Sue Foley
With ten studio albums to her credit, Sue Foley (CAN) is already a blues veteran. The Ottawa native began her recording career at the age of 24, storming the international scene with a string of successful releases on the Antone's and Shanachie labels. On her most recent Ruf Records release, »New Used Car«, she showed off a mature blend of blues and rock originals. Inspired by artists like Earl Hooker and Memphis Minnie, Foley's tasteful guitar playing goes deep. Her vocals ooze sensuality. Whether on a slow blues burner like "Absolution" or a tongue-in-cheek rocker like "Doggie Treats", Foley chooses substance over flash to create music that gets under your skin.
Deborah Coleman (USA) waited until her duties as a parent were fulfilled before devoting herself to music full-time in the mid-1990s. With her six albums, she's earned 11 W.C. Handy Award nominations and a reputation as "one of blues music's most exciting young talents" (USA Today). But the energy of her live performances is really her number one asset. Coleman rocks hard and never lets up. Taking her inspiration from blues guitar heroes like Buddy Guy and Albert King and from the rock groups she grew up listening to, she delivers tough, incendiary blues with a strong rhythmic foundation.
The new kid on the block is Roxanne Potvin (CAN) – an exciting new talent from the French-speaking province of Quebec. Potvin began playing guitar at 15 and released a self-produced collection of original songs in 2003. The buzz that CD created led to her breakout release The Way it Feels, produced by Grammy-winner Colin Linden and featuring the all-star support of Bruce Cockburn, John Hiatt and Daniel Lenois. "She's a great singer and a really talented songwriter", says Sue Foley, who sees a bright future for her fellow Canadian.
