛 make it in this business, they害羞草研究所檙e going to see what I can do now.害羞草研究所�
Though longer shows are considered unique, Charles said he害羞草研究所檚 not alone. Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney and Bruce Springsteen consistently play longer shows. Charles says this is presumably because, much like himself, they just love to play.
害羞草研究所淚 guess we害羞草研究所檙e just old school. Mostly, I think, we just love what we do.害羞草研究所�
That love, he said, stems from childhood.
Born and raised in Melbourne, Australia, Charles was introduced to the guitar by his father when he was seven-years-old. Under his father害羞草研究所檚 tutelage, the exuberant young Aussie honed his skills and developed a life-long love of music. When he turned 13, Charles害羞草研究所檚 father bought him his own guitar _ a Fender Stratocaster that he still plays on stage today. He began playing shows around the city, eventually earning himself an invitation to play at the infamous Legends blues club in Chicago with the world-famous rhythm and blues guitarist .
Charles returned to Australia briefly, but was quickly lured back to the North American scene where he spent the next several years working the Chicago blues circuit, performing with Buddy Guy, James Cotton, Eddy Clearwater, Junior Wells, George Blaze and Jimmy Dawkins.
害羞草研究所淚 went to Chicago for two weeks 29 years ago and I害羞草研究所檓 still here. I害羞草研究所檝e got my citizenship. I害羞草研究所檓 officially an American now,害羞草研究所� he laughed, adding that he doesn害羞草研究所檛 expect to ever lose his Aussie accent.
害羞草研究所淵ou just don害羞草研究所檛 know where life is going to take you.害羞草研究所�
The soft-spoken musician said he could never have imagined the places his musical pilgrimage would take him. In 2015, it took him to the Blues Hall of Fame where he was inducted and honoured for his substantial contributions to the blues genre and the music industry. In 2016 production began on a documentary chronicling Charles害羞草研究所� career. The documentary will be released later this year.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e been on the road for 50 years and I害羞草研究所檝e loved every minute of it,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been a hell of a ride. I feel very blessed to be doing something I love, and lucky that it also pays the bills.害羞草研究所�
Now, Charles is travelling his tenth consecutive tour, the 2017 All I Really Know Tour, which will take him to the far corners of the United States, Canada, and Australia, and includes a new host of night spots and festivals in cities he害羞草研究所檚 never been to, including Kelowna and Ashton Creek.
While the prospect of a massive and varied tour might intimated some, Charles says he jumps at any opportunity to be on the road, and isn害羞草研究所檛 precious about where he plays.
害羞草研究所淏ig or small, it doesn害羞草研究所檛 really matter to me. The bigger halls are great, but the intimate corner bars and pubs remind me of where I got my start. As long as I can keep doing what I害羞草研究所檓 doing, you really won害羞草研究所檛 hear me complaining.害羞草研究所�
Michael Charles will perform at Lorenzo害羞草研究所檚 Cafe in Ashton Creek on Saturday, September.30 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 and are available at the door. Charles will also appear at The Grateful Fed in Kelowna on Friday, September.29 at 9 p.m. For more information or tour dates go to .
