An iconic band is making one last stop in the area.
The legendary Downchild Blues Band brings its farewell tour to the Midland Cultural Centre on October 26, marking an extraordinary 55 years of playing the blues.
This performance is part of their final tour, celebrating a remarkable journey that has taken them around the world and established them as one of the greatest live blues bands of all time. They’ll be joined this time around by Jeff Rogers.
Founded in 1969 by Donnie "Mr. Downchild" Walsh and his brother Richard "Hock" Walsh, Downchild rose to international prominence as the inspiration behind Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi’s iconic film, The Blues Brothers.
The band’s influence is immortalized with two of their songs, "Shotgun Blues" and "I Got Everything I Need (Almost)," being covered on The Blues Brothers’ multi-platinum album Briefcase Full of Blues.
After 19 albums and countless awards, including a Juno Award and Donnie Walsh’s induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2019, Downchild remains a powerhouse in the blues world.
The current lineup features Donnie Walsh on guitar and harmonica, Chuck Jackson on vocals and harmonica, Pat Carey on tenor sax, Gary Kendall on bass, Jim Casson on drums, and Tyler Yarema on keyboards.
Known for their infectious jump blues style, Downchild’s live performances are legendary with longtime friend and fan of the band Dan Aykroyd crediting Downchild as the very reason The Blues Brothers ever existed.
"There would be no Blues Brothers if it weren’t for Downchild," Aykroyd has said, highlighting the band's profound impact on blues music and pop culture.
Tickets, which cost $70 for floor seats and $75 for balcony seats, are available now by calling the MCC box office at (705) 527-4420) or via its website.
